[1619, December 30.]
[Forbidding Planting of Tobacco in England.]
BY THE KING.
A Proclamation to restraine the planting of Tobacco in England and Wales.
It is not unknowen what dislike Wee have ever had of the use of Tobacco, as tending to a generall and new corruption, both of mens bodies and maners: Neverthelesse it is of the two, more tolerable, that the same should be imported amongst many other vanities and superfluities which come from beyond the Seas, then permitted to be planted here within this Realme, thereby to abuse and misimploy the soile of this fruitfull Kingdome: For which purpose by Our direction, Letters of late have beene addressed from our Councell of State, prohibiting the plantation thereof within a certaine distance of Our City of London: But entring into further consideration of the manifold inconveniences of suffering this nourishment of vice, (and nothing else) as a noysome and running Weede, to multiply and overspread within this Our Kingdome, Wee are resolved upon many and weightie reasons of State, to make the said Prohibition generall.
For first, Wee are informed, That whereas the use of forreine Tobacco was chiefly vented, and received in Cities and great Townes, where ryot and excesse useth to take place, it is now by the Inland plantation become promiscuous, and begun to be taken in every meane Village, even amongst the basest people.
Secondly, Wee are given to understand from divers persons of skill and experience, That the English Tobacco, howsoever some doe presume or imagine by industrie and experience to rectifie it, and make it good (wherein it is easie for opinion to doe mischiefe) yet it is certeinly in it selfe more crude, poysonous and dangerous for the bodies and healths of Our Subjects, then that that comes from hotter Climates; So that the medicinall use of Tobacco (which it is that that is onely good in it, and to be approoved) is in this kind also corrupted and infected.
Thirdly, Whereas Our Colonies and Plantations in Virginia and the Sommer Islands, (being proper and naturall Climates for that plant, and the true temper thereof) receive much comfort by the Importation thereof into this Kingdome, (which it is to be respected at least in the Interim, untill Our said Colonies may grow to yeeld better and more solide commodities) Now the said Trading from thence is and will be by the Plantation within this Realme, choaked and overthrowen.
Fourthly, Wee doe find also, that the reason that mooved Us to interdict the planting thereof neere the Citie of London, (which was in regard of the conversions of garden grounds, and rich soyled grounds from divers Roots and Herbes, fit for victuall and sustenance, unto this harmefull vanitie) extendeth likewise unto all Cities, Townes and Villages, and rather more, by how much the povertie is greater there, then here above.