[A1625/10/31]¹

Proclamation

Follows the proclamation commanded to be made by the estates regarding the wappenschaw:

Proclamation regarding wappenschaws

Forasmuch as the estates presently convened, considering how that the king's majesty's predecessors of famous memory having a special care and regard that all the subjects of this kingdom should be well and sufficiently provided with armour and exercised in the use and handling of their arms whereby they might be the more able and prepared to hold hand and to concur in all the public affairs and services of the estate, as well touching pursuit as defence as the necessity of their employment in service should require, they for this effect made many good acts of parliament, convention and secret council containing not only the form and manner how all his majesty's subjects of all ranks and qualities, as well to burgh as to land, should be armed, but with that they appointed general musters and wappenschaws to be made every year throughout the whole kingdom, as in the said acts at length is contained; the execution whereof has been neglected and disregarded these diverse years bygone, and that loveable custom of wappenschawing which was so necessary for the strength of the kingdom is now become in desuetude partly through the laziness of the people themselves, but specially through the sloth and careless negligence of the magistrates to whose office and charge the execution of the said acts appertains. And the estates finding it very necessary and expedient that in this time of the universal combustion and reports and rumours of foreign preparations throughout Christendom that the subjects of this kingdom shall be prepared and in readiness upon all occasions, as well for pursuit as defence, and that the loveable custom of wappenschawing which is warranted by so many good laws, acts and constitutions shall be again renewed and brought in custom, they have for this effect appointed a wappenschaw to be made throughout all the sheriffdoms of this kingdom, as well to burgh as to land, upon 28 December 1625. And therefore ordain letters to be directed to make publication hereof by open proclamation at the market crosses of the head burghs of this kingdom and other places needful, and to command and charge all and sundry his majesty's lieges and subjects, as well to burgh as to land, regality as royalty, that they and every one of them prepare and address themselves well and sufficiently armed according to the acts and proclamations formerly made thereupon to give their musters and wappenschaw upon the said 28 November² 1625, in presence of the sheriffs, stewarts, bailies of regalities and provosts and bailies within burgh, every one of them within their own bounds, certifying those that fail and be absent from the wappenschaw, or that be not armed accordingly, that the pains contained in the said acts shall be uplifted of them without favour; as also charging all sheriffs, stewarts, bailies of regalities and royalties and provosts and bailies within burgh, that they and every one of them within their own bounds, office and jurisdiction attend and await upon the said wappenschaw, and do and perform that which to their office and charge in that case appertains and that they and every one of them make a perfect report in writing to the lords of his majesty's privy council how, and in what form, the said wappenschaw was made and the subjects were armed within a month at the furthest after the making of the said wappenschaw as they and every one of them will answer to his majesty upon the dutiful discharge of their office at their highest charge and peril.