W R  HONI SOITQUI MAL Y PENSE DIEV ET MON DROIT  royal blazon or coat of arms A PROCLAMATION, Calling out the half Foot Militia in some Shires, the Fencible Men in others, and the whole Horse Militia in the Northern Shires.  
WILLIAM by the grace of GOD, King of Great-britains' France and Ireland, defender of the Faith; To Our Lion King at Arms, and his Brethren, Heralds, Macers of Our Privy-Council, Pursuivants, Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, greeting:  
Forasmuch as the present preparations made by the French King, and the implacable malice he hath upon all occasions expressed against Us, Our people, and the Protestant Religion, gives Us just ground to apprehend there is an Invasion intended by bloody Papists and disaffected Subjects from France upon this Our ancient Kingdom, of purpose (if possible) to make the same the Seat of a bloody War, for defeating and opposing whereof, it is necessary to put the Kingdom in a suitable Posture of Defence: And We considering that by sundry Acts of Parliament, there is a regular Militia established within this Kingdom, expressly to be employed in opposing any Foreign Invasion, or suppressing any intestine Trouble or Commotion that may happen within the same: Have thought fit at this time to appoint the one half of the Foot Militia to be Listed, and in readiness to be called out upon twenty four Hours advertisement; and in the mean time to be exercised within the Shires after specified, & the hail Militia of Horse appointed by the twenty sixth Act Parliament one thousand six hundred sixty three, for the Shires Under-written, to be Rendevouzed upon the days at the places, and under the Command in manner after mentioned: And to the effect, the said half of the Foot Militia, and whole Horse Militia of the Shires respectiuè after-named may be the more speedily Listed, Modelled and Trained in Military Discipline, whereby they may be in greater readiness and fitness for Our Service when they shall be called for. We with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, Nominat Appoint; and constitute the Commissioners of Supply of the said's respective Shires, and the Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, and Majors of Foot, and the Captains and Lieutenants of Horse, appointed, or to be appointed to Command the half Foot, or whole Horse Militia of the said's Shires to be Our Commissioners, for Listing and Ordering the same, and to that effect, do hereby Require and Authorise the said's Commissioners of Militia to meet at the Head-Burghs of their respective Shires, upon the days following viz. the Shires of Edinburgh, Haddingtoun, Fife & Kinross, & the Town of Edinburgh, upon the Seventeenth day of December current, The Shires of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Linlithgow, Stirling, & Clackmanan upon the twenty second day of the said Month, & the Shires of Perth, Drumfries, Dumbarton & Bute upon the twenty fourth day of the samen, & the Commissioners for the Stewartrie of Orkney & Zetland upon the sixteenth day of February next to come, one thousand six hundred ninety seven years; & there to proceed, nominat and appoint persons well affected to Our Government, for Captains and Lieutenants of Foot, & an Ensign to the Colonel's Company, & Lieutenants & Coronets of Horse, & to cause intimation presently to be given to them; of the Service and Command they are chosen, to which Officers of Horse and Foot respectiué, We hereby Require and Command to accept and attend their Charges, under the Pains following, viz. each Captain of Foot, or Lieutenant of Horse one thousand Marks, a Lieutenant of Ensign of Foot, or Coronet of Horse five hundred Marks, conform to the first Act of Parliament one thousand six hundred seventy two; And that the said's respective Officers take the Oath of Allegiance, and Subscribe the Assurance to Us, in presence of the Commanding Officer, the first day the Regiment shall Rendezvouz together, under the pains contained in the Acts of Parliament made thereanent: With power likeways to the said's Commissioners, to List the half of the said Foot Militia, by filty in each Company, and eight Companies in every Regiment, to be Outreiked by the Divisions following, and Commanded by the Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Major's after-named, viz. The one half of the Foot Militia of the Shire of Edinburgh, consisting of four hundred Men, and eight Companies to be in one Regiment, Commanded by the Earl of Lauderdale as Colonel, and Sir John Clerk of Penniecook as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Captain William Ogilvie in Colonel Robert Mackay's Regiment in Flanders as Major, the one Regiment of four hundred Men, as the half of the Foot Militia of the Shire of Haddingtoun, to consist of eight Companies, and be under the Command of the Lord Yester as Colonel  
Nisbit of Dirletoun Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain William Bailie of Hardingtoun as Major, the one Regiment of four hundred Men consisting of eight Companies, as the half of the Foot Militia, for the Shire of Berwick, to be Commanded by the Lord Polwarth, Our Chancellor, as Colonel, Captain John Home of Manderstoun, as Lievetnant colonel, and Captain George Home of St. leonard's as Major: The one Regiment of four hundred Men, as the half of the Foot Militia, of the Western Division of Roxburgh-Shyre, with a part of the half of the Foot Militia of the Shires of Selkirk and Peebles to consist of Eight Companies, under the Command of the Earl of Dalkeith, as Colonel, Sir Francis Scot of Thirlstone Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain _____ Irvin in the Royal Regiment as Major: The three hundred eighteen and nine Men, as the half Foot Militia, of the easter Division of Roxburgh-Shyre, and the rest of the half Foot Militia of the Shires of Selkirk and Peebles, to be in one Regiment, consisting of Eight Companies under the Command of the Earl of Roxburgh, as Colonel, Captain William Bennet of Grubet Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain _____ Cunningham, in the Royal Regiment, as Major: The four hundred eighteen nine Men of the half Foot Militia, of the Shires of Linlithgow, Stirling and Clackmannan, to be in one Regiment, consisting of ten Companies, under the Command of the Earl of Annandale as Colonel, Patrick Murray of Livingstoun as Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Walter Sharp, in Colonel Robert Mckay his Regiment, as Major: The four hundred Men, as the half of the Foot Militia of the Town of Edinburgh, Leith and Cannongate to be in one Regiment, consisting of Eight Companies, under the Command of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh for the time, as Colonel, Major George Monro as Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Samuel Fullarton as Major: The four hundred Men, as the one half of the half Foot Militia of Fyfe, and Kinross to be in one Regiment, consisting of Eight Companies, under the Command of the Lord Leslie, as Colonel, Alexander Dowglas of Strathendrie, as Lieutenant Colonel, and Lieutenant Robert Young in Brigadeer Maitlands' Regiment as Major of the western Regiment of the said Shire: The other four hundred Men of the said half foot Militia of Fyfe and Kinross to be in one Regiment; consisting of Eight Companies, under the Command of the Lord Elcho, as Colonel, _____ Balfour of Dunbug, as Lieutenant Colonel, and _____ Arnot of Auchinmoor as Major of the eastern Regiment of the said Shire: The four hundred Men as the eastern Regiment of the half Foot Militia of Perth Shire, consisting of Eight Companies, under the Command of the Earl of Tallibairdin, Our Secretary of State, ●s Colonel, _____ Thomas Hay of Balhousie as Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain Walter Murray in Colonel Lauders Regiment, as Major: And the four hundred Men, as the western Regiment of the said half Foot Militia of Perth-Shyre, consisting of Eight Companies, to be Commanded by the Lord Ruthven, as Colonel, Adam Drummond of Megginsh as Leiutenenant Colonel, and Captain John Campbel as Major. The four hundred Men, as the half Foot Militia of Drumfries Shire to be one Regiment, consisting of Eight Companies, under the Command of the Duke of Queensberry, as Colonel, the Earl of Carnwath as Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain William Maxwell in Brigadeer Maitlands' Regiment, as Major: The three hundred and thirty three Foot, as the half Foot Militia of the Stewartry of Orkney to be in one Regiment, in fix Companies, under the Command of Mr. Robert Dowglas▪ Brother to the Earl of Morton, as Colonel, Sir William Gragie of Gairsie Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain _____ Moodie of Melstar as Major: The half Foot Militia of the Shires of Bute and Dumbartoun, to be divided in three Companies, the first to be Commanded by Archibald Mccaulay of Arnacaple, and the second by _____ Bannantyne of Kames, and the third by _____ Buntin younger of Airdoch, as Captains. And We with Advice foresaid, require and Command the said's Commissioners of Militia, for the respective Shires and Stewartries above named, with their utmost diligence, to proceed and List the said respective half Foot Militia, and how soon, or whensoever they have Listed the said's respective Companies, under the Command of the Captains, and other Inferior Officers to be named by them (except the Captains for Bute and Dumbartoun) comform to the Methods and Rules formerly observed in the out-rick of the Militia, and allowed by the Acts of Parliament made thereanent, That immediately they design and appoint particular places, and days of Rendezvous for each Company to meet, and be exercised upon, at least for one day every week, until further Orders be direct to them thereanent. The first of which days for each Company to meet, and Rendezvouz upon, within the ●aroch, or Bounds out of which it is raised, is hereby appointed to be within Eight days after the Captains and Lieutenants shall be named, and the List of the Bounds for their respective Companies given to them, by the saids Commissioners. And We with Advice foresaid, appoints the several Heretors to pay to each Foot Militia Man of the said's respective Companies, six shillings Scots per diem, for each day they shall be Exercised, and Randevouzed, during the space foresaid, reserving to them their Relieff thereof, from the Men Tenants, and Servants, for whom the said Foot Men are to be put out, and who are not listed in the Militia, requiring hereby, the Officers and Soldiers punctually to attend the Particular days of Rendezvous, with their best Arms, under the pains contained in the first Act of Parliament, 1672. being now double in the time of War: And for the better encouragement of such who shall be Listed for Our Service, in the said Militia. We do hereby Declare, that all such pesons who shall be introlled and admitted in this Trust and Service of the Militia, shall be entirely reserved for that Employment, and during their Service in it, ●●al be freed and exemed from all other Levies, and shall have the benefit of and be subject to the whole other Advantages and Orders set down and provided to the Militia by the first Act of Parliament 1672 and other Acts made thereanent; Certifying withal, every Heretor liable in Outreik of any Footman, who shall fail in the punctual and timely putting out of sufficient Men with their best Arms, and every Footman Listed in the said Service of the Militia, who shall be absent from any day of Rendezvouz shall be Fined in, & bell yable to the Penalties thereanent provided by the first Act of Parliament 1672. And We with Advice foresaid, Require and Command the Majors of the several Regiments respectiué above named, to be present with one or other of the Companies of the said's Regiments every Rendezvouz day, and to Train and Exercise the same in Military Discipline. And for his encouragement in the said Service: We have appointed thirteen shillings sterling per diem to be paid to each Major for their Pains and Service for each day they shall be present with, and attend the Exercising and Training of any of the Companies of the said's respective Regiments, with four shillings sterling per diem to the Lieutenants of each Company, and three shillings sterling money foresaid to the Ensign of the Colonel's Company per diem, and six pence money foresaid for each Drummer and Sergeant, besides the like Sum payable to them by their Outputters, for each day the said's Companies shall be brought together for Exercise and Discipline: Which Sums respectiuè forsaids, We with Advice and Consent foresaid Require and Command the Collectors of Our Supply in the several Shires upon an Attestation from the said's Commissioners of the several Shires, under the hands at least of three thereof, with their Clerk who is to record the same in the Commissioners Books, bearing the Number of the Days Pay, due to the said's Officers, Sergeants and Drummers upon an Receipt of the same by them respective to the Collector, upon Payment punctually to pay, which Attestation and Receipt. We hereby Require & Command Our General Receivers to Accept of, & receive from the several Collectors as good Payment of so much of the Supply of the said Shire, & sufficient Exoneration to them pro tanto, as they will be answerable for the same upon their highest Peril And Appoints the same to be Allowed by the Lords of Our Tresaury to the said's General Receivers. And for the more effectual defeating and opposing of the said Invasion: We with Advice foresaid Require and Command the hail Fencible Men within the Shire of Wigtoun and Stewartry of Kirkcudoright, and within the Sheriffdoms of Air, Argile, Lanerk and Renfrew, to Meet and Conveen upon the Seventh Day of Jannuary next, and Rendezvouz with their best Arms within their several parochs under the Command of the Officers formerly nominated and appointed, or who shall be nominated or appointed for that effect, and there to exercise themselves. and be in readiness to march with  Provisions as they shall be required by further Orders from Us or Our Privy Council; And for the better Reinforcing Our Standing Troops to make a vigorous Opposition to any such Invasion, and timely to suppress any Intestine Trouble that may happen thereupon, We with Advice foresaid, Require and Command the several Heretors within the Shires  to Provide their respective Numbers of Militia of Horse, according as the samen shall be appointed to be furnished by the several Leaders, to be named by the saids Commissioners of Militia, Authorized in manner , and to have the samen in readiness, with a sufficient Rider and Arms, to Meetand Rendezvouz at the Places, upon the Days, and under the Command of the Persons respective , viz, the Shire of Forfar One hundred and three Horse, at the Rate of Ten Pound Sterling each Horse, besides sufficient Furniture and Arms, conform to the first Act of Parliament One thousand six hundred and seventy two, to meet at Forfar the Seventh Day of January One thousand six hundred and ninty seven Years, under the Command of the Earl of Strathmore as Captain thereof, the Shire of Kincardin and Mareschals Part of Aberdeen Seventy four Horse, at the Rate foresaid to veet at Aberdeen the said Seventh Day of Jannuary, under the Command of the Earl of Kintore as Captain thereto, and the rest of Aberdeen and Bamf Shire, One hundred and seventy six Horse at the Rate foresaid to Meet where the Captains and Commissioners foresaids shall Appoint the said Day under the Command of the Earl of Errol and Lord Saltoun as Captains thereto, the Shires of Bigine, Nairn and this side of Ness Eighty eight Horse of the Pride foresaid, to Meet the said Day where the Commissioners and Captains shall Appoint, under the Command of the Laird of Grant as Captain thereto, the Earl of Seaforth and the Lord Lovat their Division of Inverness Eighty eight Horse to meet as the said's Commissioners and Captains shall appoint under the Command of the Laird of Balnagovan as Captain thereto, the Shires of Sutherland and Caithness Eighty eight Horse at the rate foresaid, to meet where the Commissioners and Captains shall appoint day foresaid under the Command of the Lord Rae as Captain thereto, all of them with ten days Provision at eighteen Shilling per diem to be Rendevouzed upon, the days , and to be daily exercised during the said space; and thereafter to be duly and regularly quartered, during the space they shall be kept together in the next adjacent Towns and Villages upon payment of ready Money for their Quarters until they shall receive further Orders thereanent: And we with Advice foresaid Require and Command the Commissioners of Militia for the foresaids several Shires last  upon this side of Spey to meet and conveen upon the said Twentieth fourth day of this present Month of December, and these upon the other side thereof upon the Twentieth ninth day of the samen Month; and with Advice of the said's respective Captains to make choice of fit and sufficient persons qualified according to Law to be Lieutennants and Coronets for the said's respective Troops of Horse, and to intimat the same to the said's Officers, and require them to attend their Duty and Commands under the Pains above-exprest; Declaring hereby that all such persons who shall be Listed for the said Horse Militia shall be freed & exemed from all other Levies whatsomever during their Service in the said Militia: And We with Advice foresaid Require and Command the said's Commissioners of Militia to cause the several Fractions for each Militia Horse, and Ordain the same within what short space they think meet, to be duly paid into the respective Leaders thereof, and in case of Failzie to exact the Pains, and use the Execution for the same mentioned in the Act of Parliament one thousand six hundred and sixty nine and that they take care that good and sufficient Horses Arms and Furniture be provided, able and fit for the Service, conform to the Acts of Parliament and former Practice in the like cases: and further We with Advice foresaid Require and Command the Commissioners of Militia for the said's respective Shires to cause provide at the Charge and Expenses of the said's Shires a Drum for each Company of the said Foot Militia and one pair of Colours for the Colonels Company, and a Standart, and Trumpet for each of the said's Troops of Horse and to cause the said Charge and Expense thereof to be laid on the respective Shires, and raised in that same manner as the Supplies imposed by Act of Parliament for Our Service, are conform to the second Act Parliament One thousand six hundred and sixty nine, or to call for the Drums, Colours, Standarts and Trumpets heretofore provided for that use, at the Charge of the several Shires, and to Conveen the haver's thereof before them, and to compel them to deliver up the same by Imprisonment or what other Execution they think fit▪ 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 remanent Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burgns of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom; and there in Our Name and Authority by open Proclamation make Intination hereof that none pretend Ignorance, and Appoints Our Solicitor to Transmit Printed Copies hereof to the Sheriffs and Stewart Clerks of the hail Sheriffdoms and Stewartries within this Kingdom, with Copies to be Transmitted by the said Sheriff and Stewart-Clerks to the Ministers of the several parochs within their Bounds, and Ordains the said Sheriff and Stewart-Clerks to cause Publish this Proclamation at the Mercat-Crosses, upon the first Market-day after it shall come to their Hands; and Appoints this Proclamation to be intimat in the said Paroch-Churches upon the Forenoon after Sermon, the first Lord's Day, immediately after the same shall come to their hands: And Ordains these Presents to be Printed.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the Tenth day of December, and of Our Reign the Eight Year, 1696. Per Actum Dominorum Seereti Concilii. GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Sti. Concilii,  
GOD save the KING.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His Most Excellent Majesty, 1696.