C ² R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A PROCLAMATION Prohibiting the Importation of Foreign Playing-Cards, and for Seizing such as are or shall be IMPORTED.  
CHARLES R.  
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 publicly to expose the same to Sale, in contempt of Us and Our Laws, and to the great Impoverishment of the Poor Artificers of the said Company, and other Our Subjects employed in making the said Manufacture; We taking the same into Our serious Consideration, and being desirous in this particular, as We always hitherto have been, 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 duly 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 justices of the Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, 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.   

LONDON, Printed by the Assigns of John Bill deceased: And by Henry Hills, and Thomas Newcomb, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1684.