HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  ❧ By the King. ¶ A Proclamation, prohibiting the bringing in of any Commodities traded from the LEVANT, into this Kingdom; aswell by Subjects as Strangers, not free of that Company: Also containing a publication of certain Statutes, for the restraint of all His majesties Subjects, from Shipping any Commodities in Strangers Bottoms, either into this Kingdom, or out of the same.  
IT is a great part of Our Princely care, to maintain and increase the trade of Our Merchants, and the strength of Our Navy, the one being as the Veins whereby wealth is imported into Our Estate, and the other as principal Sinews for the strength and service of Our Crown and Kingdom: Whereas therefore the Society and Company of Our Merchants trading the LEVANT Seas, have by the space of thirty years past, at the least, had a settled and constant possession of Trade in those parts, and have had the sole bringing in of all the Commodities of those countries, as namely Currans, Cotton Wools, Wines of Candie, Galls, etc. Whereby Our Kingdom hath been much enriched, Our great Ships and Mariners set on work, and the Honour and fame of Our Nation and Kingdom, spread and enlarged in those remote parts: And whereas, for their further encouragement, the said Company have had, and enjoyed by Letters Patents under the great Seal of England, aswell in the time of the late Queen, as in Our own time, privilege for the sole bringing in of the said Commodities, with general prohibitions and restraints, aswell of natural Subjects, being not free of that Society, as of all Strangers and Aliens whatsoever, to bring in any of the said Commodities, contrary to the Privilege of the said Company:  
We minding the upholding and continuance of the said Trade, and not to suffer that the said Society shall sustain any violation or diminution of their liberties and privileges, have thought good to ratify and publish unto all persons, as well subjects as strangers, the said privilege and restraints, to the end that none of them presume to attempt any thing against the same: And do hereby straightly charge and command all Our Customers, controllers, and all other Our Officers at the Ports, and also the Farmers of Our Customs and their Deputies and Waiters, that they suffer not any Currants, Cotton wool, Wines of Candy, Galls, nor any other Commodities whatsoever, brought from any the foreign parts or Regions, whereinto the said Company have used to Trade, to be landed, except only such as shall be brought in by such as are free of the said Company.  
Furthermore, whereas there hath been in Ancient time, divers good and politic Laws made against the Shipping of Merchandizes in Strangers Bottoms, either inward or outward, as namely the Statutes of 5. Rich. 2. 4. Hen. 7. 32. Hen. 8. etc. Which Laws have of later years been much neglected, to the great prejudice of the Navigation of Our Kingdom: We do straightly charge and command, that the said Laws be from henceforth duly put in execution, upon the great and grievous pains therein contained, and upon pain of Our high indignation and displeasure towards all Our Officers and Ministers, which shall be found slack and remiss in procuring and assisting the due execution of the said Laws.  
Given at Whitehall, the seventeenth day of April, in the thirteenth year of Our Reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the eight and fortieth.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty. ANNO DOM. 1615.