Att Edinburgh the Sevinteinth day of Apryll one thousand sevine hundreth and fyve years
A1705/4/21
A1705/4/211
Proclamation
Proclamation Against Tumults
Proclamation against Tumults, mobs, and Rables being prepared, the Samen was Read, voted, approven and Signed, And ordained to be recorded, published and printed, wherof the tenor follows.
Anne by the Grace of God Queen of Great Brittaine, France and Irland defender of the faith To […] Meacers of our Privie Councell, Messengers at armes our shirreffs in that pairt Conjunctllie and Severallie Speciallie constitut Greeting, Forasmuchas Notwithstanding that the raising of Tumults be a most dangerous pernicious and unboundable practise contrary to the very beeing and constitution of Government, And destructive off the cheiff ends therof, The Safety and Securitie of mens lyves and fortouns, And that by severall acts of parliament such James 2d parliament 14. Caput 77. and James 4th parliament 3d Caput 34. It is Statute that ther be no Commotion nor rysing of commons in Burrows In hindering of the comon law, And that if any does in the contrary and knowledge or tent may be gotten therof Ther goods may be confiscat to the King, and ther lyves be at the Kings will; As also by the Act of parliament James 6th parliament 18th Caput ii. It is Statute that no person within burgh take upon hand under whatsomever pretext to convocat without the knowledge and Licence of the Magistrats wnder the pain to be punished in their body and goods with all rigour; As lykewayes that the haill Inhabitants of the said burgh readily assist and concurr with the Magistrats for Setleing and punishing the said tumults, wnder the pain of being repute fosterers, and mantainers of the saids tumults, Lykeas by the act of parliament Ja: 6th parl. 17. Caput 4th, It is Statute that whatsoever persone invades or persues any of his highness Session, Secret Councell, or any of his highness officers, It being verified and tryed that they wer persued and invaded for doeing of his highness Service Shall be punished to the death: Ther happened upon the Streets of Edinburgh on the Ellevinth instant the day appoynted for the execution of certaine Malefactors, and when our privie Councill wer mett and Sitting about our affairs a most disorderly and numerous Convocation and gathering of Comons, filling the Streets with clamour and pretending and threatning to overaw our Councill, to the great dishonour and prejudice of our Government; Lykeas when our Chancellor and certaine of our Lords of Councill with him, after having done our bussieness, wer goeing home in peaceable maner, They wer most Insolently and wickedly persued and invaded, and that for doeing our Service, by a villanous mobb; Therfor wee in the Just resentment of so high ane Indignitie, And to prevent the lyke in all tyme comeing, Have thought fitt with advyce of the Lords of our privie Councell, To Ordaine the Magistrats of Edinburgh to continue ther dilligence, And make Strict inquerie and Search And to cause apprehend all the authors, abetters, accessories and assistants of the forsaid tumult who invaded and persued our Chancellor and others, To the effect they may be brought to condigne punishment, Declairing that for that end, who ever Shall disover any of the saids authors or accessories of the said tumult, Shall not only be himselfe Indemnified, But have a due reward for so good Service, And particularly who Shall discover the person of William Davidsone Tayleor in Cannongat, who is informed to have first Stopt our Chancellors coach, Shall have besyds his Indemnity the Soume of Two hundreth punds Scots money of reward, and farder wee with advyce forsaid Ordaine the Magistrats of Edinburgh to Call all ther Deacons of Crafts and masters of their Incorporaitons, And all others ther householders and Inhabitants and obleidge them for the good behaviour of ther apprentices, servants and domesticks In Such maner as the laws and customs of the burgh doth allow, as also that they Call the regents and masters of the Colledge of Edinburgh, and injoyne them Strictly that for heirafter they keep ther Schollars in good order, and be carefull of ther quyet and peaceable behaviour, And wee ordaine all the Inhabitants of the said burgh readily to assist and concurr with the Magistrats for repressing and punishing all tumults wnder the forsaid pain of law; And farder for preventing the lyke wicked Insolence in tyme comeing wee with advyce forsaid doe heirby declaire That in case and whenever any Such disorders, Convocation or tumult Shall appear or beguin to appear for heirafter and that therupon Intimation Shall be made by the Magistrats to all and Sundrie to withdraw and retire to ther respective houses, Shops and Imployments whatever Apprentice, Servant, Journey-man, Footman or other Such persone Shall disobey and be found upon the Streets, Shall be repute and held as Fosterers and mantainers of the saids tumults, and punished accordingly, And tho at present wee doe bear with and excuse the Magistrats of Edinburgh Because of the Surpryzeing Suddentie and unexpected violence of the said tumult that happened as said is, Yet that all may know our high displeasure at and detestation of such disorders, and take warneing as they may be concerned, Wee farder with advyce forsaid declaire that if any such tumulls or disorders Shall happen for heirafter, wee may be therby necessitat to ordaine our high Court of parliament, privie Councill, Lords of the Session, Exchequer and Court of Justiciary, To remove themselves from the said burgh, To some other of our Royall Burrows, wher they may Sitt and officiat with greater Safety and Security, or at least if wee Shall be pleased to continue our saids2 Courts in Edinburgh wee may be obleidged to bring in Sufficient Guards into the said citie to abyde and quarter therin for ther Security and Safe-guard; And these things wee ordaine to be Solemnly declaired and published that all may hear and fear, And that all Such wicked and villanous disorders may be for heirafter prevented, Our Will is Heirfore and wee charge yow Strictly and Command that incontinent thir our Letters Seen ye pass to the mercat cross of Edinburgh, and to the remanent mercat crosses of the head burghs of the Severall Shyres and Steuartries within this our antient kingdome, And therat in our name and authority by open proclamation make publict Intimation heirof that non may pretend ignorance; And ordains these presents to be printed and published. Given under our Signet at Edinburgh the Sevinteenth day of Apryll, and of our reigne the fourth year 1705. Sic Subscribitur Seafeild Cancellar Tweedale P. Rothes C.P.S. Southerland. Roxburgh S. Mar. Hadington. Loudon. James Steuart. George Baillie. F Montgomrie. Adam Cockburne.
1. NRS, PC1/53, 389-90.
2. Insertion.
1. NRS, PC1/53, 389-90.
2. Insertion.