C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown  
Anent the pestilence  
AT EDINBURGH, The twelfth day of July, one thousand six hundred and sixty five.  
FOrasmuch as the Sickness and Plague in the City of London, Suburbs thereof, and places near adjacent thereto, doth daily increase and break out in several Towns and Villages of the Kingdom of England; So that there is great hazard in continuing to Trade and have Commerce with the said City of London and places thereabout, and other Towns of the said Kingdom, which are, or hereafter shall be known to be infected: Therefore the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council, tendering the good and welfare of the Subjects of this Kingdom, and for preventing the great danger and mischief which might ensue, upon the continuance of Trade with any of the foresaids Towns or Places already infected, or which shall be suspected thereof; have prohibited and discharged, Likeas, in His Majesties Name and Authority, they prohibit and discharge all Trade and Commerce betwixt this Kingdom and the Merchants and Inhabitants thereof, and the foresaid City of London, Suburbs and Places thereabouts, and all other Towns, Villages and Places of the said Kingdom of England, which are, or hereafter shall be infected, or suspected to be infected during this restraint and prohibition, and that by importing or exporting in any Vessels by Sea, or by sending or bringing Goods or Commodities by Packs, or any other manner of carriage by Land, until the first day of November next to come, and ay and while this present restraint and prohibition be taken off. And that after publication hereof, no Merchant, Seaman or other person, presume to load any Goods or merchandise in any Ship or Vessel, either belonging to the Inhabitants of this Kingdom or Strangers; or fraught any Ship or sand the same to London, or any Port or Place infected, or suspected as said is, or any Harbours or Roads thereto belonging. As also, that all Ships, Merchants and Seamen that are now abroad, and have loadened their Ships in any of the places foresaids, or any other Port or Town of the Kingdom of England, and are on their way hither with their Ships and Goods, shall stay aboard their saids Ships and Vessels in the Roads and Stations of any Port or Town within this Kingdom, for which they have their Cocquets: and that they offer not to put ashore any of their Company, Passengers, Goods or Commodities, until first they acquaint the Magistrates of the Burghs, barons or Heritors of the places where they intend to land, from what Town or place they came, belonging to the Kingdom of England; that in case the said Town or Place shall be known to be infected or suspected thereof, that they obey such orders as shall be given them for their trial, in bringing ashore their Goods to such houses and places, as shall be designed for them; and that they handle the saids Goods and Comm●●●ties daily by the space of forty dayes and thereafter, as they have allowance given them to converse as free men, and vend their Commodities. And unlike that all persons, who after publication hereof, shall come from England into this Kingdom, or bring any Goods or Commodities by Packs or other carriage by Land, shall stay upon the Borders and converse with no person, until they first acquaint the Sheriff, Iustices of Peace, Magistrates of Burghs, or such persons as shall be appointed within the Shires, Burghs, Towns, or other places where they shall happen to come, from what Town or place of England they are come; and that they bring sufficient Passes and Testimonials with them, under the hands and seals of the Mayor and Aldermen of the Cities and Burghs, or two of the Iustices of Peace of the Counties, that the Towns, Villages and Places from which they come or bring their Commodities, are free of all suspicion of the Plague, and that the saids Passes bear the names of the Persons, number of the Packs or Carriages, and that they deliver the same Passes to such Sheriffs, Iustices of Peace, or Magistrates of places where they shall come and receive Testificats thereof from the said Sheriff, Iustices of Peace of the Shire, or Magistrates of Burghs bearing the receipt thereof, and that they may freely go about their affairs: otherways, that they obey such orders as shall be given them for their trial in manner foresaid; with certification, that if any person whatsoever shall contravene, and not give exact obedience, they shall be punished with the loss of their Lives, Ships, Goods, Packs and Commodities brought by them, either by Sea or Land, without mercy. And if any of the saids Packs or Goods, shall come, and be privately conveyed, without being tried, as said is, any person whatsoever the discoverers thereof, and seizers thereupon, shall carry them to those empowered for trial, and shall have for their pains the one half of the saids Goods, after it is found that the same may be freely vended. And to the effect this Act may receive due execution, according to the intent thereof, the saids Lords, in Name and Authority foresaid, prohibit and discharge all Seamen, Pilots, Fishermen, and all other persons whatsoever, to go aboard of any Ship or Vessel, that shall come from beyond Sea toward any Town, Port, Harbour or Road of this Kingdom, without a warrant in writ, subscribed by the Magistrates of the Burghs, barons and Heritors of the bounds and places to which they belong; and that under the pain of forfeiture of their Boats, Vessels and other moveables, and abiding the trial of forty dayes, and thereafter to be fined and imprisoned, as the quality of their offence shall deserve. And siklike, commands and charges the Sheriffs of all Shires, Stewarts of Stewartries, bailiffs of Regalities, Magistrates of Burghs, Iustices of the Peace, barons, Heritors, and all others whom these may concern, to take exact trial of every Ship or Vessel that shall come from beyond Sea within their respective Bounds and Liberties, Roads or Stations thereto belonging; As also of all Persons, Goods and other Commodities brought in Packs, or by any other carriage by Land, from any Town or Place of the foresaid Kingdom, within their respective bounds; and finding that they come from any places suspected, That they immediately appoint Guards, upon the charges and expenses of the Merchants, Skippers and Owners of the Ships and Goods, brought either by Sea or Land, until such time as houses be provided for them and their Goods; and that they constantly keep Guard, until they abide their trial, during the space of forty dayes and further, till they have liberty granted to them, as said is; that none of them come out of the saids places and houses, or disperse any of their Goods or Commodities; and that immediately after Proclamation hereof, an the saids Sheriffs, Iustices of Peace, and Magistrates of Burghs of this Kingdom, within their respective bounds, meet and convene, and give order for such Guards, Watches, Houses and Places, as they shall think most convenient for putting of this Act in execution: And for doing every other thing that shall be necessar for that effect, with certification, if they failʒie, they shall be punished in their Persons and Goods, to the terror of others. And ordains these presents to be printed, and published at the Mercat across of Edinburgh, Peir and shore of Leith, and at the Mercat Crosses of the several Burghs of this Kingdom, and other places needful, that none pretend ignorance.  
Pet. Wedderburne, Cl. Sti Concilii.   

EDINBURGH, Printed by Evan tiler, Printer to the King's most Excellent MAjESTY, 1665.