PROCLAMATION Discharging Bonfires and Illuminations.  
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 found, that on the occasion of Illuminations, and other Expressions of public Joy, by Bonfires or otherways, several Inconveniences and Abuses happen, no ways to be suffered or tollerat under any civil Government: Therefore, We with Advice of the Lords, of Our Privy Council, have thought fit to Prohibit and Discharge; Likeas, We hereby prohibit and Discharge all Illuminations or Bonfires used for Expressions of public Joy to be made in any Burgh within this Realm, or any pretence whatsoever; Certifying all such as shall do on the contrair, or be accessary thereto, that they shall be repute and punished as guilty of a Riot, and Breakers of the public Peace; And farther, we with consent foresaid, do hereby empower, and strictly Require all Magistrates of burgh's, and other Officers of the Law that may be concerned, to do their outmost diligence, and if need beiss, to call for, and use the Assistance of such of Our Forces as shall be found within their Bounds, for preventing and repressing thereof, and Seizing and Apprehending the Contraveeners, as they will be answerable on 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 of the Premises, that none pretend ignorance, and Ordains these Presents to be Printed and Published.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh the twenty second day of June, and of Our Reign the Twelfth year 1700. Per actum Dominorum secreti Consilii. GILB. ELIOT Cls. sti. Consilii.  
God save the King.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, Anne Dom. 1700.