[Letter from] the Privy Council to the Lord Keeper and the Lord Treasurer

Her Majesty having been advertised of numerous highway robberies which have lately been committed in divers parts of the realm, and that it is a common thing for the thieves to carry pistols whereby they either murder out of hand before they rob, or else put her subjects in such fear that they dare not resist, their lordships are requested to take such steps as may be necessary to redress this mischief ... Windsor, 4 Dec. 1575.