royal blazon or coat of arms A PROCLAMATION Anent Burying in Scots Linen.  
JAMES by the Grace of GOD, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, To _____ Macers of Our Privy Council, or Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, Greeting,  
Forasmuch, as by Our Act of Parliament of the date the 14 of June, 1686. For the encouragement of the Linen Manufactories in this Kingdom, and prevention of the Exportation of the Moneys thereof, by Importing of Linen; We did, with Advice and Consent of Our Parliament, Statute and Ordain, that thereafter no Corpse of any person whatsomever should be Buried in any Shirt, Sheet, or any thing else, except in plain Linen, or Cloth of Hards, made and Spun within this Kingdom, without Lace, or Point; Discharging thereby the making use of Holland, or other Linen Cloth, made in other Kingdoms, all Silk, Hair, or Woollen, Gold, or Silver, or any other Stuff whatsomever, than what is made of Flax or Hards, Spungius and Wrought within the Kingdom, and that under the pain and penalty of 300 Pounds Scots toties quoties for a Nobleman, and 200 pounds' Scots for each other person: And for the better discovery of the Contraveeners, it is Ordained, that every Minister within the Kingdom shall keep a Book, containing an exact account of all persons buried within their said parochs; As also, that sou●e one or more of the Relations of the deceased person, or other credible person (Tenants in the Country, and Cottars being always excepted) should within eight days after the Interment bring a Certificate upon Oath in Writing, witnessed by two famous persons to the Minister, Declaring that the said Person was wound or wrapped in manner therein prescribed; Which Certificats are to be Recorded by the Minister gratis: And if no person shall bring such a Certificate within the space foresaid, than the Goods of the deceased person to be liable to the foresaid Forfeiture, as in the said Act is at more length expressed. And We understanding that the same hath not received that due obedience which was required, and by Us designed to the end foresaid, Do with Advice of Our Council of Trade, Revive and renew the said Act, and Ordain the famine to be put to due and vigorous execution in all time coming; And for the better effectuating of the famine, We do hereby Require all ●he Ministers within this Kingdom to send in all such Certificats as they shall receive, in manner , to the Clerk of Our said Council of Trade, betwixt and the first of November next to come, together with a List of the names of all such as are, or shall be Interred before that time, without Certificats brought to them in manner contained in the said Act, with Certification. And that Our pleasure herein may be known, Our Will is, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and all other places needful, and there in Our Royal Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make Publication of Our Pleasure in the premises, that punctual obedience may be given thereto, and none pretend ignorance.  
Given at Edinburgh, the Fifteen day of August, One thousand six hundred eighty eight years, and of Our Reign the Fourth Year. Per Actum Dominorum Concilii Comer ci Ro: Maine Cls. Concilii Commercii.  
GOD save the KING.   

EDINBURGH, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty: Anno DOM. 1688.