Proclamation, 28 April 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuenty Eight day of Apryll Jaj vjc and Nyntie tuo years Ante meridiem

A1692/4/421

Proclamation

Proclamatione againest ministers there not prayeing for their majesties King William and Queen Mary

A proclamation againest such ministers as doe not pray for there Majestyes King William and Queen Mary appointing shirreffs and Magistrats of burghes to give in Lists to the Clerks of the Councill of such ministers that they may be punished according to Law betuixt and the first of Junij next for these on this syde of Forth and the fyfteent day of the said Moneth for such ministers on the other syde thereof read votted approven and ordained to be recorded whereof 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 Conjuctlie and severallie speciallie Constitute Greeting Forasmuch as albeit by the act of the Meeting of the estates of this our ancient Kingdome dated the thretteint day of Apryll Jaj vjc and Eighty nyne our Leedges were Certifyed not to oune or acknowledge the late King James the seventh for ther King But that they and every one of them should render there duetyfull obedience to us, And in particular that all ministers of the gospell within this Kingdome should publictly pray for us as King and Queen of this Realme under the paines and Certificationes Execised in the said act As also wee with advyce of our Estates of parliament by our act of the tuenty second day of Jully Jaj vjc and Nyntie ordained the said act and proclamatione of the Estates of this Kingdome to be put to further executione againest all such ministers who hade not given obedience thereto by prayeing for us In maner mentioned in the said act And that the Lords of our privie Councill should proceed therein or Impower other magistrats to doe the same within there respective bounds as they should see cause Yet Nevertheles the saids acts have been so farr from receaveing the punctuall and exact obedience due to them That many preachers have either presumed wholly to neglect prayeing for us as King and Queen of this Realme Conforme to the saids acts or at least have testifyed so farr)2 a want of Ingenuity and plainnes requyred by a duety of this nature that they make use of such ambiguous and unclear expressiones in there prayers as the hearers cannot distinctly know they pray for us to the great disparagement of the saids Lawes and Contempt of our authoritie Therefor wee with advyce of the Lords of our privie Councill doe strictly requyre and Comand the shirreffs of the severall shyres Bailzies of regalityes Stewarts of Stewartries and Magistrats of burghes Royall of this kingdome within there bounds and Jurisdictiones respective To make due and exact tryall what ministers preaching in churches or meeting houses within there respective bounds pray not ordinarly for us in such Circumstantiat termes as there hearers may know distinctly that they pray for us as King and Queen of this Realme And for that effect wee with advyce forsaid hereby requyre and Impower the severall Magistrats respective forsaid To Conveen and Call befor them such persones as they shall think fitt to give Information and evidence againest such ministers preaching in the churches and meeting houses who faill in there obedience to the acts abovementioned in maner above sett doun And that the saids Magistrats respective transmitt under there hands to the Clerks of our privie Councill betuixt and the first day of Junij next to come (for such as are on this syde of the water of Tay and the Fyfteenth day of the said moneth for such on the other syde thereof) the names of the severall ministers offending in the premisses with the place of there residence and the originall Information and evidence they have taken againest them To the effect they may be prosecute with all rigor And the penaltyes and Certificationes in the saids Lawes contained Justly Inflicted and execute againest them With Certification to the saids respective Magistrats who faill herein, They shall be repute as Connivers at, and abetters of the saids offenders and negligent in the Executione and performance of there offices and duety Comitted to them and prosecute as such accordingly Our will is Herefore and wee charge yow straitly and Comand that Incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat cross of Edinburgh and to the remanent mercat crosses of the heid burghes of the severall shyres of this our ancient Kingdome And there in our Name and authority be open proclamatione make Intimation of the premisses And ordaines these presents to be printed and published in maner forsaid Given under our signet at Edinburgh the tuenty eight day of Apryll and of our reigne the fourth year Jaj vjc and Nyntie tuo years Sic Subscribitur Tweeddale Cancel: J:p:d3 Linlithgow Lothian Forfar Stair Cardross William Master of Forbes John Lauder Patrick Murray

At Edinburgh 28 April 1692 (am)

A1692/4/421

Proclamation

Proclamation against ministers there not praying for their majesties King William and Queen Mary

A proclamation against such ministers as do not pray for their majesties King William and Queen Mary appointing sheriffs and magistrates of burghs to give in lists to the clerks of the council of such ministers that they may be punished according to law betwixt now and the first of June next for these on this side of the Forth and the fifteenth day of the said month for such ministers on the other side thereof, read voted approved and ordained 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 act of the meeting of the estates of this our ancient kingdom dated the thirteenth day of April 1689 our leiges were certified not to own or acknowledge the late King James the seventh for their king but that they and every one of them should render their dutiful obedience to us, and in particular that all ministers of the gospel within this kingdom should publictly pray for us as king and queen of this realm under the pains and certifications exercised in the said act, as also we with advice of our estates of parliament by our act of the twenty second day of July 1690 ordained the said act and proclamation of the estates of this kingdom to be put to further execution against all such ministers who had not given obedience thereto by praying for us in manmer mentioned in the said act, and that the lords of our privy council should proceed therein or empower other magistrates to do the same within their respective bounds as they should see cause; yet nevertheless the said acts have been so far from receiving the punctual and exact obedience due to them that many preachers have either presumed wholly to neglect praying for us as king and queen of this realm, conforming to the said acts or at least have testified so far) a want of ingenuity and plainness required by a duty of this nature that they make use of such ambiguous and unclear expressions in their prayers as the hearers cannot distinctly know they pray for us, to the great disparagement of the said laws and contempt of our authority, therefor we, with advice of the lords of our privy council, do strictly require and command the sheriffs of the several shires, baillies of regalities, stewarts of stewartries and magistrates of burghs royal of this kingdom within their bounds and jurisdictions respective, to make due and exact trial what ministers preaching in churches or meeting houses within their respective bounds pray not ordinarily for us in such circumstantial terms as their hearers may know distinctly that they pray for us as king and queen of this realm, and for that effect we, with advice forsaid, hereby require and empower the several magistrates respectively forsaid to convene and call before them such persons as they shall think fit to give information and evidence against such ministers preaching in the churches and meeting houses who fail in their obedience to the acts above mentioned in manner above set down, and that the said magistrates respectively transmit under their hands to the clerks of our privy council betwixt now and the first day of June next to come (for such as are on this side of the water of Tay and the fifteenth day of the said month for such on the other syde thereof) the names of the several ministers offending in the premisses, with the place of their residence and the original information and evidence they have taken against them, to the effect they may be prosecuted with all rigor, and the penalties and certifications in the said laws contained justly inflicted and executed against them with certification to the said respective magistrates who fail herein, they shall be reputed as connivers at and abetters of the said offenders and negligent in the execution and performance of their offices and duty committed to them and prosecute as such accordingly. Our will is heretofore and wee charge you straitly and command that incontinent these our letters seen, you pass to the mercat cross of Edinburgh and to the remaining mercat crosses of the head burghs of the several shires of this our ancient kingdom, and there in our name and authority by open proclamation make intimation of the premisses, and ordain these presents to be printed and published in mamner forsaid. Given under our signet at Edinburgh the twenty eighth day of April and of our reign the fourth year 1692. Signed thus: Tweeddale chancellor, before the lords of council Linlithgow, Lothian, Forfar, Stair, Cardross, William master of Forbes, John Lauder and Patrick Murray

1. PC1/48, 156-8.

2. Opening bracket missing.

3. The words ‘Douglas Argyll’ have been scored out here.

1. PC1/48, 156-8.