¶ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation against imbezelling of Armour, Munition, and Victual, and other Military provisions.  

DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
WHereas by an Act of Parliament, made in the one and thirtieth year of the Reign of Our dear Sister, the late Queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, it was enacted, That if any person or persons, having at any time, after the said Parliament, the Charge or Custody of any Armour, Ordnance, Munition, Shot, Powder, or habiliments of War, of the Queen's Majesties, Her Heirs or Successors, or of any Uictuals provided for the Uictualling of any Soldiers, Gunners, Mariners, or pioneers, shall for any lucre or gain, wittingly, advisedly, or of purpose to hinder, or impeach Her Majesty's Service, imbezell, purloin, or carry away any the said Armour, Ordnance, Munition, Shot, Powder, Habiliments of War or Uictuals, to the value of twenty shillings, at one or several times; That then every such offence shall be judged Felony, and the Offender or Offenders therein, to be tried, proceeded in, and suffer, as in case of Felony.  
Forasmuch as it hath been found by late experience, That, notwithstanding the Penalty provided for such offences, diverse persons, to whose trust and charge, Armour, Munition, Shot, Powder, Habiliments of War, provisions of Uictuals, and incidents thereunto, were committed, have, both before the Ships going forth, in the time of Our Service, and in their return homewards, (out of a greedy desire of gain and lucre to themselves) embezzled, Purloined, Conveyed away, and Sold, a good part of the Provisions and Remaines, of such Armour, Munition, Powder, etc. Uictuals, Biscuit, Bags, Cask, and other Provisions to them entrusted, to the great hindrance and impeachment of so important a Service in hand, and such other Our Service, as hereafter may fall out.  
We do therefore signify Our Royal Will and Pleasure; and do hereby straight charge and command all Officers, Ministers, and others now employed, or hereafter to be employed in Our service, by Land or at Sea, that they presume not to embezzle, purloin, or carry a shore, at their arrival at any of Our Ports, or sell any Armour, Munition, Powder, etc. or Uictuals, Iron hoops, Cask, Biscuit, Bags, or other provisions, which, either are, or hereafter shall be in their charge and custody, as they will avoid the penalty of the Law provided against such offenders, which they are to expect shall be severely inflicted upon them, and such further punishments as the case shall require.  
And We do further charge and command all, and every person and persons, to take notice, That if any of them shall buy, receive, or take into his or their possession, any Armour, Munition, Uictuals, or other provisions, which have been, or hereafter shall be committed to the custody and charge of any the Pursers, Stewards, Gunners, or other Officers or Ministers, now employed, or hereafter to be employed in Our service, either by Land or Sea, he, or they shall severely suffer such condign punishment, as by the Laws of this Our Realm is ordained, and otherwise, as shall be just and fit. And We do hereby signify Our further will and pleasure, That, what person soever of Our well affected Subjects, or others, can find out, or justly inform of any purloynings, or imbezelments, in kind, as before, and give notice thereof to the principal Officers of Our Navy, Ordnance, and Munition, shall be well rewarded for his, or their pains so taken therein.  
Dated at Our Manor of Hampton, the 25. of December. 1625. God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M. DC. XXV.