Part 2
Whereas in the first Session of our Parliament holden at Westminster the nineteenth day of March in the yeere of our raigne of England, France and Ireland the first, and of Scotland the seven and thirtieth; It was amongst other things Enacted, That no woman nor any childe under the age of one and twenty yeeres (Except Saylers or Shipboyes or Apprentice, or Factor of some Merchant in trade of Merchandize) should bee permitted to passe over the Seas, except the same should be by licence of us, our Heires or Successors, or some sixe or more of our privy Councell, thereunto first had under their handes, upon paine that the Officers of the Port that should willingly or negligently suffer any such to passe, or should not enter the names of such Passengers licenced, should forfeit his Office, and all his goods and Chattels, And upon paine that the owner of any Ship or Vessell, that should wittingly or willingly cary any such over the Seas, without licence as is aforesaid, should forfeit his Ship or Vessell, and all the Tackle, And every Master or Mariner, of or in any such Ship or Vessell, offending as is aforesaid, should forfeit all their goods, and suffer imprisonment by the space of twelve moneths without Baile, or Maineprise, As by the saide Acte of Parliament amongst other things may more at large appeare:[1]
And whereas many such our Subjects, That is to say, Women and persons under the age of twenty and one yeeres, have from time to time just and necessary causes and occasions to goe and passe over the Seas, In which cases for every such women and persons under the age of twenty and one yeeres to obteine such licence, either from our selves, or from sixe of our said Privy Counsel according to the said Law, is very inconvenient, and almost impossible; Wee have therefore thought convenient, for the ease as well of our selfe and our said Counsell, as of such of our Subjects as are of the condition mentioned in the saide Acte of Parliament, to graunt our Commission to persons of trust in certaine Ports of our Realme, lying most apt and convenient for passage, That is to say, London, the Cinque Ports, Harwich, Yarmouth, Hull, and Waymouth, to licence such women and persons under the age of twenty and one yeeres, as shall have just cause to passe out of our Realme, upon due examination had of them, to passe without perill to themselves, or the Officers of our said Ports, Notwithstanding the said Statute or anything therein conteined, And we have thought it fit to give publique knowledge hereof to al our Subjects, and to all our Officers whom it may concerne, to the ende they may know what shall bee lawfull for them to doe in those cases.
Given at the Castle of Farneham the xxiii. day of August, in the fourth yeere of our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie. 1606.
_1 p. folio. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Crawf., P. R. O., and Q. C. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed, in Barker's "Booke of Proclamations," p. 133._
FOOTNOTE:
[1] This Act, entitled "An Acte for the due Execution of the Statutes againste Jesuits, Seminarie Priestes Recusants &c.," is printed in _Statutes of the Realm_, iv. 1021, 1 James I, ch. 4, sec. 7.
1614, September 11.
[Importation of Whale-fins from Greenland.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION CONCERNING THE BRINGING IN OF WHALE-FINNES INTO HIS MAJESTIES DOMINIONS, ETC.
As Wee conceive, it cannot be construed by any Our doings or proceedings, that Wee are caried with any ambitions or unjust appetite, to covet that which appertaineth to others So it shalbe alwayes Our desire and resolution, to nourish and maintaine the happy estate of Our loving Subjects, and the honour of Our Kingdomes; not onely in the same degree, in the which We have received them; but likewise with that increase and advancement, whereof the providence of Almighty God by just occasions shal put meanes and opportunities into Our hands; and in nothing more (next unto the true worship of God, and the administration of Justice) then in the maintenance and increase of Navigation, wherein Our kingdomes both by scituation, strength of shipping, skill of Marriners, valew of Commanders at Sea, and many honourable discoveries and exploits, have for long time, and more and more of late time flourished. And whereas Our Company of Merchants for the discovery of new Trades, commonly called the Muscovia Company,[1] have with their great costs and charges, of late yeeres discovered a Land, which they call by the name of King James his Newland,[2] to the increase of Navigation and Mariners; and have further by their care and industry entred into a trade of fishing for the Whale, and procured Biscainers, skilfull in striking the Whale, to teach and instruct the English Nation therein: And whereas a principall part of the benefit of the Whale-fishing consisteth in the commoditie of Whale-finnes imported into Our Kingdomes; And that experience already sheweth, that Our owne subjects in their returne from that Fishing, are able to furnish and serve Our Kingdomes with sufficient quantity for the use of Our loving subjects: it being also a matter of delicacie, and rather to be considered as it may concerne Navigation, then in itselfe: We have therfore thought fit for the better encouragement of the said Company, and other Our Subjects, in services of like nature, to prohibite all Aliens and strangers, and also Our owne subjects, (except the said Muscovia Merchants, and that in their joynt stocke) to bring hereafter into any Our Kingdomes the said commodity.
Wherefore We do by these presents, straitly and expresly forbid and prohibite, all Aliens and strangers whatsoever, and also Our owne Subjects (others then the said Muscovia Merchants, and that in their joynt stocke) to bring into any Our kingdomes, and Dominions any Whale-finnes, upon paine of Confiscation of the same, and of Our high indignation and displeasure, and of such further punishment, as shalbe meet to be inflicted upon the offenders for their contempt in that behalfe: And We do further hereby charge and require all Our Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers and other Officers, and also the Farmors of Our Customes, and their ministers, carefully to attend every one in their severall dueties, the execution of this Our Royall Proclamation, and in no wise to permit or suffer any Whale-finnes, either directly or indirectly, openly or privately, to be brought into the Ports, or other places of any of Our kingdomes: And in case any be brought in, the same to seaze to Our use, and by all other meanes to finde out, and informe of all offences tending to the breach of this Our Royall Proclamation.
Given at Wansted the eleventh day of September, in the twelfth yeere of Our Raigne of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, 1614.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie. Anno Dom. 1614.
_1 p. folio. Copies in Antiq., I. T., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C. Entered on Patent Rolls._
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The Russia, or Muscovy Company, chartered as a company of Merchant Adventurers in 1554, received from King James in 1613 an additional charter giving them the exclusive rights to the whale fishery of Greenland. For the subsequent career of this Company and their struggles with the Dutch for the possession of the Greenland trade, see Cawston and Keane, _Early Chartered Companies_, pp. 45-52.
[2] In 1613 the Muscovy Company set up the King's arms at Spitzbergen, calling it King James's Newland. (Anderson, _Origin of Commerce_, ii, 343.) In vol. iv of the _Transactions_ of the American Antiquarian Society is printed from the original manuscript the Narrative of a Voyage to Spitzbergen, being "A Brief Description of the Country of Greenland, otherwise called King James his New Land." The rise of the Muscovy Company and its participation in the Greenland trade is carefully treated by Dr. S. F. Haven in the introduction to the Narrative. This recently discovered land was Spitzbergen and not Greenland proper.
1617, December 23.
[Banishing Notorious Offenders to Virginia.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION FOR THE BETTER AND MORE PEACEABLE GOVERNMENT OF THE MIDDLE SHIRES OF NORTHUMBERLAND, CUMBERLAND, AND WESTMERLAND.
[A long proclamation for the prevention of disorders and outrages in certain shires, requiring that no person shall lease lands and tenements without sufficient surety, that all persons shall assist in the pursuit of criminals, that notorious offenders shall not receive bail except in open court, that care shall be exercised in the granting of licenses to "hostler houses and malsters," that known malefactors shall not be countenanced "by wearing of their liveries or any other dependance," that the families of offenders who have been banished shall be sent to join the fugitives, that all outlaws shall yield themselves up to the law and shall not be sheltered, that for the prevention of cattle stealing no beef shall be sold in any fair or market without the hide, that all horses, sheep and cattle shall be sold only in open fair or market, that notorious offenders shall be sent to Virginia and other foreign parts, that the use of weapons and horses be forbidden except to noblemen and gentlemen, that the overlords shall require sufficient bonds of their tenants, and that offenders shall be remanded to the place where their offense was committed. Only the paragraph regarding America is quoted.]
Item, for the more speedy suppressing, and freeing the said Countreis and places of notorious and wicked offenders that will not be reformed, but by severity of punishment; Wee have taken order for the making out a Commission to speciall Commissioners, to survey, search and finde out, and enforme Us of the most notorious and lewd persons, and of their faults, within the said Counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmerland, Riddesdale, and Bewcastle within the same: And We hereby signifie our pleasure to be upon Certificate of the said Commissioners, to send the most notorious ill livers, and misbehaved persons of them that shall so be certified, into Virginia, or to some other remote parts to serve in the Warres, or in Colonies, that they may no more infect the places where they abide within this our Realme.
* * * * *
Given at Our Pallace of Westminister, the three and twentieth day of December, in the fifteenth yeere of Our Raigne of Great Britaine, France and Ireland. Anno 1617.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Deputies and Assignes of Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie. Anno M.DC.XVII.
_4 pp. folio. Copies in Antiq., I. T., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C. Entered on Patent Rolls; entered in Privy Council Register (Scotland), xi, 288._
1618, June 9.
[Censuring Sir Walter Raleigh for sacking St. Thomas.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION DECLARING HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE CONCERNING SIR WALTER RAWLEIGH, AND THOSE WHO ADVENTURED WITH HIM.
Whereas We gave Licence to Sir Walter Rawleigh,[1] Knight, and others of Our Subjects with him, to undertake a Voyage to the Countrey of Guyana, where they pretended great hopes and probabilities to make discovery of certain Gold Mines, for the lawfull enriching of themselves, and these Our Kingdoms: Wherein We did by expresse limitation and Caution restraine, and forbid them and every of them, from attempting any Acte of hostility, wrong, or violence whatsoever, upon any of the Territories, States, or Subjects of any forraine Princes, with whom Wee are in amitie: And more peculiarly of those of Our deare Brother the King of Spaine, in respect of his Dominions and Interests in that Continent. All which notwithstanding, We are since informed by a common fame, that they, or some of them have, by an hostile invasion of the Towne of S. Thome (being under the obedience of Our said deare Brother the King of Spaine) and by killing of divers of the inhabitants thereof, his Subjects, and after by sacking and burning of the said towne, (as much as in them for their owne parts lay) malitiously broken and infringed the Peace and Amitie, which hath beene so happily established, and so long inviolably continued betweene Us and the Subjects of both our Crownes.
Wee have therefore held it fit, as appertaining neerely to Our Royall Justice and Honor, eftsoones to make a publique declaration of Our owne utter mislike and detestation of the said insolences, and excesses, if any such have beene by any of Our Subjects committed: And for the better detection and clearing of the very trueth of the said common fame; Wee doe heereby straitly charge and require all Our Subjects whatsoever, that have any particular understanding and notice thereof, upon their duety and alleagiance which they owe Us, immediately after publication of this Our pleasure, to repaire unto some of Our Privy Counsell, and to discover and make knowne unto them their whole knowledge and understanding concerning the same, under paine of Our High displeasure and indignation; that Wee may thereupon proceede in Our Princely Justice to the exemplary punishment and coertion of all such, as shal be convicted and found guilty of so scandalous and enormous outrages.
Given at Our Mannor of Greenwich, the ninth day of June, in the sixteenth yeere of Our Raigne of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the one and Fiftieth.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton, and John Bill, deputie Printers for the Kings most Excellent Majestie. Anno M.DC.XVIII.
_1 p. folio. Copies in Antiq., B. M., I. T., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed in Rymer's "Foedera," xvii, 92, where it is dated June 11, 1618._
FOOTNOTE:
[1] Raleigh's voyage for the discovery of gold mines in Guiana (the modern Venezuela) was projected in 1616. He was released from the Tower in March of that year and sailed from Plymouth with a fleet of fourteen ships in June, 1617. The expedition seemed doomed to failure from the start, and after St. Thomas was attacked and burned in December, 1617, Raleigh was compelled to return to England without having attained his object. He landed at Plymouth in June, 1618, and after the due form of trial was executed, although upon a sentence of 1603, on October 29, 1618 (_Dictionary of National Biography_, vol. 47, pp. 197-200, where authorities are cited). Raleigh's commission for undertaking the voyage, dated August 26, 1616, is printed in Rymer's _Foedera_, xvi, 789.
1619, May 18.
[Importation of Whale-fins from Greenland.]
BY THE KING.
A PROCLAMATION INHIBITING THE IMPORTATION OF WHALE FINNES INTO HIS MAJESTIES DOMINIONS BY ANY, BUT THE MUSCOVY COMPANY.
Whereas Wee by Our Proclamation given at Wansted, the eleventh day of September in the twelfth yeere of Our reigne of Great Brittaine, France, and Ireland,[1] for the reasons therein expressed, and for the incouragement of Our welbeloved Subjects, the company of Merchants trading for Muscovia, Greeneland[2] and the parts adjoyning, commonly called the Muscovia Company, did straitly and expresly forbid and prohibit all Aliens and Strangers whatsoever, and also all Our owne Subjects (others then the sayd Muscovia Merchants, and that in their joynt stock) to bring into any Our Kingdomes, and Dominions any Whale Finnes upon paine of confiscation of the same, and of Our high indignation and displeasure, and of such further punishment as should be meet to be inflicted upon the Offenders for their contempt in that behalfe.
Now forasmuch as We are given to understand, That Our sayd Proclamation took not that good effect, nor found that due obedience and conformity which We expected: We have therefore in further manifestation of our former intentions and gracious favor towards the sayd Company, thought good eftsoones to publish Our Royall pleasure heerein, and to revive and quicken Our sayd former Proclamation, which We cannot but take in ill part, hath beene so much neglected: And therefore We doe by these presents straitly charge, prohibit, and forbid, aswell all Alliens and Strangers whatsoever, as also Our naturall born Subjects and Denizens, That they nor any of them (other then the sayd Muscovia Merchants, and that in their joynt stocke onely) shall from hencefoorth directly or indirectly import, or bring into Our Kingdomes and Dominions, or any of them, any Whale Finnes, upon paine of forfeiture, and confiscation of the same, whether they be found on board of any Ship, Hoy, Boate, or Bottome, or layd on land in any warehouse, storehouse, shop, cellar, or any other place whatsoever, and upon paine of Our high Indignation and displeasure, and such other punishment, as by Our Court of Starre chamber shalbe thought meet to be inflicted upon them, or any of them, as contemners of Our Royall will and commandement in this behalfe.
And Wee doe likewise straitly charge, prohibite and forbid, aswell all Aliens and Strangers, as Our naturall borne Subjects and Denizens (other then the sayd Muscovia Merchants) that they nor any of them doe presume to buye, utter, sell, barter or contract for, any Whale finnes, knowing the same to be imported into any of our Realmes or Dominions contrary to Our wil and pleasure heerein declared, upon paine of Our high indignation and displeasure, and such further punishment as by Our said Court of Starre chamber shall bee thought meet to be inflicted upon such offenders, as contemners also of Our Royall commandement. And to the end this Our pleasure may take the better effect, We doe heereby charge, and command all Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters, Farmors, and Collectors of Our Customes, and other our Officers and Ministers, carefully to attend every one in his severall place, the execution heereof, and in no wise to permit or suffer any Whale finnes directly or indirectly, openly or privately to be brought, or imported into any Our Kingdomes or Dominions, contrary to Our Royal pleasure heerein expressed, or being so imported, that they doe not permit, or suffer the same to bee colourably customed for other goods and Merchandize, but that foorthwith they or some of them doe seize and take to Our use all such Whalefinnes as shall be so imported, and immediately upon such seizure made, to give notice thereof in writing to Our Register for forfeitures in Our Custome house in the Port of London, upon paine to undergoe such punishment, as shalbe thought meet by the Lords of Our Privie Councell.
Neverthelesse Our intent and meaning is, That the sayd Muscovie Company, and none other, shall or may buy, and sell, barter, or contract for, any such Whalefinnes, as being imported contrary to this Our Proclamation shalbe confiscate and seized, and the same, being sold by the sayd Company, may be afterward bought, contracted for, and used by any other Our Subjects at their wil and pleasure. Any thing heerein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
Given at Our Mannour of Greenwich, the eighteenth day of May, in the seventeenth yeere of our Raigne of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the two and fiftieth.
Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most excellent Majestie. Anno. M.DC.XIX.
_2 pp. folio. There are two issues slightly varying in set-up. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Dalk., I. T., P. C., P. R. O., and Q. C._
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Refers to the proclamation of September 11, 1614. In 1618 the East India Adventurers had joined stock with the Muscovy Company to form one joint company for the whale fishery, but after two years of unsuccessful adventuring the agreement was dissolved (Anderson, _Origin of Commerce_, ii, 360, 367).
[2] Spitzbergen, rather than Greenland proper.
1619, October 6.
[Manufacture of Tobacco-pipes.]
AN ABSTRACT OF SOME BRANCHES OF HIS MAJESTIES LATE CHARTER, GRANTED TO THE TOBACCO-PIPE MAKERS OF WESTMINSTER; DECLARING HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE TOUCHING THAT MANUFACTURE, AND ALSO ALL PERSONS WHOM IT MAY CONCERNE.
James by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, &c. Whereas Wee have been informed by the complaint of divers of Our poore Subjects, the ancient Makers of Tobacco-Pipes within this Our Realme, That for want of power and priviledge to retaine their Apprentises and Servants during their Apprentiship (who commonly depart from them before they have served their tearmes, or attained to the knowledge of their Art) they are much prejudiced both in their Trades and meanes of living, by their excessive making and uttering of ill Ware, And Our Subjects who have use of that Manufacture, are thereby greatly abused and deceived: And not only so, but to their Masters farther impoverishment, these loose and idle persons doe instruct and teach others of as bad qualitie as themselves, to make and sell like ill and deceitful ware. Besides, for that the said Art of making Tobacco Pipes is easily learned, sundry of our Subjects trained up in other Trades more useful for the Realme, doe forsake the same and take up this of making Tobacco-Pipes: And others who have other good Trades to live upon, intrude themselves into this also, and use both, to the hinderance and overthrow of those who anciently practised the same. And whereas for the better reforming of all those disorders, to cut off the superfluous straglers and late intruders, to reduce them to a competent number, and to settle good government amongst them (this Trade being a new Trade, never yet ordered by any Law or Policie, and which concerneth not any Commoditie of necessitie for our Common-weale, but a superfluous pleasure, necessarie to be regulated by Our Royall power and authoritie) We have therefore thought fit by Letters Patents under Our Great Seale, to Incorporate a certaine number of choice and selected persons, who have either served as Apprentices, or have otherwise practised that Art by the space of seven yeers, to whom and whose Servants, Apprentices, and such others as shall be by them admitted into that Societie for their skill and honest conversation, Wee intend to appropriat the said Art, and to restraine all others from taking that benefit which in no right belongeth unto them.