C R  〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  royal blazon or coat of arms  
ACT 〈◊〉 favours of the afflicted Inbabitants of the Town of KELSO, through the ●●●e Fire for a volu●●●●…r Contribution.  
Edinburgh, the seventeenth day of April, 1684.  
FORASMUCH as there being a Representation made to the Lo●●● of His Majesty's Privy Council, by the Afflicted Inhabitants within the Town of Kelso, through the late Fire, ●ea●ing; That whereas, upon Tuesday the eighth of this Instant, betwixt three and four a Clock in the afternoon, there happened a most calamitous Fire, within the said Town of Kelso, which began first in a Malt-h●●● whereby some Neighbouring Stacks of Corn were kindled, and these, by the violent tempestuous Wind, blowing over the Town, did, in a sudden, put the whole in so universal a Conflagration, that these who were helping their Neighbours, did not know when their own House's were Burning, in so much, that before nine a Clock of the Night, not only all the Houses, but the most p●●t of all the Goods therein and several Merchant Shops of considerable value, and above four thousand Bolls of Victual, lying in Girnels, and all the Corn-●●cks in the Town 〈…〉 ●●●rly in Ashes; during which time, the fury of the Flame, and rage of the Smoke, ●ere so great in all 〈…〉 Town, that with great difficulty, Sick, and Infirm Persons, and Infant-childrens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be carried away 〈…〉 to the open Fields: By which sad Visitation, three hundred and six Families, 〈◊〉 to a 〈◊〉 of the Master's Names, given in to the Lords of Council, have had their Dwelling-houses within the said Town, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 down; and of this, not twenty will ever be able to Rebuild again, upon their own Means and Expenses; and the loss of Merchants is so great, that it cannot be well known, the particular loss of some of them, being valued above twenty thousand pounds' Scots, and of others, above a thousand Pound Sterling; and the more Indigent sort of People, have lost the whole Sustenance of their Liveliehood, through the Burning, both of their Houses and Corns, so that with much difficulty, they have been hitherto Supplied with the Charity of their Neighbour's, which will not serve long to Sustain them, without the Council, in Commiseration of their necessitous Condition, shall graciously be pleased to provide for them, a more universal and seasonable Supply. And 〈◊〉 ●●●…licating, That the Council would recommend them, and their desolate and indigent Families, to the Charity of the whole Kingdom, and grant Order and Warrant for that effect, in manner under-written. The Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council having considered the foresaid Petition, and being sufficiently informed of the verity of the foresaid Representation, and of the great Distress the poor Inhabitants of the said Burgh, are reduced to by the said Fire▪ ●e Recommend 〈◊〉 Distressed and Afflicted Condition, to the Charity of all good People within the whole ●●●●dom, And recommends to the Archbishops and Bishops, to cause Intimation be made hereof, in the several 〈◊〉 Churches of their respective Dioceses upon a Sabbath Day, or to take ●●ch course otherwise, as may make 〈◊〉 Recommendation most effectual for the Petitioners Help and Relief; and appoints Mr. Robert Be●●●●… Advocate, 〈◊〉 ●●e Collector of the said Contribution, who hath found sufficient Caution, ●●ted in the Books of Privy Council, to do exact Diligence, for inbringing thereof, and to see what shall be uplifted, bestowed in the most equal ma●●er, for the Relief of the Inhabitants.  
Extracted by me WILL. PATERSON, Cls. Sti. Concilij. 
 GOD save the KING.   

Printed by the Heir of 〈…〉 A●●o Dom. 168●