America and West Indies: January 1631

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: January 1631', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 124-125. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp124-125 [accessed 22 April 2024]

January 1631

Jan.? 1. The Privy Council to the Earl of Carlisle. The great abuse of tobacco, to the enervation of both body and courage, is so notorious that the King has directed the planting of it to be limited in St. Christopher's, Barbadoes, and all places under Carlisle's command, until such time as more staple commodities may be raised there. No other than sweet, wholesome, and well packed up tobacco to be exported, and that delivered at the port of London only. [Draft, in Sec. Coke's hand.]
Jan.? 2. The Privy Council to the Governor and Company of the Somers Islands. Considering the care taken to settle their government, and encourage the inhabitants to plant real commodities, the King marvels that they apply themselves wholly to tobacco, and requires them not to plant so much as they have hitherto done. Every planter to have his proportion limited. Directions for exportation. [Draft, in Sec. Coke's hand.]
Jan.? 3. [The Privy Council] to the Governor of Virginia. The King, careful to encourage and support the plantation, has long expected some better fruit than tobacco and smoke to be returned from thence. [Gov. Harvey] is therefore directed to consider what quantity of tobacco is necessary for their support next year; to rate every planter accordingly, and not suffer him to exceed his proportion. Inclose copy of His Majesty's proclamation, so that he may understand the care taken for regulating that drug. [Draft, in Sec. Coke's hand.] Inclose,
3. I. Proclamation setting forth the speedy ruin likely to befal the colonies of Virginia, the Somers Islands, and other foreign plantations, and the danger to the bodies and manners of the English people through the excessive growth of tobacco, prohibiting the planting or selling of any within the dominions of England and Ireland, and restricting the cultivation of it in the plantations, and the importation of it to any other port than London. Whitehall, 1631, Jan. 6. [Proclamations, Car. I., No. 138.]
[Jan. 6.] The Privy Council to the Farmers and Officers of Customs. Inclose the King's proclamation against planting tobacco in any part of the kingdom. His Majesty has laid a new imposition upon the importation of all foreign tobacco. Spanish will pay 2s. per lb.; St. Christopher's, Barbadoes, and other islands in those parts, 12d. per lb.; and tobacco from Virginia and the Somers Islands, 9d. per lb. In order to lessen the importation by limitation of place, it is not to be received anywhere but at the port of London. [DOMESTIC Corresp. Car. I.]
January. 21.
Mr. Dike's house, Billiter Lane.		 Minute of a Court for Providence Island. Sir Thos. Barrington admitted into the Company; his adventure of 200l., to be paid to John Pym, treasurer. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p 7.]
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