At Edinburgh the tuenty nynth day of Februarie Jaj vjc nynty and sex years
A1696/2/33
A1696/2/331
Proclamation
Proclamatione for securing the Kingdome against Invasione designed from France
William by the Grace of God King of great Brittain France and Ireland defender of the faith To etc Macers of our privy Councill messengers at armes our shirriffs in that part conjunctlly and severally specially constitut greeting Wheras the mercifull providence of God to us, and our kingdomes hath discovered a most wicked and horrid Conspiracie to assasinat our Royall persone which was designed to have been acted before ane invasione which is intended from France for the Ruine of our religion and all that is dear to our good subjects we with advyse of the Lords of our privy Councill have thought fit to requyre Lykeas we hereby doe requyre all our loveing subjects to be in Readiness as they shall receive ordors from our Privy Councill with their best horses and arms to defend against any such horrid invasione from France and against the attempts which may be made by Enemies or evill affected persons at home And Hereby requyre all our Loveing subjects especially our Magistrats Justices of peace Collectors at our severall seaports and upon the borders to stop and seize all persons Comeing into this our ancient Kingdome who have not sufficient passes under one of the Secretaries of State for either of the Kingdoms of Scotland or England or under the Livetennant of Ireland their hands and farder doe Hereby requyre all of our loveing2 Subjects To take speciall nottice of any persons disaffected to our Government their keeping meetings and that they discover the samine tymeouslie to some of our Privie Councill, or the next magistrat of the place That the said persons may be secured and proceeded against as persons designeing to disturb the peace and quiet of our government And we with advyse foresaid doe Hereby requyre and Command all our Shirriffs and ther deputs To seize all the Horses above ane Hundred merks pryce and all sort of Armes more then a walking sword, of such persons who are oblidged by the sexth act of the fourth sessione of this our Currant parliament To have sworen and signed the oath of alleadgeance with the assureance and who have no sworen and signed the same And appoynts and ordains the magistrats of all the tounes upon the seacosts of this Kingdome upon the first sight of any number of ships approaching our Coast That they by putting on fyres and beaccons advertise all our Leidges thereof and that they lykewise advertise our privy Councill of the same by sending Expresses Our will is Herefore and we charge you strictly and Command That incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass to the marcat cross of Edinburgh and to the remanent marcat Crosses of the haill head burghs of the severall shyres and stueartries within this our ancient Kingdome and there in our name and authority make publick intimatione of the premisses that none pretend ignorance and ordaines these presents to be printed Given under our Signet at Edinburgh the tuenty nynth day of February and of our Reigne the seventh year Jaj vjc nynty and sex years sic subscribitur Tweeddale Cancel Southerland Lauderdale Kintore Raith Carmichaell Polwarth Adam Cockburne Lodovick Grant Archibald Murray John Maxuell T Livingstoune Robert Cheislie
1. NRS, PC1/50, 348-9.
2. The word ‘Subj.’ scored out here.
1. NRS, PC1/50, 348-9.
2. The word ‘Subj.’ scored out here.