Forasmuch as the Government of this Our ancient Kingdom, being entrusted to Us by the Almighty God, we have ever endeavoured, with a Royal and Fatherly care, to preserve it free from Intestine Disorders; and Civil War, the greatest of all dangers (because Our Subjects must fall therein on both sides) by repressing all Tumults and Combinations, in their first appearances: In order whereunto, being informed that some disorderly Boys, as well Students in the Colledge of Edin­burgh, as Apprentices of that Our City, did of late enter into Bonds and Combinati­ons, and gather themselves in tumults upon the Streets of that Our City, differencing themselves by cognizances, and threatning to burn the House of Priest-field, belonging to the Provost of that Our City; Our Privy Council did only endeavour to secure the Publick Peace, and prevent Insolences against Our Faithful and Loyal subjects, and albeit We delayed any punishment of so great Disorders, till suitable means should be offered for preventing the ill consequences which naturally follow such Licenciousness: Yet so far was Our Clemency abused, that the said House of Priest-field, was, to the great astonishment of all sober men, burnt down according to these threatnings, which is clearly proved to Our Privy Council, by most unanswerable proofs; By which, all Our Loyal and Peaceable Subjects are put in danger, as to their Lives and Fortunes, and the Protestant Religion defamed by such as use it for a Cloak to their Impieties: We have therefore thought fit, for discovery of that dreadful Crime, and to prevent all future mischiefs, by a most exact inquiry into what is past, to offer; Likeas, We by advice of Our Privy Council, offer a full Indemnity and Remission to any one who shall first discover the said dreadful Crime, together with the Sum of two thousand merks for his discovery; Which Remission We declare to be as sufficient, as if the same were past Our Seals: And which sum, We hereby Command and Empower the Commissi­oners of Our Thesaury to pay to the said discoverer, whom We hereby take into Our special Protection. And We ordain these Presents to be Published by you, at the Merkat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, and the same to be Printed.

GOD save the KING.