A PROCLAMATION Discharging the payment of the Rents of the Bishoprics to any, but the Persons named by the Council. At Edinburgh, the Ninteenth Day of September, 1689. WHereas the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom, in their Claim of Right, of the Eleventh of April last, Declared, that Prelacy, and the Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters, is, and hath been a great and insupportable Grievance to this Nation, and contrair to the Inclinations of the Generality of the People, ever since the Reformation; And that their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament, have by their Act of the Date the Fifth Day of July last by past, abolished Prelacy, and all Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters: And His Majesty considering the prejudice it may be to His Interest, if fit Persons be not appointed to look after, and receive the Rents and Emoluments, particularly those consisting of Tithes, which formerly did belong to the Bishops, Hath therefore signified His Royal Pleasure, That the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council should give Warrant to Alexander Hamilton of kinkel, for Drawing and Uplifting the Tithes and other Rents of the Archbishopric of St. Andrews, he giving sufficient Security for his faithful performance of his duty in the said Office; and hath also left it to the Council to appoint fit persons for Drawing and Uplifting the Tithes of other Bishoprics for this present Cropped and year of God 1689. that none concerned suffer prejudice: Excepting the Bishopric of Orknay, which His Majesty is resolved to have Uplifted with the Rents of the Lordship. And the said's Lords of Privy Council having in obedience to His Majesty's Commands, Nominat and Appointed fit and qualified Persons for Drawing of the Tithes, and Uplifting of the Rents formerly belonging to the Bishops, Deans, or any other person of superior Order and Dignity in the Church above Presbyters; And least before the time that some of them can be able to come to this place, and find Caution for their faithful discharging of that Trust, and make Intimation of their respective Commissions to uplift the said's Rents for the said Cropped and Year of God foresaid, to the persons liable in payment thereof, The Teinds and other Rents of the Archbishoprics and Bishoprics, and others foresaids may be Imbazled, and Intrometted with by persons who have no Right thereto; Therefore the said's Lords of Privy Council, in their Majesty's Name and Authority foresaid, Prohibit and Discharge all and sundry Heretors, Fevers, Liferenters, Tacks-men of Teinds, Tenants and others whose Teinds were formerly in use to be drawn, and who were liable in payment of any Rent or Duty to the said's late Arch-Bishops or Bishops, or others foresaids, to draw or suffer their Teinds to be drawn, and from payment of any Rental-Bolls, Feu, Blench or Tack-Duties, and other Rents, Casualties and Emoluments, formerly payable to the said's late Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and others foresaid, except to such persons as shall be authorized by the saids Lords of Privy Council for uplifting thereof; with Certification to them, if they do any thing in the contrary hereof, they shall be liable therefore, notwithstanding of any pretended Discharge that may be Impetrat or Obtained from any other person or persons for the said Cropped and Year of GOD foresaid. And Ordains these Presents to be Printed, and Published by Macers of Privy Council at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and by Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the other Shires within this Kingdom, that none may pretend Ignorance. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii. GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Secreti Concilii. GOD Save King WILLIAM and Queen MARY. Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, By Order of His Majesty's Privy Council, 1689.