The Spanish Motto

[Jim McDougall]

Over the years this distinct motto has been discussed as it is ubiquitous on many 'Spanish' blades of the 18th century, usually it seems those of the hexagonal section, double edged, dragoon type. While these blades seem to have typically been seen on the M1728 cavalry swords which were the regulation pattern for Spain through the 18th century.


NO ME SAQUES SIN RAZON
NO ME ENVAINES SIN HONOR

DO NOT DRAW ME WITHOUT REASON
NOR SHEATH ME WITHOUT HONOR

Aylward (1945, p.43) describes this aphorism (though in the French version, as they often used the 'motto' on blades as well)............as having been a perennial favorite...."since the Spaniards first invented it".

While the late RDC Evans, in his"The Plug Bayonet" (2002, #264, #265) states this motto seen on Spanish plug bayonets as early as 1650-70.
It seems odd to see this kind of motto on a bayonet.

Another apocryphal source claims that Fernando Jimenez de Quesada founding Bogota in 1538 was carrying a sword with these words on the blade.

So my question is......just how old is this motto, in these words, and was it
truly a Spanish convention?