ACT For putting of the Kingdom in a Posture of War.  
AT EDINBURGH the twenty fifth day of July, the year of God, one thousand six hundreth forty and four years. The Estates of Parliament presently convened, by virtue of the last Act of the last Parliament, holden by his Majesty and the three Estates, in Anno 1641. Considering the great Preparations made by Strangers, and some unnatural Countrymen, to invade this Kingdom, and destroy the Religion, Laws, and Liberties thereof: And that an Army under the command of Prince Rupert, are marching in an hostile way towards the Borders of this Kingdom for that effect, Do find it absolutely necessary, that for our own preservation and safety of this Country, the famine should be put in a posture of defence, as may raise the Country most speedily, and bring them soon forth to resist the present invasion. Therefore it is statute and ordained, that all the sensible persons betwixt sixty and sixteen, of whatsoever quality, within the Sheriffdoms of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Drumfreis, and Stuartries of Anandale and Kirkcudbright, Constabularie of Hadintoun, Bailiarie of Lawderdale, Edinburgh principal, Linlithgow, Stirling, Clackmannan, Lanerik, Aire, Renfrew, Wigtoun, Fyfe, Perth, and Forfar, Be presently contrived in Companies and Regiments of Horse and Foot, and that they be sufficiently provided with Arms and Ammunition, and thirty day's provision, and be ready to defend the Country, oppose any Invasion, and pursue the Invaders; And that they be aiding and assisting to either's, and be ready to march where the Invasion shall happen to be, or to such places of Rendezvous as upon certain intelligence and correspondence amongst these who hath command; shall be thought most fitting, for opposing and pursuing the Enemy. And if any of the Heritors be aged or known to be infirm, That they send out able men, with their best Horse and Arms. And statutes and ordains the whole Forces Horse and Foot aforesaid, to be ready to march upon advertisement, by putting forth of Beakons upon the accustomed places or such other advertisement as shall be given in (excepting such 〈…〉 the marquis of Argyle shall 〈…〉 public service in the West, out of the Shires of Air, Stirling, Perth, and Renfrew.) And to the effect the Forces in the Shires may be the better provided with Arms, and more speedily and exactly brought forth, The Estates foresaids ordains, that all such as were formerly appointed to be Colonels, or Rootmasters of the Shires, by the Convention of Estates and their Committees, still remain and continue in that charge in these Shires where they are nominate. And ordains the 'samine Divisions and Conjunctions of Shires likewise to stand. And in like manner ordains the whole Noblemen and Committees of War of the several Shires and Divisions, to meet all in their own several Committees, in their ordinary place of meeting, betwixt and the sixth day of August next to come inclusiuè at the farthest, and there to determine upon the saids Regiments Both Horse and Foot, and according to the number of the famine Horse and Foot within ilk several Shire and Division, to choose and appoint more Colonels, Rootmasters, and all other Officers necessary for leading and commanding of their Forces, aswell Horse as Foot, and to provide as many Arms & Ammunition as will arm all the able men in the Shire; & that either by giving present Money for them, or Bands for the price thereof to a certain day, and they to have Letters of relief against the Heritors for repayment of the famine. With power to the Committees foresaids, and the Heritors, to distribute the Arms in the several Shires and Divisions to these persons that wants. And ordains all sensible persons whatsoever, betwixt sixty and sixteen, to come forth upon the advertisement foresaid, under the pains following, viz, Ilk Nobleman, Gentleman, Heritor, and Burgess, (except Edinburgh and Stirling, who are ordained to put all the fensible men within their Towns in Arms and Posture of defence) under the pain of a years Rent, and ilk Yeoman, under the pain of confiscation of their whole Movables, to be applied to the use of the Public, and to be farther punished, as contemners of the orders and authority of Parliament, and infringers of their Covenant. And ordains this present Act to be presently published at the Market-Crosse of Edinburgh, by an Herald, by sound of Trumpet.  
Alex. Gibsone Cler. Registri.   

Printed at EDINBURGH by EVAN TYLER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1644.