coke b saint johns case Trin Elizabeth in the king bench a dag be within the  stat h cap which prohibit the shoot or carry c of any handgun the sheriff or  any of his minister may for the better execution of justice carry with with  they offensive or defensive weapon and be not restrain by the general  prohibition of this Act SC cro Elizabeth gardener have a judgement in the king  bench against one saint John of the county of Bedford and have a capias ad  satisfaciend against he and get a warrant from the sheriff to a special  bailiff to arrest he who come near the say saint John house to arrest he and  because he fear resistance he bring with he a dag and saint John be then a  justice of the peace of the say conty of Bedford have coke report a er p  notice of it send one of his servant for he who find he arm with a dag arrest  he and bring he before the say saint Joln be the next justice of peace who on  examination of the matter commit he to the next gaol there to remain till he  have pay one moiety to the queen and the other moiety to the informer accord  to the statute of h cap which prohibit the shoot in or carry c of any handgun  and it be object that a dag be not within this word handgun for it be say that  dagges be not in use at the time of the make of the say Act but invent after  and although they be use with the hand yet it be not know by the name of  handgun do more than hagbut or denyhake which be also use with the hand but  notwithstanding be know by particular name and be not comprehend within this  word handgun for they be both particular name with the handgun in the statute  so a dag be distinguish by a special name from a handgun wherefore for both  these reason that it be not in use at the time of the make of the Act that it  be know by a special name it be object that this carry of the say dag be not  within the say Act but it be resolve by the whole court that it be within the  say statute and coke a comprehend within this word handgun for although no gun  be know by the name of a dag at the time of the make of the say Act and  although in common speech a dag be know by a special name yet forasmuch as he  who make the dag have his invention from the handgun and it be not of any new  kind in substance but have only a little alteration in form and quality for  this cause it be comprehend within this word handgun for if a little  alteration or addition shall defeat the penalty of the Act the statute will be  of small effect and it have be explain by sundry proclamation that pistol  dagges c be within the say Act and it be say that where the say Act do  prohibit crossbow thereby stonebows be also prohibit causan how above and the  preamble of the say Act speak of a little handgun but it be resolve for  another cause that the carry of this dag be not prohibit by the say Act for  the sheriff or any of his minister for the better execution of justice may  carry with they handguns or other weapon invasive or defensive and the same be  not restrain by the general prohibition of the say Act vide h a a Vid king v  Burnaby salk and Goldswains case black Rep and raw p u cap a