WHereas the Safeguard and Protection We owe to such of Our own Subjects , and to all others in League and Amity with Vs , as pass and repass the Seas belonging to these Our Kingdoms , hath been always a principal part of Our Royal Care and Concern ; And whereas We find already , that the Freedom and Security of Navigation and Commerce to and fro Our Ports ( in this time of Hostility between Our Neighbour Princes ) hath been much disturbed ; Nay , the Reverence due to Our Ports , Harbours , and other Places under Our own immediate Protection , hath been violated by the Piratical Practices , Depredations and Insolencies of Private Men of War , and others pretending Commission for the present Hostilities : We have thought fit , by the Advice of Our Privy Council , after an exact view first taken of the Rules , Ordinances and Provisions made upon the like occasions by Our Royal Progenitors , to revive , establish , ratifie and publish to all the World these Rules and Ordinances following . Our Royal Will and Pleasure therefore is ,

That within our Ports , Havens , Roads , and Creeks , as also in every other Place or Tract at Sea , that may be reasonably construed to be within any of those Denominations , Limits or Precincts , there shall be an inviolable Truce and Cessation of all Hostilities between all Persons and Parties whatsoever ; And that no Force , Violence , Surprise , or Offence shall be done either from Man of War to Man of War , or from Man of War to Merchant , or from Merchant to Merchant , that happen to be in Hostility the one against the other ; But that all of what Nation or Party soever , so long as they shall be within Our Ports , Harbours , or other Places reputed to be within Our more immediate Protection , and where Our Commanders and Officers are accomptable for the Publick Peace , shall be understood to be under Our special Safe-conduct , and must keep the Peace inviolably each with other : And We do further declare , and hereby denounce , That the Ships and Goods of all Aggressors , Actors and Offenders whatsoever against the true meaning of this Our Ordinance and Proclamation , are and shall be ipso facto Confiscate , and proceeded against in Our High Court of Admiralty , to Sentence and Condemnation , according to Law , notwithstanding any Commission of War , or Letters of Reprizals such Offenders may have , or pretend to have for their Iustification .

We Will and Command that all Our Officers and Subjects by Sea and Land , do , as much as in them lies , prohibit the Roving and Hovering of Men of War so near the Entry of any of Our Harbours , or Our Coasts , as that Merchant-men homeward or outward bound to or fro any of Our Ports shall apprehend their Passage to be unsafe , or their danger of being set upon and surprised apparent , to the hindering and diverting of Trade and Commerce from Our Ports : And We do straitly charge and require Our said Officers and Subjects to rescue , succour , and defend all Merchant-men and others that shall happen to be set upon or surprised so near Our Coasts , or the Entry of Our Harbours , as may be easily construed to be under Our more special Care and Protection ; and that they apprehend and seise all Offenders in this kind , in order to bring them to condign punishment , for disturbing and hindering the Trade and Commerce between Our Subjects and those of Our Neighbours and Allies .

That where it happens that a Man of War of the one party , come into any of Our Ports where there shall be a Merchant-man ( one or more ) of the other Party , such Merchant-Ship or Ships , if they desire it , shall be suffered to depart the Port two Tydes before the Man of War , to the intent they may get themselves out of his Reach and Pursuit : And if it happen that any Man of War ( one or more ) of the one Party do come in , while any Man ( or Men ) of War of the other Party are in Our Ports or Roads , none shall be suffered to go out to Sea the same Tyde with his Enemy ; but those that are most likely to pursue and engage as soon as they are out of Our Ports , shall be stayed and detained two Tydes after those of the adverse Party are put to Sea .

And We do hereby charge and require all Vice-Admirals , Customers , and other Our Officers in Ports and Maritime Places , that they visit all Ships and Vessels belonging to Our Subjects , that shall Victual , Furnish or Recruit themselves for Voyages at Sea ; And that they stay and detain all such as they shall suspect by the Provision or Furniture to be designed for any other then Trading , or Fishing Voyages , until further Order from Vs , or Our Dearest Brother James Duke of York Our High Admiral , in that behalf .

And We do further straitly command and require all Governours and Officers in Ports and other Maritime Places , not to suffer any Private Man of War Sailing by a Foreign Commission , and having any Prize or Prizes ( that he may have taken ) in his power and possession , to stay above twenty four hours in any of Our Ports or Harbours , unless he be thereto constrained by contrary Winds , blocking up by Enemies , or other Distress ; yet so that during his stay he do not break Bulk , sell , barter , or leave behind him any of his Prize-goods , upon any terms or pretence whatsoever : And We further require Our Officers and Subjects , not to interpose or meddle in the affairs and proceedings of such Men of War as put into Our Ports upon any Distress , with Foreign Commissions , but to suffer them to carry away their Prizes whither themselves think fit ; Provided they have not the Goods or Merchandises of any of Our own Subjects on Board such Prizes ; which if they happen to have , Our meaning is , That they be upon due proof taken out and restored to the true Proprietors .

We do straitly Require and Command , That none of Our Subjects of what degree or condition soever , do presume to Buy , Contract , or deal with any Foreign Men of War , their Officers or Company , or with any other person coming from Sea , not being a known Merchant , for any Wares , Merchandises , Victuals , Ammunition , Tackle , Furniture , Provisions or Goods whatsoever , not brought in by the course of Merchandise , and the Customs and Duties upon them first paid , upon pain of forfeiting all such Wares and Goods , as Bona Piratarum ought to be , and of being further proceeded against and punished in Our High Court of Admiralty , as Abetters and Complices of Pirates , and as Receivers of Pirates and their Goods , ought to be by the Laws and Customs of the Sea in that behalf .

And whereas divers of Our Subjects , out of their inclinations to Rapine and Licencious courses , rather then to Trading Voyages , and other honest Imployments at home , do engage , some of the one side , and some of the other , in the Quarrels of Our Neighbour Princes now in War , without Our leave or permission ; We do hereby straitly Command and Require , That no Officer or Mariner whatsoever being Our Subject , do presume to put himself into the Martial Service of any Foreign Prince or State , or accept of , and execute any Commission of War , or Letter of Marque or Reprizal from any such Prince or State , or go in any Merchant or Fishing Voyage , in any other Ship or Vessel then such as belong to Our own Subjects , without leave from Our Self , or Our dearest Brother James Duke of York Our High Admiral of England , in due form first obtained . And We do hereby Charge and Command all Officers , Mariners and Seafaring-men whatsoever , that are now in any such Service , to leave the same forthwith , and to get their Appearance and Return to their native Countrey , Recorded in Our High Court of Admiralty , or before some of Our Officers thereunto Impowered , upon pain of being reputed and punished as Pirates . And in case any Officer or Mariner neglecting to return upon these Our Summons , happen at any time hereafter to come into any Port or Place of Our Dominions , We do hereby Charge and Require all Vice-Admirals , and Our Officers in Ports and Maritime places , to apprehend and seise such person or persons , and him or them so seised , to Commit to the next Goal , there to remain until further Order , and the Certificate thereof to return with all speed into Our High Court of Admiralty , to the end that the Offender or Offenders may be proceeded against according to the Laws of this Our Realm in that behalf provided .