[A1625/10/31]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Followis the proclamatioun commandit to be maid be the estaittis anent the wapponshawing:
Forsamekle as the estaittis presentlie convenit, considdering how that the kingis majestie his predicessouris of famous memorie haveing a speciall care and regaird that all the subjectis of this kingdome sould be weele and sufficientlie provydit with armor and exercised in the use and handling of thair armes whairby thay might be the more able and prepairit to hald hand and to concurr in all the publict affaires and serviceis of the estate, alsweele toucheing persute as defence as the necessitie of thair imployment in service sould require, thay for this effect maid mony goode actis of parliament, conventioun and secreit counsell conteneing not onlie the forme and maner how all his majesties subjectis of all rankis and qualityis, alsweele to burgh as to land, sould be armed, bot with that thay appoyntit generall mustouris and wapponshawing to be maid everie yeir throughout the whole kingdome, as in the saidis actis at lenth is contenit; the executioun whairof hes bene neglectit and overseene thir divers yeiris bygane, and that loveable custome of wapponshawing whilk wes so necessar for the strenth of the kingdome is now become in dissuetude pairtlie through the lasynes of the people thameselffis, bot speciallie through the sleuth and cairles negligence of the magistrattis to whose office and charge the executioun of the saidis actis appertenis. And the estaittis finding it verie necessar and expedient that in this tyme of the universall combustioun and bruittis and rumouris of forreyne preparationis throughout Christendome that the subjectis of this kingdome salbe prepairit and in reddynes upoun all occasionis, alsweele for persute as defence, and that the loveable custome of wapponshawing whilk is warrandit by so mony goode lawis, actis and constitutionis salbe againe renewit and broght in consuetude, thay haif for this effect appoyntit ane wapponshawing to be maid throughoute all the schirefdomes of this kingdome, alsweele to burgh as to land, upoun the tuentie eight day of December nixttocone. And thairfore ordanis letters to be direct to mak publicatioun heirof be opin proclamatioun at the mercatt croceis of the heid burrowis of this kingdome and otheris places neidfull, and to command and charge all and sindrie his majesties leiges and subjectis, alsweele to burgh as to land, regalitie as ryaltie, that thay and everie one of thame prepair and addresse thameselffis weele and sufficientlie armed conforme to the actis and proclamationis formarlie maid heiranent to gif thair mustouris and wapponshawing upoun the said tuentie eight day of November† nixt, in presence of the schireffis, stewartis, bailleis of regalityis and provestis and bailleis within burgh, everie one of thame within thair awne boundis, certifieing thame that failyies and beis absent from the wapponshawing, or that beis not armed accordinglie, that the paneis contenit in the saidis actis salbe upliftit of thame without favour; as alsua chargeing all schireffis, stewartis, bailleis of regalityis and royalties and provestis and baillies within burgh, that thay and everie one of thame within thair awne boundis, office and jurisdictioun attend and awaitt upoun the said wapponshawing, and doe and performe that whilk to thair office and charge in that caise appertenis and that thay and everie one of thame mak ane perfyte report in write to the lordis of his majesties privie counsell how, and in what forme, the said wapponshawing wes maid and the subjectis wer armed within ane moneth at the farrest after the making of the said wapponshawing as thay and everie one of thame will answer to his majestie upoun the duetifull discharge of thair office at thair heighest charge and perrill.