WHereas not withstanding divers good Laws Made and Enacted for the Pre­venting of the Stealth and Imbezilment of Their Majesties Stores of War, and for the Punishing the same, Their Majesties do find by Experience, that whether by the Negligence or Vnfaithfulness of Their Officers, or through the Difficulty of the Work, those Frauds, Stealths and Imbezilments are not prevented (as they ought) but are daily practised, particularly in Stores relating to the Navy, not only to the great Prejudice of Their Ma­jesties Service, but likewise to the Hindrance and Discouragement of such Tradesmen, whose Profession and Livelyhood it is to make and sell such Stores and Commodities to Merchants Ships, who finding a cheaper way for Furnishing their Ships, by Buying the Stores Purloyned and Imbeziled, as aforesaid, decline the lawful Sellers of such like Provisions: For the Pre­venting these and the like Abuses for the future, Their Majesties are pleased hereby strictly to Charge and Command all their Officers (and particularly those of the Customs lately Authorized thereunto) not only to endeavour the Discovery of the said Abuses, as aforesaid, but also strictly to Prosecute the Persons offending, according to the Rigour of the Laws in such Cases provided. And for the more easie discovery of the same, and to the end the Receiver of such Stolen Goods may not pretend Ignorance, Their Majesties have thought fit hereby to Publish and Declare the Marks of the Stores belonging to Their Navy; Namely, That all the Cordage of Threé Inches and upwards is wrought with a White Thread laid the contrary way; and the smaller Cordage (viz. from Three Inches downwards) with a Twyne in lieu of a White Thread laid the contrary way, as aforesaid; That all the Canvas wrought and unwrought is marked with a Blue Streak in the middle; And all other Stores with the Broad Arrow, by Stamp, Brand or otherwise. And Their Majesties do hereby forbid all Artificers to make any Stores or Provisions so marked (except for the Vse of Their Majesties Navy or Ordnance) and do likewise hereby Command all Their Majesties Loving Subjects, That they forbear to buy or re­ceive from any Person whatsoever any Stores marked, as aforesaid, (without particular Order and Leave from the Principal Officers and Commissioners of Their Majesties Navy) upon Pain of being proceeded against as Receivers of Stolen Goods, and as Imbezilers of Their Majesties Stores. And for the better Discovery of such as shall (notwithstanding this Their Majesties Proclamation) Imbezil any of Their Stores, as aforesaid, Their Majesties are pleased to Declare, That any Person who shall discover to the Principal Officers and Commissioners of Their Majesties Navy, or any of them, any Anchors, Cables, Cordage, Sails, Canvas, Iron-work, or other Stores, Imbeziled or Purloyned out of Their Majesties Yards, Ships or Stores, shall receive as a Reward and Encouragement for such his Discovery, upon the Delivery thereof into any of Their Majesties Stores, one full Third Part of the Value of such Stores so discoverd. Provided that he likewise discover either the Imbeziler or Purloyner of them, or at least the Receiver of the same.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, this Tenth Day of August, 1693. In the Fifth Year of Our Reign.

God save the King William and Queen Mary.