C R  
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
PROCLAMATION Prohibiting the Nobility, and others to withdraw from this Kingdom without Licence.  
CHARLES, by the grace of GOD, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; To Our Lion King at Arms, and his brethren Heralds, Macers, Pursuivants, Messengers at Arms, our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally specially, constitute, Greeting:  
Forasmuch as the Lords of Our Privy Council, having taken to their consideration, That upon the great Disorders lately committed in some Western & other Shires, they did write to them, Requiring them in Our Name, to take such course therein, as might secure the peace in these places, With certification to them if they failyied therein, they would employ Our Authority for doing thereof: Which offer having received no satisfactory Answer, and they having declared. That they were not able to suppress those Disorders, nor free the Country thereof, We did Command and Warrant Our Privy Council, to arm such of Our Militia, and such others as should offer to serve Us for redressing the said's Disorders; and did authorise them to charge all Heretors and others, and if need be, all betwixt sixty and sixteen, to come and attend Our Host under the pain of Treason, according to the ancient Laws of this Our Kingdom: In obedience to Our Royal Commands, the said's Lords have thought fit to send a Committee of Our Council, to attend Our Forces so to be employed: And therefore, left any person should withdraw from the said Service, by going out of this Kingdom, We, with Advice of the said's Lords of Our Council, do hereby require and command all Noblemen, Heretors, and Magistrates of burgh's Royal (except actual Traffickers within burgh's) to remain and continue within this Kingdom, and not to depart forth thereof upon any pretext whatsomever, without special Licence from Our Council, as they will be answerable at their highest peril. Our Will is herefore, and We charge you straight, and command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, and thereat, in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make publication of the Premises, that none pretend ignorance: The which to do, We commit to you conjunctly and severally, Our full power, by these Our Letters, delivering them by you duly execute and endorsed again to the Bearer.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the third day of January, 1678. and of Our Reign the 29. Year. Thomas Hay Cls. Sti. Concilii. 
 GOD save the King.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty. Anno Dom. 1678.