Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Eighteenth day of February J^aj vi^c nyntie seven

A1697/2/33

A1697/2/33¹

Proclamation

Proclamatione Anent the stenting of unfree Traders

William By the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland defender of the faith To […] Macers of our privy Councill Messengers at arms our shirreffs in that part Conjunctly and Severally speciallie Constitut Greeting Forasmuch as in Liew of the Acts of parliament against unfree Traders And to prevent the paines that they either had or might have Incurred First the royall burghs and then the estates of parliament Did offer a free Comunication of Trade to the burghs of barrony Regality and others They paying the Compositions that should be aggreed to betuixt them and Mr John Buchan who stands Ingadged to releive the saids burghs royall of Ten pounds of the hundred pounds of their taxt roll which being only the tenth part of the burden of the saids royall burghs would be very Inconsiderable amongst the whole burghs of barrony and regality and other unfree Trades of the Kingdome Notwithstanding wherof many of the unfree burghs and Traders pretending that the proportions Laid on them are unequall have not paid in the same For remedy wherof The said Mr John Buchan being desyrous that these proportiones may be Laid on with all possible equality and that the saids unfree Traders may be releived of the pains of Law either already Incurred or which they might Incurr Hath applied to the Lords of our privie Councill That due Intimation may be made to all Concerned of the ease that he is willing to Grant to all unfree traders And we Considering that making the said project effectuall will Lykewise tend to the promotting of trade in Generall throughout the Kingdome Therfore we with advyce of the Lords of our privie Councill Have thought fitt that a proclamation be Emitted In our name and authority Intimating to the haill Shires of the kingdome the forsaid benefite now offered And for ordaining the respective Commissioners of Supply and excise uithin the saids Shires to meet at their head burghs at the dayes abovementioned to hear and Consider the said Mr John Buchans offers And to aggree to the same as they shall see Cause for Liberty of Trade and releiff of their unfree traders And if they shall aggree to accept his offers to divyde the saids respective Quot’s of the forsaid ten pounds upon the burghs of Barrony and Regality and other unfree Traders uithin their bounds To the effect that the saids burghs of barrony and regality and other unfree Traders may freely accept of and acquiesie to the said Division And aggree to make payment accordingly as they shall think fitt with this Certification allanarly that if the saids offers Shall not take effect in the method here proposed The saids haill unfree Traders who have not already aggreed uith the said Mr John Buchan shall be proceeded against Conform to the acts of parliament against unfree Traders and the paines therof exacted upon them with all rigour Our Will is Heirfore And we Charge yow strictly and Command That Incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat Cross of Edinburgh and to the mercat Crosses of the haill head burghs uithin this Kingdome And ther In our name and authority make Intimation of the premisses And also That ye in our name and authority Command and charge the forsaids Commissioners of supply and excise to meet at their respective head burghs These upon the south syde of the water of Tay upon the first day of Aprile And these upon the North syde of Tay upon the tuenty day of the samen month to Consider and hear the said Mr John Buchan his offers And to aggree to the same as they shall see cause for Libertie of trade and releiff of unfree Traders And if they shall aggree to accept his offers to divyde the saids respective Quotas of the forsaid ten pounds upon the burghs of barrony and regality and other unfree Traders within their Bounds To the effect that the saids Burghs of Barrony and regality and other unfree traders may freely accept of and acquiesie to the said division And aggree to make payment accordingly as they shall think fitt with this Certification that if the saids offers shall not take effect in the method here proposed The saids haill unfree Traders who have not already aggreed with the said Mr John Buchan shall be proceeded against Conform to the Acts of parliament against unfree Traders and the paines therof exacted upon them with all rigour Lykeas we heirby require and peremptorly Command all Inferior Magistrats within the kingdome that they administrat Justice speedily and Impartiallie to the said Mr John Buchan against the haill forsaids unfree traders as they will be Ansuerable on their highest perill And ordaines these presents to be printed Given under our Signet at Edinburgh the Eighteenth day of Februrary and our reign the Eight year 1697 sic subscribitur.