[1] There is a series of documents in the Public Record Office
regarding the publication of this proclamation in Barbadoes (see
abstracts in _Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1661-1668_, pp. 97, 103).
[2] Since this order does not appear among the printed _Acts of the
Privy Council, 1613-1680_, it is here noted. On March 22, 1665, it
was ordered that the "Act for encouraging and encreasing of Shipping
and Navigation" should be suspended so far as concerned commerce with
Norway and the Baltic Sea, also with Germany, Flanders, or France,
provided the merchants and owners were English natural-born subjects.
The order further allowed the merchants of any nation in amity with
England to import hemp, pitch, tar, masts, saltpeter, and copper,
paying only such duties as were imposed by the Act of Tonnage and
Poundage. The clauses relating to America follow:
"And His Majesty doth further Order, That notwithstanding the said
Act for Encouraging and encreasing of Shipping and Navigation, and
one other Act made in the said Parliament begun at Westminster the
eighth day of May in the thirteenth year of His Majesties Reign,
intituled [An Act for the Encouragement of Trade] or either of them,
or any Clause or Clauses in them, or either of them to the contrary,
It shall and may be lawful for any English Merchants, and they are
hereby authorised, freely and without interruption, to make use
of, and employ any Foreign Ships or Vessels whatsoever, Navigated
by Mariners or Seamen of any Nation in Amity with His Majesty, for
importing or exporting of Goods and Commodities, to or from any Port
in England or Wales, to or from any of His Majesties Plantations.
"Provided, That no Goods or Commodities whatsoever, be by them
imported into any of His Majesties said Plantations, but what shall
be without fraud, Laden and Shipped in England or Wales, and thence
directly carried, and from no other place to His Majesties said
Plantations.
"Provided also, That such Goods and Commodities as shall be by them
laden or taken on Board at His Majesties said Plantations, or any
of them, be brought directly from thence to some of His Majesties
said Ports in England or Wales. And all Governours, and Officers of
the Customs are hereby charged and required, strictly to observe all
Rules, Directions and Orders for taking of Bonds or other Securities,
and exacting all Forfeitures, and Penalties by the said Acts or
either of them required or enjoyned: save only in the Two Clauses
concerning English Ships or English Mariners herein before dispensed
with.
"And lastly, His Majesty doth declare, That this shall continue and
be in force during His Majesties pleasure: And when His Majesty shall
think fit to determine the Dispensation hereby granted, He will by
His Royal Proclamation give six moneths notice thereof, To the end no
Merchant or other person herein concerned, may be surprized."
This order in Council was printed as a broadside by John Bill and
Christopher Barker, and copies of it are in Antiq., B. M., Crawf., P.
R. O., and Q. C.
1671, December 22.
[Concerning the Planters at St. Christophers.]