Forasmuch as it hath alwayes been Our great care, for the good of Our Subjects in this Our ancient Kingdom, to improve and encourage the Manufactories thereof; And considering, that by the excessive importation of Forraign Salt, and the applying thereof to all domestick and ordinary uses, contrary to the intent of many good Laws made thereanent, the ancient and useful Manufactory of Salt is like to be ruined, and many thousands of poor people who are thereby maintained, in hazard to be brought to extream poverty: And finding also, that by the unlimited importation of Forraign Salt, We are frequently defrauded of Our Custom and Excise due to Vs out of the same, notwithstanding of all endeavours in the contrair. We therefore, with advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, do hereby prohibite and discharge all persons whatsoever, either Natives or Forraigners, without the particular Licence of the Lords Commissioners of Our Thesaury, to import any Salt into this Our Kingdom, from and after the tenth day of April next, in this instant year of God, one thousand six hundred and seventy one years, under the pain of confiscation to Our behoove of the same, and of the Ships and Vessels in which the same happens to be imported. And Ordains these presents to be printed, and published at the Mercat-crosse of Edinburgh and other places needful, that none pretend ignorance.