IT hath been our desire and disposition in all the course of our Government (as one of the best and safest remedies) to extend our natural clemency in forewarning Offenders where reason of State will not permit us to use the same in dispensing with their offences; And having lately observed that divers of our Subjects have repaired into our Realm of England from the parts beyond the Seas (being persons of mean condition, and of wandering course of life, and unknown to any of credit that might undertake for them) who have refused to take the Oath of allegiance, lately by our Parliament devised: We can not but conceive that such persons are not unlike to become bad Instruments of practice and peril against our State. For considering that we had never any intention in the form of that Oath to press any point of Conscience for matter of Religion, but only to make some discovery of disloyal affection: the refusal thereof in any person must both induce a vehement suspicion in itself, and much more in such a one as may be probably supposed to have come from such parts, where he may have conversed with Traitors and Fugitives, and is also of a needy fortune, which may make him apt for any dangerous or desperate employment: And therefore We have resolved, and accordingly do charge and command all persons authorized by Law, to minister the said Oath, that taking information from the Officers of our Ports, and by all other good ways and means, they fail not to tender the same Oath at the Ports to all our Subjects coming from beyond the Seas, (not being known Merchants or men of some quality) and upon refusal thereof the Law to be severely executed, which willeth to commit them to Prison until the next Assizes, or General quarter Sessions, and so upon a second refusal to be brought within the degree of a Praemunire. Wherein, because the penalty is so grievous (of which nevertheless we can not in our Princely providence make any alteration) We have thought good to notify our resolution, and order given therein, which we doubt not, but will be in small time dispersed abroad; to the end that such as now are, or hereafter shallbe in foreign parts, and find in their own hearts such affections, as can not stand with the said Oath, may know their peril, and thereby either refrain their coming in, or expect the execution of our Laws.  
Given at our Palace of Westminster the xxix. day of April in the sixth year of our reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty.  
Anno Dom. 1608.