THE Committee of Eſtates conſidering the prejudices that hath occured to the publict ſervice in former expeditions, by the baſe carriage of ſome Officers and Souldiers who run away from their Colours, and becomes fugitives, and that the like may fall out in this ſervice, if tymous courſe be not tane for preventing thereof. Therefore they do Statute and Ordaine, That all thoſe both of horſe and Foot who ſhall run away from their Companies and Colours without a paſs from the Lord General, or ſome of the Generall Officers, or at leaſt from the chief Officer of the Regiment ſhall be apprehended by the Committees of War or any of them, by the Colonels of the Shire, Captains of Paroches or Magiſtrates within Burghs, or others, now authoriſed by this Act for that purpoſe wherever they can be apprehended. And that theſe by weſt or by north this Town be ſent to the Tolbuith of Edinburgh; And theſe by ſouth Edinburgh be ſent with a guard to the Army or to the next Garriſon to be puniſhed according to the Articles of Military Diſcipline, or that the Committees of War and Colonells within ilk Shire, and Magiſtrates within Burgh (if they ſhall think it expedient; for the terrifying of others) decimat the ſaids fugitives both Horſe and Foot, and cauſe hang the tenth man; And if there be but one or more within the number of ten, to cauſe hang ane, and ſend the reſt as aforeſaid. And becauſe the entertaining and reſetting of thir Fugitives, embolden them to keep themſelves ſtill lurking, and encourageth others by their example to run away. Therefore it is Statute and Ordained, that whoſoever ſhall reſſet or entertain any of the ſaids Fugitives, or ſhall have knowledge of their being within their bounds, and ſhall not delate and deliver them to the Committee of the Shire and Commiſſioners aftermentioned ſhall be liable in the ſum of five hundreth Marks for ilk Horſman, and one hundreth pounds for ilk Footman, beſides the making forth command the partie reſet or another in his place. The one half to be employed for the publict expence in putting this Act into execution, and the other half thereof to the delaters, who ſhall qualifie the reſet or concealment by witneſſes, oath of partie or otherwayes. Likeas the Committee of Eſtates do hereby diſpone the right of the ſaids ſums to be applied in manner foreſaid. And becauſe the travelling of perſons through the Countrey without ſufficient Paſſes may prove an obſtruction to the due execution of this Act. The Committee doth hereby give warrand and Command to the Magiſtrates of Burghs, or any perſon on the Committee of War of the Shires, or any other who ſhall have Warrand by vertue hereof, to apprehend any perſon they ſhall finde travelling within their bounds without ſufficient Paſſes from theſe that ſent them: And that none be allowed to ſtay or reſide in any Shire or Burgh, without ſufficient Teſtimoniall from the Magiſtrates of the Burgh, or the Kirk Seſſion where they laſt lived, under the pain of ane hundreth pounds to be encurred by the reſetters and to be employed as aforeſaid. And for the better and more punctuall execution of this Act: The Committee of Eſtates do hereby give power and Commiſſion, expreſs bidding, and charge to the perſons underwritten, or both or either of them within their ſeverall Shires by the advice of the Committee of War of the Shire. And if the Committee ſhal be unwilling, or delay to concur with them at their firſt meeting, than by advice of ſuch of the Committee as wil joyn with them. And if none joyn with them as ſaid is, that then both or either of them, by themſelves take courſe to ſee this Act put in execution: That they appoint Commiſſioners in ilk Paroſch to ſee it done within their bounds, and once each fortnight take ane accompt from them, and return it to the Committee of Eſtates: The Commiſſioners names are as followeth, For the Sheriffdom of Berwick, the Laird of Langton; For the Sheriffdom of Hadingtoun, Sir John Sinclair of Herdmeston, and Mr. James Dunhame of Lufnes; For the Sheriffdom of Edinburgh, Sir John Dalmahoy of that ilk, and Sir John Gibſon of Alderſton; For the Sheriffdom of Roxburgh, the Sheriff of Tiviotdail; For the Sheriffdom of Selkirk, Sir John Murray of Philiphauch, and the Laird of Whytbank; For the Sheriffdom of Dumfreis, the Laird of Lag; For the Sheriffdom of Peebles, the Lairds of Prestongrange and Dawick; For the Sheriffdom of Lanerk, the Lord Lee and James Hammilton of Boigis; For the Sheriffdom of Lithgow, William Drummond of Ricarton & _____ Hammilton of Binnie; For the Sheriffdom of Stirlin, the Lairds of Polmais & Carden; For the Shire of Clakmannan, the Laird of Sanchie; For the Shire of Air, the Lds. of Culloin & Kilbirnie; for the Shire of Renfrew the Lds. of Duchal & Howston; for the Shire of Wigtoun & Kirkcudbright. _____ For the Shire of Fyffe, the Lds. of Reres & Cambo; For the ſhire of Perth, the L. of Inchmartine & Balthayok; For the ſhire of Forfar, the Lds. of Balnamoon & Fintrie; For the ſhire of Kincardine, Lairds of Pittarro & Morphie; For the Shire of Aberdeen the Laird of Udine and Patrick Leſlie Proveſt of Aberdeen; For the ſhire of Bamff, the Laird of Birkinboig younger and Troup; For the ſhires of Elgine and Nairn, the Lairds of Innes and Sheriff of Murray; For the ſhire of Innernes ſir John Mackenzie and Colonel Robert Home. And the Committees Ordains this Act to be Printed and Publiſhed, and that the Commiſſioners aforementioned to be carefull that this Act be duely publiſhed at the Mercat Croſſes of the Burghs and Paroſch Kirks within their Shires, Wherethrough none pretend ignorance thereof, Extractum.