Decreet, 29 December 1698, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The seventh day of July J^aj vj^c nynty Eight years

A1698/7/6

A1698/7/6¹

Proclamation

Proclamation against Resetting of the Frasers of Beawfort and their accomplices

The Proclamation underwrittin being Read was signed and ordered to be recorded whereof the tenor follows:
William By the grace of God King of great Brittain France and Ireland defender of the faith To […] macers of our privy Councill messengers att armes our sheriffs in that pairt Conjunctlie and Severallie specialy Constitute Greeting. Forasmuch as Thomas Fraser of Beawfort and Captain Simeon Fraser his son with their associats of their own name and other broken men their accomplices have presumed wickedly and traiterously To Convocat Conveen and Rise in armes and by open Force and violence did seize upon and apprehend The persones of the Lord Saltoun and the Lord Mungo Murray and others of our free Leidges and carry them away and ordain them prisoners during their pleasure. And farder did occupy and possess certan houses and Strengths and fortifie and stuff the same with armed men ammunition and other warlike provisiones. As Likeways most villanously seize upon and detain Captive The person of the Lady Dowager of Lovat treating her with un-heard of Insolencies and carrieing her about with them by open force and in a most villanous and cruel Captivity: for which atrocious and unparaleled crimes They having bein charged in our name and authority by ane herauld in his formalities To Lay down their arms and render themselves and Enter their persons prisoners To underly the Law under the pain of being denunced fugitives and Rebells. And having for their high Contempt and disobedience been actually denunced Rebells and put to our Horn Doe nevertheless Continue and persist in their forsaid Rebellion and traiterous and wicked practices and doe dayly add new Insolencies to the same: So That wee have been necessitat to give Commission To our sheriffs and their deputes, as also to the officers of our forces and sauldiers under their Command To march against them In feir of weir as open and declared Enemies. Wherfore wee with advice of the Lords of our privy Councill Have Thought fitt to prohibite Likeas wee heirby most strictly prohibite and discharge all our Leidges and subjects whatsoever. Especialy these neighbouring with the saids Beawforts Elder and younger and their complices. That they on no way Resett, Assist, Abett, or aid, with meat Drink or any other provisions or any other manner of way whatsoever the said Beauforts, or any of their Complices. Certifieing all such as shall presume to doe or act in the contrary, They shall be held and repute as partakers airt and pairt with the said rebells and punished accordingly with all rigor And farder wee doe heirby command and charge all our good subjects To withdraw and withhold from, and drive out of the way of the saids Rebells all manner of help comfort and releif as also all their horses catle and other goods wherby they may be any ways helped comforted or releived under all highest pains. Likeas In farder detestation of the said crimes and for the better punishing thereof wee do heirby with advice forsaid promise to any of our good subjects whether officers souldiers or others or Even to any of the Complices of the saids Beauforts who shall bring in the saids Beauforts or Either of them Dead or alive, The soume of Four Thousand merks Scots money of Reward To be punctually payed by our Thesaury on the warrant of these presents with ane Indemnity also to any of the saids Complices who shall perform this good service: Declareing That whatever slaughter mutilation, Blood, Fyre raising, or other violence shall happen to be acted done or committed by all or any of the forsaids persons heirby authorized to march against the saids Rebells In seizeing Reducing and Subdueing them as said is. The same shall be holden Lawfull and warrantable and good Service to our Government and the actors and accessories thereto, shall be and are fully Indemnified and secured to all Intents and purposes. Our Will is Heirfore and wee charge yow strictly and Command That Incontinent These our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat Crosses of Edinburgh and Inverness and Remanent mercat crosses of the head Burghs of the severall shires and stewartries of this Kingdom and there in our name and authority by open proclamation make Intimation heirof that none pretend Ignorance. And ordains these presents to be printed. Given under our Signet att Edinburgh The seventh day of July and our Reign the Tenth year 1698.