I ⁷ R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
A PROCLAMATION, Anent the Repairing of Highways, Bridges, and Ferries.  
Present in Council. 
 

The Earl of Perth, Lord High Chancellor.  
The Duke of Queensberry, Lord High Thesaurer.  
The Marquis of Athol. Lord Privy Seal.  
The Earl of Drumlanrig.  
The Earl of Mar.  
The Earl of Southesk.  
The Earl of Tweddale.  
The Earl of Belcarras.  
The L. Yester.  
The L. Precedent of Session.  
The L. Advocate.  
The L. Justice Clerk.  
The L. Castlehill.  
Colonel Dowglas.  
The Laird of Drumelʒier.    
JAMES 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 notwithstanding of the 16. Act of the 1. Session of the 2. Parliament of Our dearest Royal Brother Charles the 2. of ever blessed Memory; and a Proclamation of His Privy Council pursueant thereto, dated the 14. day of June 1683, for Repairing of Highways, Bridges, and Ferries, The Commissioners of Excise, and Justices of Peace in the respective Shires of this Our Kingdom, have been most negligent and remiss in performing of their Duty thereby enjoined to them, to the great Prejudice and Danger of the lieges. And We Considering, that the ruin and decay of Highways, Bridges, and Ferries, so commodious and advantageous to Our Subjects, is chief occasioned through the default of the Overseers formerly appointed, and of the not frequent Meetings of the Commissioners of Excise, and Justices of Peace. Do therefore, with Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby Require, and Command the Commissioners of Exoise, and Justices of Peace, in the several Shires of this Kingdom respectively, to Meet and Conveen upon the Second Tuesday of October, at such a place as shall be appointed by the Sheriffs principal of the several Shires, Stewarts of the Stewartries, Bailies of Regalities, and their Deputs, and the Magistrates of burgh's Royal (who are hereby appointed Overseers as formerly,) and thereafter at such Times and Places as shall be by them appointed, and then and there to do, and perform what is enjoined to them by the foresaid Act of Parliament, and Proclamation of Council, and to see the same put in full and vigorous Execution, conform to the tenor thereof; And to the end the foresaids Overseers, who are hereby appointed to conveen the Commissioners of Excise and Justices of Peace, for the more effectual prosecution of this so  and public a Work, nor they, in case they fail to meet, being lawfully warned, may not go unpunished, We with Advice foresaid, Do hereby Ordain, and Declare, That all and every of the said's Commissioners and Justices of Peace, who shall not Meet and Conveen at the Diet foresaid, and thereafter, as they shall be advertised by the saids Overseers, that they shall be liable, toties quoties, in Ten Marks Scots for each Meetings absence, to be exacted and employed towards the repairing of the Highways, Bridges, and Ferries within the several Shires, Stewarts, Regalities, and burgh's respectiuè. And We hereby Require the foresaids Overseers and Conveeners, to cause the same be punctually uplifted and exacted, within Forty Days days after the imposing thereof, Certifying them, that if they fail herein, that they themselves shall be liable in the said Penalty, though the Persons who incur the same are not hereby to be exempted, but their Fines are to be uplifted by the Collector of the place, and employed for the use foresaid, for which he is to be accountable; And in case the said's Overseers shall not frequently Conveen the Commissioners of Excise, and Justices of Peace, to the intent and purport foresaid, We Ordain them to be convened before Our Privy Council, and punished therefore, as they shall think fit. And to the end this Our Royal Will and Pleasure may be made known to all Persons concerned: Our Will is, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent, these Ours Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and all the other Mercat Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the Shires of this Kingdom, and other places needful, and there, by open Proclamation, in Our Royal Name and Authority, make Publication of the Premises, that all Persons concerned may have notice thereof, and give Obedience thereto accordingly. And We Require and Command the Sheriffs of the respective Shires, to cause timeously publish this Our Proclamation, as they will be answerable at their peril.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the Twenty third day of July, 1685. And of Our Reign the first Year. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilij. COL: MACKENȜIE, Cls, Sti. Concilij. 
 God save the King.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty. 1685.