C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A PROCLAMATION Declaring His Majesty's grace and favour towards all Commanders and Seamen in relation to Prizes and prize-good, seized and taken since the month of January 1642. until the Twenty ninth of May, 1660.  
CHARLES R.  
THe King's most Excellent Majesty having taken into His most Gracious and Princely consideration the humble Petition of several Captains and Officers of His Majesty's Fleets, on the behalf of themselves and others the Commanders, Officers, and Mariners employed in Sea-service since the year 1642. Whereby His Majesty is given to understand, that divers of the Petitioners now are, and have been sued, molested, and imprisoned concerning several Prizes and prize-good by them heretofore seized and taken since the month of January 1642; and before the Twenty ninth of May 1660; upon pretence or colour of some clause or words in a late Act of Parliament, Entitled, An Act for the prosecution of such as are accountable for prize-good, contrary (as they conceive) to the Grate and Favour extended as well towards them as other His Majesty's Subjects in and by His Majesty's most Gracious Act of Free and General Pardon, Indemnity and Oblivion; and that unless some timely remedy be applied, such prosecutions are still likely to be made and continued against them, and other Commanders and Mariners, who have likewise acted in the Fleets within the times aforesaid, although in truth they never were Treasurers, Receivers, Farmers, or Collectors of such prize-good, nor accountable for any money or other duties, grown due or contracted upon the sale or disposition thereof, nor Sub-collectors, Vnder-treasurers, Commissioners, Sub-commissioners of prize-good, or any their Casheriers, Officers, Deputies, or Receivers nor Contractors for the same after any adjudication thereof, to the great unsettling of the minds of many thousands of His Majesty's Loyal and useful Subjects, who did apprehend themselves pardoned and in peace by His Majesties said Gracious Act of Free Pardon, Indemnity and Oblivion: And His Majesty thereupon deeply resenting the condition of the Petitioners (and other his good Subjects, on whose behalf they have made their Address as aforesaid, in relation to the premises) and being fully satisfied of their dutiful affections unto His Majesty's Royal Person and Government, for their relief therein, and for their future encouragement to persevere in His Majesty's service, is most graciously pleased to publish and declare, And His most Excellent Majesty (by and with the advice and consent of His Privy Council) hath, and hereby doth publish and declare His Royal Will and Pleasure, and accordingly require and command, That all and singular Process and Proceed whatsoever, which vefore this time have been, now are, or may be at any time hereafter had, sued forth, or prosecuted in any of His Majesty's Courts at Westminster, or in the High Court of Admiralty of England, or elsewhere, within any of His Majesty's Dominions, against any person or persons whatsoever, who have been employed in Sea-service, at any time or times, since the month of January in the year of our Lord 1642. and before the Twenty ninth of May 1660. (as Admirals, Vice-admirals', Captains of ships, Officers or Mariners, not having been within the times aforesaid, appointed Treasurers, Receivers, Farmers, or Collectors of prize-good; nor such who are accountable for any sum or sums of money, or other duties grown due or contracted upon the sale or disposition of any such prize-good, nor that have been Sub-collectors, Vnder-treasurers, Commissioners, Sub-commissionners of prize-good, or any their Casheires, Officers, Deputies, or Receivers, for or by reason of any Ships, Plate, jewels, Bullion, Money, or other things whatsoever, seized or taken by them, or any of them, for, or as Prize or prize-good within the times aforesaid) be forthwith and for ever hereafter disallowed, stayed, and discharged; And that from henceforth they the said Admirals, Vice-admirals', Captains of ships, Officers, Mariners, or any of them (not so appointed or employed in any of the said Offices or places, or accountable as aforesaid) shall not, nor may by virtue force or colour of any Process or Proceed whatsoever in any of His Majesties said Courts, or elsewhere, be in any wise arrested, disquieted, questioned, or troubled, either in their persons, lands, or goods, for or by reason of any Prizes or prize-good, by them, or any of them, so as aforesaid, seized or taken within the time aforesaid; And that all and every of them that now are, or lately have been sued, molested or troubled, for or concerning any such Prizes or prize-good, whether they or any of them are now in Prison, or at large upon Bail, or otherwise be forthwith set at liberty, and the Securities, Bails or Cautions, by them, or any of them, or any others for them, or any of them, therefore given or entered into, or to be given or entered into, be forthwith delivered up, vacated, and discharged; And all and every the said persons clearly and absolutely discharged from any attendance in or about the premises. And His Majesty doth hereby require and command His High Chancellor, and High Treasurer of England, the justices of the one Bench, and the other, the Barons of His Majesty's Exchaquer, and His Attorney General for the time being, and all other His Majesty's Officers and Ministers whatsoever, to whom it doth, shall, or may appertain, in their respective places and trusts, to cause this His Royal Proclamation in all things, for the ease and benefit of His said loving-Subjects (to whom this His Grace and Favour is extended) to be duly observed and performed. And to the end this His Majesty's pleasure and commandment may be duly and effectually performed and observed in the premises, His Majesty doth likewise will and command, That in all and every His Majesty's Courts at Westminster, where any such proceed against any of His Majesties said Subjects have been, are, or shall be had or prosecuted for or by reason of any such Prizes or prize-good, His Majesty's Attorney General for the time being, do immediately at the request or requests of the party or parties concerned, and without expecting any further or other Warrant from His Majesty, cause a Nolle Prosequi to be thereupon entered and such other discharges thereof made and given on His Majesty's behalf, as the nature of the cause shall require; And in like manner His Majesty doth also require and command that the judge or judges of the High Court of Admiralty of England for the time being, and His Majesty's Advocate, and such other of His Majesty's Council, as His Majesty hath already nominated and appointed, or shall particularly nominate and appoint in this behalf, by Warrant under his Sign Manual, to sue in His Majesty's name, and to His Majesty's use in the said Court of Admiralty, or elsewhere, any of the persons aforesaid, to whom this His Majesty's Grace and Royal Favour is extended in the premises, and all and singular other His Majesty's Officers and Ministers whatsoever, to whom it shall or may appertain, That they and every of them do forthwith surcease all further prosecution of all and every Suit or Suits, or other proceed whatsoever against the said persons (not being so appointed or employed in any of the said Offices or places, or accountable as aforesaid) for any the matters aforesaid, upon pain of His Majesty's high displeasure, and such further punishments as His Majesty may justly inflict upon them, if they or any of them shall presume to break or neglect this His Royal Commandment. And for the future Quiet and Indemnity of His Majesties said loving Subjects, to whom this His Majesty's Grace and Favour is thus extended; His Majesty doth by these Presents notify and declare, That His Majesty is and will be ready and willing to grant His Free and Gracious Pardon, under His Majesty's Great Seal of England, for all and every the matters and things aforesaid, unto such of them as shall make their humble Petitions unto His Majesty for the same.  
Given at Our Court at Hampton-Court, the Fourteenth day of July, 1662. in the Fourteenth year of Our Reign. 
 God save the King.   

London, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1662.