❧ By the King.  
WHereas at a Parliament holden at Westminster in the fift year of King Richard the second, the King defended the passage utterly of all maner of people, as well clerks as others in every port, and other town and place vpon the cost of the Sea, vpon pain of forfeiture of all their goods, except onely the Lords and other great men of the realm, and true and notable Merchants, and the Kings Souldiers; And further prohibited diuers other things vpon pain that the offenders should forfeit, as much as they might forfeit, as by the said Act appeareth: which Statute was seldom or never( especially of late) put in execution, for that it was in some cases too rigorous, in others very dark and obscure, and now, forasmuch as concerneth the passage of the English Subiects into the kingdom of Scotland, become void and extinct in respect of the happy union of both kingdoms under one sovereign: His most Excellent majesty( preferring always the tranquilitie of his loving Subiects, before such and so great advantage as he might reap by recovery of such penalties) hath not onely suffered that particular branch of the Statute aforesaid to fall to the ground,( the continuation whereof were both unjust, and an apparent mark of separation) but hath been content, besides that particular clause which was included in the act passed at the last Session of Parliament, for abolishing of hostility, and the memory of all things that depend thereon, to assent( in favour of the subject) to repeal the whole Statute itself of Richard the second. And yet his majesty( whose care doth ever watch over the weal of his Subiects) considering that the principal duty and allegiance of all his Subiects, doth chiefly consist to attend at all times the service and defence of their natural Liege Lord, and of their dear and native country, with all cheerful readiness and alacrity, either within the realm, or without, when they shall be thereunto required: And foreseing in his Princely providence and wisdom what danger( especially in these dangerous dayes) might ensue to the whole State, if his Subiects might at their pleasure pass and depart out of this realm into the kingdoms, Countreys, Dominions and Territories of foreign Kings, Princes, States and Potentates, hath vpon mature deliberation provided remedy for the prevention of such mischief as might follow thereupon: And therefore his majesty doth( according to his majesties laws and the resolution of his Iudges, with whom consultation hath been had, and agreeable to diuers Presidents in the reigns of King Edward the first, and King Edward the third( two most prudent and renowned Kings) and other of his noble progenitors before the making of the said late act by these presents with the advice of his privy council,) straightly prohibit and forbid all maner of persons being natural born Subiects of this realm, or any of the Dominions of the same, of what estate or degree soever they bee, that they or any of them( other then such persons as were excepted in and by the said act, and other then Souldiers, Merchants, Mariners, and their Factors and Apprentices) shall not any time hereafter without special licence of his majesty, or of any four or more of his privy council( whereof the principal Secretary for the time being to be one) pass or depart out of this realm of England, or any of the dominions of the same, into the kingdoms, Countreyes, Territories or Dominions of any foreign King, Prince, State, or Potentate, vpon such corporal and other great and heavy pains and penalties as by our laws may be inflicted vpon such as shall offend therein, for their so heinous and unnatural offences against their natural Liege Lord and country in that behalf.  
provided always, that if any of the persons before excepted, shall after his departure out of this realm, do, commit, put in ure, attempt, or assent unto any Act, device, plot, or thing against his most Excellent majesty, or any of his kingdoms or Dominions, or against any of his laws or Statutes, that every such person so offending, shall lose the benefit of the said exception, and shall to all intents and purposes be taken and adiudged to bee as one that maliciously and contemptuously passeth or departeth out of this realm contrary to the tenor and effect of these Presents.  
And whereas by error and vulgar opinion it is conceived and given out by some, That all men at this present be at liberty to transport and carry out of this realm any gold or silver in coin, jewels, Bullion, Plate, or vessel, His majesty understanding thereof, caused the Iudges of the realm to be consulted withall in that point; who vpon due consideration and conference had amongst them, haue with one consent resolved, that the transportation of all manner of gold and silver in coin, jewels, Bullion, Plate or vessel is absolutely prohibited and forbidden as well by the Statutes in the twentieth year of King Edward the first, in the ninth year of King Edward the third, and in the second year of King Henry the sixth, as by diuers other Statutes vpon great and grievous penalties and forfeitures. Vpon signification of which resolution, his most excellent majesty, to the intent that none of his loving Subiects through any erroneous conceit or opinion might be deceived and endamaged, hath in his Princely clemency caused as well the said resolution of his Iudges, as the Statutes themselves to be particularized and published for the safety of his loving Subiects: And further doth by these Presents straightly charge and command that all the said laws and Statutes concerning Transportation of gold or silver bee firmly holden, and kept and put in due execution. And doth further prohibit and forbid all and all maner of persons whatsoever, to carry or transport out of this realm any Gold or silver in coin, jewels, Bullion, Plate, or vessel, contrary to any of the said laws or Statutes, as they will answer the contrary at their uttermost peril.  
given at our Palace of Westminster the ninth day of july, in the fifth year of our reign of Great britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty. ANNO DOM. 1607.