[T]he Sheriffe, or any of his Officers, for the better execution of Juſtice, may carry handguns or other weapons invaſive or defenſive, […]
1650, Edward Coke, “St. Johns Case. 34. El. Banco Regis. fol. 71.”, in Thomas Ireland, compiler, An Exact Abridgment in English, of the Eleven Books of Reports of the Learned Sir Edward Coke, […], London: […] M. Simmons, for Matthew Walbancke, […], and H. Twyford […], book V, page 209