WR  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
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;  
Forasmuch as the Lords of our Privy Council, by their Act of the Day and Date hereof have Appointed their Clerks to Raise and Give out Letters at the Instance of Sir James Stuart Our Advocate, for our Interest, in the Matter under-written, against all Sheriffs of Shires, Magistrates of burgh's, and others, who (by the Act of Parliament, anent Seizing of Horse and Arms from the Persons not Qualified, and the Proclamation of Our Privy Council following thereon) are Appointed to Seize the saids Horses and Arms, and to make their Report to the Council, and have failzied, for Citing of the said's Sheriffs, Magistrates and others foresaids, to Give in their Reports, and make payment of their Penalties, in manner and to the Effect under-written; as also for Charging all Sheriffs, Magistrates and others, who conform to the said Act of Parliament, for Seizing of Horses and Arms, and Proclamation of Council following thereon, have Seized any Arms so cause Transport them to the Garrisons after-named, to the Effect abovementioned, as the said Act of the Date foresaid, Ordaining their Our Letters to be Direct thereon in manner after-specified, at more length bears. OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that Incontinent their our Letters secn, ye pass, and in our Name and Authority, Command and charge all and sundry the Sheriffs of the several Shires of this Kingdom, Stewarts of Stewartries, Bailies of Regalities, and their Respective Deputs, and the Magistrates of burgh's, within their several Jurisdictions, to make up, and Give in to the said's Lords of our Privy Council, or their Clerks, the Reports of the Horses and Arms Seized by them as said is, within their Respective Bounds and Jurisdictions, and that betwixt and and also Command and Charge the said's Sheriffs, Stewarts and Bailies of Regalities, and their Deputs, and Migistrats of burgh's, to make payment to George bailie of Fariswood our General Receiver of the Sum of Five hundred Marks a piece, and that upon the said 〈…〉 in case they failzie to give in the saids Reports for the Bounds within their Jurisdictions, betwixt and the said Day, under the pain of Rebellion and Putting them to our Horn; and immediately in case they failzie after the said 〈…〉 That ye in Our Name and Authority, duly, lawfully and orderly Denunce the forenamed Persons Failziers, our Rebels, and put them to Our Horn, Escheat and Inbring all their Movable Goods and Gear to our usc for their Contempt and Disobedience, and if need beiss, that ye Fence, Arrest, comprise, Compel, Poind and Distrenzie the forenamed Persons, their readiest Movables, Goods and Gear, ay while complete Payment be made of the Sums or Penalties above written; and also that ye Cause Registrat their our Letters, with the Executions thereof, conform to the Act of Parliament; and sicklike that ye Command and Charge all and sundry the saids Sheriffs, Stewarts, Bailies of Regalities, and their Deputs, and Magistrates of burgh's within their several Jurisdictions, who conform to the Act of Parliament for Seizing of Horses and Arms of Persons not Qualified, and Proclamation of Council following thereon, have Seized any Arms, to cause Transport the Arms Seized by them, to any of the Garrisons of Edinburgh, Striviling, Dumbarton, Blackness, Inverness, or Dunnotter, which do lie nearest to the place where the Seized Arms are lying, betwixt and the said 〈…〉 day of 〈…〉 and to Report to the Clerks of Our Privy Council Certificats thereof, that the said's Arms may be made furthcoming for the Service of Us and the Government, whensoever the same shall be called for. 〈…〉  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the Sixteenth Day of April, and of Our Reign the Eight Year, 1696. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii.