HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  
DIEV ET MON DROIT.  ❧ By the King. ¶ A Proclamation for better furnishing the Navy, and Shipping of the Realm, with able and skilful Mariners.  
WHereas We, for the continuance and maintaining of the Navigation of this Realm, and to the intent that skilful Mariners, and Seafaring men, might be always in readiness to furnish, aswell Our own Royal Navy, as the Shipping of Our Subjects, by Our Proclamation dated the sixth day of August, in the twentieth year of Our Reign, did straight inhibit and forbidden, That no Mariner, or Seafaring man, Shipwright, or Shipcarpenter whatsoever, being Our Subject, should without express licence of Us, or of Our Admiral of England, enter, or attempt, or go about to enter into the service of any foreign Prince, or State, or be employed out of this Realm, in any service whatsoever, unless it were in the service of Us, or of some of Our liege Subjects:  
And whereas by a later Proclamation, dated the seven and twentieth day of February, then following, We did signify Our pleasure, That Our said former Proclamation should be hereafter carefully observed, and put in exact execution; willing, That all men should take knowledge, and that We should esteem the offenders therein, as Fugitives, and Runagates, forgetting their natural allegiance and duty to Us and Our Laws, and accordingly should proceed against them with all severity:  
And did furthermore thereby straight charge and command, That no Mariner, or Seafaring man, should absent, hide, or withdraw himself from Our service, or priests, and that all such persons having Our Prest money given or tendered unto them, should dutifully and reverently receive the same, and repair aboard Our Ships, at the times to them limited and assigned, and thenceforth continue in Our service, as to the duty of good Subjects appertaineth, and not withdraw themselves, or departed therefrom, without special licence, upon pain to incur the uttermost severity of Our Laws to be inflicted upon them, as malefactors in a very high degree, to the hazard of Our Royal Navy and service.  
Now, forasmuch as we have received Information, That, notwithstanding the strictness of Our said Proclamations, there hath followed no redress of these enormous crimes, & contempts, We being resolved to meet with all impediments, whereby such Our weighty service is hindered, and offenders hardened and emboldened in their obstinacy, and wilful contempts, do hereby straight inhibit and forbidden, That no Owner or Master of any Ship, or vessel, nor any other, setting forth any vessels of Trade, Fishing, or otherwise, do presume to hire or entertain any Mariner, or Seafaring man, knowing him to have offended against the said Proclamations, or either of them, by serving foreign Prince or State without licence, or by disobeying Our priests, or abandoning Our service: And if such Owner, Master, or other person, not knowing of the said offences, shall hire or entertain any such offender or offenders, that forthwith upon notice of any the said offences, they deliver such offenders over unto the next justice of Peace, Maior, Bailiff, Constable, or other officer, to be imprisoned until the said offenders shall give sufficient Bond and Caution for their forth coming & appearance, in such Court, or place of justice, unto which it may appertain, to be proceeded against, & punished, according to their demerits; and withal, that the said Masters, Owners, & other persons forbear to pay to the said offenders any wages. And further, We do straight charge and command all Our Lieutenants, Deputie-Lieutenants, justices of Peace, Mayor, Bailiffs, Constables, Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers and officers, aswell of our Admiralty, as of Our Ports, and also all and every person and persons, to whom any Commission, Deputation, or Letters of Assistance shall be directed, for the presting of Mariners, and Seafaring men for Our service, that they shall from time to time use all possible diligence and endeavour, to apprehend, and cause to be apprehended, aswell all such Mariners & Seafaring men, offending, as aforesaid, as also all such Owners, Masters, and others, as contrary to this Our Royal commandment, shall entertain or hire them, or pay them any wages, or otherwise help them to escape the hands of justice; and such as they shall apprehend, they shall with Certificate of their names and offences, bind over to appear before the Commissioners of Our Name, in London, to be by them committed, & delivered over to the ordinary course of Our justice, either in our Court of Starrechamber, or of Our Admiralty, or otherwise, as the quality of the offence shall require. And We likewise charge and command all Prest-masters, and their Assistants, to publish the Names of all such as shall be pressed by them in Our Ports where they are taken, as also to deliver a note of their names to the officers of Our Ports, & others who are fittest to discover them: And We have also given order to the Commissioners of Our Navy, to make certificate into all parts of this Realm, where they shall think it convenient or useful, of the names of such as shall offend in any of the premises. And considering that the service now in hand, for the setting forth of Our Fleet, is of great consequence, both for the safety of Our Kingdoms, and for the honour of Our Imperial Crown and Dignity, That all the eyes and hearts of Our loving Subjects, are cast upon it, and expect the supplying thereof to be made with extraordinary care; We have thought fit to recommend the same in this extraordinary manner, intending hereafter to make such further provision against all such offenders, as are not hereby made sensible of their duties, and ranged to obedience, as the necessity and importance of Our service at this time, and other times shall require.  
Given at Our Court at Theobalds' the twentieth day of March, in the two and twentieth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1624.