Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh Eodem die post meridiem

A1693/6/77

A1693/6/77¹

Decreet

Certificatione The Lord Advocat Against The Laird of Meldrum Captain Mair and Aitkine

Anent our Soveraigne Lord and Ladies Letters raised and pursued Before the Lords of their Majesties privie Councell att the Instance of Sir James Steuart their Majesties Advocat for their Highnes Intrest in the matter underwryten Mentioning That wher notwithstanding by the Laues of this and all other well Governed nationes And particularly by the threttie seventh Act second parliament King James the first Fourtie nynth Act tuelvth parliament and fourteenth Act sixth parliament King James the second nyntie seventh Act seventh parliament King James the fifth Hundreth and fourtie fourth Act tuelvth parliament King James the sixth The Crymes of treasone and rebellione And the Conspyring to overturne the established government of the kingdome or the Concealling and not revealling any treasonable designe project or discourse tending therto And the aiding assisting abaiting resetting supplying Intercommoning keeping Correspondence uith or doing favours to such as have any such designe or are guilty of or accessessorie to the same are Crymes of ane High nature and severely punisheable uith the paines and punishments specified in the said Acts And by the second Act second session first Parliament King Charles the second To entyce any straingers or others to Invade any of their Majesties dominiones or to wryte print or speak any thing that may express or declare such ther treasonable ² Intentiones Is declared High treasone and punishable as such And be the second Act first sessione of their Majesties currant parliament The Estates of Parliament did assert Recognize and acknowledge their Majesties royall power and authoritie over the kingdome And did declare it High treasone In any of the subjects by wryting speaking or any other manner of way to disoune quarrell or Impugne their Majesties royall right and authority or pouer and tytle to the Croune Nevertheless It is of veritie That John Urqwhart of Meldrum Captain […] Mair Mr Patrick Smith advocat and his spouse Being persones disaffected to their Majesties and their government and who keeped closs Correspondence uith their Majesties Enemies particularly uith the Late Highland army and rebells Have off new againe uith many others their Accomplices Entered Into a daingerous plott and conspyracie for overturning the present setled government of the kingdome In their Majesties persons And besyds what closs Contryvances they have keeped and had uithin the kingdome to the end Forsaid They upon the first second third or one or other of the dayes of the months of december January February March or Apryle last bypast did wryte Letters to and receave returns from the Earls of Dumfermling Lauderdale and Melfort Generall Major Cannon Collonell Thomas Buchan and others their Majesties Enemies now in France By which Letters they gave them ane Account of the state of the kingdome Advysing them to Invade the same uith a forraigne force And by the Returns and ansuers of these Letters they receaved advyce to Conferr uith stirr up and Instigat severall of their Majesties Leidges uithin this kingdome to ryse and Joyne uith these rebells and traitors and the forraigne forces to be brought uith them upon their first Landing uithin this kingdome or any part of their Majesties dominiones And in the months of […] They did Collect and transmitt money by bills and otherwayes to the saids rebells and traitors For Carrying on the said Intended Invasione against their owne native Country off the which Crymes abovespecifiet or one or other of them The forenamed persones and ilk ane of them are Actors airt and pairt And therfore ought to be punished in their persones and goods uith the paines specifiet in the forsaid Acts or other high paines and punishments to the terror and example of others to Committ the lyke In tyme coming And annent the charge given to the saids defenders To Have Compeared personally before the saids Lords of their Majesties privie Councell att ane certaine day bygone To Have ansuered to the poynts of the said Complaint And to Have heard and seen such order and course taken theranent as the saids Lords should think fitt under the paine of rebellione and putting them to the Horne with Certificatione etc As in the principall Lybell or Letters of Complaint raised in the said matter uith the executions therof at more length is Contained Uhich Lybell or Complaint being this day called In presence of the saids Lords And their Majesties Advocat Compearing personally for their Majesties Intrest as pursuar And the said Captain ³ […] Mair John Urqwhart of Meldrum and […] Aitkine three of the saids defenders Being Laufully cited oftymes called be ane Macer att the Councell barr and outter door of the Councell roume and not Compearing The saids Lords of their Majesties privie Councell Doe Heirby Grant Certificatione Against the saids persones for their absence and not Compearing And ordaines Letters of denunciatione to be direct at the Instance of their Majesties advocat to macers or messengers at armes Commanding them to pass to the mercat Croce of […] and other places needfull And ther In their Majesties names and authority To dewly Laufullie and ordorly denunce the saids persones their Majesties rebells and putt them to their Highness Horne And ordaine all their moveabill goods and gear to be escheat and Inbrought to their Majesties use for their Contempt and disobedience