WHereas We have received Information, That divers Seamen and Mariners, who have been Hired and Imprested in Our Service, and do belong to Our Ships of War, do absent themselves from Our said Ships, and betake themselves on Board several Merchant Ships and Vessels, with an intent to depart out of this Our Kingdom without Our Royal Licence in that be­half first obtained, We have thought fit, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, to Publish this Our Royal Proclamation; And We do hereby Require and Command all and singular Seamen, Mariners, and Seafaring Men belong­ing to any of Our Ships of War, and absenting themselves from the same, as aforesaid, that they, and every of them, do forthwith upon the Publishing of this Our Proclamation, re­pair on Board such of Our respective Ships or Vessels unto which they do belong, upon Pain of their being Punished as Deserters; Hereby Declaring, That as We are very desirous of giving all due Encouragement to such Seamen and Mariners employed in Our Service, as shall be found doing their Duty in their several Stations and Employments; So We are Resolved to Proceed with the utmost Severity of Law against all such as shall neglect to give Obedience to this Our Proclamation. And We do hereby Command all Captains, Commanders, and other Officers of Our Ships whom it may concern, to make diligent Search on Board all Merchant Ships, for any such Seamen who do or shall absent them­selves from Our Service, and upon finding them, to take them from on Board such Mer­chant Ships, and Secure them, in order to their being brought to Condign Punishment.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Twentieth Day of November, 1690. In the Second Year of Our Reign.

God save King William and Queen Mary.