¶ Articles for instruction of all the Uiceadmiralles within the realm, howe to proceed for the preservation of the quiet trade of all merchants and Fysshermen, as well strangers as english, resorting to the Seas for exercise of their lawful trades.  
THe Uiceadmiralles in every part of this realm, shal in their own persons, if they possible may, or else by their deputies, repair immediately to all the ports & Crekes within their jurisdiction, and calling unto them the Maiors. bailiffs, jurates, or other gouernours, with the Customers, controllers, and searchers of every such Port and creak, shall impart to them the contents of these Articles following. For speedy execution whereof, the queens majesties pleasure is, that every one of the said officers shall endeavour themselves, as to their calling shall appertain.  
first, the said Uiceadmiralles, with the help of the said officers, shall by an inquest taken, or otherwise, inquire howe many vessels do belong distinctly to every port and creak, who be the owners therof, what the burdens and names therof be: and if they be gone to the Seas, then to understand when they departed thence, with what Captaines or Masters, with howe many personnes, with what wears or marchaundizes: how much customed, howe much not, to what partes their journey was intended, and when their return was looked for. And this inquisition made, the said Uiceadmirals shall cause the same to be put in writing, and subscribed by the hands of himself and these officers abovesaid.  
The like shal be done touching all other vessels remaining in any port, and not sent forth to the Seas: and it shal be understand that it is not requisite to certify by force hereof any vessels under the burden of .xvi. tons, except it shal appear that any under that burden are departed to the seas suspiciously to do some evil, in which case they shall certify as much as shall seem to them convenient.  
Item they shall inquire and certify howe many Mariners be dwelling within every Port and creak, howe many of them Masters and pilots, howe many others, and howe many married, howe many unmarried, howe many owners of ships and Uesselles, and how many not.  
Item it shalbe inquired whether any vessel of any Port, or any person haue gone forth out of any port or creak sithence March last, being not a notorious merchant man, or a daily fysherman, without good surety given for his good behaviour, as by ancient order hath ben used: and of these, certificat shalbe made in maner and form above expressed.  
Item after this view taken in every Port and creak, the owners of every vessel shalbe enjoined vpon pain of forfeiture of their vessel, not to suffer their vessels to go to the seas without good surety given to the Uiceadmirall, or to the principal officer of the port, for to answer all maner of things that shal be objected against them: so as the queens majesty meaneth to charge either the Uiceadmirall or the chief ruler of the port town, to answer hereafter for all maner of spoils to be done by any vessel of such Port: And therfore the said Uiceadmirall and other officers, shall do well to see to the observation of this charge, and yet to exact nothing upon any of them for the said assurance: but such as be not to be suspected, to take their own ●andes: and of others to take sureties. In this matter, except they see cause, they shall not need to trouble the honest ●yshermen, that do weakly go to the Seas and weakly return.  
Item commandment shalbe given in every Port and creak, that no maner of ship, other then known merchants and fysshermen, shall from that time following, be permitted to come into any port or creak to receive any succour of victual, or to discharge or set vpon land any maner of thing, until either the Uiceadmirall or his deputy, or the principal officer of the town or place shall haue due knowledge whether the said ship haue haunted the seas for any other purpose then for Marchaundizes or fisshing, or for some special service done by authority of her majesty: and yf any shalbe found suspected of any evil doing, the same shalbe arrested and examined, and as the cause shall require, certificate to be made to the lord admiral of england.  
Item because there be diuers Skottyshmen and some Englishe with them, that haunt the Seas under colour of a letter of mark, to take the subiectes of the king of portugal, whereby many inconveniences haue lately ensued: order and commandment shalbe given, that if any ship or vessel shall come into any port or creak, with any wears or goods that may be suspected to haue ben taken by colour of such letter of mark, or if any person pretendinge to haue any such letter of mark, shall come to any port or creak for victual or any succour: The captain, Master or pilot of the same shalbe arrested, attached, and examined, and the same being certified to the said lord admiral, shall not be permitted to depart before answer given from her majesty, her privy counsel, or the said admiral. And yf any person shall repair to any such suspected vessel either to buy any thing of them, or to succour them with any thing, the same shalbe committed to prison, and there remain until the said lord admiral shall give order therein.  
finally the said Uiceadmirall and tother officers shall consult amongs themselves, howe they may not onely execute these articles effectually, but also howe it may be surely ordered by some other like means, that neither such as be pirates and rovers shall haue succour, but be apprehended: and howe also none other may hereafter be permitted to go to the seas for such evil intent and purpose, and their particular orders in that behalf shalbe by them certified to the Lord admiral. For such is the principal intent of her majesty, to provide that in time of peace both her own subiectes and other Princes might use the trade of Marchaundizes in this realm, or fysshyng vpon the costs without the danger of depredacion.  
❧ God save the queen.   

¶ Imprinted at London in P●●les Church yard by Richard jug and John Cawood, printers to the queens majesty.