[1661/1/393]¹

Act for the shire of Kincardine anent the guard

Anent the supplication given in to the lord commissioner's grace and honourable estates of parliament by the heritors and others within the shire of Kincardine, showing that the petitioners are infested with a great number of lawless highlanders who already rob houses and oppress those lying towards the hills, and when the cattle shall be for driving, they will (if not restrained) drive them away in great numbers to the utter undoing of the petitioners and laying their lands waste; therefore, desiring that William Farquharson of Inverey, who is a person of known trust and approved ability, or any other, might be appointed to have the charge of preserving those parts this summer, and that he may have allowance of such sums of money for defraying the charge of his soldiers as he formerly had, and that all persons who were in use of payment thereof may be ordered to make payment of their respective proportions of the same, without exemption of any person, as in the said supplication and desire thereof at more length is contained. Which being at length heard, seen and considered by them and they therewith, being well and ripely advised, our said sovereign lord, with advice and consent of his estates of parliament, has appointed and hereby appoints the said William Farquharson of Inverey, younger, to keep a guard this summer for the sheriffdom of Kincardine, and to have such allowance for keeping the guard of soldiers as formerly he had, and ordains all persons formerly in use of payment thereof to make payment of their respective proportions, without exemption of any person, and ordains letters of horning to be directed upon fifteen days etc.