royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT  
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation touching the Manufactures of Playing-Cards, and Dice.  
THe Kings most Excellent majesty, for the better employment and relief of the Card-makers and Dice-makers of the realm, having of late taken order for a constant weekly buying and taking off from them, of their Manufactures of Cards and Dice, whereby they may be enabled to live of their Trades: And for prevention of these common abuses which haue been and are still practised, by the use of false Cards and Dice, to the great deceit and damage of His Subiects; His majesty, by His Letters Patents, under His Great seal of England, bearing date the nine and twentieth day of April, in the thirteenth year of His reign, hath appointed an Officer for the Searching and Sealing of all such good and merchantable Cards and Dice, as now are or shall be hereafter either made within this realm, or Imported into the same from any foreign, or other parts, before the said Cards and Dice shall be uttered or put to sale.  
His majesty therefore doth hereby declare His royal Will and Pleasure to be, and doth straightly Charge and Command, That all person or persons whatsoever, as well Makers of Cards and Dice within the realm, as Merchants or others, who shall import the same from foreign or other parts, do from henceforth from time to time, bring the same Cards and Dice to His majesties Officer, or his Deputies in London, and other remote places, to be there viewed, examined, and sealed, if they shall be found good and merchantable; paying to His majesties said Officer, or his Deputies, vpon the sealing thereof, such allowance and Fee, as by His majesties said Letters Patents is appointed in that behalf.  
And His majesty doth hereby express His further royal Pleasure to be, That no person or persons whatsoever, shall, or do hereafter presume directly, or indirectly to buy, sell, use, utter, keep, or dispose of any Cards, or Dice whatsoever within the realm, before the same shall be duly viewed, preached, and sealed by His majesties said Officer, or His Deputies, vpon pain of the forfeiture of all such Cards and Dice, to be seized and taken by the said Officer, or his Deputies, or by such other person or persons, as shall discover and find out the same; and vpon the forfeiture also of Twelue-pence for every pair of Cards, or Bale of Dice, which any shall so buy, sell, use, keep, or put to sale before they shall be viewed and sealed; The one moiety of which seizures, and forfeitures, His majesty appointeth to be to the Officer and parties who shall self the same, provided the said forfeited Cards and Dice be afterwards duly brought to be sealed; and the other moiety thereof to be duly answered to His majesty; And vpon such further penalties and punishments, as by the laws or Statutes of the realm, or otherwise may be inflicted for their contempt or neglect herein. And for the ease of such Card-makers or Dice-makers, as are, or shall be residing in parts remote from the City of London, it is provided, that His majesties said Officer shall haue, and appoint his several Deputies in meet places of the realm, where it shall be needful, who shall seal without Fee all such old Stocks of merchantable Cards and Dice already made or imported, as shall be brought unto the said Officer, or his Deputies, within one month now next coming; and shall also seal all such other merchantable Cards and Dice, as after that time shall be made or imported, for the Allowance or Fee by His majesties Letters Patents assigned to be received by the said Officer in that behalf.  
And His majesty doth hereby require and Command, as well all Iustices of Peace, Maiors, bailiffs, Constables, Head-boroughs, and other His majesties Officers and Ministers, as all His Customers, Collectors, farmers, Searchers, and other the Officers of His several Ports, within this realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and town of Barwick; That they, and every of them in their several Offices and places, be from time to time aiding, and assisting to His majesties said Officer, and his Deputies, in the due execution of His majesties Will and Pleasure herein, and in His said Letters Patents declared and expressed, as they will answer the neglect of His majesties royal Commands herein.  
given at Our Court at White-hall, the fifteenth day of May, in the thirteenth year of Our reign.  
❧ God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John Bill. 1637.