THe Queenes Maiestie vnderstanding of some generall complaints made a­gainst certeine of her subiects, that haue bene this last Summer on the Spa­nish seas, to recouer of the Spaniards recompence for the notable iniuries by arrests and barbarous cruelties committed in Spaine and Portingall, against a great number of her subiects, (wherof no remedy could euer be had by order of iustice) as that they in seeking to recouer the proper goods of the Spaniards, should there with or by colour thereof, take the ships and goods of diuers subiects of other Princes and States being in amitie with her Maiestie: Thereupon her Highnesse, as before time she had alwayes done, commanded not onely her Councell, but namely such principall officers, as by their office had charge of her Ports, and her high Admirall, and the officers of all marine causes, to cause the truth of these generall complaints to be heard and examined: And if they were found true, to see both restitution and full recompence to be made to her frends subiects dam­ [...]ed, and the offendours to be punished as farre foorth as the nature of their offence might deserue. And since that her Maiesties former commandement giuen, and due restitution made to as many as could be found iust­ly grieued, though a great number of the complainants were found to haue had no iust cause of their com­plaints, for that colourably many taking vpon them without warrant to be common factors, pretended title to the goods that were prooued merely Spaniards: her Maiestie did lately vnderstand, that one ship, belonging to the Uenetians, and one other ship, claimed to belong to some of the subiects of the grand duke of Tuscane, with which Seignorie and Duke her Maiestie professeth to be in perfect good amitie, and doth repute them as her most louing frends, should be taken on the seas, vpon the coast of Portingal, and brought into some of her Ports, in the West part of her realme. Thereupon her Maiestie being inwardly mooued in affection of her amitie to those States, gaue order to haue these latter causes not onely speedily to be examined, and redressed, if the same were true, but also did giue commandement, afore examination could be had, in respect the parties complai­ning had not then any good proofes of the propertie of the goods, to haue the said vessels preserued with all their goods and ladings: for which purpose there was choise made of such commissioners nere the Ports as the com­plainants did name, whereby may appeare to the world, but specially to the Seignory of Uenice, and the grand Duke of Tuscan, what regard was had by her Maiestie to shew all fauours to their subiects.

And for further proofe of her Maiesties honorable & frendly meaning in this case, and of the diligence vsed by her Councell for the execution of her commandement, it is certeine that the ship of Uenice with her lading is in safety. So as whatsoeuer can any wise be prooued to belong to the Uenetians, is speedily and without charge to be deliuered: and the other ship clamed by the Florentines, though in very truth the same is knowen to be English, and lately taken by Spaniards, is also in safety to be deliuered to the Owners, as by the law shall be iudged, and the goods also, as farre foorth as they be extant: and such as were afore the complaint made, ta­ken away, are either to be recouered, or recompence to be made by any that haue therein offended, contrarie to special order prouided vpon bonds, that no person licenced to go to the seas, should at his returne with any prise, breake any bulke, before the title to the goods were first examined in the Court of the Admiralty, and proued to belong to the Spaniard. And for that purpose her Maiesty hath straitly charged, that the offendors in dispersing any of the said goods of the Florentines, shall be apprehended, seuerely punished, and compelled to make full re­stitution to the Owners. And so her Maiestie now commandeth, that whosoeuer shall heereafter breake any bulke of the goods of any prise, (though the prise be lawfull) before the title thereto be allowed in the Court of the Admiraltie, such offendour shall be imprisoned, and his ship with the prise also to be forfeited to her Maiesty, whereby iustice may be done to all persons that haue iust cause of complaint. And like wise her Maiestie decla­reth her intention to be, and so commandeth it to be executed, that if any person whatsoeuer, shall vpon the seas take any ships that doe belong to any subiects of her frends & allies (with whom she is in amitie) and after knowledge had that the said ships do belong to her frends, doe not forbeare to keepe them, or shall take out of [Page] them any goods belonging to her said frends, the said persons so offending shall be reputed and tried as pirats, and shall receiue the due punishment for piracy. And to the intent that all persons may vnderstand with what conditions all persons seruing on the seas against the Spaniard, are licenced: her Maiestie hath commanded that the very condition of the parties bonds that are licensed, should be annexed to this Proclamation, the which being duely obserued, as her meaning is it should be, her Maiestie doubteth not but her actions shall be thought consonant to honour, to iustice, and to the allowance of her frends and allies, leauing the false calum­niations of her enemies, and the auenge of their wilfull disturbance of the common peace of Christendome, for satisfying of their ambition, to the iudgement of Almightie God, to whose wisdome and power onely belon­geth the chastisement of such as seeke for their owne ambition to confound the state of Christendome with bloudy warres and depopulations of Christian countries, wherin they haue no interest. Giuen at her Maie­sties manor of Richmond, the third day of February in the three and thirtieth yere of her reigne. 1590.