WHereas notwithstanding divers good Laws made and Enacted for the preventing of the Stealth and Imbezlement of His Majesties Stores of War , and for the punishing the same , His Majestie findes by experience , that whether by the negligence or unfaithfulness of His Officers , or through difficulty of the work , those Frauds , Stealths , and Imbezlements are not prevented ( as they ought ) but are daily practised , particularly in Stores relating to the Navy , not only to the great prejudice of His Majesties Service , but likewise to the hindrance and discouragement of such Tradesmen , whose profession and livelihood it is to make and sell such Stores and Commodities to Merchants Ships ; who finding a cheaper way for furnishing their Ships , by buying the Stores purloyned and imbezled , as aforesaid , decline the lawful sellers of such like Provisions . For the preventing these and the like abuses for the future , His Majesty is pleased hereby strictly to Charge and Command all His Officers , not only to endeavour the discovery of the said abuses ( as aforesaid ) but also strictly to prosecute the persons offending , according to the rigour of the Laws in such cases provided . And for the more easie discovery of the same , and to the end the receivers of such stolen Goods may not pretend ignorance , His Majesty doth hereby Command , Publish and Declare , That all the Rope-makers who shall hereafter work in His Majesties Yards , or shall elsewhere make any sort of Cordage for the use of His Majesties Navy , shall make the same in manner following ( viz. ) All Cables , Hawsers , and other Cordage of the larger sort , shall be wrought with one small hair-line through every strand thereof ; all Coyls of smaller Cordage shall have two strands composed of even threads , and the third shall have one odd thread . The Sail-makers , working for the use of His Majesties Navy , shall table the Sail with white Twine , whereby they shall be distinguished from such as are made for the use of Merchants Ships . And for preventing the abuse which hath been of late practised concerning Flags , Pendents , and other Ornaments , His Majesty doth hereby strictly prohibit and forbid the use of His Majesties Colours in Merchants Ships , and doth Authorize and Command all Commanders and Officers of any His Majesties Ships of War , not only to take from Merchants Ships all such Colours , but likewise to seize the Commander of such Merchant-Ships wherein after the First day of April next they shall be used , and to bring them to condign punishment . And His Majesty hath appointed that the Flags , Iacks and Pendents of His Majesties Ships shall henceforth be made of Red , White , and Blew , to the end the Offenders herein may not pretend ignorance or mistake . And His Majesty doth further Command , That on all other Stores , where it may be done without prejudice to the said Stores , or Charge to His Majesty , as Nails , Spikes , and other the like Stores , That the broad Arrow be put on some part of the same , whether by Stamp , Brand , or other way , as shall be particularly directed by the Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesties Navy , to whom the care thereof is committed . And His Majesty doth hereby forbid all Artificers to make any Stores or Provisions so marked , except for the use of His Majesties Navy ; and doth likewise hereby Command all His Majesties loving Subjects , that they forbear to buy or receive from any person whatsoever , any Stores marked as aforesaid ( without particular order and leave from the Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesties Navy ) upon pain of being proceeded against as Receivers of stolen Goods , and as Imbezlers of His Majesties Stores . And to the end that His Majesties Officers may not be negligent in the performance hereof , or for any indirect considerations omit to place and affix the marks and distinctions , as is above , or shall be hereafter directed , His Majesty doth recommend it to the care of His most dear and entirely beloved Brother , James Duke of York , His High Admiral , that such Officers or Workmen who shall neglect or disobey the Directions herein contained , be discharged from their Imployments , and be further punished as their offence shall deserve . And for the better discovery of such as shall notwithstanding this His Majesties Proclamation , Imbezle any of His Stores as aforesaid , His Majesty is pleased to Declare , That any person who shall discover to the Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Navy , any Cordage , Iron-work , or other Stores imbezled or purloyned out of His Majesties Yards , Stores , or Ships , shall receive as a reward and encouragement for such his discovery , one full third part of the value of such Stores so discovered ; Provided that he likewise discover either the Imbezler and Purloyner of them , or at least the Receiver of the same . And for the better and more certain publishing the Marks which are not herein particularly specified , His Majesty doth hereby enjoyn the Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesties Navy , with all convenient speed to cause Patterns of them to be sent to Shipwrights and Ironmongers Hall respectively , there to remain for the information of such as are concerned in the knowledge thereof .