Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Edinburgh seventh of Aprile J^aj vi^c nyntie seven years

A1697/4/20

A1697/4/20¹

Decreet

Interlocutor upon the report Anent Militia

The Committie being mett In pursuance of the reference of Councill made to them upon the Eleventh of March last For Considering how the Militia may be exercised and trained now in the approaching Summer Seasone They thought fitt to revise the proposalls of Councill made to his Majestie anent the Militia on the Fifteenth of Aprile J^aj vi^c nyntie six and approven by his Majesties Letter of the fourt of May therafter And for the making of the said militia more effectuall They humblie offer ther follouing Remarks upon the saids proposalls Viz upon the first article that the Lochaber axes ordered for every regiment be presently provyded Extending in haill to Fifteen hundred in Number Conform to the remitt by the Councill to the Thesaury theranent On the second article that the dayes of the Rendivouzes be changed thus The single Companies to muster and stay togither tuo dayes the first week of June in stead of the Last week of May and Four dayes the fourth week of June in stead of the third week therof. The regiments mustering as before And that this order Continow till recalled On the fourth article that the list of the Colonells Leivtennant Colonells and majors already named be revised and Considered On the fifth article that the Commissioners of Supplie send in Lists of all persons fitt and qualified and of the best Interest to be Captains And that the Names of all the Captains Leivtennants and Ensignes aither named or to be named by the Commissioners of Militia be reported to the Councill for their approbatione against the first teusday of May nixt And that a Captain have allouance of six shillings sterling each muster day when present to be payed out of the supplie as the allouance given to Majors and Leivtennants On the Sixth article That Captains be alloued Intrusted uith the Keeping of the armes of the respective Companies They Giving ther recepts and being ansuerable for them Item that ther be a Gunsmith uithin the bounds appointed to every regiment to be named by the Major who is to receave the Captains recept for the armes And that the said Gunsmiths have tuenty four pounds Scotts per annum to be payed out of the Supplie as above On the seventh article that the dayes of Commissioners of Shires their Meeting be Changed as the dayes of Rendivouzes are above changed On the Eight article That it be Left out And that all the officers already named aither by the Councill or Commissioners be revised Item that the Militia be Continoued Conform to the Last printed proclamation dated the tenth day of december J^aj vi^c nyntie six uith such changes as here remarked And that it be also extended to the other shires as the Councill shall think fitt Item that particular Lords of privie Councill be appointed to revew these regiments which are not Commanded by privie Councelors Item that the surplus of armes now in the magazines after the furnishing of the standing forces be Given out at the sight of such as the Lords of privie Counsell shall appoint to be Majors of every regiment who are to Give their recepts to the Lords of the Thesaury for the same And that the saids majors give them out againe to their respective Captains upon their recept and obleidgement to be Comptable as said is And that the Charges for transporting of the saids armes be payed out of the Supplie as above as the said report Bears The saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Having Considered the said report of the Committie Anent the Militia They doe heirby Recommend to Sir James Steuart his Majesties Advocat to prepare the draught of a Letter from their Lordshipps to the King Craving his Majesties approbatione of the points in the report which are to Come out of the supplie viz payment of a Gunsmith for every regiment payment of the Captains and of the expensses of Carrying and transporting armes And Recommends to the said Lord Advocat or Gives order and warrand to his Majesties sollicitor to prepare a draught of a Letter to the Commissioners of Supply in the severall shires Requiring them to send in to the Councill the names of all persons fitt to be Captains Leivtennents and Ensigns in the Militia betuixt and the first teusday of may nixt in the termes of the report And appointes the Clerks of privy Councill to prepare a proclamation for Calling out the Militia to minister in the termes of the said report And to present the Letters and proclamation to the Councill att their nixt meeting.