WHereas by the Laws and Statutes of this Our Realm, all Foreign Play­ing-Cards (amongst divers other Foreign Manufactures) are Prohibited to be Imported, under Penalty of Forfeiture; Yet notwithstanding, as We are given to understand by the Humble Petition of the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Company of Card-makers of London, divers of Our Sub­jects and others, are so hardy, to bring into this Kingdom great quantities of Foreign Playing-Cards, and publickly to expose the same to Sale, in contempt of Vs and Our Laws, and to the great Impoverishment of the Poor Artificers of the said Company, and other Our Subjects imployed in making the said Manufacture; We taking the same into Our serious Con­sideration, and being desirous in this particular, as We always hitherto have beén, in the whole course of Our Government, to encourage Manu­factures within this Our Kingdom, whereby Our Subjects are maintained in good Estate, and Trade increased, are Graciously pleased, with the Advice of Our Privy Council, by this Our Royal Proclamation, to Command and Direct, That all Laws now in force, Prohibiting the Importation of any Foreign Playing-Cards, be duely put in Execution by all Our Officers and other persons concern­ed: And that all Foreign Playing-Cards already Imported, be forthwith Searched for, Seized and Condemned, and all such as make Resistance therein, proceéded against according to the utmost rigour of Law: Hereby strictly Commanding and Requiring all Iustices of the Peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Constables, and other Officers whatsoever, to be from time to time Aiding and Assisting in all things requisite for and touching the due observation and execution of the said Laws, and of this Our Royal Proclamation, at their Perils.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Seventh day of November 1684. In the six and thirtieth Year of Our Reign.

God save the King.