DIEV· ET· MON· DROIT  
HONI ❀ SOIT ❀ QVI ❀ MAL ❀ Y ❀ PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation concerning Tobacco.  
HAving been heretofore informed, that thorough the immoderate taking of Tobacco, provoking the takers thereof to excessive Drinking and other inconveniences, the health of many of Our Subjects had been much impaired, which had the rather been occasioned for that no restraint had been made of the number, nor regard had of the quality of those that sold Tobacco by Retail but persons of the meanest condition had promiscuously used to Retail the same, keeping no order or assize therein: Whereupon We out of Our Princely care, to repress all such excesses, and to prevent such future inconveniences as might occur thereby, did by the advice of the Lords and others of Our Privy Council, resolve to regulate the ungoverned Selling and Retailing of Tobacco, and to reduce the same into some good order; and that none but men of sufficiency, and such as should bring certificate of their meetness, should from thenceforth be permitted to sell or utter Tobacco by Retail, and those only in certain fit places, and to a certain number in every such place, which places and number We did by the like advice of the Lords, and others of Our Privy Council, appoint accordingly: And afterwards by Our Proclamation, dated the thirteenth day of March, in the ninth year of Our Reign, for the reasons therein expressed We did straight charge and command, that none should from thenceforth presume to sell or utter Tobacco by Retail, until they should have obtained Our Licence in that behalf.  
In conformity whereunto, diverse of Our loving Subjects have since taken several and respective Licences under Our great Seal of England, to sell and utter foreign Tobacco by Retail, in such respective Cities, Towns, and places, as in the same Licences are expressed, rendering to Us, Our Heirs and Successors, such Rents as in and by Our said Licences are respectively reserved in that behalf: By which means not only the afore mentioned excesses have in some good measure been repressed, and many inconveniences prevented, but also some small addition and improvement hath been made to Our Revenue.  
But notwithstanding the Premises, diverse ill affected persons, endeavouring for some small advantage to themselves, to bring the Retailing of Tobacco to that confused and ungoverned liberty it had before, have in contempt of Our said Proclamation presumed without Our Licence to vent and utter Tobacco by Retail, as well in London, and the parts adjacent, as in diverse other Cities, Towns, and places of this Our Realm, thereby discouraging, and in some sort disabling Our said Subjects, who have taken Our Licences, as aforesaid, to pay their Rents thereon reserved, and likewise does▪ heartening others (that is to say) some from suing forth the Licences for which they have respectively contracted, others from contracting with Our Agents appointed in that behalf; and the better to colour their practices, have spread abroad, especially within Our City of London, and the parts adjacent, false reports and rumours, as if We intended to desist from Our aforesaid course of reformation: which their practices and bold attempts We have just cause to take in ill part, and not to suffer the same to pass unpunished.  
Yet because some of Our Subjects, through the false reports and rumours so spread abroad, as aforesaid, may make some doubt of Our Royal intention in the Premises, therefore We have thought meet hereby to declare and publish to all Our people, that We will not leave unfinished so great a work begun with such advice and care, and so much tending to their health and welfare, neither will We suffer Our Revenue in any part thereof by the wilful opposition of some few refractory persons to be impaired.  
And therefore We do hereby straight charge and command all Our loving Subjectts, that none of them do from henceforth presume directly or indirectly, to sell, utter, or deliver any Tobacco by Retail, in any place or places within Our said Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Barwick, or any of them, without Our special Licence under Our great Seal of England, to be obtained in that behalf.  
And We do likewise will and command all Pedlars who wander up and down, not making their constant abode in any one place, and all and every other Interloper or Interlopers whatsoever, that none of them do from henceforth directly or indirectly, sell, utter, or deliver any Tobacco by Retail, or under colour or pretext of giving Tobacco, do by themselves, or any other, take or receive any recompense for the same.  
And whereas diverse of Our Subjects, who are licenced to retail Tobacco in their own houses only, do notwithstanding retail Tobacco in Fairs and Markets abroad, to the prejudice of such persons as are licenced to sell Tobacco in those places, Our will and pleasure is, and We do hereby straight charge and command that from henceforth they and every of them do forbear to sell, utter, or deliver Tobacco by Retail, in any other places then according to the purport and true meaning of their respective Licences under Our great Seal.  
And whereas We are informed that much English Tobacco, which through the coldness of the climate and unaptness of the soil not coming to perfect maturity, is altogether unwholesome to be taken, and other Tobacco adulterate and mixed with rotten fruits and other corrupt ingredients is daily sold and uttered to Our people; We do hereby charge and straight command, that no person whatsoever within Our said Kingdom of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Barwick, or any of them, do from henceforth presume to buy, sell, or utter, directly or indirectly, any Tobacco of the growth of Our Kingdoms of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Barwick, Islands of Jersey, Garnsey, and Man, or any of them, or any mixed or adulterate Tobacco whatsoever: And the better to prevent the great abuse offered and done to Our loving Subjects in the sale of English Tobacco, We do also straight charge and command that no person whatsoever do at any time hereafter plant, or cause to be planted, any Tobacco within Our Kingdoms of England and Ireland, or either of them, or within Our Dominion of Wales, or Town of Barwick, or within Our Islands of Jersey, Garnsey and Man, or any of them, and that all Tobacco already planted, and now growing there, be presently displanted and utterly destroyed.  
And to the end the doing hereof be not in any wise omitted or neglected, We do charge and command all Constables, Tithingmen, Headboroughs, and other Officers within their several limits and jurisdictions, carefully to see the same executed accordingly.  
And further, We do will and command all justices of Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, and other principal Officers in their several places, within the compass of their several jurisdictions and authorities, upon complaint to them made, to cause the same to be duly performed without partiality, as they and every of them will answer their contempts at their perils.  
And We do further will and command, that no Tobacco whatsoever be from henceforth imported, landed, or unladed to, in, or at any other Port, Haven, Creek, or place within Our Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Port and Town of Barwick, or any of them, then to, in, or at Our Port of London, without special warrant to be obtained from Our Lord high Treasurer of England for the time being in that behalf: And that all Merchants, Masters, and Owners of any Ship or Ships, and other persons whatsoever within or under Our obedience, do take notice of Our Royal command and pleasure herein, and do carefully and duly observe the same accordingly.  
And We do hereby straight charge and command all Our Subjects to yield their due obedience in all and singular the Premises, as they tender Our pleasure, and will answer the contrary at their peril.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the five and twentieth day of March, in the fourteenth year of Our Reign. ❧ God save the King.   

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of JOHN BILL. 1638.