Foraſmuch as the Lords of Our Privy Council being informed, that ſeveral diſloyal and malicious Perſons, frequenting Our good Town of Edinburgh, have inſtigated the Students of the Colledge therein, to enter in Bonds and Combinations, and Convocate in Tumults (knowing that how ſpacious ſoever the pretexts be, yet theſe tend to Sediton, as Sedition doth to open Rebellion) There was Order taken that the Peace of that Place ſhould ſecured: And it being made appear, by the Declarations and Confeſſions of the Maſters, and ſeverals of the Students, that the Students did enter into Bonds and Combinations, to which, among other things, contrary to the Laws of this Kingdom, they did oblidge themſelves to adhere to one another, if they were called in queſtion therefore, and in confidence of that Seditious Combination, they did upon the Twenty-Fifth of December laſt, aſſemble in a Tumultuary way, and aſſault and affront ſeveral Perſons, and to ſtrengthen thier Combination, did aſſociat themſelves with Prentices, and introduce a new way of Tumultuating, by putting up blew Ribbans, as Signs and Cogniſances, not only to difference them from others, but likewiſe for Convocating themſelves, in purſuance of thoſe Seditious and Tumultuous Deſigns, (a practice and preparative not to be indured in any well Governed Kingdom) For which, being (juſtly) reproved, they did ſome few days thereafter, run up and down the Streets in Tumults, diſquieting the Nobility and Gentry of both Sexs, and threatning the Provoſt of that of Our City, with the burning of his houſe of Prieſt-field, and other injuries; and accordingly, within ſome few days thereafter, the Houſe of Prieſt-field was (to the horror and aſtoniſhment of ſober Men) burnt down, by throwing in Fire-balls, and other Combuſtible Matter, as appears by moſt convincing proofs, lying in the Records of Privy Council, which are alſo notour enough to convince, even thoſe, who from the ſame diſloyal Principles, that prompted them to attempt thoſe Boys, continue with a villanous confidence, ſutiable to their malicious porjects, to aſcribe the ſaid burning to accidental Cauſes: Upon all which, the Lords of Our Privy Council, convinced by theſe proofs, and conſidering how diſloyal and mutinous Perſons did, in the laſt Age, bring on all their dreadful Rebellion, from ſuch beginnings, and that ſome who ſtudiouſly imitate their proceedings, have of late, in this Our Kingdom, us'd their utmoſt endeavours, to incline all Societies to ſuch Diſorders (though without ſucceſs) Have by an Act of the date hereof, Ordered the Gates of the Schools of that Colledge to be ſhut up, till they ſhould be fully informed of the Root, and progreſs of theſe Diſorders, and ſatisfied by the ſubmiſſion and puniſhment of the Offenders. We therefore, with advice of Our Privy Council, to prevent any further Seditious Tumults and Diſorders from theſe Students; do Command them, and each of them, to retire Fifteen Miles at leaſt from that our City of Edinburgh, within Twenty-Four hours after the Publication hereof, and not to come within the limits foreſaid, without expreſs leave from our Privy Council, and that under the pain of being puniſhed as Sidecious Perſons, and contemners of our Authority, diſcharging here by their Parents, Tutors, and all others within the bounds foreſaid, to reſſet or intertain them after the time foreſaid, without finding Caution to the Clerks of Council, for their good Behaviour. Our Will is herefore, and We Charge you ſtraitly and Command, that incontinent theſe Our Letters ſeen, ye paſs to the Marcat Croſs of Edinburgh, and thereat by open Proclamation, make Publication of the Premiſſes, that none pretend ignorance. The which to do, We commit to you, conjunctly and ſeverally, Our full Power, by theſe Our Letters, delivering them by you duely Execute and indorſat again to the Bearer.