C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation prohibiting the use of Snaffles, and commanding the use of Bits for Riding.  
THe King's most Excellent MAJESTY, taking into His Princely thoughts, the present state of these times and how necessary it is, that all His loving Subjects should be provided, for their own defence, and the defence of the Realm, upon all occasions, and sudden events; And finding by experience, that such horses, as are to be employed for Service, are more apt and fit to be managed by such as shall ride them being used to the Bits, then to the Snaffles: His Majesty therefore, by the Advice of the Lords, and others of His Privy Counsel, hath thought fit, and doth hereby straight charge and command, that no person or persons whatsoever, of what degree or condition soever, other than such only as His Majesty, in respect of their attendance upon His Royal Person in times of disport, or otherwise, shall licence thereunto, shall from henceforth in riding, use any Snaffles, but Bits only, upon pain of His Majesty's high displeasure, and upon such further Pains, Penalties, and Imprisonments, as by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm of England, or by His Majesty's Prerogative Royal, can or may be inflicted upon the offenders, for their contempt of His Majesty's Royal Commandment in that behalf.  
Given at His Majesty's Court at White-Hall, the twentieth day of November in the third year of His Highness' Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXVII.