FOrasmuch as it is come to the Queenes Maiesties vnderstanding , by meanes of certayne complaintes , aswell by her owne subiects as others , that there are sundry persons vpon the narowe Seas , of diuers nations , and some borne within her Maiesties dominions , hauyng shippes armed in warlike maner , who partly at the first went manifestly to the Seas in maner of marchaunts , and haue afterward by sinister meanes chaunged their trade , and armed themselues for the warre : some others haue secretly stollen out of obscure places , with a pretence in these troublesome tymes , that are seen aswell eastward betwixt the kingdome of Denmake and Sweden , and their adherentes , as westwarde in the dominions of Fraunce , both lamentable to behold , to serue on the Seas either on the on part or the other , and yet indeede haue at length directed themselues from all lefull seruice of warres , to lyue as pirats , robbing and spoylyng all maner of honest marchauntes of euery nation without difference , whom they are able to subdue . For remedy whereof , although her Maiestie hath of late tyme geuen certayne strayt orders through all her portes , that no maner of persons other then knowen marchauntes , shoulde be suffered to sell or distribute any maner of wares or marchaundises in any her portes , nor that any within her Realme should vittayle , or otherwise relieue any maner of person any wise to be suspected of piracie . Yet now vpon these new complaintes , her Maiestie finding that thereby hath followed no such full remedy as was looked for : for that purpose her Maiestie hath thought meet to deuise and publish by her proclamation some further effectuall remedy . And therefore doth straytly charge and command all maner her subiects , to forbeare from ayding or receauing of any pirate , or any person hauing not lefull aucthoritie from her Maiestie , or not being a knowen marchaunt , by contractyng , bying , sellyng or exchaungyng , or by vittaylying of them or any of their company , whereby they or any of them shal be the more enhabled to returne to the Seas to commit any piracie or disorder , vpon payne for so doing to be punished presently , as the principall offendours and pirates ought to be . And furthermore , whosoeuer shal hereafter arme or prepare any vessel to the sea , except it be such as shal by her Maiesties auctority , be specially appointed to kepe the Seas , as her Maiestie now is occasioned to do for some other respects , or such as shall haue expresse licence and permission by her Maiestie : the same shall geue knowledge to the officers of the portes of their whole furniture , who shall duely search and visite the same , to the intent to stay such persons as apparauntly shal be so furnished for the warres , and not for marchaundise or fishing . And if there shal be any maner of suspitition , that the said person though he shal pretende to trade for marchaundise , or fishing , hath or may haue any intent by his prouisions or furniture , otherwise then to vse the trade of marchaundise , or fishing : that in such case of suspition , the officers of the ports shall stay , and no wise suffer the same to passe to the Seas , without good bands by sufficient sureties first had , to vse nothing but a leful trade of Marchaundise or fishing . And if the officers shall suffer any person otherwise to repaire to the Seas then aboue is mentioned , they shall not onely aunswere for any piracies which any such person shall chaunce thereafter to do vpon the Sea : but shall suffer imprisonment vntill the offenders may bee apprehended , if they shall be liuing . And generally her Maiestie declareth and denounceth all such pirates and rouers vpon the Seas to be out of her protection , and lefully to be by any person taken , punished , and suppressed with extremitie .