C R  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  royal blazon or coat of arms  
ACT FOR securing the public Peace.  
At Hallyrudehouse, the 14. day of February, 1678.  
THE Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council considering seriously, that the greatest part of the disorders of this Nationare occasioned by a seditious and schismatic humour in some Western and other Shires, which upon all occasions inflames them into great Irregularities, and remembering how, albeit it might have been expected after His Majesty's happy Restauration, that the fresh remembrance of these insolences which we suffered under a Tyrannic usurpation, (drawn upon us by the same seditious Principles, which begin now to revive ●n those places) would have inclined all His Majesty's good Subjects to live with great satisfaction quietly un●●● His happy Government, and to believe that the Laws made by His Majesty, and their own Representati●es, were both the 〈…〉 g remedies of these bygone distempers, and the safest means for preventing the like for 〈…〉 Shires did, by a most remarkable principle of disloyalty, rise in rebellion against their Native 〈…〉 He was engaged in a foreign war: And though after the beating of their forces, His Majesty had 〈…〉 even to these Rebels, and had so far gratified those Shires, as to grant them an Indulgence; 〈◊〉 they continued still to disturb the Peace their infection over the neighbouring Shires, by assembling themselves in field Conventicles, these Rendezvouses of rebellion, ressent●●g 〈…〉 g, and hearing Intercommuned Preachers, and declared Traitors, who infused in them 〈◊〉 and boldly rebellious and treacherous Princi●●●●, 〈◊〉 invading the persons, usurping the Pulpits of the Orthodox Clergy, threatening, affronting, and injuring both them and such as adhered to them 〈…〉 d by disobeying and deforceing with armed men in a Hostile manner, and even wounding and killing such as offered in His Majesty's name to put 〈…〉 s in execution: And to let the world see that they were fixedly resolved to adhere to these principles in spite of Authority, and that they had ●●●…ed themselves in a permanent form of Government (as they imagined) They did hold Sessions, Presbyteries and Assemblies, established correspondencies, and for perpetuating the Schism, Ordained and granted Missions to Preachers, built Meeting-places, and taxed His Majesty's Subjects for their maintenance: And that they might cut off their Proselytes from all dependence upon their Native Prince, against whose Person and Government they railed upon all occasions; they at last arrived at so great a height of rebellion, as to persuade the people, that it was unlawful to take the Oath of Alleadgeance: Whereupon the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council, upon design to prevent these growing disorders, or the just severity which the Authors thereof had deserved, Did Ordain the Commissioners of Excise, Militia, and Justices of Peace within these Shires, to meet and to propose such means as might effectually secure His Majesty and the Peace of the Country; With certification that if they did not, His Majesty behoved to reduce them to their duty by force, and would look upon the Heretors therein who refused to secure the peace (as said is) as involved in, and fautors of, those seditious and disorderly courses. To which they returned no other answer, save that these disorders were grown to such a height, that it was not in their power to redress them; whereupon it was thought high time to acquaint His Majesty with the present state of these His Affairs here, Who to vindicate His own Authority, and from a tender Care of His People, whose security with that of His Laws, He did foresee to be under-mined by such pernicious contrivances and practices; Did by His Royal 〈◊〉, dated the eleventh day of December, 1677. declare His resentment against, and His detestation of these courses: And for suppressing thereof, commanded and authorised His said Privy Council, to proceed by force and arms, to reduce that Country to their obedience, and to oblige them to give bands for their own, and their tenants, living Regularly and Obedient to the Laws; And particularly, that they should not go to Conventicles, harbour nor commune with Rebels, or persons intercommuned, and for keeping the persons, families, and goods of their regular Ministers harmless; and that under such penalties as they should think fit. In obedience to which Letter, a band was accordingly drawn, only obliging the Heretors alternatively, either to present their tenants, or to remove them; and declared, that they should be only answerable for their said's tenants, if they were convict within a year after the committing of these delinquencies. All which couries proving ineffectual, His Majesty hath just reason to suspect the designs of such as have, or shall refuse or delay to take the said band, as tending to overthrow His Majesty's Authority, to subvert the established Order of the Church, and to disquiet the Peace of His Majesty's good Subjects: And since every private Subject may force such, from whom they fear any harm, to secure them by Lawborrows, and that it hath been the uncontroverted and Legal practice of His Majesty's Privy Council to oblige such, whose peaceableness they justly suspected, to secure the peace for themselves, their Wives, Bairns, Men, tenants, and Servants, which are the very words of all such bands, and that under such penalties as they find suitable to their contempt, guilt or occasion, upon which 〈…〉 and suitable to the qualities of such from whom caution is craved. Therefore, the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Cou●●●● 〈…〉 ●●●●y hath declared His just suspicion of those who refuse or delay to take the said band in the terms foresaids; And the said's Lords, bes 〈…〉 e series foresaid justly suspicious of the practices and principles of such as refuse the same, do Ordain, That all such persons as refuse the 〈…〉 shall be obliged to Enact themselves in the books of Secret Council, that they, their wives, bairns▪ men, tenants, and servants, shall keep His Majesty's s Peace, and particularly, that they shall not go to field Conventicles, nor harbour nor commune with Rebels, or persons intercom●●●●…ed ●●d that they shall keep the persons, families and goods of Regular Ministers harmless; and that under the double of every man's valued yearly ●●●t, (if he have any) and of such other penalties as shall be thought convenient by the ●●●…rds of His Majesty's Privy Council, or their Comm●●●●…, if they have no valued rent: ordaining Letters to be direct for charging all such per●●●● 〈◊〉 refuse to take the said band●, to Enact themselves 〈◊〉 the books of Privy Council, to the effect foresaid, and that within six days 〈…〉 the charge, under the pain of rebellion, and p●●●●…g of them to the horn; With certification to them if they if they fail, the said space being 〈…〉 d bypast, that they shall be denunced Rebels, and put to the horn for their contempt and disobedience: And Ordains these presents to be  
Extracted by me, Al. Gibsone. Cls. Sti. Concilii. 
 GOD save the KING.   

EDINBURGH, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Sacred Majesty, 1678.