THe kyng and Quenes most excellente Maiesties, vnderstandinge howe that dyuers naughty and insolent persons, haue nowe of late attempted to make quarelles, ryottes, and frayes, aswell in Churches and Church­yardes, contrary to the lawes and Statutes in that case prouyded, as in sundrye other places, Cities, Townes, and Marketes. And for thac­complishment of their noughty purposes & quarelles, haue caused swor­des & Rapyers, to be made of a much greter length, then heretofore hath bene accustomed, or is decent to vse and were. And with y^e said wepons, do vse and weare gauntlettes, and vambraces, and bucklers with longe pykes in them, contrary to thaun­cient vsage of this realme, and the lawes and statutes of the same. Whereby dyuers irreuerente and pro­phane behauyours in the sayd Churches and Churchyardes, and many tymes maymes, hurtes, manslaugh ters and murders, haue ben of late commytted and done, and muche more is lyke to be, yf some remedye be not the soner prouyded in that behalfe.

Theyr hyghnesses myndyng to take away thoccasion of suche mischiefes, and disorders, doo streyghtlye charge and commaunde al and singuler theyr Iustices of peace, mayres, sheryffes, baylyffes, constables, & other theyr maiesties ministers and officers, that all and singuler the sayd Lawe and statute, concernynge the fyghtynge and quarelynge in churches and churcheyardes, be duly executed, and that from henceforth no person or persons, of what estate, or condition so euer he or they be, do vse or weare by nyghte or by daye, nor sell any sworde or rapier aboue the length of a yarde and a halfe quarter in the blade at the most, nor any buckler, with more pykes therein then one, and the same not to be sharpe, or aboue .ii. ynches longe, or of a broder syse then hath ben most commenly vsed within this Realme, nor vse or weare any gauntlet, or vam­brace, nor any other weapon of defence, other then theyr common swordes, rapiers, daggers, and bucklers, accordinge to thauncient vsage and custome of this theyr maiesties Realme, vpon payne of the losse of suche weapons so vsed or worne, contrary to the tenour and effect of this proclamation, and to suffer impryson­ment of his or theyr bodyes, and to make fyne at theyr maiesties wyll and pleasure.

And further theyr maiesties strayghtly charge & commaund all and singuler the sayd Iustices of peace Mayers, sheryffes, baylyffes, constables, and other theyr maiesties offycers, and ministers, to see this theyr hyghnes proclamation duly executed, and to commyt thoffenders therein to ward and pryson, there to re­mayne without bayle or maynepryce, vntyll theyr maiesties pleasure shalbe further knowen in that behalf. And that they fayle not thus to do, as they tender theyr maiesties pleasure and commaundement, and wyll aunswere for the contrary at theyr vttermost perylles.

Geuen at our manour of Grenewyche, the .xvii. day of March.

God saue the kyng and the Quene.