C2R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  By the King. 
A PROCLAMATION For Regulating the Colours to be worn on Merchant's Ships.  
CHARLES R.  
WHereas by ancient Usage no Merchant's Ship ought to bear the jack, which is for Distinction appointed for His Majesty's Ships; Nevertheless, His Majesty is informed, That divers of His Majesty's Subjects have of late presumed to wear His Majesty's jack on board their Ships employed in Merchant's Affairs, and thinking to evade the Punishment due for the same, bear jacks in Shape and mixture of Colours, so little different from those of His Majesty, as not to be without difficulty distinguished therefrom; Which practice is found attended with manifold Inconveniences: For prevention whereof for the future, His Majesty hath thought fit, with the Advice of His Privy Council, by this His Royal Proclamation, strictly to Charge and Command all His Subjects whatsoever, That from henceforth they do not presume to wear His Majesty's jack, (commonly called, The Union Jack) many of their Ships or Vessels, without particular Warrant for their so doing from His Majesty, or the Lord High Admiral of England, or the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral for the time being; And His Majesty doth hereby further Command all His Loving Subjects, That without such Warrant as aforesaid, they presume not to wear on board their Ships or Vessels, any jacks made in imitation of His Majesties; or any other Flags, jacks, or Ensigns whatsoever, than those usually heretofore worn on Merchant's Ships, viz. The Flag and jack White, with a Red Cross, (commonly called, Saint George's Cross) passing quite through the same; And the Ensign Red, with the like Cross in a Canton White, at the upper Corner thereof next to the Staff.  
And His Majesty doth hereby require the principal Officers and Commissioners of His Navy, Governors of His Forts and Castles, the Officers of His Customs, and Commanders or Officers of any of His Majesty's Ships, or upon their meeting with, or otherwise observing any Merchant's Ships or Vessels of His Majesty's Subjects wearing such a Flag, jack, or Ensign contrary hereunto, whether at Sea, or in Port, not only to cause such Flag, jack, or Ensign to be forthwith Seized, but to Return the Names of the said Ships and Vessels, together with the Names of their respective Masters, unto the Lord High Admiral, Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, or the judge of the High Court of Admiralty for the time being, to the end the persons Offending may be duly Punished for the same.  
And His Majesty doth hereby Command and Enjoin the judge and judges of the High Court of Admiralty for the time being, that at the several Sessions to be hereafter held by His Majesty's Commission of Oyer and Terminer for the Admiralty, they give in Charge, that strict enquiry be made of all Offences in the Premises, and that they cause all offenders therein to be duly punished: And all Vice-admirals', and judges of Vice-Admiralties, are also to do the same, and to attend the due observation hereof within the several Ports and places of their respective Precincts.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Eighteenth day of September 1674. in the Six and twentieth Year of Our Reign. By His Majesty's Command. 
 God save the King.   

LONDON. Printed by the Assigns of John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1674.