WE being sensible how much it imports the welfare of this Our Realm, That the Trade to the East-Indies be Maintained and Encouraged, and that the present East-India Company have for divers years last past man­naged and carried on the same to the Honour and Profit of the Nation; And being given to understand that some of Our Subjects minding more their particular gain than the general good, have of late presumed to Trade into those Parts upon their private account, and that other of Our Subjects are preparing and fitting out Ships for that purpose, which if permitted, will soon destroy the said Company, and endanger the losing that whole Trade to the Nation, as it happened in the late licentious Times, when by laying open the said Trade, it was almost lost, and had beén wholly lost, had it not beén retrieved and recovered by the great In­dustry and Charge of the said Company, who are still at vast Charge and Expence to Preserve and Maintain the same: Which attempts of the said Private Traders, We apprehend may arise as well from their ignorance of what Liberties and Priviledges We have Granted to the said Company touching the said Trade, and of Our Royal Prohibition therein to all other Our loving Subjects, as also of the Law, That none of Our Subjects ought to Trade or Traffick with Infidels, or Barba­rous Nations not in Amity with Vs, and who are not holden by any League or Treaty, have there­fore thought fit by this Our Royal Proclamation to Declare and Publish, That We by Our Letters Patents bearing Date at Westminster the Third day of April, in the Thirteenth year of Our Reign, have Granted to the said East-India Company, the whole and intire Trade of the said East-Indies, and of all Pla­ces where any Trade is to be had from the Cape of Bona Speranza to the Streights of Magellan, and have thereby straitly Prohibited all other Our Subjects, of what Degree or Quality soever, to Visit, Haunt, Frequent, or Trade, Traffick, or Adventure by way of Merchandize, into or from the said East-Indies, or any the Places aforesaid, without the Licence of the said Company, upon pain of incurring Our High Displeasure, and the forfeiture and loss of the Goods and Merchandizes, as also of the Ship and Ships, with the Furniture thereof, wherein such Goods or Merchandizes shall be brought or found Trading or Trafficking contrary to Our said Prohibition. And that all Offenders in the Premisses may be render­ed altogether inexcusable, We have thought fit to Publish and Declare Our Royal Pleasure to be, And We do hereby strictly Prohibit and Forbid all and every of Our loving Subjects Whatsoever, except the said Company and their Successors, and others Trading by the said Companies Licence, to Trade into, Visit or Haunt the said East-Indies, or any Part, Creék, Haven, or Place within the said Compa­nies Charter, upon pain of Our High Displeasure, and of being proceéded against as Contemners of Our Laws and Royal Authority, and also of incurring the Forfeiture and Loss of the Goods and Merchandizes, and the Ships or Vessels with their Furniture, which shall bring or carry the same to or from the said East-Indies, and all other the Places within the Limits of the said Charter by Vs Granted to the said Company. And to the end Our Will and Pleasure herein may be the better ob­served, We do hereby also strictly Require and Command Our Governors, Deputy-Governors, Admirals, Vice-Admirals, Generals, Judges of Our Courts of Admiralty, Commanders of Our Forts and Castles, Captains of Our Royal Ships, Provost Marshals, Marshals, Comptrollers, Collectors of Our Customs, Waiters, Searchers, and all other Our Officers and Ministers Civil and Military, by Sea or Land, in all or every Our Foreign Dominions and Plantations, and also all and singular Captains and Commanders of Ships Employed, or to be Employed in the Service of the said East-India Company, to be Aiding and Assisting to Attack, Arrest, Take and Seize for Our Use, the Ship or Ships, Vessel or Vessels, with their Furniture, Goods, Wares and Merchandizes of all and every Our Subjects, other than the said Company and their Successors, and such as shall be Employed or Licensed by them, which they shall find on Sea or Land, within the Limits of Our said Charter Granted to the said Company, according to the Tenor of Our Royal Charter Granted to the said Company, and to proceéd to Condemnation thereof in any of Our Courts in Our said Foreign Dominions and Plantations, upon pain of Our High Displeasure, and as they will an­swer the contrary at their perils.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall this Sixteenth day of November 1681, and in the Three and thirtieth Year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.