❧ At Edinburgh the first day of February, 1642.  
FOrsamekle as by the cruelty of the Rebels in Ireland, great numbers of His Majesties good Subjects, and our own countrymen there, are daily forced to flee out of Ireland to those parts in the West country, where they find best occasion of landing, the multitude of which poor People is become so great, and their necessities and wants so pressing, as the Parishes in the West where they land, have exhausted the Boxes of their poor and collections among themselves, and other parts near about, and are not able to supply any considerable number of the saids poor people; who, in that regard are like to be in worse condition here, where they looked for succour and refreshment, in so far as by flight having escaped the sword of the enemy, by famine they will miserable perish if they be not timeouslie supplied. And the Lords of Secret council finding themselves every way obliged to help and relieve the calamitous condition of these poor People; and persuading themselves, that the cause for which they suffer, being loyalty and Religion, will be powerful motives with all good Subjects, and true-hearted Christians, liberally to contribute of their means for the refreshment and comfort of so many Christian souls, specially being our own countrymen, and knowing perfectly that the ministery of the kingdom will not be deficient, but use their best endeavours in so pious and necessary a work. Therefore the saids Lords have recommended, and by the tenor hereof recommends the saids distressed Christians, and their deplorable condition to the moderators, Brethren, and Elders of the whole Presbyteries within the kingdom. Requesting and desiring them with all convenient diligence to give tymous and solid Orders to the several Ministers and Elders of Parishes within their particular Presbyteries, for collecting of the Christian benevolence of their Parochiners, towards the relief of the saids distressed Christians. And that the saids Ministers use all the powerful and persuasive ways they can in their Sermons, and other ways to stirie up their Flocks, liberally and cheerfully to contribute in this errand. And that the Minister of every Parish bring in his contribution to the Moderator of the Presbytery, to be sent by him to the persons under written, appointed by the saids Lords for receiving of the same in maner after specified, viz. the Moderator of the Presbyteries of the Provincialls of Fyffe, Angus, Aberdeen, Murrey, Rosse, and all others in the other side of Forth, as also the Moderators of the Presbyteries of the Provincials of the Merce, Tivedail, Lothian, and pebbles, To sand in and deliver the Collections of the saids Presbyteries at the Burgh of Edinburgh, to James Stuart, John main, and Samuel Lockhart Merchants, Burgesses of Edinburgh; or any of them. And the Moderators of the Presbyteries within the Provincials of Sterline, Glasgow, Air, Argyle, gallovvay, and Dumfreis, To sand in and deliver the Collections of the saids Presbyteries at the Burgh of Air, to John Osburne,& Robert Gordoun, Merchants, Burgesses, or either of them. Which persons receivers of the saids collections, are men of approven credit and honesty, and will deal faithfully in this so important a cause, according to the orders to be prescribed to them by the Lords of privy council, for the destribution of the saids Collections amongst; the saids poor People. And it is hereby declared, that the charge of carrying the Contributions above written to the collectors in Edinburgh, or Air, shall be payed out of the readiest of the Collections.  
Extractum de libris actorum secreti Consilii S. D. N. Regis, per me Archibaldum primrose Clericum ejusdem, sub meis signo& subscriptione manualibus. Arch. primrose, clear. S. Cons.