Scottish Privy Council Records

Att Edinburgh the Fyfteinth Day off August J^aj vj^c and nyntie tuo years

A1692/8/61¹

Proclamation

Proclamation anent robbing of the pacquett

The Proclamatione underwreitten anent robbing of the packett being read votted and approven wes signed and ordered to be recorded whereoff the tenor followes.
William and Mary be the Grace of God King and Queen of great Brittain France and Ireland defenders of the faith To […] macers of our privie Councill messengers at armes our shirreffs in that pairt Conjunctlie and severallie speciallie constitute Greeting Forasmuch as albeit by the third act of the third sessione of our Current parliament The robbing or seizing the comon post maill, or packet or any other expresses to or from this Kingdome to the Kingdome of England or the Kingdome of Ireland is declared to be a notorious kynd of robberie and shall be punished with death and Confiscatione of moveables Yet nevertheles some persones of pernicious and disloyall principals in manifest contempt of the said act of parliament have of Late made it there busines to robb and take away the said ordinarie packett and particularly upon saturnday last the thretteint instant a persone mounted on horse back with a sword about him And ane other persone on foot with a pistoll in his hand Did Invaid and fall upon the post boy upon the Highway from Haddingtoun to Edinburgh near that place thereof called Jocks Lodge about ten houres of the night and violently robbed him and carryed away from the said post boy the packett or comon maill from England to this Kingdome with the horse whereon the boy roade being a sorrell naig And thereby did there outtermost endeavours to Intercept our Royall Comands to our privie Councill of this Kingdome And to hynder that Comunicatione which is absolutely requisite for the right administratione of our government and the support of trade and Comerce amongst our good subjects And we being earnestly desyrous that the persones guiltie of such horrid villanie and crymes alswell as any accessorie thereto should be discovered and apprehended Therefore for the more effectuall discoverie and apprehending of the saids persones guilty of, or accessorie to the seizing upon or robbing of the said maill or pacquett upon saturnday last Wee with advyce of our privie Councill Assure and declare that by and attour the refounding what charges and expenses shall be Laid out be any of our Leedges or what damnadge shall be sustained by them In discovering and apprehending the saids Criminalls There shall be duely payed to them by the Lords of our Theasurie The soume of Fiftie pounds Sterling as a reward for a discoverie And the soume of Ane Hundreth Pound Sterling money forsaid to any who shall take and apprehend the persones guilty of the Cryme above mentioned or any of them and delyver them prisoners to the next shirreff or magistrat of burgh Royall And for the more effectuall discoverie of the said cryme Wee with advyce forsaid not only pardone Indemnifie and remitt the the² said cryme of seizing the packett to any one of the persones Concerned therein of accessorie and privie thereto who shall come in and make the first discoverie thereof to any of our privie Councill betuixt and the tuenty second day of August Current But also assure to them any of them the said reward of Fiftie pounds sterling And farder wee with advyce forsaid declare thir presents shall be a sufficient pardone and Indemnity to all and everie one of our good subjects for all Slaughter wounds or mutilatione that shall be done or Committed by them upon any of the saids Criminalls and there associatts in the takeing and apprehending of them and bringing them to Condigne punishment Our Will is Herefore And wee charge yow strictly, and Comand that Incontinent thir our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat crosses of Edinburgh Haddingtoun and Linlithgow And there in our name and authoritie make publicatione hereof by open proclamatione That none pretend Ignorance and ordaines these presents to be printed Given under our signet att Edinburgh the fyfteint day of August and of our reigne the fourth year J^aj vj^c and nyntie tu Sic subscribitur Tweeddale cancel: Melvill Privy Seall Linlithgow Strathmore Kintore Breadalbane Carmichaell William Master of Forbes James Johnstoun John Lauder William Anstruther

At Edinburgh 15 August 1692

A1692/8/61¹

Proclamation

Proclamation concerning robbing of the packet

The proclamation underwritten concerning robbing of the mail being read, voted, and approved, was signed and ordered to be recorded, whereof the tenor follows.
William and Mary, by the grace of God king and queen of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defenders of the faith, to […] macers of our privy council, messengers at arms, our sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally, specially constituted greeting. Forasmuch as albeit by the third act of the third session of our current parliament the robbing or seizing [of] the common post, mail, or packet, or any other expresses to or from this kingdom to the kingdom of England or the kingdom of Ireland is declared to be a notorious kind of robbery, and shall be punished with death and confiscation of moveable goods. Yet nevertheless some persons of pernicious and disloyal principals, in manifest contempt of the said act of parliament, have of late made it there business to rob and take away the said ordinary packet, and particularly upon Saturday last, 13 instant, a person mounted on horse-back with a sword about him, and another person on foot with a pistol in his hand, did invade and fall upon the post-boy upon the highway from Haddington to Edinburgh, near that place thereof called Jock’s Lodge, about ten o’clock at night, and violently robbed him and carried away from the said post-boy the packet or common mail from England to this kingdom, with the horse whereon the boy rode being a sorrel nag, and thereby did their utmost endeavours to intercept our royal commands to our privy council of this kingdom, and to hinder that communication which is absolutely requisite for the right administration of our government and the support of trade and commerce amongst our good subjects. And we being earnestly desirous that the persons guilty of such horrid villainy and crimes, as well as any accessory thereto, should be discovered and apprehended, therefore for the more effectual discovery and apprehending of the said persons guilty of, or accessory to, the seizing upon or robbing of the said mail or packet upon Saturday last, we with advice of our privy council, assure and declare that over and above the refunding [of] what charges and expenses shall be laid out by any of our lieges, or what damage shall be sustained by them, in discovering and apprehending [of] the said criminals, there shall be duly paid to them by the lords of our treasury the sum of fifty pounds Sterling as a reward for a discovery, and the sum of one hundred pounds Sterling money foresaid to any who shall take and apprehend the persons guilty of the crime above mentioned, or any of them, and deliver them prisoners to the next sheriff or magistrate of burgh royal. And for the more effectual discovery of the said crime, we, with advice foresaid, not only pardon, indemnify, and remit the said crime of seizing the packet to any one of the persons concerned therein of accessory and being privy thereto who shall come in and make the first discovery thereof to any of our privy council between [now] and the twenty-second day of August current, but also assure to them [or] any of them the said reward of fifty pounds Sterling. And further, we, with advice foresaid, declare these present shall be a sufficient pardon and indemnity to all and every one of our good subjects for all slaughter, wounds, or mutilation that shall be done or committed by them upon any of the said criminals and their associates in the taking and apprehending of them and bringing them to condign punishment. Our will is therefore and we charge you strictly, and command that, immediately these our letters [are] seen, you pass to the mercat crosses of Edinburgh, Haddington, and Linlithgow, and there in our name and authority make publication hereof by open proclamation, that none pretend ignorance, and ordain these present to be printed. Given under our signet at Edinburgh 15 August, and of our reign the fourth year 1692. Sic subscribitur Tweeddale cancel: Melvill Privy Seall Linlithgow Strathmore Kintore Breadalbane Carmichaell William Master of Forbes James Johnstoun John Lauder William Anstruther

1. PC1/48, 395-7.