AT EDINBURGH, The 9th Day of July, 1696.  
WHEREAS the Books of Subscription to the COMPANY of SCOTLAND Trading to AFRICA and the INDIES, have continued open at Edinburgh from the Twenty Sixth Day of February last, to this Instant; And altho' continuing the Subscriptions in SCOTLAND so long, hath been very prejudicial to the Affairs of the COMPANY at Home and Abroad; Yet in regard that all Doubts and Difficulties may be fully Obviated, and no reasonable Means or Opportunity omitted to make this the most Diffusive and National Joint-stock in the World: The COURT of DIRECTORS of the said COMPANY, Do hereby Agree and Declare, that the said Books of Subscriptions shall continue open until Saturday the first Day of August next, at Six a Clock in the Afternoon: And the said COURT of DIRECTORS do further Resolve, Publish and Declare, that if any of the Subscribers of the said COMPANY shall neglect to pay the first Quarter-part of their Subscriptions until the Tenth Day of the said Month of August; That then, and from thenceforward, the Share of Stock belonging to such Person or Persons, shall either be Pursued for according to Law, or Transferr'd and Disposed of by the said COURT, to such as will Adventure and pay the Sum or Sums required, at the Pleasure of the said COURT of DIRECTORS.  
Published by Order of COURT, ROD. MACKENZIE, Sec: ry   

EDINBURGH, the 3d d of August 1696.  
THE above-written ACT of the said COURT of DIRECTORS was Read, Considered and Approved of by the COUNCIL-GENERAL of the said COMPANY: And the said COUNCIL-GENERAL, Doth hereby further Enact and Declare, That the said COURT of DIRECTORS may, at any time after the said Tenth Day of August instant, Invest in themselves, for the COMPANY'S Use, the respective Shares and Interests of such Subscribers or Proprietors in the Joint-stock of the said COMPANY, as shall either neglect or refuse to Pay or Cause Pay the first Fourth-Payment of the respective Sums Subscribed by them as aforesaid, before the said Tenth Day of August: And that upon such Investment, the said COURT of DIRECTORS, or any appointed by them for that intent, may thereafter Transferr the several Shares and Interests, not paid as aforesaid, to such as, by advancing the several Sums required, shall become Proprietors thereof.  
Then a Report being made to the said COUNCIL-GENERAL, by the COMPANY'S Chief-Accomptant, that the complete Sum of Four Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling was Subscribed in the Books of the said COMPANY, by Persons residing in SCOTLAND; The said COUNCIL-GENERAL have Ordered the said Books of Subscription to be closed, and that the same be hereby Published and Declared accordingly.  
DAVID HOME P.