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.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Refers to proclamation of November 6, 1622.
[2] The Privy Council, September 29, 1630, had acted upon a petition from Massachusetts and had requested the attorney-general to draw up a proclamation (see Acts of Privy Council, i, 154, and Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1574-1660, p. 120).
[1631, January 6.]
[Restricting Importation of Tobacco.]
BY THE KING.
A Proclamation concerning Tobacco.
Whereas in the Reigne of Our most deare and Royall Father, King James of blessed memory, et since Our accesse to the Crowne, severall Proclamations have been made and published concerning Tobacco, Yet notwithstanding all the care and providence which hath hitherto been used, We finde the unlimited desire of gaine, and the inordinate appetite of taking Tobacco, hath so farre prevailed, that Tobacco hath been continued to bee planted in great quantities, in severall parts of this Our Realme, and a vast proportion of unserviceable Tobacco made and brought from Our Colonies of Virginia, Summer Ilands, and other Our Forreigne Plantations, besides an incredible quantity of Brasill and Spanish Tobacco imported hither, and secretly conveyed on Land. And it is now come to passe, That those Our Forreigne Plantations, that might become usefull to this Kingdome, lingering onely upon Tobacco, are in apparant danger to be utterly ruined, unlesse Wee speedily provide for their subsistence; The bodies and manners of Our people are also in danger to bee corrupted, and the wealth of this Kingdome exhausted by so uselesse a Weede as Tobacco is; which beeing represented unto Us by the humble Petition of Our loving Subjects the Planters and Adventurers in Virginia, and also by the like humble Petition of the Retailers and Sellers of Tobacco in and about Our Cities of London and Westminster, Wee have thought it worthy of Our Princely care, as a matter not only fit for Our profit, et the profit of Our people, but much concerning Us in Our honour and government so to regulate the same, and compell due obedience thereto, that Our forreigne Plantations and Colonies may bee supported and encouraged, and they made usefull to this Kingdome, by applying themselves to more solide commodities, that the healths of Our Subjects may be preserved, the wealth of this Kingdome enlarged, and the manners of Our people so ordered and governed, that the world may not justly taxe Us, that these are at once endangered only by the licentious use of Tobacco. And therfore having seriously advised hereof, Wee, by the advice of Our Privie Councell, have now resolved upon, and published these Our Commands following concerning Tobacco, which Our Royall will and pleasure is, shall be in all things observed upon paine of Our highest displeasure, and of such paines, penalties and punishments, as by Our Court of Exchequer, and Court of Starre-Chamber, and by any other Courts and ministers of Justice, or by Our Prerogative Royall can be inflicted upon the offenders.