2-950-214 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

'By the King [Charles II]. A Proclamation'..., 1674. 'Whereas it is found by experience, that traffique with infidels and barbarous nations not in amity with us, and who are not holden by any League or Treaty, cannot be carried on without the Establishment of Forts and Factories in places convenient, the maintenance whereof requires so great and constant Expence, that it cannot be otherwise defrayed, then by Managing the Whole Trade by a Joynt Stock...'. Proclamation prohibiting trade between the American colonies and 'Guiny, Buiny and Angola' by all other persons and vessels other than those connected with The Royal African Company of England. The Company was granted the monopoly for the English slave trade in 1672, and continued to trade in human cargo until 1713 (though their monopoly ended in 1698), when they dropped that side of the business in favour of the now more lucrative traffic in gold and ivory.