At Edinburgh the fourth of March, 1643.  
FOrsameikle as the Lords of His Majesty's privy Council of this Kingdom, having, according to th● offer made in Parliament, and particular Treaty agreed upon with His Majesty and the Parliament 〈◊〉 England, sent over to Ireland the number of ten thousand men, for the defence of the Protestant Religion, for His Majesty's service, and assistance of the Kingdom of England, in suppressing the Popish Rebels there; And having daily advertisement of the great necessities and wants of the Scots Army in Ireland, as well Officers as Soldiers, who for want not only of their ordinary pay, but even of victuals in the sparest measure, and clothes, and shoes, are redacted to that extremity, that their bodies are daily decaying for want of necessary sustenance to uphold nature, and are not able to endure any considerable time longer, unless speedy and timous remeid be provided; The Christian consideration whereof not only belongs to His Majesty's Privy Council in special, but to the whole Kingdom also in general: And because the unhappy differences and distractions in England are such, that the Parliament of England (which is obliged by the said Treaty and capitulation for the monthly pay and entertainment of the said Army) cannot so timely and plentifully provide victual and moneys for payment of their arrears, or supply them for their present maintenance; Besides many other inconveniences will arise, if they be not timously supplied with some money and victual from this Kingdom: Therefore the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council according to their bond duty, and with concourse and consent of the Lords and others Commissioners for conserving the peace, and Commissioners for the common burdens, and they for themselves having at length considered upon the best ways and means upon the borrowing of monies, and providing of victuals, clothes, and shoes to the said Army have resolved, and have determined, that there shall be presently borrowed, for the use foresaid, the sum of twenty thousand p●●●●● sterling, and as much more or less as shall be voluntarily offered betwixt and the first day of May next to come, by Counsellors Commissioners of Commissions foresaid, and every one of them who are within this Kingdom, or by any others well affected 〈…〉; and to be paid by them to William Thompson general Receiver and Commissioner of the said Army, or to John Jossie Merchant in Edinburgh his depute in his absence: Upon the delivery whereof to the said William Thompson, or his said depute, the In-giver of the money shall receive a note subscribed by the said William, or his said depute, granting the receipt of the same for the use foresaid, and obliging them to hold count, and depurse the said monies, as the said's Lords of Council, or any having warrant from them, shall appoint for the use foresaid. The which note being shown to the Council, and registrate in their books for a charge upon the receivers, the Lords of Council will give forth and grant an Act of Council declaring the same to be lent for the use foresaid; and which Act is hereby declared to be als valid as if the same were done by the Council, with consent of the Quorums of both the said's Commissions. Likeas the saids Lords of Privy Council, Commissioners for conserving the peace, and Commissioners for the common burdens, do hereby oblige them to cause the said sums (so to be lent) be thankfully paid and delivered back again to the said's persons, their heirs and assigns, betwixt the date hereof and the Term of Whitsunday next to come in this instant year of God 1643. Together with the ordinary annuallrent from the date of the lending of the same, so long as the whole or any part thereof shall remain unpaid. And in case that monies shall not come timously from the Parliament of England to repay the said's sums so to be lent, or any part thereof in due time, The saids Lords of Privy Council, with consent and concourse foresaids, Declares, that the same, with annuals, shall remain as a public debt, due to the said's persons, lender's and advancers thereof, ay and while the repayment of the same by the Parliament of England, or by some other common course to be taken thereanent. Likeas the Lords of Privy Council, and the Lord General, with consent of the Colonels present, and taking the burden on him for the said Scots Army, do hereby hypothecate and assign for repayment of the monies to be lent as said is, the first and readiest of the sums of money due or to be due to that Army by the Parliament of England; and ordains the same to be employed proportionally for that effect: And declares that it shall not be lawful to the said Commissioner, or his depute, to distribute any of the said's monies without special warrant of the Council, but that he shall from time to time, as he receives any money's due to that Army, send a note thereof under his hand to the Clerk of Council, to be registrate in the books of Council, that the advancers may know the proportion of their repayment and relief: And the said's Lords of Council, with consent foresaid, do hereby desire every one who will contribute their help and assistance to so good and charitable a work, in so great a necessity, that they should be pleased to lend and advance such sums of monies as they shall think fit upon the like security and assurance to be given them in manner foresaid: And ordains these presents to be registrate in the books of Council, Commissioners of peace, and Commissioners for the common burdens; and to have the strength of an Act of the saids Judicatories jointly or severally: And declares that the double hereof, under the hand of the Clerk of any of the said's Judicatories, shall be a sufficient intimation to the several Shires and Presbyteries to whom the same shall be presented.  
Arch. Primrose Cler. S. Cons   

Printed at Edinburgh by EVAN TYLER, Printer to the Kings most excellent Majesty, Anno 1643.