❧ By the King. ❧ A Proclamation inhibiting the Importation of Pepper from foreign parts, by any other persons than those of the East Indian Company.  
FOrasmuch as it is not unknown, That in former times when all or the greatest part of Pepper, and other Spices of the growth of the East Indies, was brought into this our Realm of England and Principality of Wales by Strangers only, the same was then sold at very high Rates, until such time as some of our own Merchants did themselves trade into those parts, and bringing in good quantities of those Commodities, did sell the same at much lower prices, to the great relief and benefit of all our Subjects in general: And forasmuch as we do find, That the establishment and continuance of this Trade, hath and will be more and more an occasion to employ and increase the great Shipping of this Kingdom, which hath heretofore been out of use, as being not so necessary for Trade in Countries that are not so far remote: For these, and some other reasons which have been delivered unto us, being desirous to encourage this Company, and to maintain that Trade by all good and lawful means; And experience teaching us, That if there should be, till the Trade were better settled, a free and general liberty for all persons whatsoever to bring in those Commodities, it would be an occasion to overlay the Trade, and Strangers would of purpose vent their Spices at small Rates, thereby to enforce our own Subjects to desist from trading into those Countries: We with the advise of our Privy Council, have thought fit, for some time to restrain the Importation of Pepper from foreign parts, by any others then by the Merchants jointly of the East Indian Company. And therefore we do hereby will and command all person and persons whatsoever, either our natural born Subjects, Denizens, or Strangers (not being the Company aforesaid) to forbear to bring into these our Dominions of England and Wales, any Pepper, directly or indirectly, upon pain of forfeiture of the goods, and what other punishment they may incur by any contempt and default herein. And to the end, this our pleasure may be more duly observed, We do likewise charge and command all Customers, controllers, Searchers, Waiters, farmers of our Customs and their Deputies, and all other our Officers of the Ports, within our Territories aforesaid, That they do not give any Bills of Entry for Pepper that is brought in from foreign Countries, by any other than those who shall be known to be of the Company aforesaid: Neither shall they suffer it to be landed, or being so, shall seize the same to our use as justly forfeited. And moreover, they and every of them, shall use their best means and endeavours to hinder and prevent all secret and fraudulent practises of such as shall seek to bring it that Commodity, Notwithstanding this our pleasure published to the contrary.  
ANd because we are careful to prevent all inconveniences to the generality of our Subjects, in case they should be hardly dealt with under this restraint, by those that have the whole mass of Pepper in their own hands; Although we hold the Company to be compounded of many good and honest Merchants and others, yet because there is no Society wherein all are of one temper, And out of the care we have always had for the common good of all our people more than of any particular Society; we thought it not safe to repose so much confidence in a part of our people, as to leave the whole Body subject to their wills, in matter of this nature.  
And therefore having well examined what might be an indifferent price to yield to the Merchants competent gain for the maintenance of so great and long a Trade, and so needful for the support of Navigation, and yet not be overchargeable to the rest of our people, who have on the other side daily use of that kind of Spice; We have conditioned with them, and limited, That they shall utter Pepper at the rate of Two shillings six pence the pound, and not exceed, to any that shall come or send for it, upon pain of our high displeasure.  
Which provision, and limitation being made by us in favour of the community of our Subjects, we have thought good to publish and make known to all men, To the end that if it fall out, that such as by way of Retail do utter to our people dwelling in places remote from our City of London, and other parts where Shipping doth arrive, that kind of Spice, there be exacted any prices excessive, it may appear that the same is not for want of due provision made to prevent it, but by the overgreedinesse of those which shall sell it. In which consideration, although we know, that there are many reasons, why those that sell by Retail, should demand a further price than they pay for it here, as well in respect of the distance of place, forbearing of their money, as many other things incident to that kind of Trade: Yet the better to contain them within the bounds of reasonable gain, we have thought good to make known thus much, thereby to express our own care of our loving Subjects, and to show them the means whereby they may avoid such further burden, as may be cast upon them by any that shall go about by any undue practice, to raise immoderate gain, under colour or pretext of that course which we have taken for the reasons aforesaid.  
Given at Newmarket the last day of November, in the seventh year of our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, ANNO 1609.