By the queen.  
A Proclamation against the carriage of Dags, and for reformation of some other great disorders.  
THe queens majesty hearing by credible report, that there are great disorbers lately grown in sundry partes of her realm, and specially in and about her city of London, and in the usual high ways to wards the said city, and to her majesties Court, by common carrying of Dags, other wise called Pistols, to the terror of all people professing to travel and live peaceably, and( which is most to her majesties grief) by the usage whereof, certain persons haue been of late in sundry places slain with such pieces: Hereupon hath called to her remembrance, that she hath by former proclamations published, straightly forbidden the carrying, not only of such dags, but also of other longer pieces, as calivers & such like, in places and times not allowable for service: By which proclamations, as first, by one in very few words, in May the first of her reign, Her majesty reciting the Statute of her noble Father King henry the eight, in the three and thirtieth year of his reign, against the riding with handgunnes and dags, under the length of three quarters of a yard, commanded the same to be observed, & charged all her Iustices of peace at their next Sessions, to make inquisition of the observation thereof, and to see the same Stature duly executed: And for that by process of time, the due execution thereof hath ceased, & the disorders grown much greater, not onely in open carrying such Dags, but also in a devise to haue secretly small dags, commonly called pocket Dags, and in wearing also secretly coats of armor, commonly called privy coats, whereby many robberies and frays haue been increased, and became unpunished: Her majesty did in the xxi. year of her reign by another open Proclamation, expressing the disorders and dangers hereby ensuing, command 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 & calivers within two miles of the place of her majesties residence, and near to towns and mens houses, where there was no cause of Musters to show the same, nor any places ordained for exercise, and against the wearing of privy coats and doublets of defence, by such as thereby moved quarrels and frays, vpon other quiet subiects unarmed: And in conclusion of the same latter Proclamation, her majesty did also command all her Officers in any city or Town, to make search for all maner of such small Dags called Pochet Dags, and specially in shops and houses of Artificers that do use to make the sme: and those to take and keep in their possession, giuing the owners testimonial of the receipt thereof, to the end if there should be seen good cause, they might haue a reasonable recompense.  
All which former commandments and prohibitions appearing in this time to be as necessary or rather more to be duly executed, then before time, her majesty doth newly now command to be presently executed: Wherewith her majesty chargeth all her Iustices of Peace, and specially now at the first Sessions that shalbe kept after Christmas in all Counties, diligently to be given in charge, and by Iuries the defaults to be presented and punished.  
And for more certainty to haue the same so executed, her majesty commandeth the Custos Rotulorum in every county, and the Recorders in all Cities being Iustices of Peace, to make Certificat in writing to her majesties Counsel in the star chamber within the space of viii. dayes, from the beginning of every hilary term, how this her majesties present Proclamation hath been in the said first Sessions executed: & so yearly to certify the like in every hilary term, until the same be otherwise directed by admonition from her majesties said counsel, 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 serve therewith, or to bee used by any of her majesties ministers or their seruants for their more surety to carry her majesties treasure, or to bring her revenue to places appointed: So as always the carriage of such Dags be in open sort, to be manifestly seen to all persons.  
given at Somersethouse, the second day of December, 1594. in the xxxvii. year of her majesties reign. 
 God save the queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London by the Deputies of Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty. 1594