royal blazon or coat of arms 
W R  〈◊〉 SOIT QVI MAL Y 〈…〉 DIEV 〈◊〉 MON D●OIT A PROCLAMATION Against Robbers and Vagabounds, etc.  
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; FORASMUCHAS, it is generally Complained, that there be many Idle, Louse and vagabond Persons, who singly by themselves, and in Companies, go throw the Country, And both to Burgh and Landward, Rob or Steal from People their Goods, do Violence to their Persons, and extort from them Meat, Drink and Lodging without payment, and commit several other Abuses, contrair to the Laws and Acts of Parliament: THEREFORE, We have thought fit to Enjoin and Command Likeas, We hereby, with the Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, strictly Enjoin, Command and Charge all Sheriffs, Lords of Regality, Bailies of Bailliaries, Stewarts of Stewartries, and their Deputs, Magistrates of burgh's, Justices of the Peace, and other Judges and Officers of the Law, to put the following Laws and Acts of Parliament in due and vigorous Execution; Viz. The seventh Act Parliament first, James the first, whereby it is Statute, that no Companies pass in the Country, and lie on Our lieges, or Thig or Sojourn on them under the Pain of Assything of the Party Compleaning; The Act James second, Parliament six, Caput twenty one, whereby it is ordained, that for the away-putting of Sorners, Overlyers and Masterfull Beggars, Inquisition be made by all Judges against them, and they be put in Our Ward or Our Irons for their Trespasses, as long as they have any Goods of their own to live upon, that their Ears be nailed to the Tron or other Tree, and that the same be cut off, and they Banished the Country; And if thereafter they be found, that they be hanged, Act James second, Parliament eleventh, Caput forty five, whereby it is statute, that wherever Sorners are overtaken, they be delivered to Our Sheriffs, and that forthwith Our Justices do Law upon them, as upon Thiefs and Robbers, Act Parliament 12. Caput 53. ibidem, whereby it is statute, that no Man reive another of any manner of Goods which they are in Possession off, Act James the third, Parliament tenth, Caput seventy eight ratifying the said's Acts; And Act James the sixth Parliament twelfth, Caput on hundred and forty seventh, whereby it is statute, that all Men certify concerning Vagabounds and suspect Persons, that they may be apprehended under the Pains due to these Vagabounds; And generally, all other Laws and Acts made against Robbing, Thieving, Sorning, and other Abuses of that sort, and for preserving the Peace and good Order of the Kingdom and for the better preserving of the Peace and Safety of Our Liedges; We with Advice foresaid, and in pursuance of the foresaids Laws, do farther Command and Charge all Sheriffs, Magistrates, and other Officers above named, that they cause special notice to be taken of all idle and vagabond Persons, either in Burgh or Landward, and that they take up their Names, and take such Security of them for their good Behaviour, as they shall judge needful: As also, We with Advice foresaid do hereby empower the Justices of Peace, and Heretors within each Paroch, to appoint one or more within the Bounds thereof, as they shall see needful, to be Watches both by Night and Day, for preventing the foresaids Abuses, by giving timeous Warning, and conveening the Neighbourhead to resist the foresaid Robbers, Thiefs, Sorners, or others committing the said's Abuses, and Seize and Apprehend them, and to defend Leil-mens' Persons and Goods, and bring to Justice and condign Punishment the foresaids Persons guilty, for which these shall be sufficient Warrant. 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 remanent Mercat-Crosses of the hail Head-Burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, and there in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make Intimation hereof that none pretend Ignorance, and Ordains these presents to be Printed.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh the twenty eight day of December, 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 Kings most Excellent Majesty, Anno Dom. 1697.