xx. By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for restraint of the disordered trading for Tobacco.  
WHereas We, out of the dislike We had of the use of Tobacco, tending to a general and new corruption both of men's bodies and manners, and yet nevertheless holding it of the two more tolerable, that the same should be imported amongst many other vanities and superfluities, which came from beyond the Seas, then permitted to be planted here within this Realm, thereby to abuse and misimploy the soil of this fruitful Kingdom, did by Our Proclamation dated the thirtieth day of December now last passed straight charge and command all and every person and persons, of what degree or condition soever, That they or any of them by themselves, their servants, workmen or labourers, should not from and after the second day of February than next following, presume to sow, set or plant, or cause to be sown, set or planted within this Our Realm of England and the Dominion of Wales, any sort or kind of Tobacco whatsoever, and that they, or any of them, should not maintain or continue any old stocks or plants of Tobacco formerly sown or planted, but should forthwith utterly destroy and root up the same. And whereas We have taken into Our Royal consideration aswell the great waste and consumption of the wealth of Our Kingdoms, as the endangering & impairing the health of Our Subjects, by the inordinate liberty and abuse of Tobacco, being a weed of no necessary use, and but of late years brought into Our Dominions, and being credibly informed, that diverse Tobacconists, and other mean persons taking upon them to trade and adventure into the parts beyond the Seas for Tobacco, to the intent to forestall and engross the said commodity, upon unmerchantlike conditions, do transport much Gold bullion and Coin out of Our Kingdoms, and do barter and vent the Staple commodities of Our Realm at under-values, to the intent to buy Tobacco, to the discredit of Our native merchandizes, and extreme enhansing of the rates and prices of Tobacco, and the great disturbance and decay of the Trade of the orderly and good Merchant: We taking the premises into Our Princely consideration, and being desirous to put a remedy to the said inconveniences, which We have long endeavoured, though with less effect than We expected, have resolved to make some further redress, by restraining the disordered traffic in that Commodity, and reducing it into the hands of able persons that may manage the same without inconvenience, whereby the general abuse may be taken away, and the necessary use (if any be) may be preserved. We do therefore not only by these presents, straight charge and command, That Our said Proclamation restraining the planting of Tobacco, be in every respect observed and performed according to the tenor thereof, upon the penalties therein contained; but also that no person or persons whatsoever, Englishmen, Denizens or Strangers, (other than such as shall be authorized and appointed thereunto by Letters Patents under Our great Seal of England) do import or cause to be imported into this Our Realm of England or Dominion of Wales, or any part of them or either of them, any Tobacco, of what nature, kind, or sort soever, after the tenth day of july next ensuing the date hereof, from any the parts beyond the Seas, upon pain of forfeiture to Us of all such Tobacco so to be imported contrary to the true meaning of these Presents, and upon such further pains and penalties as by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, or by the severity or censure of Our Court of starchamber may be inflicted upon the offenders, for contempt of this Our Royal command. And likewise that no Master, Merchant, or Purser of any Ship or other vessel, do at any time or times after the said tenth day of july, presume or attempt to take into their ships to be imported into this Realm and Dominion, or either of them, any sort, manner, or quantity of Tobacco whatsoever, but only to the use of such person and persons as shallbe so as aforesaid authorized and appointed under Our great Seal of England to import the same, & which shallbe by them, their deputies, servants or factors delivered to the said Masters, Merchants or Pursers of ships to be imported, upon the pains and penalties aforesaid.  
And to the intent that no such offendor may colour or hide his offence and contempt, by shadowing the Tobacco to be brought in, contrary to Our pleasure before expressed, under pretence of former store, We do hereby signify and declare Our will and pleasure, and do straight charge and command, That all and every person and persons which now have, or hereafter shall have within or near 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 july now next ensuing to be imported into this Realm, amounting to the quantity of ten pounds' weight or above, shall before the said tenth day of july now next coming, bring the same unto the house commonly called, The Hawk and Feasant, situate in Cornhill in the said City of London, and shall cause the same to be there sealed and marked by such person and persons, and with such mark or Seal as by Us shallbe for that purpose assigned and appointed, without giving any Fee or allowance for the said Seal or mark.  
And to the intent that the Tobacco to be hereafter imported by Warrant or Authority under Our great Seal, may be known and distinguished from such as shall be secretly and without Warrant brought in by stealth, We do likewise charge and command, that all such Tobacco as from and after the said tenth day of july shall be imported by force of any such Warrant or Authority and none other, except the old store aforesaid to be sealed as aforesaid, shall be sealed and marked with such Seal and mark as aforesaid. And we do hereby prohibit all person and persons from and after the said tenth day of july, to buy, utter, sell or vent within the said Kingdom and Dominion, or either of them, any Roll or other gross quantity of Tobacco whatsoever, before the same be so as aforesaid marked or sealed, upon pain of forfeiture unto Us of all such Tobacco so bought, uttered, sold or vented contrary to the intent of these Presents, and upon such further penalties as by Our Laws, or by the censure of Our Court of starchamber may be inflicted upon the offenders, as contemners of Our Royal command.  
And for the better execution of this Our Pleasure, We do hereby command all and singular Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters, and other officers attending in all and every the Ports, Creeks, or places of lading or unlading, for the taking, collecting, or receiving of any Our Customs, Subsidies or other duties, to take notice of this Our pleasure; and We do hereby command, and give power and authority unto them, and every or any of them, from time to time, as well to search any Ship or other vessel or Bottom, riding or lying within any Port, Haven or Creek within their several Charge and place of attendance, for all Tobacco imported contrary to the intent of this Our Proclamation, and the same being found, to seize and take to Our use, as also to take notice of the names, and apprehend the bringers in, and buyers of the same, to the end they may receive condign punishment for their offences, upon pain that every of the said Officers which shallbe found negligent, remiss or corrupt therein, shall lose his place and entertainment, and undergo such pains and penalties as by Our Laws, or the censure of Our said Court of starchamber may be inflicted upon them for the same.  
And likewise We do hereby will, ordain and appoint, That it shall and may be lawful to and for such person and persons, as shallbe so as aforesaid authorized and appointed by Letters Patents under Our great Seal, to import Tobacco by himself or themselves, or his or their Deputy or Deputies, with a lawful Officer to enter into any suspected places at lawful and convenient times, and there search, discover and find out any Tobacco imported, uttered, sold or vented, not marked or sealed as aforesaid, contrary to the true meaning hereof, and all such Tobacco so found, to seize, take away and dispose of, and the owners thereof, or in whose custody the same shallbe found, to inform and complain of, to the end they may receive punishment according to Our pleasure before herein declared.  
And further We do by these Presents will and require all and singular Mayors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughes, Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters, and all other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever, That they and every of them in their several places and offices be diligent and attendant in the execution of this Our Proclamation, and also aiding and assisting unto such person and persons, and his and their Deputies and Assigns as We shall so as aforesaid authorise and appoint to import Tobacco, aswell in any search for discovery of any act or acts to be performed contrary to the intent of these Presents, as otherwise in the doing or executing of any matter or thing forth accomplishment of this Our Royal Command. And lastly Our will and pleasure is, and We do hereby charge and command Our Attorney general for the time being, to inform against such persons in Our Court of starchamber from time to time, whose contempt and disobedience against this Our Royal command shall merit the censure of that Court.  
Given at Our Manor of Greenwich the nine and twentieth day of june, in the eighteenth year of Our Reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the three and fiftieth.  
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.