C R  〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉 〈◇〉  royal blazon surmounted by a crown  
A PROCLAMATION, Anent High-wayes Bridges and Ferries, 1683.  
CHARLES, by the Grace of GOD, King of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, To Our Lovits, 〈…〉 Macers of Our Privy Council, or Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially Constitute, Greeting:  
Forasmuch as by the sixteenth Act of the first Session of Our second Parliament, entitled, Act for Repairing of highways and Bridges, The Sheriffs of the respective Shires and their Deputes, and the Justices of Peace, are appointed to convene yearly at the Head-Burghs of the Shires upon the first Tuesday of May, for setting down a particular List of the highways, Bridges and Ferries within their Bounds, and for Surveying and Repairing the samine, in the way and manner mentioned in the said Act. As likewise, the saids Justices of Peace, are ordained to Meet and convene again upon the first Tuesday of June yearly, for taking Account how far the Repairers of the said highways, Bridges and Ferries had proceeded, and for fining of these who had been negligent in their Duty; as also, the whole Free-holders and heritors of the several Shires, are authorised and Required, to convene at the respective Head-burghs, the said first Tuesday of June yearly, to call for an Account from the saids Justices of Peace, what expense might be needful and requisite for Repairing the High-ways and others foresaids, and for Stenting themselves in what should be found necessary for the end foresaid, not exceeding ten Shilling Scots yearly, upon each hundred pounds of valued Rent; with Power also to Our Privy Council in case of failʒie, and neglect of performance in the premises, that they might take such Course for making the same Effectual, as they should judge expedient, and for punishing the Persons liable, as their neglect should deserve; and to appoint and Commissionate Overseers( with the same Power committed to the Justices of Peace by the said Act) for putting the premises to Execution; as by the said Act among other things, is more fully appointed and declared: Notwithstanding whereof, the said Act hitherto hath taken little or no Effect; and We considering how necessary and useful it is for the Kingdom, that the highways, Bridges and Ferries, be put and kept in sufficient Repair, and that the Care, Charges, and expenses of keeping up, and Repairing the same, by the Laws and customs of Nations, and of this and all well Governed Kingdoms, does belong to, and lies upon the Inhabitants of the respective Shires and Burghs, within whose Bounds and Jurisdictions the same does locally ly; and that the Bridges of this Kingdom, being Built and Erected by the Piety and Prudence of the Founders, hath by the Care and Policy of former Ages, been kept up in sufficient Repair, till of late( as one of the evil Effects of the Disorders in this Kingdom) some thereof( to the Reproach of this Age) are become ruinous, and others fallen into decay, to the great prejudice of Commerce and traffic, and danger of Travellers and Passengers; Do with advice of Our Privy Council, Command and require all Persons liable by the foresaid Act, to give exact and full obedience thereto in all points; And in pursuance thereof, We do nominat and appoint the Sheriffs principal of the Shires, the Stewarts of the Stewartries, bailies of Regalities, and their Deputes, and Magistrates of Royal Burghs, within their Bounds, to be principal Overseers, for Repairing the highways, Bridges and Ferries in their several Jurisdictions and Bounds, with power to them, with advice of the Justices of Peace in the said respective Shire●, Jurisdi●tions, and Bounds foresaids, to nominate and appoint Deputes, or under Overseers, one or more, as they shall see needful; and for that end, to call and convene the Justices of Peace, and Commissioners of Excise( who by an Act of Our Privy Council, bearing date the sixth of april 1670. are appointed Justices of the Peace to that effect) at such diets and places as they shall think fit, and to Fine and Amerciat the Absents, and to uplift and exact the same: With power likewise to the saids Overseers and their Deputs, to visit and survey the highways, Bridges and Ferries, and with advice of the Justices of Peace to consider what places needs first to be Repaired; and to appoint the Order, Way and Manner, for Repairing the same, as they shall see most necessary and fitting; and generally with power to the saids Overseers, and their Deputs, to do all and every other things for, and concerning the premises, as fully as by the said Act is allowed and committed to the Justices of Peace, and others therein mentioned; Requiring hereby the saids Overseers, and their Deputs, to call to account, all persons in whose hands any Destinations, or Mortifications for the Uses foresaids, are remaining unaccounted for, and undischarged; and also all Collectors and Intrometters with any Sums of Money, imposed by the heritors and Freeholders of Shires, towards Repairing of highways, Bridges and Ferries, and to this effect, Ordains Letters of Horning under the Signet of Our Privy Council, and other Execution needful, to pass at the Instance of the saids Overseers; and in respect for some years by-gone, there hath been little or no Repairs made of the highways, Bridges and Ferries, and that the ten shilling hath not been uplifted, nor imposed in several Shires, and that therethrough, in some places, Bridges are at the point of falling down, which may be at far less Charges kept up, then Re-built; Therefore We do Authorize and Require the Sheriffs, Stewarts, bailies of Regalities, and their Deputs, and Magistrates of Burghs, to Call and Conv●en the heritors and Freeholders of the respective Shires and Jurisdictions foresaids, to meet and convene at the Head-burgh thereof, upon such convenient day or dayes for this year as they shall think fit, and yearly hereafter upon the said first Tuesday of June, appointed by Act of Parliament, and to Impose, stint and Levy ten Shilling Scots upon the hundred pound of valued Rent, for all the saids years past, where it is needful; and in case the ten shilling for the saids years bypassed, with the ten shilling for the current years, will not be sufficient for Rebuilding of some necessary Bridges, and repairing others( seeing the increase of that Charge and expense, might, and ought to have been prevented by the care and diligence of those to whom it appertains) We with advice foresaid, do Recommend to the heritors and others concerned in such Shires and Burghs, that they fall upon some speedy and effectual course for the effectuating of so good and necessary a work. And further, for accommodating Our lieges in their traveling through the Kingdom at Ferries. We do hereby Ordain the 59th. Act of King James the first, Appointing Ferriers and Boatmen, to have Bridges for in-putting and out-putting of Horses, and to be continually ready with sufficient Boats, to be put to full and due Execution, under the pains and penalties therein contained. And in regard it falls sometimes out, that Bridges and Ferries are upon the Confines of two Shires, so as it is just and equal, that the expense of Repairing the same, should burden both; We do Ordain the Overseers, and ●heir D●puts and Justices of Peace, of the respective Shires, to adjust and accommodat the same so, as both Shires may proportionally bear the expense thereof, accordi●g to the valuation of these Shires. And to the end We may be fully informed from time to time of, and concerning the condition of H●gh-wayes, Bridges and Ferries, and diligence used for Maintaing and Repairing thereof, and what effect the same hath taken; We do Command and require the Overseers hereby appointed, and their Deputes, that they give a particular account of the same, under their hands, to the Clerks of Our Privy Council, upon the first Thursday of November yearly, with Certification, that if the said Overseer, and his Deputes shall failʒi● in the performance thereof, they shall there-through be presumed and repute negligent in their said Duty, and be called and convened before Our Privy Council, and examplarly punished accordingly: And We Ordain Process to be sustained, as well at the Instance of any of Our good Subjects, as of Our Advocat, who shall find themselves damnified, or put to trouble, by the neglect of the saids Overseers, in not taking care to have the highways, Bridges and Ferries in their respective Bounds, Maintained and Repaired, in manner as they are hereby Required, for the use and co●v●niency of Our lieges, living therein, or others who may have occasion to pass and travail through the same. And to the Effect all persons concerned may have notice of Our Pleasure in the premises, and give exact obedience thereto. Our Will is, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat across of Edin●urgh, and several Mercat Crosses of the Head Burghs of this Kingdom, and Burghs of Regality, and several Paroch Kirks within the same, upon a Sunday after Divine Service, and other places needful, and there, in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make publication of the premises, that none pretend Ignorance. And We Ordain the Sheriffs of the respective Shires foresaids, to cause duly publish these Presents. The which to do, We commit to you, conjunctly and severally, Our full power, by these Our Letters, delivering them by you duly Execute, and endorsed again to the bearer.  
Given under Our Signet at Halyrudhouse, the fourth day of June, One thousand six hundred eighty and three, And of Our Reign, the thirtieth fifth Year. Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilij. WIL. PATERSON, Cls. Sti. Concilij. 
 GOD save the KING.   

Edin●urgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, Anno DOM. 1683.