FOOTNOTE:
[1] In a commission issued to Sir John Wolstenholme and ten others to execute the regulations regarding the importation of tobacco, dated January 31, 1627, this provision as to Spanish tobacco had been inserted. (Printed in Rymer's Fœdera, xviii, 831.)
[1627, March 30.]
[Sealing of Tobacco.]
BY THE KING.
A Proclamation touching the Sealing of Tobacco.
Whereas We (by the advice of Our Commissioners for Our Revenue) have resolved to import a quantity of Spanish Tobacco (not exceeding fifty thousand weight in any one yeere) and utterly to prohibite the importation of any other forreine Tobacco, which is not of the growth of Our owne Plantations, and to prohibite also the planting of all Tobacco within these Our Realmes of England and Ireland, and Islands thereto belonging or adjacent, As by Our Proclamation, dated the seventeenth day of February last (for the reasons therein expressed) it doth at large appeare: Now, because Wee are informed, that it will much conduce to Our Service, and the setling of that businesse, for the preventing of the stealing in of all forreine Tobacco, and discovery of the offendours, and for the clearing of all others, who are not offendors, from future trouble, that all the Tobacco of the growth of Our plantations already imported, shal be sealed by Our Commissioners to that purpose appointed, aswell as that which shal be hereafter imported, in such sort as by our sayd Proclamation is already directed, That so the Tobacco of Our Plantations may bee distinguished from the forreine Tobacco, and the Tobacco planted within these Our Realmes, which are prohibited: Our will and command therfore is, and We doe hereby declare et publish Our Royall pleasure to be, That Our said Commissioners appointed by Us for this Service, shal with al cõvenient speed, Seale all the Tobacco of the growth of Our said Plantations already imported in such sort, as they are directed to Seale that which shall be hereafter imported.
And if any person whatsoever, having any such Tobacco, of the growth of Our said Plantations, or any of them, which shall refuse to have the same Sealed, or which shall not offer the same to be Sealed, as aforesayd, and the same shall hereafter, at any time after one moneth, from the date hereof, be discovered, that the same shall bee taken and reputed for forreine Tobacco, or for Tobacco of the growth of these Our Realmes, which hath been prohibited, and which they durst not avow the keeping of, and as such Prohibited Tobacco shal be taken, and seized as other prohibited Tobacco, according to the Tenor and true meaning of Our said former Proclamation, whereof Wee will, that every person, whom it may concerne, do take notice at their perill.
Given at Our Court at White-Hall, the thirtieth day of March, in the third yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.
God save the King.
Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majestie. M.DC.XXVII.
1 p. folio. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Crawf., P. C., and P. R. O. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed in Rymer's "Fœdera," xviii, 886.
[1627, August 9.]
[Importation of Tobacco.]
BY THE KING.
A Proclamation for the ordering of Tobacco.
The Kings most Excellent Majestie, and His Royall Father of blessed memory, having at severall times and upon severall occasions, published their Proclamations concerning Tobacco, as well that which hath beene indeavoured to bee planted within this Realme, as that which is of the growth of Virginia and the Sommer Islands, and other English Colonies and Plantations, and also concerning Spanish and other forraigne Tobacco; And finding that the inordinate desire of taking Tobacco, and the immoderate thirst of gaine, by the planting and selling of Tobacco, cannot otherwise be allayed or moderated; Hath at the last, by the advice of His Privie Counsell, determined upon this finall resolution touching all sorts of Tobacco, in manner following.
First, His Majestie doth heereby declare His Royall Pleasure to be, and doth heereby Will and Command, that no person whatsoever doe at any time hereafter, plant, cherish, or preserve any Tobacco, within these His Realmes of England or Ireland, or Dominion of Wales, or any the Isles, parts, or places, of, or belonging to them or any of them, and if any bee now planted or growing there, that the same bee presently plucked up and utterly destroyed, by the Owners, Planters, Tenders, or Dressers thereof, and lest they or any of them, should adventure to neglect the performance hereof, His Majestie doeth further straitly charge and command all Constables, Tything-men, Headboroughs, and other Officers within their severall limits and Jurisdictions, carefully and effectually to see the same executed and performed accordingly. And His Majestie doth further Will and Command all Justices of Peace, Mayors, 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 and executed without partialitie, as they and every of them will answere their contempts in that behalfe at their uttermost perils.
And that the Tobacco of His Majesties own Plantations and Colonies may not bee planted and imported hither without limitation or measure, or under colour thereof, the Tobacco of the growth of Spaine and other forraigne parts, may not be brought into these His Realmes, or sold or uttered heere, to the overthrow of His Colonies abroad, and to the wasting of the wealth and treasure of His Kingdomes at home. His Majesty doeth further Will and straitly Command, that no person whatsoever doe at any time heereafter import any Tobacco of the growth of Spaine, and other forraigne parts out of His owne Dominions, nor sell, utter, or offer to sell, or utter, or otherwise dispose or keepe any such Tobacco, to the intent to sell or utter the same without His Majesties speciall Commission in that behalfe, upon paine of confiscation and forfeiture thereof, in whose hands soever the same shall be found, and upon such further paines and penalties, as by the Lawes of these His Realmes, or by His Prerogative Royall which in this case He will not admit to be disputed, may be inflicted upon the offendors.
And because such forraigne Tobacco, may not be received and uttered, under the pretence of the Tobacco of the growth of Virginia, the Summer-Ilands, and other Colonies and Plantations, under and within His Majesties owne Dominions, nor the Planters, Owners, or Adventurers, of, and in these Plantations, give themselves over to the planting of Tobacco onely, to make a present returne of profit, and neglect to applie themselves to solide Commodities fit for the establishing of Colonies, which will utterly destroy these and all other Plantations; His Majestie doth further will and command, that from henceforth no Tobacco of the growth of Virginia, the Summer-Ilands, or any other Plantations, or Colonies, of, or within His owne Dominions, bee imported into these his Realmes or Dominions, or any the Ports, Havens, Creekes, or places thereof, without His Majesties especiall licence in that behalfe, under the great Seale of England, and that upon the importation thereof, the same bee delivered into the hands of such Commissioners, for his Majesties owne immediate use, as His Majestie under His great Seale of England shal appoint, at, and for such Prices and Rates to be paid for the same, as shall be reasonable agreed upon, betweene the Owners or Factors of the same, and the Kings Commissioners on His Majesties behalfe, or if they shall not agree thereon, then to be transported againe, and sold elsewhere, upon paine of confiscation and forfeiture thereof, and upon further paines and penalties, as by the Law, or His Majesties Prerogative Royall may be inflicted upon them.
And further His Majestie doth straitly charge and command, that no person whatsoever presume to buy any sort of Tobacco, within these Realmes or Dominions, or any Haven, Port, Creeke, or place thereof, of any other person, then of His Majesties Commissioners onely to bee authorised under the great Seale of England, as aforesaid, and after the same shall bee sealed with a Seale to that purpose appointed, and that they, upon the buying thereof, doe expresse the true time when the same was bought, the quantitie and qualitie thereof, in and by a note in writing indented betweene the Buyer and Seller, testifying the same upon the paines and penalties aforesayd.
And if during these times of Hostility, any Tobacco shall bee imported by any of His Majesties owne Shippes, or by the Ships of any of his Subjects, by way of Prize, or Letters of Marque, his further will and pleasure is, that all such Tobacco shall be delivered unto his Majesties Commissioners, at, and for reasonable prices, to bee accomptable therefore to his Majesties use.
And his Majesty doeth hereby straitly charge and command, all Customers, Controllers, Searchers, Wayters, and all other Officers, Ministers, of, or belonging to His Customes, And also all Justices of Peace, Mayors, Sheriffes, Constables, and other Our Officers, Ministers and loving Subjects, in their severall places and degrees, to take knowledge of this his Royall pleasure and Commandement, and to bee ayding, helping and assisting to His Majesties Commissioners, and their Deputies, Factors and servants, in all things touching and concerning this His Service, whereof his Majestie is resolved to require a due and strict accompt.
Given at His Majesties Court at Windsore, the ninth day of August in the third yeere of His Reigne of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland.
God save the King.
Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majestie. M.DC.XXVII.
2 pp. folio. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Crawf., I. T., P. C., and P. R. O. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed in Rymer's "Fœdera," xviii, 920.
[1630, November 24.]
[Forbidding Disorderly Trading with the Savages.]
BY THE KING.
A Proclamation forbidding the disorderly Trading with the Salvages in New England in America, especially the furnishing of the Natives in those and other parts of America by the English with Weapons, and Habiliments of Warre.
Whereas a Proclamation was heretofore published by Our deare Father King James of blessed memorie, in the twentieth yeere of His Reigne,[1] for the better supportation and Reiglement of the Plantations within Our Territory of New England in America, whereby, amongst divers other things, the insufferable abuses committed by divers Interloping and irregular Merchants, and disobedient Fishermen and Mariners, were prohibited, who seeking only their present and private profit, did Trade with the Salvages of that Countrey, and to the great prejudice and danger of Our loving Subjects the Planters there, did Barter away to the Salvages, Swords, Pikes, Muskets, Fowling-Pieces, Match, Powder, Shotte, and other Warlike Armes, Weapons, and Munition, and teach them the use thereof, not onely to their owne present ruine (divers of them having been slaughtered by the barbarous people with their owne Weapons formerly sold by them) but also to the great hazard of the lives of the English already, planted there, and to the apparant destruction of that hopefull Plantation.
Wee, being informed that these abuses are still continued to the indangering of that Plantation,[2] and that the like abuses are also practised in other Forreigne Plantations: Out of Our Princely care for the prosperity of these Colonies, which being well governed may be of great use to this Nation, for the reformation and prevention of these and the like enormities for the future.
And to the end that the Royal Grant of Our late Father to the President and Counsell of New England aforesayd, may bee maintained and upholden, and that the Planters there, and adventurers thither, may bee encouraged by all good wayes and meanes to proceede in their worthy designes, have thought it fit, and doe hereby straitly charge and command, That none of Our Subjects whatsoever (who are not Adventurers, Inhabiters, or Planters, authorised by Our President and Counsell for New England, according to the sayd Letters Patents) doe presume from hencefoorth to frequent those Coasts to Trade or Traffique at all with the Native people of those Countreys, or to intermeddle with the Woods, or Grounds of any of the Planters, or English Inhabitants there, otherwise then by the Licence of the sayd President and Counsell, or for the necessary use of their Fishing on those Coasts, in which case of Fishing, or under colour thereof, they are not to use any Trade or Traffique there, nor to challenge any Right to the Soyle there, or the Woods growing or beeing thereon, and especially Wee doe charge and command, that neither any Interlopers, Fisher-men, or Mariners, or any other of Our Subjects whatsoever, being of the said Company of New England or otherwise, doe at any time hereafter dare to Sell, Barter, or any wayes to deliver or convey unto any of the Salvages or Natives of America, where any of Our English Colonies are or shall bee planted, any Weapons or Habiliments of Warre of any kinde whatsoever, or to teach them or any of them the use of Gunnes, or how to make, or amend them, or any thing, belonging to them, upon paine of Our high indignation, and the Confiscation, Penalties and Forfeitures expressed in the said Royall Graunt of Our sayd Father, wherein Wee shall proceede against those who have offended, or shall offend in any of the premisses, in such manner and measure as the qualitie of their Offences shall deserve. And yet further Wee leave it to the discussion of the said President and Counsell for New England, and to other the Governours and Counsell in any other Forreigne English Colonie in their severall places respectively, to proceede against the Offenders in any the kindes aforesaid, according to the powers already granted unto them, and according to Our Lawes in that behalfe.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the foure and twentieth day of November, in the sixt yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.
God save the King.
Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie: and by the Assignes of John Bill. 1630.
2 pp. folio. Copies in Antiq., Crawf., P. C., and P. R. O. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed in Rymer's "Fœdera," xix, 210. A photographic fac-simile of this proclamation was printed by the Museum Book Store of London, about 1898.