THE Quenes Maiestie , hauinge sundry complayntes made to her , aswell by the Ambassadour of her good brother the kynge of Spayne , as by certayne marchauntes straungers , and theyr factours , that of late certaine shippes and marchaundizes , passynge through her narrowe Seas , haue bene vppon the South coste of thys her Realme of Englande , or nere thervnto , taken by French shippes that came out of Newehauen in Normandy , and that certayne of her subiectes shoulde be aydynge thervnto , or at the least after the same so done , shoulde take part of the commodities thereof : Hath thought it mete and necessary , to notifie her pleasure and intention , generally to all her portes on the sayde South part of Englande , because hytherto the particularities of the offences , are not to her declared nor knowen , whiche is this . Her Maiestie vpon the worde of a Prynce , assureth all persons , that she neuer knewe of any such attemptes , intended by any of her subiectes , neyther gaue aucthoritie or permission , nor knoweth of any geuen , by any vnder her , to any person , to allowe or procure any such act : but hath and doth meane , whatsoeuer any particuler euyll subiectes of hers , shall haue geuen contrary cause to thynke , to see all marchauntes of all other nations , passynge through her narrowe Seas with theyr shippes and vessels , or hauntynge her portes , to be as fauourably vsed and preserued , as her owne naturall subiectes .

And therfore her Maiestie ordereth and commaundeth , that for the satisfaction of these complayntes , whersoeuer it shall appeare , that any subiect of hers , hath eyther helped to take any shyp , or sease any goodes , eyther vpon the sayde narrowe Seas , or in any part of thys Realme , wherevnto he or they haue no iust tytle , by lefull meanes , and with consent of the owners : That euery publyke officer in euery suche place , where eyther such person so offending , or the goodes so iniustly gotten , can be found , to arrest and commyt to prison the person , and to sease the goodes , vntyll it shall further appeare vppon the particuler prosecution of the parties damaged , what is further to be done by lawe and iustice . And for the time to come , her Maiestie strayghtly chargeth all maner her subiectes , to forbeare from the attempt of takinge or disturbynge of any shyppes or vessels , or from aydynge of any other so to do : but to lyue in good peace with all maner of subiectes , appertaynynge to any Prynce or countrey , with whom her Maiestie is in amitie . For otherwyse , her Maiestie wyll no wyse spare from extremitie of punishment without fauour or remission .

Yeuen at her Maiesties pallayce of Westminster , the .viii. day of February , in the fift yeare of her hyghnes raygne . 1562.