IR  
DIEV ET MON DROIT.  
HONI ✚ SOIT ✚ QVI ✚ MAL ✚ Y ✚ PENSE ✚   royal blazon or coat of arms  
¶ By the King.  
A Proclamation commanding Conformity to his Majesty's pleasure, expressed in his late Charter to the Tobacco-pipe-makers.  
WHereas diverse of the poorer sort of Our Subjects have heretofore lived by the trade of making Tobacco pipes, but for want of power to retain and keep their Apprentices and servants in due obedience, and to restrain others from intruding upon their Art, the ancient Makers have not so well prospered as was desired: For prevention of which inconveniences, and for reducing the workmen in that trade to such a competent number, as they might be governed after the example of other Societies, who flourish by ranging themselves under good Orders; We did by Our late Charter Incorporate a selected number of the most ancient, and such others as they for skill and honesty should admit into their Society: Thereby prohibiting all others who were not members thereof, to make any sort of Tobacco-pipes within Our Realm of England or Dominion of Wales; And thereby also commanding, that no person or persons directly, or indirectly should buy Tobacco-pipes to sell again, of, or from the hands of any others than the known Members of the said Society. Yet nevertherlesse being lately informed by Certificate from sundry Our justices of Peace of Our Counties of Middlesex and Surrey (who in due obedience of Our Royal pleasure, declared in Our said Charter, did in person assist the execution of the same) That diverse lewd and obstinate offenders, had fortified themselves in their houses with weapons, And in contempt of Our Regal Authority resisted them, coming with the several Warrants of the Lord Chief justice of Our Bench, and other the justices of Peace within Our City of London, and the said counties of Middlesex and Surrey; And also that there were diverse il disposed persons (who delighting to oppose all good orders) contemptuously maintained these underhand offenders, some by harboring the unlawful Makers of Tobacco-pipes secretly in their houses, there to make them contrary to Our Charter, to the end to partake of the stolen profit thereof; Others, by buying secretly this underhand made ware, in contempt of Our Authority, and with an evil intent of overthrowing this Society which we have sought to establish.  
Now therefore, that by the presumptuous example of these disobedient persons, others may not be encouraged hereafter by impunity to presume to resist and contemn Our Royal Commandment in matters of greater moment, or to withstand the authority of Magistrates and government, These are to charge and straight command, that no persons whatsoever within this Our Realm of England and Dominion of Wales shall hereafter presume to make any manner of Tobacco-pipes, but such as are or shall be members of the said Society: nor shall presume to harbour in their houses any Tobacco-pipe-makers to use their trade there, who are not of the said Society; nor that any person or persons (especially who buy Tobacco-pipes to sell again) shall at any time, or in any place buy or obtain by any means, directly or indirectly any Tobacco-pipes whatsoever, from any under-handmakers or others, but only from such as are known members of the said Society, & that at their common Hall, or other known Warehouses appointed, or hereafter to be appointed, where they may be bought by all Our loving Subjects, upon pain of Our High displeasure, and such punishments as are due for such contempts, whereof We shall require a strict account by proceeding against the offenders in Our Court of Star-chamber.  
Further commanding, that if at any time hereafter any person shall be so audacious as to fortify themselves in their houses, or in the houses of any other, or to withstand Our will and pleasure herein, or to resist Our authority given and imparted to Our Lord chief justice and others, in the search or apprehension of them, or any of them; Then We do hereby will and require, that sufficient power be had and taken by such who shall have such Warrants, to apprehend such obstinate and contemptuous persons, and to carry them before Our said chief justice, or other justice of the Peace, that punishment may be inflicted on them in the severest manner Our Laws will permit, by imprisoning their body, till they have put in sufficient surety for their good behaviour afterwards. Hereby further, straight charging Our Attorney general for the time being, that he cause all and every such wilful and disobedient persons, for such their high contempt in this behalf, to be prosecuted in Our Court of Star-chamber (where Our will is they shall be sharply punished) according to the measure of such their audacious and bold resistance of Our Royal commandment. And to the intent that these frauds and abuses may the better be found out and punished, Our pleasure is, that it shall and may be lawful for any two, or more of the said Society, together with a lawful officer to enter into any suspected place or places, at lawful & convenient times, there to search for, and find out any underhand made, or sold Tobacco-pipes; And all such so found to seize, take, and carry away, and them safely to keep to be disposed of, according to the tenor of Our said Charter.  
And lastly, for the full execution of this Our Royal Commandment, We will and require the Lord Mayor of Our City of London, for the time being, and all other Majors, Shiriffeses, justices of Peace, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other Officers and Ministers whatsoever; That they and every of them in their several Offices and places, be from time to time aiding and assisting to the Master, Wardens, and Society of Tobacco-pipe makers in the due execution and accomplishment of this Our Royal will and Commandment, as they tender Our pleasure, and will answer the contrary at their peril.  
Given at Our Court at Theobalds' the seven and twentieth day of May, in the eighteenth 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. DC. XX.