ACT Anent Deficients of the Levy, one Thousand, six Hundred and Ninety five.  
Edinburgh, 5th January, 1697.  
THe Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council considering, That several of the Shires within this Kingdom have not furnished their Proportions of the Levy appointed by the Act of Parliament one thousand six hundred and ninety five; Have therefore appointed, and do hereby order and appoint the Sheriff of the Shires deficient as said is, and as they shall be advertised by Sir Patrick Hume His Majesty's Solicitor, by transmitting to them an Extract of this Act, with the particular Number of their deficient Men thereto subjoined, to conveen the Commissioners of Supply within the same; and signify to them, that it is their Lordship's perremptory Command, that they take an effectual Course, for Furnishing and putting out their respective Numbers of Men wanting, with all Diligence: And that though it may happen, that in some of these Shires, different Methods have been taken from these prescribed by the said Act of Parliament; yet they must still make good their Number: And if in the method of the said Act. Lots have been drawn for persons out of the Kingdom, which ought not to have been done, these liable in the respective Shires where the same was done, must supply them, if not returned: And the said's Commissioners are to deliver their Deficient Men to the Officers appointed, to receive them at the Head-Burgh of their Shire upon the respective days following, viz. For the Shires on this side of Tay, the twenty fifth of January instant, and for the Shires be north Tay, the tenth day of February thereafter. And farther, The said Sheriff and Commissioners are to certify such as are liable to put out the said deficient Men within their Bounds, that if they failzie to do the same, the Lords of Council will decern them to pay the Sum of two hundred Marks for each Man deficient to the said's Officers that should have received them; and that Letters upon a simple Charge of six days, at the instance of His Majesty's Solicitor, shall be direct against them for that effect. And the Sheriffs and Commissioners of Supply, in all Shires are hereby appointed to inquire diligently anent all Deserters, and whether any of the Men put forth by them be returned, and reset within their Bounds; and for encouragement of such as shall apprehend these Deserters, to be brought up with the said Deficients, at the foresaid Day and Place; The Sheriffs are to give advertisement, that the Officers will be careful to pay them Liberally. As likewise they are to certify on the other hand, that all guilty of Reset, shall be prosecute for the paying of the hundred pounds, and other pains contained in the Proclamation of Council against Resetters, of the date the fourth of April, one thousand six hundred ninety four with all Rigour. And the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council, do hereby Require and Command the foresaids Sheriffs to give an particular and exact Account of their Diligence in the Premises to the Clerks of Council, betwixt and the twenty fifth day of February next to come, that further course may be taken therein, as their Lordships shall judge needful for His Majesty's Service; Certifying the said's Sheriffs, that if they failzie in the Premises, either as to due Returns, or exact Diligence, they shall be Called and convened before the Privy Council, to be punished according to their Demerit.  
And ordains these presents to be Printed, and to be transmitted bhe Solicitor to the several shires.  
Extracted by me GILB. ELIOT Cls. Sti. Concilii.  
GOD save the KING.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most excellent Majesty, Anno DOM. 1697.