C R  
HONI SOIT x MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  BY THE KING. 
A Proclamation prohibiting the buying or disposing of any the lading of the Ship called the SANCTA CLARA, lately brought into South-Hampton.  
COMPLAINT having been made unto His Majesty, by Don Alonco de Cardenas Ambassador from the King of Spain, that a Ship called the Sancta Clara belonging to the said King and His Subjects, hath been lately treacherously brought to South-Hampton, by one Captain Bennet Strafford and others, from Sancto Domingo, the said Ship being laden with Silver, Cocheneale, and other Wares and Merchandizes to a very great value; And that the said Ship and Goods, being by the said Ambassador arrested, and the said Bennet Strafford apprehended, whilst a suit for the said Ship and Goods is depending in the Court of Admiralty, the Silver (part of the lading of the said Ship to a very great value) hath been disposed of contrary to Law, without any other security given for the same, than the empty Name of public Faith, which without His Majesty cannot (as is well known to all the world) be engaged, or if engaged without His Majesty, is not valid, or to be relied on for satisfaction. And it is further complained by the said Ambassador, That the Cocheneale, and other Merchandizes formerly sequestered at London and South-Hampton, albeit they are not perishable, but have rather increased in their Price and Value, are likely to be sold against the Will of those who pretend to be the Owners, (Parties to the suit depending in the said Court of Admiralty) which is alleged to be apparently against the Rules of Law, and practices of that Court in such Cases. His Majesty well weighing what may be the ill Consequences of such injurious Proceedings, manifestly contrary to the Law, and the Articles of Treaty between the two crowns, and plainly foreseeing how heavily it may light upon such of His good Subjects, who have Estates in Spain, and how destructive it may prove to the Trade and Commerce of his Subjects and kingdoms, doth hereby not only expressly Charge and Command the Judge of his Admiralty, and all others whom it may concern, to proceed in a business of such Value and consequence, with Care, Expedition, and according to Justice; But doth also expressly prohibit all persons, of what condition soever, upon pretence of any Order or Warrant from one or both Houses of Parliament, or any Authority derived from thence, to buy, meddle with, or dispose of any part of the said Cocheneale, or other Goods or Merchandizes belonging to the said Ship, until the propriety thereof shall be judicially decided and determined, Upon pain of His majesty's high Displeasure, and of being responsible and liable to payment and satisfaction for whatsoever damage shall happen to any of His majesty's Subjects, whose Goods or Estates shall for that Cause be embargued or seized in Spain:  
Given at the Court at Oxford, the second day of January, in the Eighteenth year of His majesty's reign. 
 God save the King.