Forasmuch as We are Informed, That divers Louse, and Vagabond Per­sons, Thieves and Robbers, do pass up and down this Kingdom, and even within this Our Capital City of Edinburgh, and other Our Burghs, and there, and on Our High-ways, by day and night, do not only Rob, Beat, and Abuse Our Innocent Subjects, but sometimes enter into their Houses and Shops under Silence and Cloud of Night, to that purpose: We therefore for preventing of such abuses for the future, Do, With Advice of Our Privy Council, Hereby strictly Require and Command, all Our Sheriffs, Stewarts, Magistrats of Burghs, and others in Authority under Us, to use their outmost endeavours for Discovering and Apprehending the saids Louse and Vagabond Persons, Thieves and Robbers, their Accomplices and Abetters, and others suspect guilty of Harbouring, Resetting, or Entertaining of them, as they shall be found within their Respective Bounds and Jurisdictions, and to secure their Persons in Firmance, until they be brought to a Legal Tryal, and Punished or Acquit (according to Our Laws) for the saids Crimes, as they will be answerable. And for the better Discovery of such Louse and Vagabond Persons, Thieves and Robbers, We, with Advice foresaid, Do allow any of the persons accessory, or who shall be accessory to the saids Crimes, to come in and Discover their Accomplices, Re­setters, Harbourers, or Abetters (so as some of them may be found out) to Our Privy Council, or the nearest Magi­strat without any hazard; Declaring hereby, that upon their performance thereof, they themselves shall be free of all Processes, Civil or Criminal, upon the account foresaid in all time coming. And if any other person, not con­cerned with the saids persons in their Guilt, shall Apprehend, or so Discover them, as that they shall be Apprehended, We hereby ensure them of a suitable Reward to be payed forth of Our Thesaury, according to their Pains and Diligence. And We further hereby fully and amply Pardon and Imdemnifie all Our good Subjects who shall be assisting herein, as to any Blood, Slaughter, Mutilation, or other Inconveniencies that may follow, either in pursuit of the saids Louse and Vaga­bond Persons, Thieves and Robbers, and their Accomplices or Assistants, or apprehending of them now, and in all time coming, and Declares them free of all Process Criminal, or Civil, upon that account; And that Our Pleasure in the Premisses may be known and obeyed, Our Will is, and We Charge you strictly and Command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and whole other remanent Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the Shires of this Kingdom, and there, in our Royal Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make publication of Our Pleasure in the Premisses, that all persons concerned may take exact notice thereof, and give punctual obedience thereto, and that none may pretend Ignorance.