Whereas We have had especiall care to provide, That Our loving
Subjects the Planters of and in Virginia, the Summer Islands, Caribee
Islands, et other Our Forrein Plantations might be encouraged to apply
themselves to staple Commodities, fit for the establishing of Colonies,
that so the said Plantations might the better flourish and become
usefull to Our Kingdomes, and the Planters might be enabled to fortifie
and secure themselves as well against the invasion of Forrein Enemies,
as the assaults and incursions of the Natives; yet notwithstanding
this Our care, the said Planters finding a present though small return
of profit for Tobacco, have hitherto wholly betaken themselves to
the planting thereof, little minding more solid commodities, their
own safetie, or any better or other way or means of supportation and
subsistence.
And whereas Our Merchants working upon the necessities of the Planters,
have from time to time bought their Tobacco at low and small prices,
thereby occasioning the said Planters to grow negligent and carelesse
of the well ordering their Tobacco, by means whereof much unserviceable
Tobacco hath from Our said Colonies been imported hither, and hath
been sophisticated, mixed and stamped with rotten fruits, stalks of
Tobacco, and other corrupt ingredients, and afterwards sold and uttered
to Our people.
And whereas the vain and wanton taking of Tobacco being at length
grown to an excesse, and this excesse having begotten an inordinate
desire thereof in those that use it, and much of the Tobacco of Our
said Colonies imported hither, being unserviceable as aforesaid, divers
of Our Merchants for their own private gain have returned the proceed
of the solid Commodities of Our Kingdoms by them vented in Forreign
parts in Spanish Tobacco, et many of Our Subjects here have planted
great quantities of Tobacco in severall parts of this Our Realme,
which Tobacco here planted through the coldnesse of the Climate,
and unaptnesse of the Soil, not coming to a perfect maturitie, is
altogether unwholesome to be taken. By all which means the forreigne
Plantations of Our Subjects remain unfortified, and are in apparant
danger to be ruined, the Planters are grieved and discouraged, the
Colonies of other Nations do flourish, the wealth of Our Kingdoms
is exhausted, the immoderate use of a vain and needlesse weed is
continued, the health of Our Subjects is much impaired, and their
manners in danger to be depraved.
And although Wee out of Our Princely care of Our said Plantations
abroad, and the good of Our Subjects at home, have formerly as well
by Proclamation as otherwise, given direction in the premisses, and
have provided against all the afore-mentioned evils, yet this Our
care hath not hitherto produced that good effect which We intended
and desired, for that fit, diligent and able Agents have not hitherto
been imployed in these Our services, to see Our purposes deduced into
Act: For these causes, and for divers other weighty considerations
tending to the honour of Our said Plantations, et to the good as wel
of Our said Planters, as of Our people here, Wee by the advice of the
Lords and others of Our Privy Councell, have resolved to regulate Our
said Plantations, and the planting, making up, and ordering of Tobacco
there, and to limit and appoint what quantities of Tobacco shall
henceforth be imported into Our Kingdoms, as well for the expence of
Our Realmes, as for Our own services, and also to buy and take into Our
own hands and mannaging all Tobacco from henceforth so to be imported,
at such reasonable prices to be given for the same, as shall be
expedient for the relief and better encouragement of the said Planters,
and likewise to regulate the trade and sales of Tobacco here at home,
and to commit the care and trusts of the premisses unto such fit Agents
as Wee shall nominate in that behalf; All which Wee intend to put in
speedy execution.[1]
And to the end Our Royall intentions touching the premisses may the
better take effect, Wee do hereby will and command, That no person
whatsoever, do at any time hereafter plant or cause to be planted any
Tobacco within Our Kingdoms of England and Ireland, or either of them,
or within Our Dominion of Wales, or Town of Barwick, or within Our
Islands of Jersey and Gernesey, or either of them, or within Our Isle
of Man: And that all Tobacco already planted, and now growing there, be
presently displanted and utterly distroyed.
And to the end the doing hereof be not in any wise omitted or
neglected, Wee do charge and command all Constables, Tithingmen,
Headboroughs, and other Officers within their severall limits and
jurisdictions carefully to see the same executed accordingly. And
further Wee do will and command all Justices of Peace, Maiors,
Sheriffes, and other principall Officers in their severall places,
within the compasse of their severall jurisdictions and authorities,
upon complaint to them made, to cause the same to be duly performed,
without partialitie, and they and every of them will answer their
Contempts at their perils.
And Wee do further will and command, that no person or persons
whatsoever, within our said Realms and Dominions, do from henceforth
presume to buy, sell, or utter any Tobacco of the growth of our said
Kingdomes of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Barwick,
and Islands of Jersey, Gernsey and Man, or any of them, or to let
their grounds to Farm to any person or persons, to plant the same with
Tobacco, or to stamp, beat, or mixe any Tobacco whatsoever with rotten
fruits, the stalks of Tobacco, or any other bad or corrupt Ingredient,
the same being utterly unwholesome to be taken as aforesaid. And Wee do
likewise will and command, That no Tobacco of the growth of any parts
or places beyond the Seas, belonging to, or under the obedience of any
Forreigne King, Prince or State whatsoever, or of the growth of Our
said Colonies and Forreign Plantations, be from henceforth imported
into Our Kingdomes of England, and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, or
any of them, or into any other Our Dominions, or into any Port, Haven,
Creek, or place to them or any of them belonging, more or other, then
only such and so much of the Tobacco of the growth of the Plantations
of the King of Spaine, as We by Our Letters under Our Privie Seal,
or otherwise shall be pleased to allow; and such and so much of the
Tobacco of the growth of Our own Colonies, as We shall in like manner
declare to be competent for the expence of Our Kingdomes, and fit for
Our own services, and for the better relief and encouragement of the
said Planters.
And We do further will and command, That no Tobacco of the growth of
Our said Plantations, or any of them be from thence transported in any
English or other Ship or Bottome unto any Forreigne parts under the
obedience of any Forreigne King, Prince, or State whatsoever; but that
the same Tobacco be first imported unto Our Port of London, and entred
in Our Custome-house there: And that no Tobacco of what sort soever be
from henceforth imported, landed, or unladed to, in, or at any other
Port, Haven, Creek, or place within Our said Kingdomes of England and
Ireland, and Our Dominion of Wales, or any of them, or within any
other Our Dominions, then to, in, or at Our Port of London onely. And
that all Merchants, Masters and Owners of any Ship or Ships, and other
persons whatsoever within or under Our obedience, do take notice of Our
Royall command and pleasure herein, and do carefully and duely observe
the same accordingly.
And We do hereby further will and command, That all Tobacco so imported
and entred as aforesaid (other then such as shall be imported and
entred by Our said Agents) shall from henceforth be sold and delivered
unto the hands of Our said Agents to Our own immediate use, at, and
for such valuable rates and prices to be given for the same, as shall
be reasonably agreed upon between the Planters, Owners and Factours
thereof, and Our said Agents on Our behalfe.
And Our pleasure further is, and We do hereby charge and command, That
none of Our loving Subjects comercing, or any way trading in or about
Tobacco, no other person or persons whatsoever, do from henceforth
presume to buy any Tobacco in grosse of what sort soever, in any Port,
Haven, Creek, or place within Our said Realms and Dominions, at the
first hand, or of any person or persons whatsoever, other then of Our
said Agents onely; And that all Tobacco bought of Our said Agents,
shall be sealed with a seal to be appointed for that purpose, and that
the quantity and quality thereof with the time when the same was bought
be expressed, in and by a Note in writing indented between the Buyer
and Seller, if to Our said Agents it shall seem fitting for this Our
service.
And Wee do further charge and command, That no Tobacco whatsoever be
from henceforth shipped or laded to be transported from any Port,
Haven, Creek, or other place of Our Realm of England, Dominion of
Wales, Port or Town of Barwick, or from any other Port within Our
Dominions, without the Licence and consent of Our said Agents, and the
same to be done in such manner, and upon such security to be given to
the use of Us, Our Heirs and Successours, as to Our said Agents in
their discretions shall seem expedient for Our service in that behalf.
And further Wee do hereby strictly command, That Our Royall pleasure
hereby declared be in all things duely and truely observed upon pain of
confiscation and forfeiture of all Tobacco of what sort soever imported
or exported, laded or unladed, bought or sold contrary to the effect
and true meaning of this Our Proclamation, and under such further
pains and penalties, as by the Lawes of Our Realms, or Our Prerogative
Royall may be inflicted upon the Offenders. Which Tobacco so forfeited
and confiscated, shall be immediately brought to Our Custome-house in
London, or to such other place as shall hereafter bee appointed in that
behalfe, there to bee valued or apprized; and after such valuation
or apprizement made, the Officer or other person by whose diligence
such forfeiture was discovered, shall have the one moity of the same
forfeiture or value for his service and future encouragement, and the
other part therof shall go to Our own use.
And Wee do hereby straitly charge and command all Customers,
Controllers, Searchers, Waiters, and all other Officers and Ministers
of and belonging to Our Customes; And also all Justices of Peace;
Maiors, Sheriffs, Constables, and other Our Officers, Ministers, and
loving Subjects in their severall places and degrees, to take notice of
this Our Royal pleasure and commandment, and to be aiding, helping and
assisting to Our said Agents and their Deputies, Factours and servants
in all things touching and concerning this Our service, whereof Wee
are resolved to require a due and strict account.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, this fourteenth day of March, in the
thirteenth yeer of Our Reign.