A PROCLAMATION, Against Conventicles.  
CHARLES, by the grace of GOD King of great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith, To _____ Macers, or Messengers at arms, our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute Greiting,  
Forasmuch as by several Laws and Acts of Parliament, and specially by the fifth Act of the second Session of this current Parliament, all unwarrantable meetings and Conventicles either in houses or in the fields, upon pretence of Religion and religious exercises, are prohibited and discharged, under certain great pains and penalties: which Act hitherto hath not received that obedience which was due thereunto; In regard the Lords of Our Privy Council, the Sheriffs of Shires, and other Judges to whom the execution thereof is committed, have not had that information from the Heritors, in whose bounds these Conventicles were keeped, and others; which was necessary, that the persons guilty might be proceeded against according to Law: And seeing we are fully resolved to use all possible means for making the said Act effectual, being of great concernment to Religion, and the peace of this Church and Kingdom: And it being the duty of all our good Subjects not only to give obedience to Our Laws, by their own peaceable and orderly deportment; But likewise in these places where they have power and interest, to use their endeavoures for preventing and suppressing such unwarrantable and disorderly practices, as Conventicles are, being so far contrair to Law, and destructive of the public peace: And in order thereto, to give timous notice of any such Meetings keeped within their bounds when the same comes to their knowledge. OUR Will is herefore, and We charge you straight and command, that in continent these Our Letters seen, ye pass, and in Our Name and Authority command and charge all Heritors, Liferenters and  Wodsetters of Lands in this Kingdom to be careful, that no house or field Conventicle, upon pret●u●e of, or for Religious exercise or worship, be keeped within the bounds of the respective Lands belonging to them: and in case any shall be keeped in any part of their Lands, so soon as they shall have notice thereof, that they immediately give information of the same, of the persons present thereat, and other circumstances thereof sua far as consists in their knowledge, to one of Our Privy Councillors, or to the Sheriff of the Shire, Stewart of the Stewartrie, Lord or bailie of the Regality or Royalty, or their Deputes within whose jurisdiction the Lands or Houses, where the Conventicle was keeped, do lie certifying such Heritors, and others foresaids, who shall know of any Conventicles keeped upon any part of their Lands, or in any Houses thereintill, and shall not discover the same, and what they know thereof, to the Sheriffs and other Magistrates aforesaids, or their Deputes, within the space of three days after the same comes to their knowledge, that they shall be fyned for each Conventicle, not delated by them, in the fourth part of the yearly valued rent of the whole Lands belonging to them in Heritage, Liferent or  Wodset, within the Shire where the Conventicle shall be keeped, and we do hereby strictly require the Sheriffs of Sheriffdomes, Stewarts of Stewartries, Lords and Bailies of Regalities or Royalties and their Deputes, upon delation made of Conventicles by the Heritors, or information given by any other persons thereanent, to proceed to the trial thereof, and to put the foresaid Act of Parliament to due and vigorous execution. And We do hereby Authorise and require the Sheriffs and other Magistrates foresaids and their Deputes, to call before them such Heritors, Liferenters and  Wodseters, who shall know of any Conventicles keeped in their Lands, and shall not discover the same, within the space foresaid, and (their knowledge thereof being proven, either by their own oaths, or other Legal probation,) to inflict upon them the foresaid fyne, whereof one third part, to be applied for the use of the said's Judges; another third part to the person who shall give information concerning these Heritors, and a third part thereof to be uplifted for Our use: And it is hereby declared, that if the said's Sheriffs and other Judge's foresaids, and their Deputes shall be remiss and negligent in performance of their duty in the premises, they shall be called before Our Privy Council, and severely punished. And it is hereby declared, that as for any Conventicles that shall happen to be keeped within burgh's Royal, the Magistrates of the burgh's shall be liable to such fynes for every such Conventicle as Our Council shall think fit to impose, and that the Master or Mistress of the house where the Conventicle shall be keeped, and the persons present thereat, shall relieve the Magistrates, as Our Council shall order the same, conform to the foresaid fifth Act of the second Session of this present Parliament, entitled, Act against Conventicles: And We ordain these presents to be Printed and published at the Market Cross of Edinburgh, and at the Market Crosses of the head burgh's, of the several Shires, and that likewise the Shireffs and other Magistrates foresaids, and their Deputes cause intimate the same at the several Paroch Churches within their respective Jurisdictions, that none pretend ignorance: The which to do we commit to you conjunctly and severally Our full power, be their Our letters, delivering them be you duly execute and indorsat again to the Bearer.  
Given under Our Signet at EDINBURGH, the second day of April, and of Our Reign the twenty fifth Year, 1673. Al. Gibson, Cl. S ti Concilij.  
GOD save the KING.