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., B. M., Canterbury, Crawf., and P. C.; also in Va. State Library. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed in Rymer's "Fœdera," xix, 235.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] A communication from the Privy Council to the Governor of Virginia, inclosing the proclamation and directing the observance of its regulations, is preserved among the records in the Public Record Office. An order from the Council to the farmers and officers of customs, issued at the same time, directs that Spanish tobacco will pay a duty of 2s. per pound, St. Christopher's, Barbadoes, and the adjacent islands 12d. per pound, and Virginia and the Somers Islands 9d. per pound. (Cal. State Papers, Colonial, 1574-1660, p. 125). For the various restrictions upon the growth of tobacco in the plantations, see Bruce, Economic History of Virginia, i, 304-309.
[1633, October 13.]
[Restricting Sale of Tobacco.]
BY THE KING.
A Proclamation for preventing of the abuses growing by the unordered Retailing of Tobacco.
Whereas the Plant or Drugge called Tobacco scarce knowne to this Nation in former times, was in this Age first usually brought into this Realme in small quantity, as Medicine, and so used, and by divers taken as Medicine, but in processe of time, to satisfie the inordinate appetite of a great number of men and women it hath been brought in in great quantity, and taken for wantonnesse and excesse, provoking them to drinking and other inconveniences, to the great impairing of their healths, and depraving of their manners, so that the care which His Majesty hath of his people hath enforced Him to thinke of some meanes for the preventing of the evill consequence of this immoderate use thereof. And albeit His Majesties dearest father of blessed memorie had given directions therein, as well by Proclamation as otherwise, yet those waies tooke not so good effect as was desired, for that therein was no restraint of the number of those that should sell Tobacco by retaile, nor care taken of the quality of those that should make such sale, but Victuallers, Taverners, Alehouse-keepers, Tapsters, Chamberlaines, Hostlers and others, of the meanest condition have promiscuously used to regrate the same as allurements to other naughtinesse, keeping therein no Assize, to the prejudice of the rest of His Majesties loving Subjects. For repressing therefore of all such excesses and for preventing of future inconvenience, Our Soveraigne Lord the King, by the advice of the Lords and others of His Privie Councell hath resolved to reduce the venting, selling and uttering of Tobacco into some good order, and that none but men of sufficiency, and such as shall bring certificate of their meetnesse, shall hereafter sell or utter any Tobacco by retaile. And to that purpose His Majestie hath lately caused Letters from His Lords, and others of His Privie Councell to bee directed unto the Justices of Peace of the severall Counties of this Kingdome, and Dominion of Wales, and also unto the Maiors, Bailiffes and other chiefe Officers of divers Cities and Townes Corporate; Commanding them to certifie in what Townes and places it may bee fit to suffer selling and retailing of Tobacco, and how many in each place were fit to bee licensed to use that Trade. In answere of which Letters, Certificates have beene made from divers of the Justices of Peace, and from the Maiors, Bailiffes, and other Magistrates of divers Cities and Townes Corporate, who therein have acknowledged the abuses that daily arise by the ungoverned selling and retailing of Tobacco, expressing their desire of reformation.