C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A PROCLAMATION, Prohibiting the Importation of Cordage and Cable-Yarn from Foreign Parts.  
CHARLES R.  
THe King's most Excellent Majesty being Informed, That the Importing of Cordage and Cable-Yarn ready Wrought, and Manufactured in Foreign parts, doth not only Endanger the Lives and Ships of many of His Majesty's Subjects, by reason the same Cordage and Yarn is for the most part deceitfully Made, but doth also tend to the great Prejudice and Impoverishment of the Rope-makers of this His Realm, who for want of Employment are Reduced to great Necessity: His Majesty therefore for their better Encouragement, and the preservation of so useful an Art and Manufacture among His own Subjects, is Graciously Pleased by this His Royal Proclamation (with the Advice of His Privy Council) strictly to Charge, Prohibit, and Command, That from the First day of May next, no Person or Persons, Natives, Aliens, or others, do, or shall Import, Bring, or Convey, or cause to be Imported, Brought, or Conveyed, into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Port or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, from or out of any part or place beyond the Seas, by way of Merchandise, or to be Sold or Exchanged, any Cordage or Cable-Yarn whatsoever, ready Wrought, and Made in parts beyond the Seas (other than such as shall be Made in Russia of the Hemp of the Growth of that Country,) upon pain of Forfeiting all that by Law is Forfeitable, and such other Punishment as by the Law, or His Majesty's Prerogative Royal, may be inflicted upon the Contemners of His Royal Authority. And His Majesty doth further Charge and Require the Commissioners of His Customs, Controllers, Searchers, and Officers of His Ports, and all other Persons whatsoever, to Seize any Cordage or Yarn that shall be Imported, Sold, or Exchanged, contrary to His Majesty's Pleasure herein Declared, and to be Diligent and Careful in the Preventing the Importation of the Cordage and Yarn hereby Prohibited, and the Discovery of the same, to the end the Offenders may be duly Punished; His Majesty also Commanding all justices of the Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, and other Officers whatsoever, to be Aiding and Assisting in all things Requisite for the Observation and due Execution of this His Majesty's Royal Proclamation.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the 20th day of February, 1674. in the Seven and twentieth year of Our Reign. 
 GOD SAVE THE KING.   

LONDON, Printed by the Assigns of John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1674/5.