A proclamation allowing a further dyet to the Commons for taking the Test, and indemnifying the heretors guilty of harbouring, or resetting of rebels who have taken the Test at the late Justice-Aires, as to their lives

C2 R DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms A PROCLAMATION, Allowing a further Dyet to the Commons for taking the Teſt, and Indemnifying the Heretors Guilty of Harbouring, or Reſetting of Rebels who have taken the Teſt at the late Juſtice-Aires, as to their Lives. CHARLES R. By the grace of GOD, King of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; To Our Lyon King at Arms, and his Brethren Heraulds, Macers, Purſevants or Meſſengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and ſeverally, ſpecially conſtitute Greeting:

foraſmuch as it being repreſented to Vs, that ſome of Our Commons have, through ignorance, or want of frequent Meetings of theſe appointed by Our late Proclamation for Adminiſtrating the Teſt, loſt the benefit of Our Indemnity, and conſidering that the time formerly allowed unto them was very ſhort, We have thought fit, as a further evidence of Our Clemency, with advice of Our Privy Council, to continue the Dyet for their taking the Teſt, to the firſt of March next enſuing, for Indemnifying them for ever, as to their Reſetting, and Intercomuning with ſuch as were engaged in the Rebellion, in the year 1679. Excepting ſuch as have Reffetted, or Intercomuned with the Aſſaſſines of the late Lord Arch-biſhop of St. Andrews, or Seditious Field-preachers: As alſo, ſuch as have Reſſetted, or Intercomuned with any who is Guilty of, or any maner of way acceſſory to the late horrid Conſpiracy againſt Our Royal Perſon and Government; Requiring hereby all Sheriffs, Stewarts, Magiſtrates and others in Office ſtrictly to ſearch for, (after the ſaid day,) and to puniſh with all rigor that Our Law will allow, all ſuch as will refuſe this laſt Offer of Our Mercy: But if any are, or ſhall be apprehended before their making application for obtaining this Our Favour, We Declare that they ſhall have no benefit thereof. And further, We declare, that the Heretors who have already taken the Teſt in the laſt Iuſtice-Aires, thereby are ſecured as to their Lives, if they have been only Guilty of Reſetting, and Intercomuning; but that nevertheleſs, they ſhall after the firſt day of November next be lyable to be Conveened before Our Privy Council, and to ſuch Arbitrary Puniſhments as they ſhall think fit to appoint, according to the Specialities of their reſpective Caſes and Guilt; Declaring hereby, that their Sentences being fulfilled by them, ſhall Indemnifie them as effectually, as if they had a ſpecial Pardon and Remiſſion from Vs, under Our great Seal; and We do allow thoſe intruſted by Our Privy Council, to take the Declarations of Witneſſes againſt thoſe who have been ſuſpected of being in the late Rebellion, or Guilty of Reſſetting and Intercomuning, providing always that there be no Proceſſes intented upon theſe; or any other Declarations, or Depoſitions, until Our Advocat ſhall find ſufficient matter of Dittay therein. And to the effect Our Pleaſure may be known in the Premiſſes, Our Will is, and We Charge you ſtraitly 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 Premiſſes: 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 indorſed again to the Bearer.

Given under Our Signet at Haly rud-houſe, the twenty day of September, One thouſand ſix hundred eighty and three. And of Our Reign, the thirtieth and fifth Year. Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilij. WILL. PATERSON. Cls. Sti. Concilij GOD ſave the KING.