A PROCLAMATION, For calling out Heretors and Free-holders to attend the Kings Host. EDINBURGH, the seventh day of June, 1679.
Forasmuch as the Insurrection in the Western Shires, is grown to an open Rebellion, and that the number of these desperate Rebels do increase so, that all His Majesties loyal Subjects in their several Shires, ought timeously to look to their own security, and put themselves in a posture to defend. the Kings Authority, and to oppose all attempts of desperate and wicked Rebels; And albeit His Majesties Privy Council have already issued forth their Orders for drawing forth the Militia Forces, Horse and Foot in several Shires, and appointed particular days of Rendezvous, and upon such occasions may require all sencible persons, betwixt sixty and sixteen, to rise for suppressing of these Rebels; yet at this time, they have thought sit only to call out and require the Regiments of the Foot Militia, in the Shires aftermentioned; and all Heretors and Free-holders, who are sencible persons, and their Servants and followers, to come out upon Horse-back; And for this cause, to forbear to require the Militia-Troups, in these Shires underwritten, at this time, notwithstanding of the Orders already issued forth, in so far as concerns the Horse Militia alanerly: And do hereby Require and Command all Heretors and Free-holders, who are sencible persons, with so many of their Servants and Followers as they can bring on Horse-back with Arms, within the Shires of Edinburgh, Linlithgow, and Peebles, Haddingtoun, Stirling and Clackmannan, Berwick, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Fife, Perth, Forfar, Kincardin and Marischals part of Aberdeen, Bamff; and Errols part of Aberdeen, Ross, Elgin, Forres, Nairn, and this side of Ness, to conveen at the places and times after-mentioned, and to receive their Orders, and to be under the Command of the persons under-written, viz. Edinburgh to meet at the Links of Leith upon the eleventh day of June instant, and to be under the Command of the Lord Collingtoun; Linlithgow and Peebles to meet at the Links of Leith the eleventh day of June instant, and to be under the Command of General Dalyell; the Shire of Haddingtoun to meet at Beinstoun-Muire, the eleventh day of June instant, and to be under the Command of the Viscount of Kingstoun; Stirling and Clackmannan to meet at the Town of Stirling, and from thence to march to the Links of Leith upon the eleventh day of June instant, and to be under the Command of the Lord Elphirgstoun; Berwick to meet at Fogo-muire upon the eleventh day of June instant, and to be under the Command of the Earl of Home, and in his absence, his brother Charles Home; Roxburgh and Selkirk, to meet at Ancrum-Bridge upon the sixteenth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Lord Elibank, and the Laird of Stobbs, who are to command according to the devision of the Militia Troups; Fife to meet at Coupar. the twelfth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Lord Newark; Perth to meet at Perth, the thirteenth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Marquess of Montrese, and such persons under him as he shall appoint; Forfar to meet at Forfar, upon the thirteenth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Earl of Southesk; Kincardin and Marischals part of Aberdeen, to meet at Aberdeen Links upon the nineteenth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Earl of Aboyn; Bamff and Errols part of Aberdeen, to meet at Turress upon the nineteenth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Earl of Kintore; Elgin, Forres, Nairn, and this side Ness, to meet at Forres upon the twentieth day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Earl of Murray, and in his absence the Lord Duffus; Ross to meet at Chanry the twenty third day of June instant, and to be under the command of the Earl of Seaforth; and ordains all the Heretors and Free-holders of the Shires benorth Forth, to march immediatly after the Rendezvous to the Bridge of Stirling; and all the Heretors and Free-holders of the Shires on the south side of Forth, to march after the Rendezvous to the Links of Leith, there to continue till further Order: With full power, to them to seize upon all disaffected persons, and in case of resistance, to use them as enemies, within their respective bounds, or such as shall be suspected to be going out of the Shire to the Rebels: With power likewise to the saids Commanders to appoint Officers under them, to command in the several Divisions of the Shires above-mentioned; Ordaining hereby the respective Commanders aforesaid, to cause publick Proclamation and Intimation to be made hereof to the respective Shires under their command, at the several places already appointed for the first dayes Rendezvous of the Militia, that the saids meetings may be punctually kept: Cerrifying hereby, all such Heretors and others foresaid as shall not come out upon Horse-back themselves with their best Horses and Arms, with so many of their servants and followers as they can bring out upon Horse-back, they shall be lyable to the pains and penalties provided by the Acts of Parliament, against such as do not attend the Kings Host, or desert the same, and looked upon as disaffected persons, and savourers and compiyers with Rebels, and pursued and punished accordingly. And ordains these Presents to be Printed, and Published at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places foresaid, that none pretend ignorance.
GOD save the KING.
Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, Anno Dom. 1679.