HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation against Steelets, Pocket Daggers, Pocket Dags and Pistols.  
THe love and care We have towards the preservation of Our Subjects, and the keeping of Our Land from being polluted with blood; doth make Us strive with the evil humours and depraved customs of the times, to reform and suppress them by Our Princely policy and justice; To which end and purpose, We have by the severity of Our Edict, (proceeding from Our own pen, and by the exemplar censure and Decrees of Our Court of star-chamber) put down, and in good part mastered that audacious custom of Duelles and Challenges, and have likewise by a Statute made in Our time, taken away the benefit of Clergy in case of Stabbing, and the like odious Manslaughters:  
Wherefore it being always the more principal in Our intention to prevent, then to punish, being given to understand of the use of Steelets, pocket Daggers, and pocket Dags and Pistols, which are weapons utterly unserviceable for defence, Military practice, or other lawful use, but odious, and noted Instruments of murder, and mischief; We do straightly will and command all persons whatsoever, that they do not henceforth presume to wear or carry about them any such Steelet or pocket Dagger, pocket Dag or Pistol, upon pain of Our Princely Indignation and displeasure, Imprisonment and Censure in the star-chamber; And We do likewise straightly forbid upon like pain all Cutlers, or other person, to make or sell any of the said Steelets, pocket Daggers, pocket Dags or Pistols.  
Given at White-Hall, the 25. day of March, in the fourteenth year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the nine and fortieth. God save the King   

Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. ANNO DOM. 1616.