A PROCLAMATION
Anent the Ministers.

WHereas the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom, by their Procla­mation dated at Edinburgh, the thirteenth day of April, of this in­stant year of God, one thousand six hundred eighty nine, did Command and Require all the Ministers of the Gospel within the Kingdom of Scotland, publickly to Pray for King VVilliam and Queen Mary, as King and Queen of this Realm, and to read that Proclamation from their Pulpits upon the several Lords Days therein exprest; as also, the Estates of the Kingdom did Prohibite and Discharge any In­jury to be offered by any Person whatsoever, to any Minister of the Gospel, either in Churches or Meeting-Houses, who were then, viz. on the 13th of April last, in Possession and Exercise of their Ministry, either in Churches or Meeting-Houses, they behaving themselves dutifully under the present Government. And it being most just and reasonable, that the foresaid Proclamation be fully Performed and Obeyed, as most necessary for the Security of the Peace of the Kingdom, and that such Ministers who gave Obedience should be Secure under the Protection of the Law, and that the Pain of Deprivation be Inflicted upon all those Ministers who have Disobeyed the Proclamation. Therefore the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council, in their Majesties Name and Authority, Do strictly Command and Charge, that none of the Leidges take on Hand to do any Violence or Injury to any of the Ministers of the Gospel, whether they be Preaching in Churches or Meeting-Houses, and that all such as were in Possession and Exercise of their Ministry upon the 13th Day of April last, be allowed to Continue undisturbed, and that such Ministers as have been Removed, Dispossessed or Restrained without a Legal Sentence in the Exer­cise of their Ministry, since the 13th day of April last, shall be Allowed to Return, and Exercise their Ministry without Disturbance. And Ordains the Sheriffs and their Deputs, Stewards, Baillies, and other Magistrats, within their respective Bounds, to give their Assistance for mak­ing the Premisses effectual; As also, that such Ministers who have not read the Proclamation, and prayed for King VVilliam and Queen Mary, according to the Tenor thereof, may be Deprived of their Benefice, and Restrained to Officiat in their Churches. The Lords of His Majesties Privy Council do Invite and Allow the Parochioners and Hearers of such Ministers as have neglected and slighted the reading of the Proclamation, and praying for King VVilliam and Queen Mary, to Cite such Mi­nisters before the Privy Council; and grants Warrand for Citing and Adducing Witnesses to prove the same, that such Ministers as have Disobeyed, may by a Legal Sentence be Deprived of their Benefices, and that none of the Leidges at their own hand, without a Legal Sentence and War­rand, presume to meddle in this matter. And Ordains these Presents to be Printed, and Published by Macers of Privy Council, and Messengers, at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, that none may pretend Ignorance. Extracted by me

GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Sti. Concilii.

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, By Order of His Majesties Privy Council, 1689.

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