IR  
DIEV ET MON DROIT.  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
¶ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for prevention and restraint of the abuses and inconveniences, occasioned by dying with Logwood.  
WHereas many good Laws and Statutes have been heretofore made and established, prohibiting the Importation of a certain false and deceitful dying stuff or wood, called Logwood or Blockewood, which said Statutes did not produce that good effect that thereby was intended (the seizing and taking of the said Wood being wholly neglected) for that no satisfaction or recompense was by the Law offered or allowed to such as employ their pains and endeavour in the discovery and seizure thereof; whereupon We for further prevention of the said deceits, have made several Restraints by Our Letters Patents, Books of Rates, and otherwise, thereby to hinder the importation and abuse of the said wood; By which means, albeit great quantities of the said wood have been seized and burnt, yet the said wood is still privily imported and disposed of, within this Our Kingdom, to the hurt and prejudice of Our Subjects: We, having taken these things into Our consideration, and out of Our Princely care, desiring to pursue Our former purpose in preventing whatsoever might be hurtful to Our Subjects, and on the contrary to give them relief in things useful and necessary; And being informed that the importation and use thereof for diverse sorts of course Stuffs, Linen of all sorts, Caddoes, Ribbon, Inkle, Tape, Cappes, Gloves, Hats, Leather for points, Brushes, covers for Books, Saddles, Stools and Chairs, and Thread of diverse sorts, with many other Haberdashery wares, that cannot conveniently be died or coloured without Logwood or Blockwood, by reason of the cheapness, and the gloss it gives to such mean commodities, far better than any other Stuff can do, is most necessary and not prejudicial to any of Our Subjects; have thought meet to Licence the importation of some competent quantity of the said wood, to be employed and used only about such needful uses as aforesaid; And withal to add some further provision for restraint of the immoderate importation of the said wood, tending to the abuse and deceit of Our people: And therefore have by Our Letters Patents under Our great Seal of England, given Licence to Our well-beloved Servant and Subject Sir Thomas Compton Knight, and his Assigns, as well to import into this Kingdom yearly the quantity of fifty Tons of Logwood, and no more, as to take into his or their hands the moiety of all Logwood imported by others, and seized as forfeited, the other part thereof being first burnt; Nevertheless under these cautions and provisions following, viz. That there shall not be uttered or sold by him or his Assigns, above the aforesaid yearly quantity of fifty Tons of Logwood or Blockwood, and to none other use or uses, than the good and necessary uses before mentioned; And that he or they shall not directly or indirectly import any greater quantity than fifty Tons yearly; And that the same, with all such Logwood as shall be seized and come to his or their hands, shall be registered in the Customhouse in London, in Our Register there kept for forfeitures, with the name of the Master of the Ship, and owner of the wood, to the end that it may be known who shall presume to import the same, contrary to Our pleasure; And that as well the wood by him the said Sir Thomas Compton, his Executors or Assigns, to be imported, as otherwise to come to his or their hands upon seizure, which shall be sold or vented within this Realm, shall be ground and sold in an appointed place in the City of London, and not elsewhere; And that upon such sale, the names and place of abode of all such as shall buy Logwood, shall be taken and registered, and for what use they buy the same; And that so much of the said Logwood as shall come unto the hands of the said Sir Thomas Compton or his Assigns, by importation or otherwise, as shall exceed the quantity of fifty Tons in any one year, shall be by him or them shipped forth of this Kingdom, within three months after the same shall come to his or their hands or possession: And likewise that the said Sir Thomas Compton or his Assigns, shall at all times, being thereunto required, give notice to whom the same Logwood is sold, that enquiry may be made, whether the buyer thereof do use the same contrary to the orders prescribed.  
And the better to encourage such as will employ their endeavour in and about the discovery and seizure of the said wood, to the end the abuse thereof in dying Cloth and woollen commodities may be taken away, and the good use thereof only maintained and cherished, It is likewise provided in the said Letters Patents, that the said Sir Thomas Compton, his Executors and Assigns, shall pay to all such as shall seize any Logwood, the sum of six pounds per Ton, and so by the hundreth accordingly, So that he that makes the seizure, do first deliver the one half of such wood to the Mayor, Bailiff, or justice of Peace where it shall be seized, to be burnt, and then bring the other half to the Patentee, or his Assigns, with Certificate from some of the said Officers that the one half is burnt, As by Our said Letters Patents more at large appeareth: We, to the end all Our loving Subjects may take notice of Our gracious purpose and intention, whereby the same may take better effect for the general good of this Our Kingdom, Do by this Our Proclamation publish and give notice to all men, whom the premises shall in any wise concern, That Our express will and pleasure is, that all and every the Cautions, Provisions, Restraints, and other the premises above-mentioned, be carefully and diligently performed and observed.  
And therefore We do hereby charge and command all Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, justices of Peace, Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Surveyors, Waiters, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Our Officers and Ministers, not only to be careful and diligent in the discovering and punishing of all and singular offences and offenders in this behalf, but also to be from time to time aiding and assisting unto the said Sir Thomas Compton, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, and to his and their Deputy and Deputies, and to all other persons which shall find and seize any of the said Logwood or Blockwood, imported, used, or employed contrary to this Our will and command.  
Given at Our Palace of Whitehall, the nine and twentieth day of February, in the seventeenth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO DOM. M. D C. XIX.