WHereas Wee haue beene informed that sundry of Our Subiects , Masters and Owners of Ships , respecting more their priuate gaine and aduantage , then the publike good and safety of Vs and Our Dominions , doe daily sell , or otherwise dispose to Strangers and Forreiners their Ships and other Vessels , to the great disseruice of Vs and the State , in weakening the Nauigation of this Kingdome ; We taking the same into Our Princely consideration and foreseeing the many inconueniences which will ensue , if the same be not preuented , or the offenders ( if any such shall hereafter be found ) be not seuerely punished , by the aduice of Our Priuy Counsell doe hereby straitly charge and command , that none of Our Subiects , or others , liuing within Our obeisance , of what degree , quality , or condition soeuer , doe at any time hereafter presume , directly or indirectly , to sell or alien , or by any waies or meanes , to dispose of any Ship or other Vessell , of what burthen soeuer the same shall be , and either made or built within Our Dominions or without , being fit , or which may be made fit to saile vpon the Seas , to any manner of person either borne or resident out of Our Dominions , vpon paine of Our high displeasure , and of the seuerest penalties and punishments , which by the Lawes and Statutes of this Our Realme , or by Our Prerogatiue Royall can be inflicted vpon them .

And Our further will and pleasure is , that if any of Our Subiects , either naturall borne , or made Denizens , knowing any such offence to be committed , shall not with all conuenient speede reueale the same , to the body of Our Priuy Counsell , that euery such person so concealing his knowledge , of or in the Premisses , shall for such his offence , be proceeded against , and punished as the principall offendors . And further because We vnderstand too well , what great destruction hath of late yeeres beene made of Timber fit for Shipping , and how little care and prouidence hath beene vsed to preserue the same according to Our Lawes : Wee doe further strictly charge and commaund , that all and euery Our louing Subiects in their seuerall places , doe preserue all such Timber as shall be fit for Shipping with their best indeauours , as they tender Our fauour , and the danger of Our Lawes , and would auoyd the contrary at their vttermost perils .