DIEV ET MON DROIT

HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE


A PROCLAMATION For Recalling and Prohibiting Sea-men from the Service of Foreign Princes and States, and that no Prizes taken from the Dutch by vertue of Portugal Commissions, be brought into His Majesties Ports.

CHARLES R.

WHereas the Kings most Excellent Majesty hath been advertised that great numbers of Mariners and other Sea-faring men, His Majesties natural born Subjects, many of them, by occasion of the late disbanding, and some others before, have betaken themselves to the Services of Foreign Princes and States, to the great disservice of His Majesty and their native Countreys; and whereby His said Majesty and His Realms are unfurnished of men of their sort and calling, if there shall be cause to use them: Therefore for redress thereof at present, and preventing the like for the future, the Kings most Excellent Majesty by this His Royal Proclamation, with the advice of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel, doth Will, and strictly Charge and Command all and singular Masters of Ships, Pilots, Mariners, Sea-men, Ship-wrights, and other Sea-faring men whatsoever, and wheresoever, being His Majesties natural born Subjects, who are in the Service of any Foreign Prince or State, or do serve in any Foreign Ships or Vessels, That forthwith they do with­draw themselves, and depart from such Foreign Services, and return home to their native Countreys, and lawful vocations. And further, His Majesty doth hereby prohibit and forbid all and singular Masters of Ships, Pilots, Mariners, Sea-men, Ship-wrights, and other Sea-faring men whatsoever, being His Majesties natural born Subjects, from entring themselves, and doth hereby streightly Charge and Command them, and every of them from henceforth, to forbear to enter themselves into Pay, or otherwise betake themselves to the Service of any Foreign Princes or States, or to serve in any Fo­reign Vessel or Ship, without Licence had and obtained in that behalf. To all which His Majesty doth and will expect due obedience and conformity; and doth hereby Publish and Declare, That the Of­fenders to the contrary shall not only incur His Majesties just displeasure, but be proceeded against for their Contempt, by Seizure of their Goods, Persons and Estates, wheresoever they shall be found, and otherwise, according to the utmost severities of Law. And further, His Majesty doth hereby Authorize and Command all and every the Captains, Masters, and other Officers serving or imployed in any of His Majesties Ships or Vessels at Sea, to stop and make stay of all and every such person and persons as shall endeavour to Transport or Enter themselves into the Service of any Foreign Prince or State, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this His Majesties Royal Proclamation; and also to seize up­on, take, and bring away all such Mariners, Sea-men, and other persons aforesaid, as shall be found to be imployed or serving in any Ships or Vessels, of, or belonging to any Foreign Prince or State, or to any Merchant, or other person or persons, other then to His Majesty, or to His Subjects.

And whereas His Majesty is advertised from His good Brother the King of Portugal, that he hath Re­voked and Annulled all Commissions and Letters of Marque or Reprisal by Him given to any persons whatsoever, either His own Subjects or Strangers, against the States General of the United Pro­vinces and their Subjects; Therefore the Kings most Excellent Majesty doth hereby straitly Charge and Command all and singular His Governours, Officers and Ministers of His Towns, Forts, Castles, and Ports, and other His loving Subjects whom it may any way concern, not to suffer or permit any persons whatsoever, whether His Majesties own Subjects or Strangers, by vertue or pretence of Por­tugal Commissions, to bring into His Majesties Harbours, any Ships, Vessels, or Prizes taken from the said States General or their Subjects, upon pain of being severely punished.

God save the King.

London, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1662.

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