Letter: royal, 10 December 1696 (pm), Edinburgh

Procedure: petition, 31 December 1696, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the tenth day of December Jaj vic nyntie six years Eodem Die post meridiem

A1696/12/441

Letter: royal

[Letter from the king]

Letter from his Majestie to the Councill Anent the Recruits to Flanders officers The Levy of one Thousand men and Recruits to Dragoons in Flanders read and ordered to be recorded And Recommends to the Earle of Argyll Commander in Cheiff for the tyme to speak with Collonell Hamilton to whom the Charge of the Recruits is Committed And to know from him the Number of Recruits needfull for every regiment.
Folloues the tenor of the said Letter
Sic Suprascribitur William Rex
Right Trustie and Right well Beloved Councellor Right trustie and entirely Beloved Cousin and Councelor Right trustie and wel Beloved Cousins and Councelors Right trustie and well Beloved Councellors And trustie and well Beloved Councellors We Greet yow well It is both for the honour of that our ancient Kingdome and the good of our service that the Scottish regiments in Flanders Be speedily and effectuallie recruited And we Being sensible That abuses are ordinarly Committed upon such occasion We doe therfore earnestly Recommend to you a due care and temper in this matter By Giving the officers we have sent all necessary Countenance and assistance And yet Keeping them within the bounds that the Law preserves We doe not think it fitt at this tyme that any draughts be made out of the Forces of that our Kingdome But It is our will and pleasure That yow allow the saids officers to Beat Drums And to take all other methods Consistent with Law for Levying the men they want It is necessary for the forsaid end that they have the benefite of the Act past in the last session of our parliament By which a Levy of one Thousand men is Granted to us or Fourtie shillings for each man: yow are therfore to Give orders to the Commander in Cheiff of our forces ther And Collonell George Hamilton whom we have Intrusted with the charge of the saids Recruits with all dilligence to Divyde and proportion the forsaid Thousand men amongst the saids officers as the severall regiments to which they Belong shall stand in need Excepting the regiments Commanded by the Lord Strathnaver and the Lord Lorn which are to have noe part of this Levy. And wher these Lyable in the Levy doe not Give the Men our saids officers are to receave the Fourtie shillings But after the receaving therof are to furnish a sufficient man at the sight of our said Commander in cheiff and Colonell Hamilton: We doubt not but yow will proceed in this matter with all dilligence It being so necessary for our service And that yow will Emitt such proclamations as are needfull for making the forsaid Levy effectuall betwixt and the first day of February next att which tyme we are resolved The recruits shall be Imbarked We doe Lykewise Recommend to yow to Give all due Incouragement and Assistance to the officers of the tuo Scotish regiments of Dragoons in Flanders in the making of their recruits And Leaving this whole affair to your care and management We bid yow heartily Farewell Given att our Court at Kensington the tuenty day of November Jaj vic nyntie six years And of our reigne the Eight year By his Majesties Command Sic Subscribitur James Ogilvie.

Att Edinburgh the tenth day of December Jaj vic nyntie six years Eodem Die post meridiem

A1696/12/441

Letter: royal

[Letter from the king]

Letter from his Majestie to the Councill Anent the Recruits to Flanders officers The Levy of one Thousand men and Recruits to Dragoons in Flanders read and ordered to be recorded And Recommends to the Earle of Argyll Commander in Cheiff for the tyme to speak with Collonell Hamilton to whom the Charge of the Recruits is Committed And to know from him the Number of Recruits needfull for every regiment.
Folloues the tenor of the said Letter
Sic Suprascribitur William Rex
Right Trustie and Right well Beloved Councellor Right trustie and entirely Beloved Cousin and Councelor Right trustie and wel Beloved Cousins and Councelors Right trustie and well Beloved Councellors And trustie and well Beloved Councellors We Greet yow well It is both for the honour of that our ancient Kingdome and the good of our service that the Scottish regiments in Flanders Be speedily and effectuallie recruited And we Being sensible That abuses are ordinarly Committed upon such occasion We doe therfore earnestly Recommend to you a due care and temper in this matter By Giving the officers we have sent all necessary Countenance and assistance And yet Keeping them within the bounds that the Law preserves We doe not think it fitt at this tyme that any draughts be made out of the Forces of that our Kingdome But It is our will and pleasure That yow allow the saids officers to Beat Drums And to take all other methods Consistent with Law for Levying the men they want It is necessary for the forsaid end that they have the benefite of the Act past in the last session of our parliament By which a Levy of one Thousand men is Granted to us or Fourtie shillings for each man: yow are therfore to Give orders to the Commander in Cheiff of our forces ther And Collonell George Hamilton whom we have Intrusted with the charge of the saids Recruits with all dilligence to Divyde and proportion the forsaid Thousand men amongst the saids officers as the severall regiments to which they Belong shall stand in need Excepting the regiments Commanded by the Lord Strathnaver and the Lord Lorn which are to have noe part of this Levy. And wher these Lyable in the Levy doe not Give the Men our saids officers are to receave the Fourtie shillings But after the receaving therof are to furnish a sufficient man at the sight of our said Commander in cheiff and Colonell Hamilton: We doubt not but yow will proceed in this matter with all dilligence It being so necessary for our service And that yow will Emitt such proclamations as are needfull for making the forsaid Levy effectuall betwixt and the first day of February next att which tyme we are resolved The recruits shall be Imbarked We doe Lykewise Recommend to yow to Give all due Incouragement and Assistance to the officers of the tuo Scotish regiments of Dragoons in Flanders in the making of their recruits And Leaving this whole affair to your care and management We bid yow heartily Farewell Given att our Court at Kensington the tuenty day of November Jaj vic nyntie six years And of our reigne the Eight year By his Majesties Command Sic Subscribitur James Ogilvie.

1. NRS, PC1/51, 58-9.

1. NRS, PC1/51, 58-9.