THe Queenes Maiestie hearing by credible report, that there are great disorbers lately growen in sundry partes of her Realme, and specially in and about her Citie of Lon­don, and in the vsual high wayes to wards the said citie, and to her Maiesties Court, by common carrying of Dags, other wise called Pistols, to the terrour of all people pro­fessing to trauel and liue peaceably, and (which is most to her Maiesties griese) by the v­sage whereof, certaine persons haue bene of late in sundry places slaine with such pie­ces: Hereupon hath called to her remembrance, that she hath by former proclamations published, straightly forbidden the carying, not only of such Dagges, but also of other longer peeces, as Caliuers & such like, in places and times not allowable for seruice: By which proclamations, as first, by one in very few words, in May the first of her reigne, Her Maiestie reciting the Sta­tute of her noble Father King Henrie the eight, in the three and thirtieth yeere of his reigne, against the riding with handgunnes and dagges, vnder the length of three quarters of a yarde, commanded the same to be obserued, & charged all her Iustices of peace at their next Sessions, to make inquisition of the obseruation thereof, and to see the same Sta­ture duely executed: And for that by proces of time, the due execution thereof hath ceassed, & the disorders growen much greater, not onely in open carrying such Dags, but also in a deuise to haue secretly small Dagges, commonly called pocket Dags, and in wearing also secretly coates of armour, commonly called priuie coates, whereby many robbe­ries and frayes haue bene increased, and became vnpunished: Her Maiesty did in the xxi. yeere of her reigne by another open Proclamation, expressing the disorders and dangers hereby ensuing, commaund that both her former Proclama­tion concerning the prohibition of Dags, should bee speedily put in execution, and added thereto her further comman­dements and prohibitions against a disorder in carrying and shooting with Handguns & Caliuers within two myles of the place of her Maiesties residence, and neere to Townes and mens houses, where there was no cause of Musters to shew the same, nor any places ordeined for exercise, and against the wearing of priuie Coates and Dublets of defence, by such as thereby moued quarels and frayes, vpon other quiet subiects vnarmed: And in conclusion of the same lat­ter Proclamation, her Maiestie did also commaund all her Officers in any Citie or Town, to make search for all ma­ner of such small Dags called Pochet Dags, and specially in shops and houses of Artificers that doe vse to make the sme: and those to take and keepe in their possession, giuing the owners testimoniall of the receipt thereof, to the end if there should be seene good cause, they might haue a reasonable recompence.

All which former commaundements and prohibitions appearing in this time to be as necessary or rather more to be duely executed, then before time, her Maiestie doeth newly nowe commaund to be presently executed: Wherewith her Maiestie chargeth all her Iustices of Peace, and specially now at the first Sessions that shalbe kept after Christmas in all Counties, diligently to be giuen in charge, and by Iuries the defaults to be presented and punished.

And for more certaintie to haue the same so executed, her Maiestie commaundeth the Custos Rotulorum in euery Countie, and the Recorders in all Cities being Iustices of Peace, to make Certificat in writing to her Maiesties Coun­sel in the Starre chamber within the space of viii. dayes, from the beginning of euery Hillarie Terme, how this her Ma­iesties present Proclamation hath bene in the sayd first Sessions executed: & so yerely to certifie the like in euery Hillarie Terme, vntil the same be otherwise directed by admonition from her Maiesties sayde Counsell, to cease from the same.

And although hereby the carriage of Dags is generally prohibited, yet the carriage thereof shall not be prohibited to persons appointed to come to Musters, as horsemen with Dags to serue therewith, or to bee vsed by any of her Maie­sties ministers or their seruants for their more suretie to carry her Maiesties treasure, or to bring her reuenue to places appointed: So as alwayes the carriage of such Dags be in open sort, to be manifestly seene to all persons.

Giuen at Somersethouse, the second day of December, 1594. in the xxxvii. yeere of her Maiesties Reigne.

God saue the Queene.