CHARLES, by the Grace of GOD, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. To Our Lovits, _____ Meſſengers, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and ſeverally, ſpecially conſtitute, Greeting: Foraſmuch as it is more then high time, to prevent the riſing of diſaffected perſons, who, during the continuance of the War with Our Forraign Enemies, are ready to break out in open Rebellion, and riſe in Arms againſt Us, and Our Authority, by diſabling them from putting themſelves in a military poſture, and in a condition to make any ſudden marches, or attempts upon Our well affected Subjects, or any part of Our ſtanding Forces, or to joyn with theſe, who are of there own pernitiousand diſloyal Principles, who live at a diſtance from them. Therefore, We with advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, command and charge all perſons within the Shires of Lanerk, Air, Renfrew, Wigton, and Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, of whatſoever quality, who have refuſed to accept of any publick truſt, or have deſerted the ſame, being in place: As alſo, all thoſe who withdraw from publick Ordinances, and do not keep their own Paroch Churches, or do not ſubmit to the preſent Government of Church and State. As likewiſe all thoſe who being warned to riſe, and joyn with Our Forces, for suppreſſing the late Rebellion, did not give obedience, unleſſe the ſaids perſons will take the Oath of Allegiance, and ſubſcribe the Declaration appointed by the late Act of Parliament. That after the fifteenth day of May next, they, by themſelves, nor no perſons to their uſe and behove, do not keep any ſerviceable Horſes, above the rate of one hundred merks Scots, under any pretext whatſoever: with certification, if the failzie, that upon information of any perſon well affected, the Sheriff, or any two of the Justices of Peace within the Shire, ſhall cauſe value ſuch horſes, and finding them above the rate foreſaid, ſhall cauſe deliver them to the informer, and that without any payment, or ſatisfaction to be made therefore. And requires all Sheriffs and Justices of Peace, within their reſpective bounds, to iſſue orders, for conveening the Contraveeners of this Act before them, and cauſing Apprize any ſuch horſes, by indifferent perſons, that it may be known, if they be above the rate foreſaid. And, in caſe that the perſons who compear, ſhall offer to purge themſelves of any ſuſpition of diſaffection to our Government, upon the accounts foreſaids; That they adminiſter to them the Oath of Allegiance, and offer the Declaration to be ſubſcribed by them, which being taken, and ſubſcribed by them as ſaid is, then we enjoyn them, to diſmiſſe the ſaids perſons, with their horſes, to be kept by them, without any farther trouble or moleſtation: Otherwiſe, that they proceed as ſaid is. And ordains the Sheriffs of the ſaid Shires, to cauſe intimat theſe preſents by publick Proclamation, at the Mercat Croſſes of the Head Burghs of the ſaids reſpective Shires and Stewartry: And cauſe read the ſame at all the Paroch Churches of the ſaids bounds, upon a Sunday before noon, after Divine Service, with all Diligence. And that theſe preſents be printed, that none pretend ignorance.