C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown  
BY THE KING.  
¶ A Proclamation for the safety of His Majesties Navy, and the kingdom.  
WHEREAS His Majesties Ships were divers Moneths since taken from His Majesty, and seized, and taken into the custody of the earl of Warwick, without, and against His Majesties consent, who did traitorously presume to usurp to himself the sovereignty of the Seas, and did use, and employ His Majesties said Ships in hostile manner against His Majesty, and His good Subjects, and for the destroying of both: And whereas His Majesty hath too much cause to apprehended there is now some new intention of preparing, and setting forth His Majesties Ships without His consent, under the command of the said earl, or of some other in the Spring now approaching, and for no better purpose, or design in some mischievous malignant Persons( that have seduced, and misled the Members that remained in both Houses of Parliament, after very many had been forced thence by tumults, and almost ruined the kingdom) then to carry away His Majesties Navy, and to leave His Majesty, His Children, and this kingdom, exposed and betrayed to the invasion of Strangers, that shall be sure to find this His Majesties kingdom in disturbance at Land at this present, and without strength at Sea, and either convey themselves to some place of strength and refuge for their own safety, or invite, and assist Strangers to invade His Majesty by Sea, as already they have publicly invited His Majesties Subjects of Scotland to assist them by Land, in the war which they have levied to overthrow His Majesty and this kingdom. And whereas the said earl, by the mischievous practise, and fraud in first procuring some pretended Authority from His Majesties late admiral, that so he might seem to have some Authority from, and under His Majesty, did thereby get the said Ships, and the men in them so far into his possession, and power, that His Majesty wanted convenient means of conveying His Declaration to His said Subjects of that deceit,& of the want of His Majesties consent, and of the absolute want of any just power, or authority which the said earl, or any other without His Majesties consent could have of commanding of, or meddling with His Majesties said Ships, by pretence of any Order, or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, wherewith he had misled His Majesties said Subjects. To the end therefore, that all the Officers of His Majesties Navy, and all other Persons whatsoever whom it may concern, may have such timely knowledge as may prevent any mischief that hereafter may happen, concerning the preparing, furnishing, employing, commanding, or serving in, of about His Majesties Ships, or any of them, His Majesty doth by this His Proclamation straitly Charge, and Command the principal Officers of His Majesties Navy, and all other Officers whatsoever, all Maisters of attendance, master Ship-wrights, Carpenters, Caulkers, Labourers,& others whom it may concern, That they have no hand in making ready, graving, rigging, or sitting up any of His Majesties Ships, to go to Sea, as also all His Store-keepers, and such who have the charge of the Stores, that they issue out none of His Majesties Stores, Rigging, sails, or guns, powder, or shot, emptions, or other materials, Timber, Planks, Cables, or Anchors thereunto. And likewise that none of His Majesties Victuallers assist therein for the victualling of them, nor any of His Gunners, Boatswaines, Pursers, or Carpenters, go to Sea in any of them; And that none of the Trinity. housemen, or others presume to take charge of any of His Majesties Ships, either as Captaines, Masters, Pylots, or Master-mates, And that no Mariners, sailor, Waterman, or other take any entertainment, or pay, or give any assistance, or do any service in carrying, or conducting any of His Majesties Ships to Sea, or on the Sea without His Majesties direction to be signified under His great seal, or sign manual, Notwithstanding any Order, or Ordinance of one, or both Houses of Parliament. And His Majesty doth further Declare, That He will not fail to take all possible care to provide for the safety of the kingdom by such a guard of His Ships as shall be necessary, when He shall have hereby prevented such wicked designs upon His Navy as might disable Him so to provide for the same, His majesty nothing doubting, but that this kingdom, that in the courage, loyalty, skill, and knowledge of such of this Nation as have commanded and served at Sea, hath found safety at home, and been renowned, and feared through all the world, will by the same helps find the same benefit, if by the malice of wicked men they be not taken from Him, or employed against Him. And His Majesty doth further Declare, that if any Person of what degree, or quality soever, shall presume to adhere to His Enemies and Rebells, in giving them any assistance in or about any of the premises, besides the loss of their offices, or places in which they ought to serve His Majesty, and the fees, or profits which belong thereunto, which they must expect, they will also incur those pains, and forfeitures, which by the Law do belong unto so heinous offences.  
¶ Given at Our Court at Oxford, this Tenth day of February, in the eighteen year of Our reign. 
 God save the King.