WHereas the Kings most Excellent Majesty hath been advertised, that great num­bers of Mariners and other Seafaring 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 Forraign Princes and States, to the great disservice of his Majesty and their Native Countries; 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 Honorable Privy Council, doth Will and strictly charge and command all and singular Masters of Ships, Pilots, Mariners, Seamen, Shipwrights, and other Seafaring men, whatsoever and wheresoever, being his Majesties natural born Subjects, who are in the service of any Forraign Prince or State, or do serve in any Forraign Ships or Vessels, That forthwith they do withdraw themselves, and depart from such Forraign services and return home to their native Countrys and lawful Vocations. And further His Majesty doth hereby prohibite and forbid all and singular Masters of Ships, Pilots, Mariners, Seamen, Shipwrights, 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 Forraign Princes, or States, or to serve in any Foraign 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 onely 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 Forraign 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, Seamen, and other persons aforesaid, as shall be found to be imployed or serving in any Ships or Vessels, of or belonging to any Forraign Prince or State, or to any Merchant or other person or persons other then to his Majestie or his Subjects.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the nineteenth day of April, in the thirteenth Year of Our Reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.