W R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
PROCLAMATION  
Anent the Poor, and providing Correction-Houses for them.  
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, the Extraordinary Dearth and Scarcity for these several years bypast, hath hindered the due Execution of the several Acts of Parliament, and former Proclamations of Our Privy Council, made and published, anent the providing of the Poor; And that now the seasonable and plentiful Harvest may Allow and doth Require settled and ordered Provisions to be made for the Maintenance of the said Poor, before the approaching Winter: Therefore, We with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, Require and Command the Sheriffs of Shires, and Stewarts of Stewartries and the Heretors, and Commissioners of Supply within their respective Jurisdictions, To Meet and Conveen upon the second Thursday of October next to come: And there take under Consideration the Acts of Parliament and former Proclamations of Our Privy Council made anent provideing the Poor: And in prosecution thereof, to lay down such Rules and Measures for Maintaining and Subsisting the poor within the several parochs of the said respective Jurisdictions as have Resided within the same for these three years by past, and for sending away such of the said poor as are wandering Beggars, to the places where they have had their respective Residences for the last three years by past, and that in the most orderly and Regular Method they shall think fit. And for the better, providing and Subsisting of the said Poor within the respective Shires and Stewartries We with Advice foresaid, Require and Command the Magistrates of the several burgh's , betwixt and the first day of December next to come, to provide Correction Houses for Receiving and Entertaining of Beggars, Vagabounds and Idle Persons within their respective Shires, conform to the Acts of Parliament made thereanent, Viz. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Edinburgh, a Correction-house for the Burgh and Shire thereof. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Dumfreis, a Correction house for the said Burgh and Shire. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Air, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Shire. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Glasgow, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Sheriffdom of Lanerk. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Stirling, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Shire thereof, and Sheriffdom of Clackmannan. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Perth, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Shire thereof. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Dundae, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Sheriffdom of Forfar. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Aberdeen, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Shire thereof. The Magistrates of the Burgh of Inverness, a Correction-house for the said Burgh and Sheriffdom thereof: Each of which Houses shall have a large Closs sufficiently enclosed, for keeping the said Poor people, that they be not necessitat to be alwise within Doors, to the Hurt and hazard of their health: And We with Advice foresaid Require and Command the said's Correction-houses to be provided and in readiness by the said respective Magistrates, betwixt and the first day of December next to come, under the penalty of five hundred Marks Scots Money, to be employed for the use of the Poor of the said Shire. And Ordains the Magistrates of the respective burgh's , to receive the Poor of the the Shires above set down, which shall be sent to them at and after the said day, and Entertain the same, whether the said's Correction-houses be provided or not. And to the effect the Sheriffs, Heretors' Stewarts and Commissioners of the several Shires within this Kingdom may have the said Matter more fully before them, We hereby Ordain and Appoint the Proclamations of Our Privy Council, dated the Eleventh day of August one thousand six hundred and ninety two years, and the twenty ninth day of August one thousand six hundred ninety three years, and last day of July one thousand six hundred ninety four years, Ratified and Approven by the twenty ninth Act of the sixth Session of Our current Parliament, to be Reprinted and sent to the Sheriffs of the several Shires and Stewartries or their Clerks, to be laid before the said Meeting at the day ; And which we with Advice foresaid, Ordain to be put to punctual and Vigorous Execution in all points: And we hereby Require and Command the Sheriffs of the several Shires, and Stewartries of Stewartries and Magistrates of burgh's to Report a particular Account of their Diligence in the Premises to the Lords of Our privy Council betwixt and the first day of February next to come, as they will be answerable at their highest peril. 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: And Ordains Our Solicitor to transmit Copies hereof, and of the several Proclamations above-writen to the Sheriffs and Stewarts of the several Shires and Stewartries and their Clerks, to the effect Copies of this Proclamation may be sent to the Ministers in the several Paroch-Churches, to be by them Read upon the first Lord's day immediately proceeding the said Meeting of the Sheriffs, Stewarts and Heretors upon the said day of their Meeting. And Ordains these presents to be Printed  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh the Fifteen day of September, and of Our Reign the Eleventh Year, 1699. 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 Domini 1699.