C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
¶ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for His Majesty's better Service, either at Sea, or Land.  
WHereas of late diverse persons fit for employment in Our Service, either by Sea or Land, have withdrawn themselves from the same, to the discouragement of others who are forward therein, and to the great prejudice of those public acts for which they were designed, and to the dishonour of this Nation, (in former ages both honourable and glorious;) For the preventing therefore of so great inconvenience, or the due punishment of the offenders, if it cannot otherwise be prevented, We do hereby straight charge and command, that no Seaman, or other fit for such employment, either by Sea or land, do at any time hereafter, purposely, or willingly withdraw, or absent himself at such times, when We have or shall have occasion to impressed men for any services of that nature, upon pain of Our heavy displeasure, and of such severe punishment, as by Law can or may be inflicted upon them, and if any person shall hereafter be imprested for Our Service, and having received Pressed money, shall afterwards run away, or withdraw himself from the same, We hereby publish and declare, that such offenders shall hereafter expect the severity of the Law (which is the pains of death) to be inflicted upon them for the same. And to the end that such as are or shall be imprested for Our Service, and in Our Pay, may be assured of all just and honourable usage and entertainment, and that none be unduely enticed out of Our Service (which is for the public service and defence of the whole Kingdom) by any others for private Voyages, or other employments, We do further straight charge and command, that no Captain, Master of a Ship, or other person whatsoever, do at any time hereafter presume to receive into Pay or Service, any man formerly imprested into Our Service, and that no Captain, Master of Ships, or other Officer whatsoever, do hereafter keep back, or withhold pay, or other allowance, which shall be due to any man being in Our Service, and under Our pay, upon pain of Our high displeasure, and of the most severe punishment, which by Law, or in justice, can any ways be inflicted upon such as shall dare to do contrary to this our Royal commandment. And We do further straight charge & command, upon pain of Our high displeasure that all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Constables, Headboroughs, & all other Our officers and ministers, do from time to time use all diligence to apprehend all such Mariners, Seamen, Soldiers, & others, now, or at any time hereafter, being in our pay, or imprested for Our Service, which shall leave Our service, or wander from the places where they are or shall be appointed to serve or abide, without special licence in that behalf given, by such as have, or shall have authority & power to grant such Licences, and them & every of them so being apprehended to send or bring back to the Fleet or Army, or place of Rendezvous, where such persons ought to have been abiding, or otherwise to commit them to the Common Gaol of the County where they shall be taken, or nearest unto which they shall then be, to the end that every such offender may be proceeded against, according to the law, for such their offences and misdemeanours.  
Given at Our Court at White-Hall, the seventeenth day of june, in the fourth 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. M.DC.XXVIII.