I R   royal blazon or coat of arms  
ACT OF PRIVY COUNCIL, Anent the Militia and Detatchments thereof, and Deserters and Runaways from the same; and providing of Horses, etc. in His Majesty's Service.  
Edinburgh, the ninth day of October, 1688.  
THE Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council do Ordain, That when His Majesty's Service requires any Detatchments to be made in the Militia, for the future, that the respective Commanders of the Militia Regiments, make the said Detatchments proportionally from the persons liable to Outreik the Militia: As likewise, They do Ordain, that when any man's Arms is taken, and given to another, whom the Officers thinks fit for the said Service, they are to give to the owner of the said's Arms, a Note, obliging them to return the same; And that the said Militia, and all the Detatchments thereof, may prove effectual for His Majesty's Service, The saids Lords do hereby Decern and Ordain, any Runaways, or Deserters of His Majesty's Militia, or Detatchments thereof, to be liable to Corporal Punishment, according to Law; and that the Master, or any other who shall Reset the said Deserter, or Runaway, shall be punished with all rigour, as the said's Lords of the Privy Council shall think fit; And that the Outre●kers of the said Deserter, or Deserters, upon Intimation by the Officer, shall be forthwith obliged to furnish others in their place; With Certification, that the said's Outreikers shall be liable to the Pains and Penalties contained in the Acts of Parliament, anent the Deficients of the Militia. And to the end, that the said's Deserters, or Runaways may be known, the respective Colonels, and other Commanders, are hereby Ordered to cause Proclaim the Names of such Runaways and Deserters, at all the Church-Doors of the Shire, that none may pretend Ignorance in ●e●etting of them; And for the encouragement of all concerned in the said Mili●ia, Ordains the Pay due to the Soldiers, to be given in to the Officers, and by them to be paid to the Soldiers daily, according to their Service and attendance, as they will be answerable. As likewise, The saids Lords for preventing any abuses for the future, by pressing of Horses for the use of His Majesty's Forces, or Artillery, Do Require and Command, That in all time coming, when Horses are needful for His Majesty's Service, in, and about Edinburgh, That the Commanding Officer give in a Note to His Majesty's Privy Council of the number of Horses, and Furniture needful for the time, and that the said's Horses be proportionally furnished, viz. The one half by the Town of Edinburgh, and the other by the Shire of Mid-Lothian; And for that effect, that an Order be direct to the Provost of Edinburgh, and another to the Clerk for the Supply of the Shire, who is hereby Ordered to cast the Quota conform to the valuation, and send the several proportions of the respective parochs, to one of the Justices of the Peace of the said Paroch, who is hereby forthwith Ordered to send the said's Horses and Furniture to the place appointed by the Council: And for that effect, the said's Justices are hereby Impowered and Authorized to seize Horses, and Fine or Imprison the Deficients; And further to prevent abuses in the furnishing of Horses, the Magistrates of Edinburgh are hereby peremptorly Discharged to take, or press any Horses from any persons, except from their own Inhabitants, and these living in their Town and Suburbs, and under their Jurisdiction: And the Lords of Council do hereby expressly and peremptorly Prohibit and Discharge any Officers, or Soldiers, whether of His Majesty's Standing-Forces, or Militia, to press, or seize any Horses, upon pretence of His Majesty's Service, without express Warrant from the Lord High Chancellor, or a Privy Counsellor at least, as they will be answerable at their highest peril. And the said's Lords Declare, notwithstanding of the Speciality foresaid, that this Act is to be extended, as to the whole Shires of the Kingdom, and Ordain the same to be put in Execution accordingly, every manner of way, as is above-expressed. And to the end these Presents may be made known, Ordain the same to be Published at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, by the Macers of Council, and by Messengers at Arms, at the whole other Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the Shires of this Kingdom, that none may pretend ignorance. Extracted by me  
COL: McKENȜIE Cls. Sti. Concilii. 
 GOD Save the KING.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, Anno Dom. 1688.