PROCLAMATION Against Importing Victual from Ireland.  
WILLIAM By the Grace of GOD, King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; To _____ Macers of Our Privy Council, Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, Conjunctly and severally, specially Constitute Greeting; Forasmuch, as the Importing of Victual, of any sort, whether, Wheat, Bear, Barley, Oats, Meal, Malt, Pease, Beans, or Rye, from the Kingdom of Ireland, into this Kingdom, is Prohibit by divers Laws, and Acts of Parliament; And highly prejudicial to the Native Product of Scotland; And gives occasion to the Unwarrantable Exporting of much Money forth of this Our Realm; wherethrough, the poorer sort of People are altogether Destitut of the Necessary Means of Buying, and Providing themselves in the Daily Mercats of this Kingdom. For the better obviating the Inconveniencies that may follow thereupon; We, with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, Do, hereby Prohibit, and Discharge all Persons whatsoever, to Import, or Bring into this Kingdom, or any of the Ports, Harbours, Towns, or Places thereof, from the Kingdom of Ireland, any sort or Quantity of the Victual abovementioned, From, and after the First Day of September nixt to come, under the Pain of Confiscation of the said Victual; The one half thereof to the Person, or Persons who shall make Discovery of, and Seize upon thesame; and the other half thereof, with the Ships, Barks, or Boats, wherein the samen shall be Imported, to Our Thesaury for Our use; And other Punishments to be Inflicted upon them, conform to the Acts of Parliamen made thereanent: And Ordains all Our Collectors, Surveyors, and Waiters within this Kingdom, at the respective Ports, Harbours, and Places where they Serve, to see this Act punctually Observed, as they will be Answerable at their highest Peril, with Certification to such as shall be sound Negligent therein, they shall Incur the Loss of their respective Offices. OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent, these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and to the Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the several Shires within this Kingdom; And thereat, make Publication of Our Pleasure in the Premises, that none may pretend Ignorance: And Ordains these Presents to be Printed.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the Fifth Day of August, and of Our Reign the Ninth Year, 1697. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii. GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Sti. Concilii.  
GOD Save the King.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, Anno DOM, 1697.