Letter: to the Council, 29 January 1695, Edinburgh

Warrant, 31 December 1695, Edinburgh

At Edinburgh tuesday 29th January 1695

A1695/1/471

Letter: to the Council

Letter the secretary of state to the Councill anent Desertors

The following letter being read in Councill was ordered to be recorded in the Councill books quherof the tenor followeth My Lords The Clerk of his majesties privy Councill did transmitt to me the double of a letter ordered by your Lordships upon the fyfteen instant to be sent concerning the difference betwixt the officers come from Flanders and the officers of the troops in Scotland about the desertors Desyreing to know his majesties pleasure whether all that had been in the Scots troops in Flanders and had deserted might be seized or only those who had not taken on of new in the troops in Scotland I did read over the Coppy of that Letter to his majestie and hes received his majesties Commands to signifie to your Lordships That as his Letter to you in that matter mentions Deserters in generall without exceptione so his majestie did intend and still appoynts That all such as hes been in the Scots troops abroad who have come away without passes dismissing them from the Service may be seazed by these officers sent over to make the recruits, whether they have taken on in the troops there or not, For it will not excuse nor save a souldier from being shot that he deserted from one Regiment to another in the same service; so ther’s noe hardship put upon the Deserter who is pardoned and only returne to his duety and the officers there aught not to have intertained such His Majestie consider’s the misfortune befallen the Scots officers in their passage and the difficulties they will have to find recruits and that the warrants or proclamations secureing such desertors as had taken on there, or were offered by the Countrey in the late Leavie hath too much encouraged desertion which will both prejudge the Common service and render the Scots troops less compleat and capable to doe that service his majestie expects from them Therfore I am recomended to remember your Lordships that his majestie hath signified his pleasure and expects from you all the assistance and concurrance […] for making the recruits compleat and that you allow noe retardment or unecessary delays or questions to be made in that matter these by his Majesties particular ordor ar communicated to you by My Lords, your Lordships most humble and most obedient servant sic subscribitur John Dalrymple dated London tuenty third Jaj vjc nynty and fyve years.

At Edinburgh tuesday 29th January 1695

A1695/1/471

Letter: to the Council

Letter the secretary of state to the Councill anent Desertors

The following letter being read in Councill was ordered to be recorded in the Councill books quherof the tenor followeth My Lords The Clerk of his majesties privy Councill did transmitt to me the double of a letter ordered by your Lordships upon the fyfteen instant to be sent concerning the difference betwixt the officers come from Flanders and the officers of the troops in Scotland about the desertors Desyreing to know his majesties pleasure whether all that had been in the Scots troops in Flanders and had deserted might be seized or only those who had not taken on of new in the troops in Scotland I did read over the Coppy of that Letter to his majestie and hes received his majesties Commands to signifie to your Lordships That as his Letter to you in that matter mentions Deserters in generall without exceptione so his majestie did intend and still appoynts That all such as hes been in the Scots troops abroad who have come away without passes dismissing them from the Service may be seazed by these officers sent over to make the recruits, whether they have taken on in the troops there or not, For it will not excuse nor save a souldier from being shot that he deserted from one Regiment to another in the same service; so ther’s noe hardship put upon the Deserter who is pardoned and only returne to his duety and the officers there aught not to have intertained such His Majestie consider’s the misfortune befallen the Scots officers in their passage and the difficulties they will have to find recruits and that the warrants or proclamations secureing such desertors as had taken on there, or were offered by the Countrey in the late Leavie hath too much encouraged desertion which will both prejudge the Common service and render the Scots troops less compleat and capable to doe that service his majestie expects from them Therfore I am recomended to remember your Lordships that his majestie hath signified his pleasure and expects from you all the assistance and concurrance […] for making the recruits compleat and that you allow noe retardment or unecessary delays or questions to be made in that matter these by his Majesties particular ordor ar communicated to you by My Lords, your Lordships most humble and most obedient servant sic subscribitur John Dalrymple dated London tuenty third Jaj vjc nynty and fyve years.

1. NRS, PC1/50, 109-111.

1. NRS, PC1/50, 109-111.