DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
A PROCLAMATION, For Securing the Peace of the Highlands.  
JAMES by the Grace of GOD, King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, To Our Lion King at Arms, his Brethren Heralds, Macers of Our Privy Council, Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly, and severally, specially constitute, Greeting:  
Forasmuch as Our Dearest and Royal Brother, of ever Blessed Memory, having by His Commission, Dated the Ninth day of August, One thousand, six hundred, eighty and two Years, Commissionated the Persons therein-mentioned, for the Districts therein-specified, to see the Peace of the Highlands: And whereas, the said Commission has not been Renewed by us to them as yet, (albeit we be fully Resolved shortly to Renew the same;) And understanding, that there are several Attrocious Crimes and Riots committed in the Highlands, by dissolute and loose Persons. We therefore, and for preventing thereof, and punishing the Offenders and Delinquents guilty of the same; Do hereby with Advice of Our Privy Council, Revive and Renew the Commission of the ninth day of August, One thousand, six hundred, eighty and two Years, and fully Authorise, and Empower the Commissioners mentioned for the several Districts therein-specified, to Act and Do conform thereto, every manner of way, until Our further Pleasure: And further to Cognosce and Determine anent any Wrongs, Injuries, Thiefts, Roberies or Depredations, has been done by any of those High-landers, lately called out to Our Host, or who not having come out, have been guilty of the same, and to see the Parties prejudged and wronged, redressed accordingly. And in regard (by reason of the Confusions occasioned in the Highlands by the late Expedition agains the Rebels) Thiefs, Sorners, and others have, or may take opportunity to Thieve, Rob, and Spoil the Country in their ordinary way; We therefore, with Advice foresaid, Do hereby strictly Require and Command all Sheriffs, and other Magistrates, Chieftains of Clans, Landlords, Bailies, and others (who are by Our Laws and Proclamations answerable for the Peace of the Highlands) to secure the same, conform thereto, and under the Pains and Certifications therein mentioned. And that Our Pleasure in the Premises may be known, Our Will is, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent, these Our Letters seen, ye pass to Our Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, Mercat Crosses of the Head burgh's of the Shires of Caithness, Sutherland, Innerness, Cromarty, Nairn, Elgin, Bamff, Aberdeen, Kincardine, Forfar, Perth, Dumbarton, Stirling, Argile, Tarbet, and other places needful, and there in Our Royal Name and Authority, make Publication of Our Pleasure in the Premises, that Our said Commissioners may proceed and act conform to their said former Commission, and this Our Royal Proclamation; and that all Judges and Magistrates concerned may give their Concurrence, and Assistance to them, and all Our Subjects may give due Obedience accordingly; As also, that ye cause read these Presents at the several Paroch-Churches within the respective Shires foresaids, upon the Lord's Day, after Divine Worship, that the same may be more publicly known: And to that effect, the Sheriffs, and other Magistrates of the said's respective Shires, are to see, and cause the same be done accordingly, as they will be answerable to their Peril.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the Twenty day of July, 1685. And of Our Reign the first Year. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilij. WILL. PATERSON. Cls. Sti. Concilij. 
 God save the King.   

Edinburg, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, 1685.  
And Reprinted at London by E. Mallet, in Black-horse-Alley near Fleet-Bridge,