WHereas at a Parliament holden at Westminster in the fift yeere of King Richard the second , the King defended the passage vtterly of all maner of people , aswell Clearks as others in euery port , and other Towne and place vpon the coast of the Sea , vpon paine of forfeiture of all their goods , except onely the Lords and other great men of the Realme , and true and notable Merchants , and the Kings Souldiers ; And further prohibited diuers other things vpon paine that the offenders should forfeit , as much as they might forfeit , as by the said Act appeareth : which Statute was seldome or neuer ( especially of late ) put in execution , for that it was in some cases too rigorous , in others very darke and obscure , and now , forasmuch as concerneth the passage of the English Subiects into the kingdome of Scotland , become voyd and extinct in respect of the happy Vnion of both Kingdomes vnder one Soueraigne : His most Excellent Maiestie ( preferring alwayes the tranquilitie of his louing Subiects , before such and so great aduantage as he might reape by recouery of such penalties ) hath not onely suffered that particular branch of the Statute aforesaid to fall to the ground , ( the continuation whereof were both vniust , and an apparant marke of separation ) but hath bene content , besides that particular clause which was included in the Acte passed at the last Session of Parliament , for abolishing of Hostilitie , and the memory of all things that depend thereon , to assent ( in fauour of the Subiect ) to repeale the whole Statute it selfe of Richard the second . And yet his Maiestie ( whose care doeth euer watch ouer the weale of his Subiects ) considering that the principall duetie and allegiance of all his Subiects , doeth chiefly consist to attend at all times the seruice and defence of their natural Liege Lord , and of their deare and natiue Countrey , with all cheerefull readinesse and alacritie , either within the Realme , or without , when they shall be thereunto required : And foreseeing in his Princely prouidence and wisedome what danger ( especially in these dangerous dayes ) might insue to the whole State , if his Subiects might at their pleasure passe and depart out of this Realme into the Kingdomes , Countreys , Dominions and Territories of forreine Kings , Princes , States and Potentates , hath vpon mature deliberation prouided remedy for the preuention of such mischiefe as might follow thereupon : And therefore his Maiesty doeth ( according to his Maiesties Lawes and the resolution of his Iudges , with whom consultation hath beene had , and agreeable to diuers Presidents in the reignes of King Edward the first , and King Edward the thirde ( two most prudent and renowmed Kings ) and other of his noble Progenitours before the making of the sayd late Acte by these presents with the aduice of his Priuie Councell , ) straightly prohibite and forbid all maner of persons being naturall borne Subiects of this Realme , or any of the Dominions of the same , of what estate or degree soeuer they bee , that they or any of them ( other then such persons as were excepted in and by the sayd Acte , and other then Souldiers , Merchants , Mariners , and their Factors and Apprentices ) shall not any time hereafter without speciall licence of his Maiesty , or of any foure or more of his Priuie Councell ( whereof the Principall Secretary for the time being to be one ) passe or depart out of this Realme of England , or any of the dominions of the same , into the Kingdomes , Countreyes , Territories or Dominions of any forreine King , Prince , State , or Potentate , vpon such corporall and other great and heauy paines and penalties as by our Lawes may be inflicted vpon such as shall offend therein , for their so heinous and vnnaturall offences against their naturall Liege Lord and Countrey in that behalfe .

Prouided alwayes , that if any of the persons before excepted , shall after his departure out of this Realme , doe , commit , put in vre , attempt , or assent vnto any Act , deuice , plot , or thing against his most Excellent Maiesty , or any of his Kingdomes or Dominions , or against any of his Lawes or Statutes , that euery such person so offending , shall lose the benefite of the sayd exception , and shall to all intents and purposes be taken and adiudged to bee as one that maliciously and contemptuously passeth or departeth out of this Realme contrary to the tenor and effect of these Presents .

And whereas by errour and vulgar opinion it is conceiued and giuen out by some , That all men at this present be at liberty to transport and carrie out of this Realme any Golde or Siluer in Coyne , Iewels , Bullion , Plate , or Vessell , His Maiestie vnderstanding thereof , caused the Iudges of the Realme to be consulted withall in that poynt ; who vpon due consideration and conference had amongst them , haue with one consent resolued , that the transportation of all manner of Golde and Siluer in Coyne , Iewels , Bullion , Plate or Vessell is absolutely prohibited and forbidden as well by the Statutes in the twentieth yeere of King Edward the first , in the ninth yeere of King Edward the third , and in the second yeere of King Henry the sixt , as by diuers other Statutes vpon great and grieuous penalties and forfeitures . Vpon signification of which resolution , his most excellent Maiestie , to the intent that none of his louing Subiects through any erroneous conceit or opinion might be deceiued and indammaged , hath in his Princely clemencie caused aswell the sayd resolution of his Iudges , as the Statutes themselues to be particularized and published for the safety of his louing Subiects : And further doeth by these Presents straightly charge and command that all the sayd Lawes and Statutes concerning Transportation of Golde or Siluer bee firmely holden , and kept and put in due execution . And doth further prohibit and forbid all and all maner of persons whatsoeuer , to cary or transport out of this Realme any Gold or Siluer in Coyne , Iewels , Bullion , Plate , or Vessell , contrary to any of the said Lawes or Statutes , as they will answere the contrary at their vttermost perill .