ACT Anent Suppressing Conventicles, etc.  
Edinburgh, the ninteenth day of December, One thousand six hundred eighty and three years.  
THE which day, Forasmuch as the Lord Provest, Bailyies and Council of Edinburgh, taking to their serious consideration, how zealous and careful his Sacred Majesty, hath been since His happy Restauration, for suppressing all Conventicles, Unwarrantable meetings, and Conventions of His Subjects within this Kingdom, by several laudable Laws and Acts of Parliament, made against the same: And also that by the 17 Act of of the 3d. Session of His Majesty's 2d Parliament, It is expressly Statute and Ordained, That all Magistrates of Burghs-Royal shall call before them all such as are Burgesses, as shall be guilty of keeping Conventicles: and proceed against them by Fyning, or otherwise according to Law, and that they make an account of their diligence to His Majesty's Privy Council, and that they be careful in putting their Acts to due Execution against the ●●●pers of Conventicles, conform to the Trust and Power committed to them, and that an account of their Proceedings be returned yearly to His Majesty's Privy Council upon the first day of July, under the pain of 500 marks, for each years failyie: They therefore being sensible of the Duty and Trust committed to them by His Majesty and Estates of Parliament; and that it is absolutely necessary for His Majesty's Service, and for the peaceable and quiet Government of the good Town; and that all effectual means be taken for suppressing of Conventicles within the City and Privileges thereof, which tends so much to the prejudice of the public Worship of God, to the scandal of the reformed Religion, and is the reproach of His Majesty's Authority and Government: And also, that the slow progress hitherto made, in discovering and suppressing of Conventicles, Unlawful-Baptisms and Marriages, and entertaining of Intercommuned and vagrant Persons, did proceed from this, that there was no due Encouragement or Reward promised and allowed, to such persons as should discover any Conventicles or Unwarrantable meetings within this City and Privileges thereof. Do therefore unanimously Statute and Ordain, That any person who shall discover any Conventicle, that shall be keeped within the said City or Privileges thereof, or Unlawful-Baptisms and Marriages, and entertaining of intercommuned and vagrant Persons, to any of the Magistrates within the same; so that the said Conventicle be actually attatched, seized upon, and found in the place discovered, and that the said's Unlawful-Baptisms and Marriages, and the entertaining of intercommuned and vagrant Persons be instructed, the said's persons discoverers shall have for their reward for each Conventicle, Unlawful-Baptism or Marriage, or the entertaining of any intercommuned and vagrant Person that shall happen to be discovered, the sum of threescore pounds Scots money; and whosoever shall discover any persons, whose Residence is in the Country, that comes to the City to lurk, and absents themselves from their own Paroch-Churches, and withdraws from the public Worship in the City, shall have for each person twelve pounds for their pains; And in regard that the Lord Provest, Bailyies &c. intends a vigorous Execution of His Majesty's good Laws against separation and withdrawing from the Established public Worship. They do hereby require all the Citizens and other Inhabitants whatsoever in the said Burgh and Jurisdictions thereof, duly to attend the public Ordinances and Worship; Certifying all such as shall absent themselves, or withdraw therefrom, that they shall be impartially Fyned according to Law. And for encouragement of these who shall delate any person so withdrawing, who are not contained in the Lists given up to the Magistrates by persons authorized for that effect, shall have six pounds Scots instantly paid unto him, providing always the person or persons so delated, be convicted guilty of withdrawing as aforesaid. And Ordains this present Act to be Proclaimed through the City by Touck of Drum, and Printed that none pretend ignorance.  
GOD save the KING.