[A1594/9/1]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
[A1594/9/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as the king's majesty, his nobility, council and estates presently convened are surely informed that his highness's declared traitors and others, his rebellious and unnatural subjects, inhabitants of the north and south parts of this realm, are now conjointly and conspired together for executing of their treasonable practices against the state of the true religion presently professed within this realm, his majesty's person, crown and liberty of this their native country, sundry bonds and companies of men of war on horse and foot being already raised and daily taken up to the same effect, whose wages are paid with foreign gold lately returned from the adversaries of the said true religion, to whom they have sold themselves and this country as slaves, and with whom they entertain intelligence, messengers and passengers carrying letters to and from of most dangerous effect and consequence, and otherwise using all means, pains and diligence, both within and without this realm, at all times and occasions, for the better effectuating of their treasonable practices and abandoning of the persons and conscience of his majesty and all his good subjects, professors with him of the said true religion, to the thraldom and slavery of that proud nation of Spain, whose actions in whatsoever part where they happened to repair, whether colour of aid, friendship or otherwise, tended ever in the end to a conquest and utter extermination of the native inhabitants of the same, as unhappy experience in sundry realms can declare. And seeing now nothing less can be hoped for at their hands to his majesty and all professors with him of the same true religion in this country if the dangerous practices of these pernicious instruments be not timeously prevented, his majesty, with advice of his said nobility, council and estates, are resolved to pass forward at the day appointed in his highness's former proclamation without delay or continuation, and therefore ordains letters to be directed to make intimation and publication hereof by open proclamation at the market crosses of the head burghs of this realm and all other places needful, through which none pretend ignorance of the same; and to command and charge all and sundry earls, lords, barons, substantial feuars and landed gentlemen, together with the inhabitants of his highness's burghs dwelling within the bounds of the sheriffdoms of Edinburgh principal and within the constabulary of Haddington, Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Lanark, Dumfries, Wigtown, Bute, Tarbert, Ayr, Irvine, Renfrew, Dunbarton, Stirling, Linlithgow, bailiaries of Kyle, Carrick and Cunninghame and stewartries of Kirkcudbright and Annandale, as well as regality as royalty, to repair and address themselves well equipped with arms in fear of war, and specially with armour, spears or long guns, to meet his highness at the burgh of Edinburgh upon the said day of September instant to give their musters in presence of his majesty upon the morning thereafter, being 1 October next to come, and from there to pass forward with 30 days' victuals and provision after their coming to Aberdeen, and likewise to command and charge all and sundry earls, lords, barons, substantial feuars and landed gentlemen, together with the inhabitants of burghs dwelling within the bounds of the sheriffdoms of Fife, Kinross-shire, Clackmannan, Perth, Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Forres, Nairn, Inverness and Cromarty and stewartries of Strathearn and Menteith, as well as regality as royalty, to address themselves likewise well equipped with arms in fear of war to meet his majesty at Dundee upon 4 October, to muster upon the 5th day of the said month, and thereafter to pass forward as they shall be commanded for advancement of his highness's authority and service, resisting of the treasonable practices of the said conspirators or pursuit of them as occasion shall be offered; and to that effect that they likewise remain during the said space of 30 days after their coming to the said burgh of Aberdeen under the pain of loss of life, lands and goods. In addition, to command and charge all his highness's lieges foresaid to prepare themselves and be in readiness to repair to his majesty at all times and occasions before the days foresaid as they shall be advertised by proclamations, missive letters or otherwise upon 24 hours' warning for resisting of the treasonable practices of the said declared traitors and unnatural subjects, if they shall gather so to attempt in the meantime, or pursuit of them as occasion shall be offered, under the pain of loss of life, lands and goods, certifying them that repairs not to his majesty well equipped with arms and furnished in manner foresaid, or that comes being not sufficiently armed or departs home before the expiring of the time above-written, that they shall be noted, called, pursued and punished as if they remained at home at their own houses and at no time repaired to his highness's service.