royal blazon or coat of arms 
C R  〈…〉 A PROCLAMATION against fight of Duels or single Combats.  
CHARLES', by the Grace of GOD, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, to our Lovits, _____ Macers' or Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, Greeting:  
Forasmuch as the fights of Duels, and single Combats are most unlawful, and a dangerous practice, contrar to the Law of GOD, and the principles of the Christian Religion and policy, and prohibited by the Laws of this Our Kingdom, and of other well governed Kingdoms and Nations: And especially by the twelfth Act of King James the sixth, Our Royal Grandfather of blessed memory, His sixteenth Parliament; whereby it is Statute, that no person thereafter, without His Highness' licence, fight any singular Combat, under the pain of death, and the escheit of their moveables, and the Provoker to be punished with a more ignominious death than the Defender: Nevertheless, the said abuse and wickedness is become so ordinary, and grown to that height, that frequently, upon mistakes, and escapes of words uttered inconideratly in company, by persons otherways in friendship and acquaintance, and upon the least shadow and apprehension of any other injury (whereof if there were any ground, the persons concerned might, and aught, to have and seek redress from Our Council, or Our other ●udicatories) They presume and pretend, that they are concerned in honour, to take reparation at ●heir own hands in the said wicked, and consequentially most dishonourable way of fight Duels, and do give and accept appeals and challenges, and do go to the Fields and fight Duels; To the great contemptand and affront of Our Authority, and the great hazard of both Parties, their Friends, and Seconds, and destruction of their Souls and Bodies, if they should die in so unlawful an action and occasion. And though they should survive; if they should be brought under Our just displeasure, and the compass of the Law, and capital punishment. For restraining and preventing whereof, We, with advice of Our Privy Council, do ordain, That the said Act of Parliament shall be put in punctual execution: And whensoever Our Council shall have information, or notice that any Duel is fought, That they shall be careful, and give order to seize upon the delinquents, and imprison them, until they be brought to their trial and punishment according to Our Laws; and to that effect shall give special order to Our Advocate, to prosecute and pursue them. And seeing the granting of pardon and mercy to persons guilty of the said crime, and the hope of impunity may be an occasion of cruelty, and embolden others to adventure upon, and commit the like wickedness; Therefore such persons, who shall be guilty of the said crime, are not to expect that remissions shall be granted to them hereafter: And We declare and ordain, That if the fight of a Duel, or single Combat shall be designed and undertaken by ●…y Persons, and upon notice and discovery the same shall be prevented, and that they shall be hindered and restrained from fight; yet the Challenger, and also the Defender, who shall accept any such challenge, shall be severely punished, albeit they be hindered and restrained from going to, or fight in the Fields. And likeways the Seconds of any party respective, and these who shall carry any such challenge or appeal, shall be punished in manner aftermentioned; That is to say, The Provoker and Appealler shall be imprisoned during the pleasure of Our Council, and fynned, if he be a Nobleman, in the sum of six thousand pounds Scots: And if he be a landed Gentleman, in the sum of three thousand pounds money foresaid: And if he be of any other inferior quality, that he shall be punished as Our Council shall think fit; and the party appealled, and the seconds on either side respective, and these who shall carry any such challenge, shall be imprisoned during Our Councils pleasure, and fynned, if they be Noblemen, in the sum of three thousand pounds money foresaid; If they be landed Gentlemen, in the sum of one thousand five hundred pounds; And if they be of any other inferior quality, as Our Council shall think fit; Beside what other pain or punishment Our Council shall think fit to inflict. And ordains these presents to be Printed, and published at the Market Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, That none pretend ignorance.  
Given under Our Signet at Holy-rood-house, the nineteenth day of March, one thousand six hundred and seventy four; and of Our Reign the twenty sixth year. Al. Gibson Cl. S ti Concilii.  
God save the King.   

EDINBURGH, Printed by Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Excellent MAJESTY. Anno Dom. ●…