Proclamation, 29 January 1692, Edinburgh

Act, 29 December 1692, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Tuentie nynth day of January Jaj vjc Nyntie tuo years

A1692/1/761

Proclamation

Proclamatione for Levying of seamen

A proclamation for Levying of seamen In prosecutione of his Majesties Commands In his Letter to the Councell of the date the nynteenth day of January Instant Being prepared and presented to the Board was redd approven and signed and appoynted to be published the morrow uith the usuall solemnities Folloues the proclamatione
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 Counsell Messengers at armes our shirreffs in that part Conjunctly and severally specially Constitut Greeting Forasmuchas wee have seen a Letter direct to our Secretaries from the Lords of our privie Councell Compleaning That the seamen of this our antient kingdome are pressed Contrare to the freedome and to the Great hurt and prejudice2 of the trade therof Ue are resolved to Give strict ordors that noe such thing be done for the future But we doe expect in returne to our care and concerne for the welfare of this our antient kingdome That being Ingadged in a warr which not only Concerns our kingdome of Brittaine and Ireland but almost all christendome The subjects of this our antient kingdome of Scotland will heartily Contribut what they can for our assistance in provyding to our Navie a Thousand seamen or more And for their Incouradgement we will pay to each seaman who voluntarly Engadges Fourty shillings sterline Before they shall march from their respective places wher they shall Engadge and take on for To the effect the saids seamen may be tymously taken on and engadged for our service and raised ordorly with alse much ease and conveniency to our subjects as possible Therfore ue uith advyce of the Lords of our privy Counsell strictly requyre and Command all the magistrats of the severall maritim burghs royall and other seatounes To Cause beat drums and make Intimatione upon a mercat day for Levying seamen to serve in our fleet within their oune Jurisdictione and the nixt adjacent seatounes exprest in the severall Letters sent to them for that effect and to Ingadge and take for the said service such as voluntarly offer themselves And we with advyce forsaid requyre and Command the saids magistrats of maritim burghs royall and other seatounes to Give in a report to the Councell what number of seamen they have soe taken on and Ingadged uith ane exact and subscribed list of the whole other seamen and Fishermen uithin their Jurisdictione and other seatounes and bounds exprest in their respective missive Letters upon oath betuixt and the dayes follouing viz all on this syde of Tay and this syde of the Largs upon the mouth of Clyde betuixt and the tuenty day of February nixt And all to Aberdeen Inclusive and bewest the river of Clyde and the Largs betuixt and the first day of March therafter and all the rest of the kingdome betuixt and the tenth day of the samen moneth with pouer to the saids Magistrats to take the oathes of the masters of shipps boats barkes or others and use all other effectuall means for making up the saids Lists That the Lords of our privy Counsell may consider how farr the number of seamen to be levyed for our fleet falls short That soe they may compleat the said Number of a Thousand seamen for our service by lott out of the saids Lists of seamen and have them In readiness before our fleet shall goe to sea And we uith advyce forsaid doe Certifie and give assurance to all and everie one of the Magistrats and others who shall take on any of the saids seamen who list themselves voluntarly for our service that how soon and whensoever the Lists of the saids voluntar seamen shall be returned to our privy Councell Fourtie shillings sterline money shall be Immediatly sent to the saids Magistrats for each seamen of these who voluntarly List themselves To be payed and delyvered to them before they shall march from their oune homes to Leith wher they are to be shipped and sufficient provisione shall be made or pay advanced to them from that tyme to their being shipped for our fleet with Certificatione to such of the saids Magistrats who shall faill or delay in the exact observance therof They shall be reputed negligent in their duty and disaffected to our government and proceeded against accordingly And to the effect our pleasure in the premisses may be knouen Our Uill is and ue Charge yow strictly and Command That Incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat cross of Edinburgh and whole other mercat crosses of the burghs royall and of Regalities steuartries and Bailliaries uithin this kingdome And ther In our name and authoritie make Intimatione and publicatione of the premises That none may pretend Ignorance as ye uill ansuer to us therupon Given under our signet at Edinburgh the tuenty nynth day of January and of our reigne the third year 1692 subscribitur ut sederunt

At Edinburgh 29 January 1692

A1692/1/761

Proclamation

Proclamation for Levying seamen

A proclamation for levying of seamen in prosecution of his majesty’s commands in his letter to the council of the date 19 January instant being prepared and presented to the board was read, approved and signed and appointed to be published tomorrow with the usual solemnities. Follows the proclamation:

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 counsel, messengers at arms, our sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally, specially constituted, greeting. Forasmuch as we have seen a letter directed to our secretaries from the lords of our privy council complaining that the seamen of this our ancient kingdom are pressed contrary to the freedom and to the great hurt and prejudice of the trade thereof we are resolved to give strict orders that no such thing be done for the future, but we do expect in return to our care and concern for the welfare of this our ancient kingdom, that being engaged in a war which not only concerns our kingdom of Britain and Ireland but almost all Christendom, the subjects of this our ancient kingdom of Scotland will heartily contribute what they can for our assistance in providing to our navy a thousand seamen or more, and for their encouragement we will pay to each seaman who voluntarily engages forty shillings sterling before they shall march from their respective places where they shall engage and take on for to the effect the said seamen may be timeously taken on and engaged for our service and raised orderly with as much ease and conveniency to our subjects as possible. Therefore we with advice of the lords of our privy council strictly require and command all the magistrates of the several maritime royal burghs and other sea towns to cause beat drums and make intimation upon a market day for levying seamen to serve in our fleet within their own jurisdiction and the next adjacent sea towns expressed in the several letters sent to them for that effect, and to engage and take for the said service such as voluntarily offer themselves, and we with advice foresaid require and command the said magistrates of maritime royal burghs and other sea towns to give in a report to the council what number of seamen they have so taken on and engaged with an exact and subscribed list of the whole other seamen and fishermen within their jurisdiction and other sea towns and bounds expressed in their respective missive letters upon oath between now and the days following, namely all on this side of Tay and this side of Largs upon the mouth of Clyde between now and 20 February next, and all to Aberdeen inclusive and west of the river of Clyde and the Largs between now and 1 March thereafter, and all the rest of the kingdom between now and the 10th of the same month, with power to the said magistrates to take the oaths of the masters of ships, boats, barks or others, and use all other effectual means for making up the said lists that the lords of our privy council may consider how far the number of seamen to be levied for our fleet falls short, that so they may complete the said number of a thousand seamen for our service by lot out of the said lists of seamen and have them in readiness before our fleet shall go to sea, and we with advice foresaid do certify and give assurance to all and every one of the magistrates and others who shall take on any of the said seamen who list themselves voluntarily for our service, that how soon and whensoever the lists of the said volunteer seamen shall be returned to our privy council forty shillings sterling money shall be immediately sent to the said magistrates for each seamen of those who voluntarily list themselves, to be paid and delivered to them before they shall march from their own homes to Leith, where they are to be shipped and sufficient provision shall be made or pay advanced to them from that time to their being shipped for our fleet, with certification to such of the said magistrates who shall fail or delay in the exact observance thereof they shall be reputed negligent in their duty and disaffected to our government and proceeded against accordingly, and to the effect our pleasure in the premises may be known our will is and we charge you strictly and command that incontinent with these our letters seen you pass to the market cross of Edinburgh and whole other market crosses of the royal burghs and of regalities, stewartries and bailliaries within this kingdom, and there in our name and authority make intimation and publication of the premises that none may pretend ignorance as you will answer to us thereupon. Given under our signet at Edinburgh 29 January and of our reign the third year 1692, signed by the sederunt.

1. NRS, PC1/47, 601-2.

2. The word ‘the’ scored out here.

1. NRS, PC1/47, 601-2.