❧ By the King.  
ALthough we have made it known by public Edict, That at our entrance into these our Kingdoms of England and Ireland, we stood, as still we do, in good amity and friendship with all the Princes of Christendom, and therefore are carefully to provide, as much as in us lieth, that none of them or their Subjects should by any hostile action be endamaged in their Persons, Territories, or Goods by any of our Subjects either by Land or Sea: Yet we are not ignorant, that our late dear sister the late Queen of England, had of long time wars with the King of Spain, and during that time gave Licences and Commissions to divers of her, and our now Subjects, to set out and furnish to Sea, at their charges, divers ships warlikly appointed, for the surprising and taking of the said King's subjects and goods, and for the enjoying of the same, being taken and brought home as lawful Prize. By virtue of which Licences and Commissions, our said Subjects, in the zeal and affection which they bore to the good of their Country, in the annoyance and spoil of the public enemy of this State at that time, and in maintenance & employment of the Shipping and Mariners of England, otherwise through scant of Traffic at that time, not sufficiently set on work; Did furnish out to the Seas divers Ships warlikly appointed, to their exceeding charge, upon confidence to enjoy what goods soever they should take during the said Voyage, belonging to the King of Spain, or to any of his Subjects, according to the tenor of their several Commissions.  
And whereas divers of them, sithence our coming by the grace and favour of God to the Imperial Crown of these our Realms and Dominions, have taken by colour of the said Commissions, divers Ships and goods belonging to the Subjects of the King of Spain, not knowing of any alteration or discontinuance of the former War between Spain and England, and thereby are like to be extremely hindered, or rather many of them undone (being a great number of our good and serviceable Subjects) if they may not be suffered to enjoy such Goods as they have so taken, before any notice given unto them of the discontinuance of the said late war: We in our Princely condition, having (above all things) tender care of the good estate of our loving and dutiful Subjects, and willing to give encouragement to all others hereafter, in time of our Wars, to show like forwardness in venturing their lives and goods for the weakening of the public enemy, and benefiting of this their Country: Have thought good to signify to all men by these presents, that our will and pleasure is, that all such as have set out, or furnished to the Seas, any Ships of war, by virtue of any the said Commissions, and not having notice of our entrance into this Kingdom, have at any time before the four and twentieth day of April last (which time we limit unto all men of war at Sea as a sufficient space, within which they might have taken knowledge of the discontinuance of the said War) thereby taken any Ships, or Goods belonging to any the Subjects of the King of Spain, and are already returned into any of our Dominions, shall quietly enjoy the said Ships and goods taken as aforesaid.  
And further our will and pleasure is, That whatsoever ships or goods belonging to any Subject of the said king of Spain, hath been or shall be taken at Sea, or land by any of our Subjects by colour of any Commission whatsoever, after the said four and twentieth day of April last: The same shall be forth with sequestered from the Takers, to the use of the true Proprietaries, and restored unto them upon the first claims and proofs of their property, without any long or chargeable suit of Law.  
And we further will and command, That all such our men of war, as be now at Sea, having no sufficient Commission as aforesaid, and have taken, or shall go to Sea hereafter, and shall take any the ships, or goods of any subject of any Princes in league, or amity with us, shall be reputed and taken as Pirates, and both they and all their accessaries, maintainers, comforters, abettors, and partakers shall suffer death as Pirates, and accessaries to piracy, with confiscation of all their lands, and goods, according to the ancient laws of this Realm. Commanding all our officers of the Admiralty to see our commandment severely executed, and commanding all other officers of our Kingdoms and Dominions whom it may concern, to give their best assistance to the officers of the Admiralty, for the better execution of our said commandment, as they and every of them failing therein, will answer to the contrary at their uttermost perils.  
Given at our Manor of Greenwich the 23. day of June, in the first year of our Reign of England, France, and Jreland, And in the six and thirtieth of Scotland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty. Anno Dom. 1603.