❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation prohibiting the bringing in of any Commodities traded by the Eastland Merchants into this Kingdom, aswell by subjects as strangers, not free of that Company; with a publication of certain Statutes for the restraint of all His Majesty's subjects from shipping any commodities in strangers bottoms, either into, or out of this Kingdom.  
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 Castland Merchants, trading the Baltic Seas, have by the space of forty 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, Hemp, Flax, Dot-ashes, Soap ashes, Poloma wool, Cordage, Yearn, Eastland linen cloth, Pitch, Tar and Wood, whereby Our Kingdom hath been much enriched, Our ships and Matriners set on work, and the honour and fame of Our Nation and Kingdom spread and enlarged in those parts: And whereas, for further encouragement, the said Company have had and enjoyed by Letters Patents, under the great Seal of England, in the time of the late Queen Elizabeth, privilege for the sole bringing in of the said commodities, with general prohibitions and restraints of others not licenced and authorised by the said Letters Patents, to traffic or trade contrary to the tenor of the same letters Patents; 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, aswell subjects as strangers, the said privileges and restraints, to the end that none of them presume to attempt any thing against the same: And do hereby straitely charge and command all Our Customers, Comptrollers, 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 hemp, flax, pot-ashes, soape-ashes, Poloma wool, cordage, yarn, Eastland Imnen cloth, pitch, car, or wood, nor any other commodities whatsoever, brought from any the foreign parts or regions wherein 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: Provided always, that the importation of corn and grain be left free and without restraint: Any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.  
Furthermore, whereas there hath been in ancient time diverse good and politic Laws, made against the shipping of merchandises in strangers bottoms, either inward or outward, as namely the Statutes of 5. Richardi 2.4. Henrici 7.32. Henrici 8. etc. which Laws of latter years have been much neglected, to the great prejudice of the navigation of Our kingdom; We do straitely charge and command, that the said Laws be from henceforth duly put in execution, upon the 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 Our Court at Theobalds', the one and twentieth day of july, in the twentieth year of Our Reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the six and fiftieth. 
 God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by BONHAM NORTON, and JOHN BILL, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXII.