¶ By the queen,  
whereas the queens majesty vpon the earnest intention that she always had and yet hath, to maintain the good and ancient amity betwixt her majesty and the king of spain her good brother, their countreys and subiectes, did by her proclamation in September last past, straightly command all her Subiectes, trading the Seas either for fyshyng or merchandise, to use their accustomend maner without any trouble of the said king of Spaynes subiectes, and also in cases needful, to defend them against the french, whereof did follow specially during the time of the herring fishing, great quietness and singular commodity to the subiectes of the said king, specially to them of the low countreys, as her majesty hath ben certainly informed, and is therof glad. Yet sithence that time, sundry of the said kings subiectes for private lucre, abusing her majesties good intention notified in the said proclamation, haue sought to colour the goods and merchandise of the French, being her majesties enemies, both coming out, and passing into france, as apparently hath ben proved in sundry causes duly examined and tried, and remaining to be shewed. In respect whereof certain of her majesties subiectes, which according to their dueties be armed vpon the Seas, to offend the french being enemies, haue ben more curious towards some of the said king of Spaynes subiectes, in searchyng of the said deceipts of colouring of the french goods, and thereupon of late, sundry complaints haue ben made by certain of the said kings subiectes, that certain english men of war, being upon the Seas, haue molested them, and in some parte spoyled them. whereof her majesty hath vpon continuance of her former intention towards the maintenance of good amity with her said good brother the king of spain and his subiectes, appoynted special commissioners of trust, to haue an extraordinary power and authority, to hear, and speedily to determine and redress all such complaints, without delay of process, and with more celerity then is administered to any of her own natural subiectes. In which proceeding, although her majesty understandeth, that her said good brothers subiectes receive much satisfaction: yet for that the number of her subiectes and ships of war, that are presently vpon the Seas, and are likely to go to the Seas this spring, to the offence of the French, are so great and many, and of so diuers port towns and countreys, as it appeareth very hard, howe a good account may be made, of every of them being so many, specially considering the daily colouring of the French wears by the said kings subiectes increaseth manifestly. Therfore her majesty still persistyng in her former favour towards her said good brothers subiectes, and to withstand all disorders against her other friends, hath for some more surety towards them, thought meet by aduise of her counsel, to provide as followeth, which is as much as can be devised. first, her majesty straightly chargeth and commandeth all maner her subiectes, that shall perceive either on the Seas, or in any Port, haven, or creak of this realm, or in the realm of ireland, any person that may be suspected by any likely mean, to haue hurt or endamaged any subject of the king of Spaynes, or that shall haue any goods or merchandise, that shall seem to haue ben taken from any of the said kings subiectes, during these warres with france, that they and every of them, shall employ themselves to the best of their power, to apprehend, or cause to be apprehended, the persons so suspected to haue offended: for the which their doings, they shal haue convenient reward. And yf any ship shall come into any Port, whereof there shal be any suspicion, that the owners or occupiers therof haue damaged any of the said kings subiectes: the Uiseadmirall of that cost, or the Maior, or other head officer there, in the absence of the Uiseadmirall, shall cause the said vessel, and the persons therein suspected, to be stayed, vpon pain yf they shalbe therein negligent, to be punished as abbettours to the offenders, and therof, and of the proves or causes of suspicion, shall immediately give knowledge to the Commissioners appoynted for those causes of depredations, that immediate order be taken for trial of the fact, according to the tenor of their commission.  
Furthermore her majesty willeth and commandeth, that no ship or vessel armed for the war, that shal come into any Port or creak of this realm, after the publication hereof, shal be suffered to depart or return to the Seas, until the owner, captain, master, or such persons as haue to command the said ship or vessel, shall give good assurance by sufficient sureties to the Uiseadmirall of the cost, or yf he shall not be readily found, then to the principal officer of the Port, where the ship or vessel shalbe, or otherwise as the court of thadmiraltie shall prescribe, and think meet in those cases, that they shalbe answerable in form of Iustice, to satisfy such complaints and informations, as be, or shalbe exhibited against them, for spoiling and offending the subiectes of the said king of spain, or of any other nation being in amity with her majesty. And yf the parties can not, or will not give such assurance: then the ships shall not be suffered to depart to the Seas, but knowledge shalbe given therof to the foresaid Commissioners. And yf the parties refusing to give assurance of sufficient sureties, shall seem to be suspected that they haue not behaved themselves well towards her majesties friends, they shall also be stayed, until the foresaid Commissioners shall determine therof.  
And because of late some complaints haue ben made by certain Scottysh men in generality, against some english men of war, for evil using of them vpon the Seas, wherein particular orders are already given for trial and redress of the same: Her majesty willeth, that such care be had of the well using of the subiectes of her good sister the queen of Scotes, as the great amity betwixt their two majesties, and their countreys and people, doth necessarily require. For that her majesty would haue nothing omitted on her parte, that might conserve, and increase the same.  
given at her majesties Castle of Windsor the .xviii. day of February, in the sixth year of her highnes reign. 1563.  
God save the queen.   

¶ Imprinted by Richard jug and John Cawood, Printers to the queens majesty.  
Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.