royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation against the unnecessary waste of Gunpowder.  
THE Kings most Excellent MAJESTY, observing the excessive waste, and consumption of His Majesty's Powder, under pretext of Salutations, and other needless Ceremonies, grown into custom, and used in His Majesty's Castles, Blockhouses, and Forts, and also in his Ships and Fleets, which at all times are needless and superfluous, but in these times of Action are no way fit to be continued, when there is so much use of Powder to be employed for Services of necessity: For reformation of which abuse, and preventing the like for the future, His Majesty by the Advice of His Privy Council, doth hereby straight charge and command, that from henceforth all Commanders, Captains, and Officers, of or in any Castles, Blockehouses, or Forts, do carefully observe, that they suffer no expense or waste of Powder, to be made in that kind, or any Shot at all to be made, in, or from such Castle, Blockhouse, or Fort, otherwise then in Fight with His Majesty's enemies, or as a warning Piece upon discovery of any enemies, or for staying of any Ships or Vessels by sufficient Warrant, or for the defence of any the Ships or Vessels of His Majesty, His Subjects, Friends of Allies, coming within the protection of any His Majesties said Castles, Blockehouses, or Forts: His Majesty doth also straight charge and command all Admirals, Viceadmirals, Rereadmirals, Captains and Officers, of, or in any of His Majesty's Fleets and Ships, that they neither make, nor suffer to be made, any Shot from any His Majesty's Ships, or from any Ship or Vessel in His Majesty's service, otherwise then for warning, or in Fight, or for intercepting or arrest of any Foreign Ships, or upon assault of any His Majesty's enemies, or in case of distress, or in the defence or protection of any His Majesty's Ships, or His Subjects, Friends, or Allies, without special authority, or instructions in that behalf given, or derived from His Majesty, or from the Lord high Admiral of England, upon pain, that whosoever shall presume to disobey, or neglect this His Majesty's Royal Commandment, shall be put from their several and respective Commands, Offices, and places in which they serve, and upon such further punishments, as by the Laws of this Realm, or by His Majesty's Prerogative Royal may be inflicted upon the offenders.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the tenth day of February, in the third year of Our 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.