[1704/7/155]¹

Procedure: report concerning false musters

The parliament, having heard that part of the report relating to the false musters which is as follows: That though the standing forces since the year 1693 were paid as complete according to the establishments yet, by the check muster rolls subscribed by the magistrates of the places where the musters were made, it is evident that for the space of some years thereafter the several regiments and companies were seldom or never complete, but deficient in considerable numbers. The commission cannot positively affirm who must be answerable to the parliament for these abuses, the muster-master general being then out of the kingdom who they doubted not is able to inform the parliament better of this matter than they can, only, in all humility, they must represent that this deserves the parliament's consideration that a right method may be fallen upon for preventing the like in time coming. And having also heard a petition presented by John Smith offering to discover the said false musters, who, being called, alleged that Thomas Bruce, general muster-master, had received £100 sterling and one man of each company of the regiment in the garrison of Inverlochy to get their muster rolls completely given in, which he offered to prove by Colonel Forbes and John Forbes, agent to the regiment. And with consent of Mr Bruce, John Forbes was examined and he ordained to produce his books on oath before the commission, and remitted to them to meet tomorrow at 8 o'clock to inspect the articles in the books, and to call the said John Forbes, Colonel Forbes or any other who were officers in that regiment and to state the whole articles relating to this affair, and the manner of probation and by whom, and to report to the parliament.