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¶ By the King.
¶ A Proclamation for restraint of the disordered trading for Tobacco.
WHereas Wee, out of the dislike Wee had of the vse of Tobacco, tending to a generall and new corruption both of mens bodies and maners, and yet neuerthelesse holding it of the two more tolerable, that the same should be imported amongst ma∣ny other vanities and superfluities, which came from beyond the Seas, then permitted to be planted here within this Realme, there∣by to abuse and misimploy the soile of this fruitfull Kingdome, did by Our Proclamation dated the thirtieth day of December now last past straitly charge and commaund all and euery person and per∣sons, of what degree or condition soeuer, That they or any of them by themselues, their seruants, workemen or labourers, should not from and after the second day of February then next following, presume to sow, set or plant, or cause to be sowen, set or planted within this Our Realme of England and the Dominion of Wales, any sort or kinde of Tobacco whatsoeuer, and that they, or any of them, should not maintaine or continue any olde stockes or plants of Tobacco formerly sowen or planted, but should forthwith vtterly destroy and root vp the same. And whereas We haue taken into Our Royall consideration aswell the great waste and consumption of the wealth of Our Kingdomes, as the endangering & impairing the health of Our Subiects, by the inordinate libertie and abuse of Tobacco, being a weede of no necessary vse, and but of late yeeres brought into Our Dominions, and being credibly informed, that di∣uers Tobacconists, and other meane persons taking vpon them to trade and aduenture into the parts beyond the Seas for Tobacco, to the intent to forestall and engrosse the said commoditie, vpon vnmerchantlike conditions, doe transport much Gold bullion and Coyne out of Our King∣domes, and doe barter and vent the Staple commodities of Our Realme at vnder-values, to the intent to buy Tobacco, to the discredit of Our natiue merchandizes, and extreame enhansing of the rates and prices of Tobacco, and the great disturbance and decay of the Trade of the or∣derly and good Merchant: We taking the premisses into Our Princely consideration, and being desirous to put a remedie to the said inconueniences, which Wee haue long endeauoured, though with lesse effect then Wee expected, haue resolued to make some further redresse, by restraining the disordered traffique in that Commoditie, and reducing it into the hands of able persons that may manage the same without inconuenience, whereby the generall abuse may be taken away, and the necessary vse (if any be) may be preserued. We doe therefore not only by these presents, straitly charge and commaund, That Our said Proclamation restraining the planting of To∣bacco, be in euery respect obserued and performed according to the tenour thereof, vpon the pe∣nalties therein contained; but also that no person or persons whatsoeuer, Englishmen, Deni∣zens or Strangers, (other then such as shall be authorized and appointed thereunto by Letters Patents vnder Our great Seale of England) doe import or cause to be imported into this Our Realme of England or Dominion of Wales, or any part of them or either of them, any Tobacco, of what nature, kind, or sort soeuer, after the tenth day of Iuly next ensuing the date hereof, from any the parts beyond the Seas, vpon paine of forfeiture to Us of all such Tobacco so to be im∣ported contrary to the true meaning of these Presents, and vpon such further paines and penal∣ties as by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, or by the seueritie or censure of Our Court of Starrechamber may be inflicted vpon the offendors, for contempt of this Our Royall com∣mand. And likewise that no Master, Merchant, or Purser of any Ship or other Uessell, doe at any time or times after the said tenth day of Iuly, presume or attempt to take into their ships to be imported into this Realme and Dominion, or either of them, any sort, maner, or quantity of Tobacco whatsoeuer, but onely to the vse of such person and persons as shalbe so as aforesaid authorized and appointed vnder Our great Seale of England to import the same, & which shalbe by them, their deputies, seruants or factors deliuered to the said Masters, Merchants or Pursers of ships to be imported, vpon the paines and penalties aforesaid.
And to the intent that no such offendor may colour or hide his offence and contempt, by sha∣dowing the Tobacco to be brought in, contrary to Our pleasure before expressed, vnder pretence of former store, We doe hereby signifie and declare Our will and pleasure, and doe straitly charge and command, That all and euery person and persons which now haue, or hereafter shall haue within or neere the Cities of London or Westminster, in their hands, custody or possession, any Tobacco heretofore imported, or hereafter and before the said tenth day of Iuly now next ensu∣ing