Edinburgh, 6. April 1653.  
FOrsameikle, as the Provest, Bailies, and Counsel of this Burgh being convened in Counsel, finding that the good Town hath been, and is greatly abused by strangers, vagabonds, unfree Persons, and masterless People, both Men and Women, who take up their residence and dwelling within this Burgh, and harbours and resets all manner of wicked and ungodly Persons, whereby the Town is defiled with all kind of Vice, the Kirk overslipped with their maintenance, and the monthly Contributions and Collections appointed for the Towns Poor, are employed and consumed upon them. For remedy whereof, It is statute and ordained, that no landlord or heritor within this Burgh, set their Houses to such unlawful persons, nor admit of such tenants to reside therein, nor receive any strangers whatsomever without a famous testimonial of their honest conversation to be approven be the magistrate, or Kirk Session where they remain. And that the late Incomers, and Strangers who are evidently known to have neither means nor lawful Calling whereby to live, be timeously warned be their landlords, to remove forth of this Burgh, & return to the places of their former residence, whether they be Men or Women, under such pains and penalties as the magistrate shall think fit to enjoin for their contempt and dissobedience. And ordains their presents to be published thorough this burgh be touk of Drum, and affixed in the public mercat places, that none pretend Ignorance of the same.