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HONI SOIT QVI MAY Y PENSE  ❧ By the King. ❧ A Proclamation for restoring the ancient Merchant's Adventurers to their former Trade and Privileges.  
WHereas heretofore We declared Our desires to have brought to pass as a principal work of Our times, the Manufactures of Dying and Dressing of Broadcloath within this Realm, and to that end did publish Our several Proclamations, the one 23. julij Anno 12. of Our Reign, the other 2. Decembr. following, for the encouragement of such of Our Subjects as then undertook to set up and manage the said Trade; But finding that time discovereth many inhabilities, which cannot at first be seen, and being willing to have it known to all Our loving Subjects, that We intent not to insist and stay longer upon specious and fair shows, which produce not the fruit Our actions do ever aim at, which is the general good of this Our State and Kingdom: Wherefore perceiving that the former grounds proposed to Us, by the Undertakers of that work, consisted more in hopes then in effects; and finding the work itself to be too great to be brought to pass in any short time, by reason of the many difficulties accompanying the same, and that as the State of Trade now stands, there will be greater loss in the Cloth-making of the Kingdom, then gain in the Dying and Dressing thereof, which We may not suffer, the commodity of Broadcloth being one of the principal Dowries of this Our State, and which hath brought great wealth and honour to the same; And having the experience of many ages to ground Ourselves upon, that the ancient Company of the Merchant's Adventurers have ever managed their Trade, as with profit to the Common wealth, so with much praise to their Company, in taking off and venting the clothes of this Kingdom, whereby they deserve both grace and encouragement from Vs. Therefore no longer to withdraw Our countenance from them, but to quicken and give a new life unto them, We do hereby signify and declare, that We have already restored and given back unto them, all and every their Charters, any wise touching their Incorporation, form of government, and Trade, or any Powers, Licences, Authorities, or privileges concerning the same; And them have and do hereby settle and redintigrate in their former estate and degree to all purposes: Willing it to be known that none of the Charters of the said Company, were ever by Us annihilated, or by Law avoided, but only suspended and sequestered, till our further pleasure known. And therefore we do by these presents declare, constitute, and ordain, That the said Company of the Merchant's Adventurers shall and may from henceforth practise, and put in execution all and every their Powers, Licences, Authorities, Privileges and form of government contained in all or any their Charters; and all usages, holding of Courts, meetings, assemblies, and all other proceed by virtue of them or any of them, together with all the dependences, either in the parts beyond the Seas, or here within the Kingdom.  
And further, We do hereby intimate & declare, letting it to be known to all foreign Princes, and States, in whose Dominions, the said Merchants Adventurers now have, or hereafter shall have any recourse in the exercise of their Trade: That (notwithstanding any former signification of Our pleasure otherwise) We have again fully, and really enabled them to maintain, hold, possess, and enjoy all and every their former Immunities, Rights, Powers, and Privileges in any foreign parts beyond the Seas, with free liberty & power as heretofore, to deal, contract, and agree with any Prince, State, or City in Germany, or the Low-countries, for and touching any further, or other privileges to be had and obtained in those parts touching their Trade: Hereby giving, granting, and allowing, unto the said Merchants Adventurers, from time to time, free liberty and choice to make and appoint such and so many places of their residence in foreign parts, as to them shall seem convenient; And those at their pleasure to change and remove, as shall and may stand best with their commodity and profit. And, that the said Merchants Adventurers, may henceforth go on and exercise their said Trade, with better confidence and encouragement, which is best effected by removing and discharging all impediments: We do by these presents straightly prohibit, forbidden, constitute, and ordain, That from henceforth no Interloper, nor other person or persons, not free of the said Company, presume in any wise to meddle, or intromit directly, or indirectly in the Trade, or Privileges of the said Company, upon pain of Our high Indignation, and such other pains, and penalties, as by the Charters of the said Company, or any of them are or shall be provided for transgres●rs in that kind. Which that it may have the better effect, We do hereby straightly charge and command all Majors, sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables; especially all Customers and Searchers, and other Officers of Our Customs, aswell in the Port of London, as in all other Ports of this Kingdom; That they be aiding and assisting to the said Company, and the Officers thereof in the execution of their said Charters, and that they nor any of them in their several places, pass out any goods or Merchandizes into any the parts of Germany, or the Low-countries, nor into any other parts beyond the Seas, where the said Company now have, or hereafter shall have any privileges granted unto them contrary to the true meaning of their said Charters, upon pain of Our displeasure, and the loss of his or their Offices that shall offend therein.  
Given at Our Court at Ashton the 12. of August in the fifteenth year of Our Reign of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the one and fiftieth.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO M.DC.XVII.