C R  
HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  BY THE KING. 
¶ A Proclamation of His majesty's Grace, Favour, and Pardon to all seamen, sailors, mariners and other watermen.  
WHEREAS ever since the beginning of Our reign We have, to the care of the good of Our Subjects in general, added particular encouragements to such of them as are seamen, sailors, and mariners, as well by increasing the wages of such of them as served in Our own Ships, placing of corporals in every ship for their learning of the Discipline of war, and chaplains for their instruction in the Protestant Religion, as by diverse other Acts of Grace and Favour to them in general, far beyond any of Our Predecessors. Notwithstanding which, We find that by the cunning of some traitorous and Seditious persons (who amongst other their false devices, by which they have endeavoured to alienate the hearts of Our Subjects from Us, have suggested that We intended an alteration in Religion) many of Our seamen, sailors and mariners have been seduced to keep Our own ships from Us, to contribute towards the maintenance of the Army which is raised against Us (and which had destroyed Us, if God almighty had not protected Us in the day of Battle) and have been since drawn on and invited to serve in land-service against Us, though they have ever heretofore been freed by Us, and many of them (especially those which belong to the Corporation of the Trinity-house) have had special exemptions from any such service. Which Actions of disloyalty We cannot believe they were drawn into by their own inclinations, but by the false informations, or threats and menaces of their seducers. We do therefore hereby offer Our free and gracious Pardon to all Our Subjects being seamen, sailors, mariners, and all other watermen, for all offences concerning the premises committed against Us before the publishing of this Our Proclamation. Provided that this Our Grace shall not extend to any Person who after notice of this Our Proclamation shall presume to detain any of Our ships from Us, or to serve in any of Our ships detained from Us, or otherwise serve against Us either by Sea or Land, or shall presume by Loane, Contribution or otherwise to assist the said Army now raised against Us, or to assemble or muster themselves in arms without authority derived from Us under Our hand, or to enter into any Oath of Association for opposing Us or Our Army. But We must and do declare, That whosoever shall hence forward be guilty of the premises or any of them, We shall proceed against them as enemies to the public peace, and Persons disaffected to Us, and to the Religion and laws of the Kingdom.  
¶ Given at Our Court at maiden-heath, the tenth day of November, in the Eighteenth year of Our reign. 
 God save the King.