WHEREAS ever since the beginning of Our Reigne We have, to the care of the good of Our Subjects in generall, added particular encouragements to such of them as are Sea-men, Sailers, and Marriners, as well by increasing the wages of such of them as served in Our own Ships, placing of Corporalls in every ship for their learning of the Discipline of Warre, and Chaplaines for their instruction in the Protestant Religion, as by diverse other Acts of Grace and Favour to them in generall, farre beyond any of Our Predecessors. Notwith­standing which, We find that by the cunning of some Traiterous and Seditious persons (who amongst other their false devices, by which they have endeavoured to alienate the hearts of Our Subjects from Us, have suggested that We intended an alteration in Religion) many of Our Sea-men, Sailers and Marriners have been seduced to keep Our own ships from Us, to contribute towards the maintenance of the Army which is raised against Us (and which had destroyed Us, if God almighty had not protected Us in the day of Battle) and have been since drawn on and invited to serve in land-service against Us, though they have e­ver heretofore been freed by Us, and many of them (especially those which belong to the Corporation of the Trinity-house) have had speciall exemptions from any such service. Which Actions of disloyalty We cannot believe they were drawn into by their own inclinations, but by the false informations, or threats and menaces of their seducers. We doe therefore hereby offer Our free and Gratious Pardon to all Our Sub­jects being Sea-men, Saylors, Marriners, and all other Water-men, for all offences concerning the premises committed against Us before the publishing of this Our Proclamation. Provided that this Our Grace shall not extend to any Person who after notice of this Our Proclamation shall presume to detaine any of Our ships from Us, or to serve in any of Our ships detained from Us, or otherwise serve against Us either by Sea or Land, or shall presume by Loane, Contribution or otherwise to assist the said Army now raised against Us, or to assemble or muster themselves in Armes without authority derived from Us under Our hand, or to enter into any Oath of Association for opposing Us or Our Army. But We must and doe declare, That whosoever shall hence forward be guilty of the premises or any of them, We shall proceed against them as enemies to the publike peace, and Persons disaffected to Us, and to the Religion and Lawes of the King­dom.

¶ Given at Our Court at Mayden-heath, the tenth day of November, in the Eighteenth yeare of Our Reigne.

God save the King.