royal arms of England, circa 1669 
〈…〉  
dieu· ET· MON· DROIT·  By the King. A PROCLAMATION Prohibiting the Importation of Foreign Needles.  
CHARLES R.  
THe Kings most Excellent Majesty having been Informed by the Master, Wardens and communality of the Art or Mystery of Needle-makers of the City of London, That great quantities of Foreign Needles are daily Imported into this Kingdom from beyond the Seas, a great part thereof being deceitfully made of Iron-Wire altogether unfit for service, and here new marked, papered and packed up, as if they were made in England, and Vended and sold in London and other parts of his Majesties Dominions; Not onely to the great abuse of the said Art, and the deceit of his Majesties Subjects, but also to the prejudice and impoverishment of the said Company; they being by their Charter obliged to make their Needles of Steel, which costs them more without the Workmanship, then the Imported Needles are sold for. His Majesty therefore, for the encouragement of the said Society, and preservation of so useful an Art and Native Manufacture, is graciously pleased by this his Royal Proclamation( with the advice of His Privy-Council) straitly to Charge, Prohibit and Ordain, That from henceforth no person or persons, Natives, Aliens or others, do or shall Import, bring or convey, or cause to be Imported, brought or conveyed into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Port or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, from or out of any part or place beyond the Seas, any Needles of what sort or kind soever, by way of Merchandise, or to be Sold, Bartered or Exchanged: And that no person or persons that now useth, or that hereafter shall use the Trade or occupation of retailing, selling or uttering of Needles, shall at any time hereafter directly or indirectly buy, bargain or contract for, or concerning the Importation of any Needles of what sort or kind soever, made or to be made in any Place beyond the Seas, or utter or sell the same, upon pain of forfeiting all that by Law is forfeitable, and such other punishment as by the Law, or His Majesties prerogative Royal may be inflicted upon the contemners of His Royal Authority: And His Majesty doth further Charge and Command as well the Farmers of His customs, Controllers, Searchers, Waiters and other Officers of His Ports, as also the said Master, Wardens and communality by themselves or their Deputies, and all other Officers, and Persons whatsoever, to seize and destroy all such Needles that shall be Imported or Bartered, Sold or Exchanged contrary to His Majesties pleasure herein declared, in whose hands soever they shall be found, and to be in all other respects diligent and careful in and about the preventing the Importation of Foreign Needles, and discovery of the same; And to cause the Offenders to be duly punished as to Iustice shall appertain. And also all Iustices of the Peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, bailiffs, Constables and other Officers whatsoever, to be from time to time aiding and assisting in all things requisite for and touching the observation and execution of this His Majesties Royal Proclamation, at their perils.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Fifth day of April, in the One and Twentieth year of Our Reign.  
GOD SAVE THE KING.   

In the SAVOY, Printed by the Assigns of John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1669.