THe Kings most Excellent Majesty having taken into His most Gracious and Princely consideration the humble Petition of several Captains and Officers of His Majesties Fleets, on the behalf of themselves and others the Commanders, Officers, and Mariners imployed in Sea-service since the year 1642. Whereby His Majesty is given to understand, that divers of the Petitioners now are, and have been sued, molested, and imprisoned concerning several Prizes and Prize-goods by them heretofore seized and taken since the month of January 1642; and before the Twenty ninth of May 1660; upon pretence or colour of some clause or words in a late Act of Parliament, Intituled, An Act for the prosecution of such as are accompta­ble for Prize-goods, contrary (as they conceive) to the Grate and Favour extended as well towards them as other His Majesties Subjects in and by His Majesties most Gratious Act of Free and General Pardon, Indempnity and Oblivion; and that unless some timely remedy be applied, such prosecu­tions are still likely to be made and continued against them, and other Commanders and Mariners, who have likewise acted in the Fleets within the times aforesaid, although in truth they never were Treasurers, [Page] Receivers, Farmers, or Collectors of such Prize-goods, nor accomptable for any money or other duties, grown due or contracted upon the sale or disposition thereof, nor Sub-collectors, Vnder-treasurers, Com­missioners, Sub-commissioners of Prize-goods, or any their Casheriers, Officers, Deputies, or Receivers nor Contractors for the same after any adjudication thereof, to the great unsetling of the minds of many thousands of His Majesties Loyal and useful Subjects, who did apprehend themselves pardoned and in peace by His Majesties said Gracious Act of Free Pardon, Indempnity and Oblivion: And His Majesty thereupon deeply resenting the condition of the Petitioners (and other his good Subjects, on whose behalf they have made their Address as aforesaid, in relation to the premisses) and being fully satisfied of their du­tiful affections unto His Majesties Royal Person and Government, for their relief therein, and for their future encouragement to persevere in His Majesties service, is most graciously pleased to publish and declare, And His most Excellent Majesty (by and with the advice and consent of His Privy Councel) hath, and hereby doth publish and declare His Royal Will and Pleasure, and accordingly require and command, That all and singular Process and Proceedings whatsoever, which vefore this time have been, now are, or may be at any time hereafter had, sued forth, or prosecuted in any of His Majesties Courts at Westminster, or in the High Court of Admiralty of England, or elsewhere, within any of His Majesties Dominions, against any person or persons whatsoever, who have been imployed in Sea-service, at any time or times, since the month of January in the year of our Lord 1642. and before the Twenty ninth of May 1660. (as Admirals, Vice-Admirals, Captains of ships, Officers or Mariners, not having been within the times aforesaid, ap­pointed Treasurers, Receivers, Farmers, or Collectors of Prize-goods; nor such who are accomptable for any sum or sums of money, or other duties grown due or contracted upon the sale or disposition of any such Prize-goods, nor that have been Sub-collectors, Vnder-treasurers, Commissioners, Sub-commission­ners of Prize-goods, or any their Casheires, Officers, Deputies, or Receivers, for or by reason of any Ships, Plate, Iewels, Bullion, Money, or other things whatsoever, seized or taken by them, or any of them, for, or as Prize or Prize-goods within the times aforesaid) be forthwith and for ever hereafter disallowed, stayed, and discharged; And that from henceforth they the said Admirals, Vice-Admirals, Captains of ships, Of­ficers, Mariners, or any of them (not so appointed or imployed in any of the said Offices or places, or ac­comptable as aforesaid) shall not, nor may by vertue force or colour of any Process or Proceedings whatsoever in any of His Majesties said Courts, or elsewhere, be in any wise arrested, disquieted, questioned, or trou­bled, either in their persons, lands, or goods, for or by reason of any Prizes or Prize-goods, by them, or any of them, so as aforesaid, seized or taken within the time aforesaid; And that all and every of them that now are, or lately have been sued, molested or troubled, for or concerning any such Prizes or Prize-goods, whether they or any of them are now in Prison, or at large upon Bail, or otherwise be forthwith set at liberty, and the Securities, Bails or Cautions, by them, or any of them, or any others for them, or any of them, there­fore given or entred into, or to be given or entred into, be forthwith delivered up, vacated, and discharged; And all and every the said persons cleerly and absolutely discharged from any attendance in or about the pre­misses. And His Majesty doth hereby require and command His High Chancellor, and High Treasurer of England, the Iustices of the one Bench, and the other, the Barons of His Majesties Exchaquer, and His Atturney General for the time being, and all other His Majesties Officers and Ministers whatsoever, to whom it doth, shall, or may appertain, in their respective places and trusts, to cause this His Royal Pro­clamation in all things, for the ease and benefit of His said loving-Subjects (to whom this His Grace and [Page] Favour is extended) to be duly observed and performed. And to the end this His Majesties pleasure and commandment may be duly and effectually performed and observed in the premisses, His Majesty doth like­wise will and command, That in all and every His Majesties Courts at Westminster, where any such pro­ceedings against any of His Majesties said Subjects have been, are, or shall be had or prosecuted for or by reason of any such Prizes or Prize-goods, His Majesties Attorney General for the time being, do immediate­ly at the request or requests of the party or parties concerned, and without expecting any further or other Warrant from His Majesty, cause a Nolle Prosequi to be thereupon entred and such other discharges there­of made and given on His Majesties behalf, as the nature of the cause shall require; And in like manner His Majesty doth also require and command that the Iudge or Iudges of the High Court of Admiralty of England for the time being, and His Majesties Advocate, and such other of His Majesties Councel, as His Majesty hath already nominated and appointed, or shall particularly nominate and appoint in this behalf, by Warrant under his Sign Manual, to sue in His Majesties name, and to His Majesties use in the said Court of Admiralty, or elsewhere, any of the persons aforesaid, to whom this His Majesties Grace and Royal Favour is extended in the premisses, and all and singular other His Majesties Officers and Ministers what­soever, to whom it shall or may appertain, That they and every of them do forthwith surcease all further pro­secution of all and every Suit or Suits, or other proceedings whatsoever against the said persons (not being so appointed or employed in any of the said Offices or places, or accomptable as aforesaid) for any the matters aforesaid, upon pain of His Majesties high displeasure, and such further punishments as His Majesty may justly inflict upon them, if they or any of them shall presume to break or neglect this His Royal Commandment. And for the future Quiet and Indempnity of His Majesties said loving Subjects, to whom this His Majesties Grace and Favour is thus extended; His Majesty doth by these Presents notifie and declare, That His Majesty is and will be ready and willing to grant His Free and Gracious Pardon, under His Majesties Great Seal of England, for all and every the matters and things aforesaid, unto such of them as shall make their humble Petitions unto His Majesty for the same.

Given at Our Court at Hampton-Court, the Fourteenth day of July, 1662. in the Fourteenth year of Our Reign.

God save the King.