Forasmuch, as notwithstanding of the 16. Act of the 1. Session of the 2. Parliament of Our dearest Royal Brother Charles the 2. of ever blessed Memory; and a Proclamation of His Privy Council pursueant there­to, dated the 14. day of June 1683, for Repairing of High-ways, Bridges, and Ferries, The Commissio­ners of Excise, and Justices of Peace in the respective Shires of this Our Kingdom, have been most negli­gent and remiss in performing of their Duty thereby enjoyned to them, to the great Prejudice and Danger of the Leidges. And We Considering, that the ruine and decay of High-ways, Bridges, and Ferries, so com­modious and advantagious to Our Subjects, is chiefly occasioned through the default of the Overseers formerly appointed, and of the not frequent Meetings of the Commissioners of Excise, and Justices of Peace. Do therefore, with Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby Require, and Command the Commissioners of Exoise, and Justices of Peace, in the several Shires of this Kingdom respectively, to Meet and Conveen upon the Second Tuesday of October, at such a place as shall be appoint­ed by the Sheriffs principal of the several Shires, Stewarts of the Stewartries, Baillies of Regalities, and their Deputs, and the Ma­gistrats of Burghs Royal (who are hereby appointed Overseers as formerly,) and thereafter at such Times and Places as shall be by them appointed, and then and there to do, and perform what is enjoyned to them by the foresaid Act of Parliament, and Proclama­tion of Council, and to see the same put in full and vigorous Execution, conform to the tenor thereof; And to the end the fore­saids Overseers, who are hereby appointed to conveen the Commissioners of Excise and Justices of Peace, for the more effectual prosecution of this so necessar and publick a Work, nor they, in case they fail to meet, being lawfully warned, may not go un­punished, We with Advice foresaid, Do hereby Ordain, and Declare, That all and every of the saids Commissioners and Justices of Peace, who shall not Meet and Conveen at the Diet foresaid, and thereafter, as they shall be advertised by the saids Overseers, that they shall be lyable, toties quoties, in Ten Merks Scots for each Meetings absence, to be exacted and imployed towards the re­pairing of the High-ways, Bridges, and Ferries within the several Shires, Stewarts, Regalities, and Burghs respectivè. And We hereby Require the foresaids Overseers and Conveeners, to cause the same be punctually uplifted and exacted, within Fourty Days days after the imposing thereof, Certifying them, that if they fail herein, that they themselves shall be lyable in the said Penalty, tho the Persons who incur the same are not hereby to be exempted, but their Fines are to be uplifted by the Collector of the place, and imployed for the use foresaid, for which he is to be accomptable; And in case the saids Overseers shall not frequently Conveen the Commissioners of Excise, and Justices of Peace, to the intent and purport foresaid, We Ordain them to be conveened before Our Privy Council, and punished therefore, as they shall think fit. And to the end this Our Royal Will and Pleasure may be made known to all Persons concerned: Our Will is, and We Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent, these Ours Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and all the other Mercat Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the Shires of this Kingdom, and other places needful, and there, by open Proclamation, in Our Royal Name and Authority, make Publication of the Premis­ses, that all Persons concerned may have notice thereof, and give Obedience thereto accordingly. And We Require and Command the Sheriffs of the respective Shires, to cause timeously publish this Our Proclamation, as they will be answerable at their peril.