royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation touching Mariners.  
WHereas, by the laws of this realm, every master receiving press-money to serve the King in any of his Ships, and after refusing to serve, or absenting himself at the time and place appointed unto him for his service, doth incur the danger and penalty of felony, and is to be punished, and to forfeit as a fellow: And whereas his majesty, out of his royal bounty, hath lately increased the wages and entertainment of Mariners to be employed in his service, from fourteen shillings to twenty shillings the month, by a Medium, which he will constantly continue for their encouragement, which is as much as ordinarily they receive in Merchants wages, besides the large allowance of victuals, which they haue in his majesties ships and service, and their daily hopes of other profits and advantages, and their safety from being taken Prisoners, which in Merchants ships in these times of hostility, they are daily subject unto: nevertheless his majesty doth find, that many of the Mariners pressed for his service, and having received press and conduct money, do daily run away, and absent themselves from his service, whereby his ships are unfurnished, and his service disappointed, to his majesties dishonour, and the dishonour and danger of the State, in these times of peril, when the foreign enemy is ready prepared to invade& infest his majesties realms and Dominions. His majesty therefore in his Princely wisdom and providence, foreseing the extreme peril which may ensue, by the wilful and base neglect of people of this quality, Hath thought fit, by the advice of his counsel of war, to admonish all persons whom it may concern, That they be careful at their uttermost perils, that they offend not in any such sort or kind hereafter; And doth hereby straitly charge and command all persons, who shall hereafter bee pressed for his service, as Mariners, or otherwise in any of his ships or other vessels, and shall receive press money to that purpose, that they duly repair and come to the places, and at the times appointed unto them, and there continue in the service unto which they are severally and respectively assigned, vpon pain of death, and all other such pains, penalties, and forfeitures, as by the Law can be inflicted or imposed vpon them. And his majesty doth hereby straitly charge and command all his Iudges, Iustices, Mayors, Sheriffes, and all other his officers and Ministers of Iustice whatsoever in their several places, and all Captaines, Maisters, and other officers of, or in any of his ships, or other ships or vessels in his majesties pay, That they carefully and diligently observe and execute his majesties laws and royal pleasure hereby signified and declared, vpon pain of his majesties high displeasure, and such other punishments, as by the laws of this realm, or by his majesties prerogative royal can be inflicted vpon them.  
given at his majesties Court at White-hall, the eighteen day of june, in the second year of his reign of Great britain, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. M.DC.XXVI.