A PROCLAMATION, Prohibiting the Exportation of Victual forth of this Kingdom.  
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 present cold and backward Season, doth threaten the Scarcity of Victual, so that it appears necessary that there be a Restraint and Prohibition of the Export of Victual, at least of Meal, Oats, Pease, Barley and Bear, whereby the foresaid threatened Scarcity may be the better prevented. Therefore We with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, have thought fit to prohibit, and do hereby strictly prohibit and discharge the exporting forth of this Kingdom, either by Land or by Sea, any of the foresaids' Kind's or Grains of Victual, viz. Meal, Oats, Pease, Barley or Bear after the Day and Date hereof, under all highest Pains, to be inflicted upon the Contraveeners, either Merchants, Skippers, or others whatsomever: And farther, We hereby require and Charge all Sheriffs, Stewarts, Bailies and their Deputs, Magistrates of burgh's, Justices of Peace, and other Officers of the Law, as also of Our Customers; That they take all lawful and effectual Means and Methods to restrain and hinder the said Export, as they will be answerable, and these presents to be but prejudice of the former Order and Restraint issued out by the Lords of our Privy Council, of the date the twenty sixth day of April last. 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 t●e Mercat-Crosses of the remanent Hea 〈…〉 burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, and to the 〈…〉 aill Sea ports of this Kingdom, and there in Our Name and Authority, make Publication hereof, that none pretend Ignorance, and Ordains these Presents to be Printed.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh the tenth day of May, and of Our Reign the tenth Year 1698. 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 Kings Most Excellent Majesty, Anno Dom. 1698.