WHeras the Quenes Maiestie vpon the earnest intention that she alwayes had and yet hath , to mainteyne the good and auncient amitie betwixt her Maiestie and the kyng of Spayne her good brother , theyr countreys and subiectes , did by her proclamation in September last past , strayghtly commaunde all her Subiectes , tradyng the Seas eyther for fyshyng or marchaundize , to vse theyr accustomed maner without any trouble of the sayde kyng of Spaynes subiectes , and also in cases nedefull , to defende them agaynst the Frenche , wherof dyd folow specially duryng the time of the herryng fishing , great quietnes and singuler commoditie to the subiectes of the sayde kyng , specially to them of the low countreys , as her Maiestie hath ben certaynlye enfourmed , and is therof glad . Yet sithens that tyme , sundry of the sayd kynges subiectes for priuate lucre , abusyng her Maiesties good intention notified in the sayde proclamation , haue sought to colour the goodes and marchaundize of the French , beyng her Maiesties enemies , both commyng out , and passyng into Fraunce , as apparently hath ben proued in sundry causes duelye examined and tryed , and remaynyng to be shewed . In respect wherof certayne of her Maiesties subiectes , which accordyng to theyr dueties be armed vpon the Seas , to offende the Frenche beyng enemies , haue ben more curious towardes some of the sayde kyng of Spaynes subiectes , in searchyng of the sayde deceiptes of colouryng of the Frenche goodes , and thervpon of late , sundrye complayntes haue ben made by certayne of the sayde Kynges subiectes , that certayne Englyshe men of warre , beyng vppon the Seas , haue molested them , and in some parte spoyled them . Wherof her Maiestie hath vpon continuance of her former intention towardes the mainteinance of good amitie with her sayde good brother the kyng of Spayne and his subiectes , appoynted speciall commissioners of trust , to haue an extraordinary power and aucthoritie , to heare , and spedely to determine and redresse all such complaintes , without delay of processe , and with more celeritie then is administred to any of her owne naturall subiectes . In which proceding , although her Maiestie vnderstandeth , that her sayde good brothers subiectes receaue much satisfaction : yet for that the numbre of her subiectes and shippes of warre , that are presently vpon the Seas , and are lykely to go to the Seas this spryng , to the offence of the French , are so great and many , and of so diuers porte townes and countreys , as it appeareth very harde , howe a good accompt may be made , of euery of them beyng so many , specially considering the dayly colouryng of the French wares by the sayd kynges subiectes encreaseth manifestly . Therfore her Maiestie styll persistyng in her former fauour towardes her sayde good brothers subiectes , and to withstande all disorders agaynst her other frendes , hath for some more suretie towardes them , thought meete by aduise of her counsayle , to prouide as foloweth , whiche is as muche as can be deuised . Fyrst , her Maiestie strayghtly chargeth and commaundeth all maner her subiectes , that shall perceaue eyther on the Seas , or in any Port , Hauen , or Creke of this Realme , or in the Realme of Irelande , any person that may be suspected by any lykely meane , to haue hurt or endamaged any subiect of the kyng of Spaynes , or that shall haue any goodes or marchaundize , that shall seme to haue ben taken from any of the sayde kynges subiectes , duryng these warres with Fraunce , that they and euery of them , shall employe them selues to the best of theyr power , to apprehende , or cause to be apprehended , the persons so suspected to haue offended : for the whiche theyr doinges , they shal haue conuenient rewarde . And yf any shippe shall come into any Port , wherof there shal be any suspition , that the owners or occupyers therof haue dammaged any of the sayde kynges subiectes : the Uiseadmirall of that coast , or the Maior , or other head officer there , in the absence of the Uiseadmirall , shall cause the sayde vessell , and the persons therin suspected , to be stayed , vpon payne yf they shal be therein negligent , to be punyshed as abbettours to the offendours , and therof , and of the proues or causes of suspition , shall immediatlye geue knowledge to the Commissioners appoynted for those causes of depredations , that immediate order be taken for tryall of the fact , accordyng to the tenour of theyr commission .

Furthermore her Maiestie wylleth and commaundeth , that no shippe or vessell armed for the warre , that shal come into any Port or Creke of this Realme , after the publication hereof , shal be suffred to depart or retourne to the Seas , vntyll the owner , captayne , maister , or such persons as haue to commaunde the sayd shippe or vessell , shall geue good assurance by sufficient sureties to the Uiseadmirall of the coast , or yf he shall not be redyly found , then to the principall officer of the Port , where the shyp or vessell shal be , or otherwyse as the court of thadmiraltie shall prescribe , and thynke meete in those cases , that they shal be aunswerable in fourme of Iustice , to satisfie such complayntes and informations , as be , or shal be exhibited agaynst them , for spoylyng and offendyng the subiectes of the sayde Kyng of Spayne , or of any other nation beyng in amitie with her Maiestie . And yf the parties can not , or wyl not geue such assuraunce : then the shyppes shall not be suffred to depart to the Seas , but knowledge shal be geuen therof to the foresayde Commissioners . And yf the partyes refusyng to geue assuraunce of sufficient sureties , shall seme to be suspected that they haue not behaued them selues well towardes her Maiesties frendes , they shall also be stayed , vntyll the foresayde Commissioners shall determine therof .

And because of late some complayntes haue ben made by certayne Scottysh men in generalitie , agaynst some Englyshe men of warre , for euyll vsyng of them vpon the Seas , wherein particuler orders are alredy geuen for tryall and redresse of the same : Her Maiestie wylleth , that such care be had of the well vsyng of the subiectes of her good syster the Quene of Scotes , as the great amitie betwixt theyr two Maiesties , and theyr countreys and people , doth necessaryly requyre . For that her Maiestie woulde haue nothyng omitted on her parte , that myght conserue , and encrease the same .

Yeuen at her Maiesties Castle of Windsor the .xviii. day of February , in the sixth yere of her highnes raigne . 1563.