Att Edinburgh The sixteenth day of January Jaj vjc Nyntie tuo years
A1692/1/35
A1692/1/351
Letter: royal
Letter from the King Anent the Highland Rebells
Suprascribed William Rex
Right trustie and right well beloved Cousin and Councellor Right trustie and entirely beloved Cousine and Councellor Right trustie and right well beloved Cousines and Councellors Right trustie and well beloved Cousines and Councellors Right trustie and well beloved Councellors and trustie and well beloved Councellors We Greet yow well wheras we have signified the outmost of mercy Gentlenes and Compassione to those highlanders who have Continoued so long in open rebellione wherof many of their Leaders stand convicted by our Parliament and condemned as traitors now that all of them have refuised the favourable and advantagious offers we made them and severall of their chiftaines and many of their Clanns have not taken the benefite of our gracious Indemnity we doe Consider it Indispensible for the well of that our kingdome to apply the necessary severities of Law To that end we have Given Sir Thomas Livingstoun to Imploy our troopes (which we have already Conveniently posted) to Cutt off these obstinat rebells by all manner of hostility And we doe requyre yow to give him your assistance and Concurrence In all other things that may conduce to that service And because these rebells to avoyde our forces may withdraw themselves their families goods or Catle to Lurk or be Concealled among their neighboures Therfore we doe requyre and authorize yow to Emitt a proclamatione to be published at all the mercat crosses of these or the adjacent shyres wher the Rebells reside Discharging upon the highest penaltie the Law alloues any resett of Correspondence or Intercomuning with these Rebells Yow will know before these come to your hands who have taken the benefite of the Indemnity and are therby safe and who have not that the names of the leaders in particular and their Clanns and tennents in Generall who have been all Engadged and Involved with them may be expressed That noe body through Ignorance may be ensnared And not dowbting of your care in what may concerne the vigorous executione of this our service wee bidd yow heartilie fareuell Given at our Court at Kensingtoune the Eleventh day of January 1691/2 and of our reigne the third year By his Majesties Command sic subscribitur John Dalrymple
1. NRS, PC1/47, 576.
1. NRS, PC1/47, 576.