FOrasmuch as it is come to the Queenes Maiesties vnderstandyng , by meanes of certayne complayntes , aswell by her owne subiectes 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 marchauntes , & haue afterwarde by sinister meanes chaunged their trade , and armed them selues for the warre : some others haue secretly stollen out of obscure places , with a pretence in these troublesome tymes , that are seene aswell eastwarde betwixt the kingdome of Denmarke & Sweden , and their adherentes , as westwarde in the dominions of Fraunce , both lamentable to beholde , to serue on the Seas either on the one part or the other , and yet in deede haue at length directed them selues from all lefull seruice of warres , to lyue as pirates , robbyng and spoylyng al maner of honest marchauntes of euery nation without difference , whom they are able to subdue . For remedy wherof , although her Maiestie hath of late tyme geuen certayne strayte 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 nowe vpon these newe complayntes , her Maiestie findyng that therby hath folowed no such ful remedy as was loked for : for that purpose her Maiestie hath thought meete to deuise & publishe by her proclamation some further effectual remedy . And therfore doth straytly charge & commaunde al maner her subiectes , to forbeare from aydyng or receauyng of any pirate , or any person hauyng not lefull auctoritie from her Maiestie , or not beyng a knowen marchaunt by contractyng , bying , sellyng or exchaungyng or by vittaylyng of them or any of their companie , 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 doyng to be punished presently , as the principall offendours and pirates ought to be . And furthermore , whosoeuer shall herafter arme o● prepare any vessel to the sea , except it be such as shall by her Maiesties auctoritie be specially appoynted to kepe the Seas , as her Maiestie nowe is occasioned to do for some other respectes , 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 shal duely searche 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 fishyng . And if there shal be any maner of suspition , that the sayde person though he shall pretende to trade for marchaundise or fishyng , hath or may haue any intent by his prouisions or furniture , otherwise then to vse the trade of marchandise , or fishing : that in such case of suspition , the officers of the portes shall stay , and no wise suffer the same to passe to the Seas , without good bandes by sufficient suerties first had , to vse nothyng but a lefull trade of marchaundise or fishyng . And yf the officers shall suffer any person otherwise to repaire to the Seas then aboue is mentioned , they shall not only aunswere for any piracies which any such person shall chaunce thereafter to do vpon the Sea : but shall suffer imprisonment vntyll the offendours may be apprehended , if they shal be lyuyng . 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 .