HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation concerning Tobacco.  
WHereas in the Reign of Our late dear Father, and since Our access to the Crown, upon mature deliberation three have been sundry Proclamations published for restraining the landing of Tobacco to certain Ports and Harbours within this Kingdom, and against planting of the same within this Realm; And for that they have not been put in due execution, diverse frauds and abuses have been of late invented and put in execution, by mixing of Tobacco, not only with other Tobacco of worse condition, but also with other Materials, falsifying and corrupting the same, to the great hurt and damage of Our people, both in their estates and persons, which growing evil may in some measure be prevented, if the Tobacco brought into this Our Realm shall be laid or landed only in one Port and place.  
For remedy therefore in that behalf, and to the end We may be the more truly answered of the Custom, Impost, and other duties due unto Us for Tobacco brought into this Realm by way of Merchandise, whereof We have been sundry times defrauded by landing the same at the pleasures of the Owners: We do hereby publish and declare Our Royal will and pleasure, That no Tobacco be hereafter landed, or imported to be landed at any other Porte, then in Our Port of London, and at no other place of the said Port then at the Key and Wharfe commonly called the Customhouse Key, situate in Our City of London, and other Port or place for landing of Tobacco We do not admit or allow, but them inhibit.  
And We do hereby straight charge and command all and singular Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters and other Officers, attending in all Our Ports, Creeks, or places of lading or unlading, (except Our said Port of London) not to take entries of any Tobacco, nor suffer the same to be taken, landed, or laid on shore in any other Harbour, Port, Creek or place within this Kingdom, upon pain that every of the said Officers that shall be found negligent, corrupt or remiss herein, shall undergo such pains and penalties, as by the Laws or Censure of our Court of Star-chamber may be inflicted upon them for the same.  
And it is Our further will and pleasure, that if any Ship or Bark wherein Tobacco shall be loaden shall arrive at any other Port or place then at Our said Port of London.  
We do hereby give full power and Authority to all and every the Customers, Comptrollers, Surveyors, Searchers and Waiters, and every of them there attending, and do command them to take and arrest the same Tobacco, and forthwith to make Certificate to the Customers of the Port of London, of the Owners name of such Ship or other vessel, and his place of dwelling, the number and names of the Officers, and Mariners in the same, the place from whence the same Tobacco came, with the quantity of Tobacco that shall be contained therein.  
And also, that Our said Officers, or some of them, shall with all convenient speed cause and procure the Tobacco so by them arrested, to be carefully transmitted to the said Port of London, to the Customer there, that the same may be there viewed, and the duties thereof belonging unto Us, may be duly paid and satisfied, and such further order taken with the same, and with the Owners thereof, as shall be fit.  
And whereas notwithstanding former Proclamations published to the contrary, yet We are informed, that Tobacco is still planted and sown in diverse parts of Our Realms of England and Ireland, in contempt of Us and Our Royal Commands declared to the contrary; We do therefore hereby again absolutely prohibit the Planting thereof in Our said Kingdoms, as also the bringing into the same of any Seed for the increase thereof, from the parts beyond the Seas; The Tobacco growing in the Northern and moist Climates being not only unwholesome for man's body, but the same maketh fertile grounds become for a long space less fruitful, that might otherwise produce Corn, Herbs and Roots for the sustenance of Our Subjects.  
And for the more certain depressing of the same, We do hereby straight command Our justices of Assize within their several Circuits, Our justices of Peace within Our several Counties of this Kingdom, Majors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, and other Our Officers within each City and Town Corporate, that they at their several Sittings, Quarter Sessions, and meetings, give the same in charge as an Offence, whereof We expect due reformation, requiring a Return thereof amongst other the grievances of the Country in their Presentments, And the names and dwelling places of any Offenders herein, and the qualities of their Offences, to present to the Lords of Our Privy Council, the then next Term after every such Sitting or meeting, to the end the Offenders may be proceeded against by sentence in Our Court of Star-chamber, or otherwise, as in justice shall be thought fit.  
And lastly, We do by these Presents will and require all and singular Majors, 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, as they will answer the contrary at their uttermost perils.  
Given at Our Court at Greenwich, this nineteenth day of May, in the tenth year of Our Reign of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent MAJESTY: And by the Assigns of JOHN BILL. 1634.