Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Tuentieth nynth day of Agust J^aj vi^c nyntie thrie yeirs

A1693/8/32

A1693/8/32¹

Proclamation

Proclamatione Anent Beggars

The proclamatione after Insert Being redd uas ordored to be Recorded quherof the tenor folloues
William and Mary By the Grace of God King and Queen of Great Brittaine France and Ireland defenders of the faith To […] Macers of our privie Councell messengers att armes our shirreffs in that part Conjunctlly and severally specially Constitut Greeting Forasmuchas the designe and Intent of our proclamatione of the date the eleventh day of Agust J^aj vi^c nyntie tuo years Requyring all Beggars uithin this Kingdome furth uith to repaire to their severall paroches uith all dilligence Hath been much disappoynted and frustrat by the uncertantie of the paroches wher the said respective Beggers Have been borne and for uant of suitable provisione made by the Heretors and Magistrats of the respective paroches wher the saids beggers have been borne or had their last seven years residence For remeid wherof ue uith advyce of the Lords of our privie Councell strictly Requyre and Command all the Beggers uithin this Kingdome Immediatly to repaire to the severall paroches wher they were borne and wher the paroch or place of their birth is not Certaine or distinctly knouen That they repaire to the paroches wher they last resided for the space of seven years togither and to keep the ordinary high wayes to the severall paroches of their birth or last seven years residence And as soon as they come to the saids respective paroches To present themselves to the Heretors and Elders And wher paroches are vaccant and have noe Elders to the Heretors alone uhom ue uith advyce forsaid Requyre and Command to make the provisiones necessary for the saids beggers and to List their names among the poor of the paroch That they may be Lodged and Intertained accordingly uith certificatione to all who shall be found begging after the second teusday of september nixt They shall be seized as vagabounds Imprisoned and fedd uith bread and uater for a month or till they be sent home to the respective paroch of their birth or last seven years residence In manner mentioned in our said former proclamatione And ue uith advyce forsaid Requyre and Command the Magistrats of our burghs royall to meet and stent themselves Conforme to such ordor and Custome used and uont in the laying on stents annuities or other publict burdens in the respective burghs as may be most effectuall to reach all the Inhabitants And the Heretors of the severall vaccant paroches Lykewayes to meet and stent theimselves for the mantinence of their said respective poor And to appoynte the Ingathering uplifting and applying of the same for the uses forsaids sicklyke and in the same manner as the Heretors and Elders are appoynted by our said former proclamation And all the Ministers and Heretors are heirby appointed to Give tymous Intimatione to the shirreff of the shyre if any paroch or persone shall faill in performance of this Christian deuty In haill or in pairt And the shirreff or shirreff depute are Heirby requyred to Call the delinquents before them uithout any delay and if guilty to fyne them in the dowble of the Quota which the Ministers or Heretors shall attest to be uanting and to cause poynd for the same Imediatly And further for preventing any questione that may arrise betuixt the Heretors and kirk sessione in the severall paroches of this kingdome about the quota of the Collectiones at the Church doors and otherwayes to be made by the said sessione to be payed in to the Heretors for the end forsaid we doe Heirby uith advyce forsaid determine the same to be the half of the said Collectiones And ordaines the said kirk sessiones to pay in the same from tyme to tyme to the saids Heretors or any to be by them appointed accordingly And ue uith advyce forsaid Declare and ordaine our said former proclamatione to stand in full force and vigour in the haill heads poynts and articles therof And ordaines the same to be put in executione uith all dilligence In so farr as the same is not heirby Innovat or altered and to the effect our uill and pleasure in the premisses may be knouen our uill is Hierfore And ue 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 whole remanent head burghs of the severall shires and steuartries uithin this Kingdome And ther in our name and authority make open proclamatione of the premisses that none may pretend ignorance and ordaines these presents to be printed Given under our signet at Edinburgh the tuenty nynth day of Agust and of our reigne the fifth year 1693 subscribitur ut sederunt