royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation prohibiting the Buying and Selling of any of His majesties arms or Munition, and to reform the Abuses committed at Musters and Traynings by borrowing of arms.  
THe Kings most Excellent majesty, taking into His Princely consideration, the frequent abuses complained of by the Officers of His majesties Armorie, and Stores, aswell in purloining as in chopping and changing of arms, delivered out of His Stores for Land and Sea service. And likewise being informed of an abuse, no less frequent at Musters and Trainings in all the Counties of these His realms and Dominions, as well by borrowing arms of the several Counties one from another, as also by borrowing arms of the several divisions in each county one from another, by means whereof His majesties Honour and service, is impaired, and the safety and defence of His kingdoms and People may be much endangered, for want of necessary arms and Munition, vpon any sudden occasion; his majesty therefore, for a timely remedy thereof, and for preventing of the like in the future, hath, by the advice of His privy counsel, thought fit, and appointed, that all Muskets, and other arms to be henceforth issued out of His majesties Stores for Land service, shall bee marked with the mark of C. R. and for Sea service, with the mark of C. R. and an Anchor. And His majesty doth hereby strictly charge, prohibit and command, that no person or persons whatsoever, shall hereafter presume, attempt, or go about to sell or buy any of his majesties arms or Munition whatsoever, vpon pain of incurring his majesties high displeasure, and the severest punishment, that by the laws and Statutes of this his majesties realm of England, or by his majesties prerogative Royal can, or may be inflicted vpon the Offenders, for their contempt and disobedience in this behalf.  
And to the intent that the said abuse of borrowing of arms, either by several Counties, or by several divisions in one and the same County, may likewise be prevented, His majesties express pleasure is, and he doth hereby straitly charge and command, that no person or persons whatsoever, shall hereafter borrow any arms or Munition, to bee used or employed at any public Musters or Trainings, in any county, or division of County, of this His majesties realm of England, or Dominion of Wales, but that every person and persons, shal from time to time furnish him and themselves, with such armor, Weapons, and Munition, as is, or shalbe by the Lord Lieutenants,& deputy Lieutenants of each County, respectively appointed& assessed; And for the better effecting hereof, His majesty doth hereby charge and command the said Lord Lieutenants and deputy Lieutenants of each County respectively, to cause a several distinct mark to be set and stamped vpon all the arms of each county, whereby the same may be distinguished from the arms of other Counties, and likewise to cause several distinct marks to bee stamped vpon the arms of the several divisions, and Bands of each County, whereby the arms of one division and Band, may be known from another, that thereby all parts of these His majesties realms and Dominions, may bee fitly and sufficiently stored with arms and Munition, both for defence, and offence, as occasion shall require.  
And His majesty doth hereby charge and command, as well all the Officers of His majesties Ordnance and armoury, for that which concerneth them, as all Lord Lieutenants, and deputy Lieutenants, and all others to whom it shall or may appertain, to take special care, to see this His majesties pleasure put in due execution accordingly.  
given at His majesties Court at White-Hall, this ninth day of March in the third year of His majesties 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.