THe Estates of Parliament now conveened, in the fifth Session of this first Triennial Parliament, Ta­king to their consideration the great burden under which the Countrey groneth, through the exor­bitant Quarterings of the Forces Horse and Foot, that have been this long time bygone, and still is, And how unreasonable it were that the Lieges should both be lyable to the saids Quarterings, and al­so in payment of the Monethly Maintenance imposed upon the Kingdom; Have therefore thought fit to Statute and Ordain, Likeas by thir presents they Statute and Ordain, That all the Quarterings within this Kingdom yet unpaid preceding the first of March last in Anno 1645. Be duely satisfied and paid out of the first and readiest of the Excise, and that upon compt, Conform to the Act of Parliament made thereanent, and out of the rest of the Taxt and Loan, if any be as yet undisponed upon: And doth Declare and Ordain, That the Quarterings restand awand since the first of March last and preceding the first of December, the samen being proven, Conform to the probation contained in the Act of the date the twenty tua day of Februar 1645 yeers, as well to Heretor as Tenant shall be allowed to the Heretor, he producand the Tenants warrand for that effect, out of that which rests unpaid of the first seven Moneths Maintenance, and what is restand unassigned of the other tua of the nine Moneths, and where it is totally exhausted to be out of the Excise which is not already disposed upon: And Ordains the super-expences of the Generall Commissar in his accompts fitted in the Moneth of Januar instant; And the Meale furnished by certain Noblemen and others since the said first of March and before the first of December, for Maintaining of the Army and Garisons in Scotland, To be paid out of the Maintenance of the Shires that are not exhausted with Quarterings: And Ordains five hundred Bolls Meale to be sent to Argyle, to be out of the first end of the byrun Maintenance of Galloway and Kircudbright. And Ordains the remanent of the said seven Moneths Maintenance (the allowance of the Quar­terings and payment of the particulars foresaids being first made) to be imployed for the relief of such Shires and Burghs as shall be farther overburdened with Quarterings nor their Maintenance will pay. And because there be ma­ny who through want of Billets attested under the Officers hands, may sustain great prejudice and losse, unlesse remeid be provided: It is therefore Enacted and Ordained, That the Officers of such Regiments and Troops as are within the Kingdom, shall compeir upon the first Tuesday of Februar next, either be themselves or any for them in their name: And the Officers or any for them, for the Regiments and Troops in England, and which were in Scotland up­on the last Tuesday of March next to come thereafter, at the head Burgh of each Shire, or the ordinary places of meet­ing of the Committees of War within the samen, Or such place as the Committee of the Shire shall appoint; To hear and see the accompts of the Quarterings taken up by them, as well for the Officer as Souldier, made and fitted, and probation led therein before the Committee of War of ilk Shire, or any tua of them, with certification, if they, or some in their names compeir not at the dayes and places respectivè above written, probation shal be led against them and ilk ane of them: Which probation shall be led before the Committees of War in ilk Shire, or any tua of them, who are hereby fully authorised for that effect, To deduce the said probation either be Writ or Witnesses in Communi Forma, which probation being so closed and made shall be ane charge upon ilk ane of the saids Regiments, Troops, and Companies pro tanto, and a sufficient Warrand to the partie to receive payment or allowance, Conform to the esta­blishment after the compt fitted, and no other wayes.

And for the more orderly Quartering and relief of those who may be overburdened thereby, It is Statute and Or­dained, That where any Quarterings are within any Shire or Burgh, or have been since the first of March last to the first of December, upon particular persons or Paroches, That the remanent Heretors and others of that Shire or Burgh shall contribute for relief of those Paroches or Persons upon whom the Quarterings are, sua far as the nine Moneths Maintenance will extend, viz. Fra the first of March to the last of November. And sicklike those who shall be over­burdened fra the first of December to the first of August following, to have the like relief. And where the Maintenance of the Shire will not relieve the Quarterings therof, that relief be made out of the Maintenance of the remanent Shires.

And for Quarterings in time coming, It is further Statute and Ordained, That whatever Officers of the Army with­in this Kingdom shall not give Billets or Notes for their Quarterings, That it being proven that they Quartered in such and such places, and did not leave Notes or Billets for the samen, Conform to the just numbers Quartered, both Of­ficers and Souldiers, That then, and in that case, no pay shall be given to the saids Officers and Souldiers so failzeing, untill the Notes and Billets be given to the persons, Paroches, and Shires upon whom they were Quartered, as said is.

And it is likewise Enacted and Ordained, That the first Tuesday of every Moneth shall be appointed at the ordinar places of meeting for making of the Quartering compts within ilk Shire, and leading the probation as said is; And it is Ordained that the Collector of ilk Shire be warned to be present, either by himself or some in his name, at the saids times and places respectivè.