ALthough we haue made it knowen by publike Edict , That at our entrance into these our Kingdomes of England and Ireland , we stood , as still wee doe , in good amitie and friendship with all the Princes of Christendome , and therefore are carefully to prouide , as much as in vs lyeth , that none of them or their Subiects should by any hostile action be endamaged in their Persons , Territories , or Goods by any of our Subiects either by Land or Sea : Yet we are not ignorant , that our late deare sister the late Queene of England , had of long time warres with the King of Spaine , and during that time gaue Licences and Commissions to diuers of her , and our now Subiects , to set out and furnish to Sea , at their charges , diuers ships warlikly appointed , for the surprising and taking of the said Kings subiects and goods , and for the enioying of the same , being taken and brought home as lawfull Prize . By vertue of which Licences and Commissions , our said Subiects , in the zeale and affection which they bare to the good of their Countrey , in the annoyance and spoyle of the publike enemy of this State at that time , and in maintenance & employment of the Shipping and Mariners of England , otherwise through scant of Traffique at that time , not sufficiently set on worke ; Did furnish out to the Seas diuers Ships warlikly appointed , to their exceeding charge , vpon confidence to enioy what goods soeuer they should take during the said Voyage , belonging to the King of Spaine , or to any of his Subiects , according to the tenour of their seuerall Commissions .

And whereas diuers of them , sithens our comming by the grace and fauour of God to the Imperiall Crowne of these our Realmes and Dominions , haue taken by colour of the saide Commissions , diuers Ships and goods belonging to the Subiects of the King of Spaine , not knowing of any alteration or discontinuance of the former Warre betweene Spaine and England , and thereby are like to bee extreamely hindred , or rather many of them vndone ( being a great number of our good and seruiceable Subiects ) if they may not bee suffered to enioy such Goods as they haue so taken , before any notice giuen vnto them of the discontinuance of the said late warre : Wee in our Princely condition , hauing ( aboue all things ) tender care of the good estate of our louing and dutifull Subiects , and willing to giue encouragement to all others hereafter , in time of our Warres , to shewe like forwardnesse in venturing their liues and goods for the weakning of the publique enemy , and benefiting of this their Countrey : Haue thought good to signifie to all men by these presents , that our wil and pleasure is , that all such as haue set out , or furnished to the Seas , any Shippes of warre , by vertue of any the said Commissions , and not hauing notice of our entrance into this Kingdome , haue at any time before the foure and twentieth day of Aprill last ( which time wee limit vnto all men of warre at Sea as a sufficient space , within which they might haue taken knowledge of the discontinuance of the said Warre ) thereby taken any Ships , or Goods belonging to any the Subiects of the King of Spaine , and are already returned into any of our Dominions , shall quietly enioy the sayde Shippes and goods taken as aforesayd .

And further our will and pleasure is , That whatsoeuer shippes or goods belonging to any Subiect of the said king of Spaine , hath beene or shall bee taken at Sea , or land by any of our Subiects by colour of any Commission whatsoeuer , after the said foure and twentieth day of Aprill last : The same shall be foorth with sequestred from the Takers , to the vse of the true Proprietaries , and restored vnto them vpon the first claimes and proofes of their propertie , without any long or chargeable suite of Law .

And we further will and command , That all such our men of warre , as be now at Sea , hauing no sufficient Commission as aforesaid , and haue taken , or shal go to Sea hereafter , and shal take any the ships , or goods of any subiect of any Princes in league , or amitie with vs , shall bee reputed and taken as Pirates , and both they and all their accessaries , maintainers , comforters , abbettors , and partakers shall suffer death as Pirates , and accessaries to piracie , with confiscation of all their landes , and goodes , according to the ancient lawes of this Realme . Commaunding all our officers of the Admiralty to see our commaundement seuerely executed , and commanding al other officers of our Kingdomes and Dominions whom it may concerne , to giue their best assistance to the officers of the Admiralty , for the better execution of our sayde commaundement , as they and euery of them failing therein , will answere to the contrary at their vttermost perils .