Forasmuch, as by Our Proclamation of the Date, the Sixth day of August, One thousand six hundred ninety six years, The exacting of any Custom, Excise, or other Imposition said upon Victual Import­ed into this Kingdom by Sea or Land, from any other Countrey, by any Act of Parliament, or Book of Rates, was discharged: And sicklike, by an Act of the Lords of Our Privy Council, dated the 29 day of December, One thou­sand six hundred ninety six years, all Victual Imported into this Kingdom from Abroad, was declared to be free of all Custom and Excise, or other Publick Duties whatsomever: And seing the foresaid Proclamation and Act of Coun­cil were past and Published, for encouraging such who should Import Victual, for relief of the Poor, under the then scarcity and dearth, which now are com­petently provided against, by the plenty of Victual already Imported, and the old Victual yet in the Countrey not consumed or spent: And there being like­wise the Prospect of a very good Harvest, and plentiful Cropt approaching. Therefore We, with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, have dis­charged the foresaid Proclamation, and Act of Council, and declare the same to be of no furder force; and hereby ordain the Collectors, and others im­ployed in Uplifting and Collecting Our Customs, to Levy and Collect the Cu­stom, Excise, and other Duties Imposed upon Victual Imported from any Forraign Countrey: by Sea or Land, by whatsomever Law, or Act of Parlia­ment, and appoint them to be Comptable to Us therefore, conform to the Laws made thereanent, as they were lyable to do before the said Proclamation, or Act. Our Will is herefore, and We Charge you straitly, and Command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and to the remanent Mercat-Crosses of the Head Burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, and there in Our Name and Authority make intimation hereof, that none pretend ignorance. And ordains these pre­sents to be Printed.

GOD save the King.