Our Lyon King at Arms, and his brethren Heraulds, Ma­cers of Our Privy Council, Pursevants or Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that Part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, and to all and sun­dry Our Leidges and Subjects whom it Effeirs, Greeting. Where­as, by the Law of all Nations, the laying of Restraints and Imposi­tions upon Forreign Imported Merchandises, Is acknowledged to be proper to, and inherent in the Persons of all Soveraign Princes, as an undoubted Prerogative of the Crown. And that by the 26. Act of the 3. Sess. of Our first Parliament, the ordering and disposal of Trade with Forreign Countreys, and the laying of Restraints and Impositions upon Forreign imported Commodi­ties, Is asserted to belong to Us and Our Successors, as an undoubt­ed Priviledge and Prerogative of the Crown; And that by ver­tue [Page 4]thereof, We may lay such Impositions, and Restraints upon Forreign Imported Commodities, and so order and dispose upon the trade of them, as We shall judge fit for the good of Our King­dom. And there being several Representations made to Us and Our Privy Council, by diverse of the most considerable Mer­chants of this Kingdom, and others, that by the undue ballance of Trade, occasioned chiefly by the Import of many unnecessary, and superfluous Commodities, consumed upon vanity and luxu­ry, a great part of the stock of the Mony of the Kingdom was Exported, and the improvement of the native Export, and Manu­facture of the Kingdom neglected, nothwithstanding of the many good and wholsome Laws made by Us and Our Royal Ancestors for encouragement thereof: And We, being ever ready to im­prove all occasions and opportunites for the good and advantage of this Our Ancient Kingdom, By a Proclamation of the first of March last, with advice of Our Privy Council, thought fit to put a present stop to several superfluous, unnecessary, and expensive Com­modities, viz. of all Silver and Gold Threed, Silver and Gold Lace, Fringes, or Tracing, all Buttons of Gold and Silver threed, all man­ner of Stuffs and Ribbans, in which there is any Gold or Silver threed and Philagrane work to be worn upon Apparel; as also all Forreign Holland-Linen, Cambrick, Laun, Dornick, Damask, Tyking, Bustein or Damety, tufted or stripped Holland, Calligo, Musline, Silesia and East India Linen, and all other Cloths made of Linen or Cotton; as likewise, all Forreign Cloths and Stuffs whatsomever, made of wool-yairn, or wool and lint; all Forreign silk and woolen Stock­ings, all Forreign Laces made of silk, gimp, or threed, and all manner of Laces and Poynt of any sorts or collours; all Forreign made Gloves, Shooes, Boots, and Slippers; and ordained, all such Goods as should happen to be Imported, to be burnt and de­stroyed, and the importers and ressetters fined in the value of the Goods so Imported.

And whereas, that Affair concerning the Improvement of the Trade, and the Manufacture of this Our Kingdom, of so great consequence to the benefit and advantage thereof, hath been frequently and fully considered: We, with advice of Our Privy Council have thought fit, not only to renew and ratifie the said Proclamation; But farder, We do hereby discharge all Merchants or other persons whatsoever, to Import into this Kingdom, any manner of Floured, Stripped, Figured, Checkered, Painted, or Printed silk Stuffs or Ribbans; all made Cloaths Im­ported from Abroad for men, Night-gowns, Petticoats and other Cloaths for women, and all made Cloaths for children, after the date hereof, excepting only such as can be made appear upon Oath to have been ordered by preceeding Commissions, and Shipped before the twentieth two day of April instant, which time is al­lowed to the Merchants or others to recall their Commissions if any such have been given; With certification, that all such Goods as shall be otherwise Imported, shall be burnt and destroyed, and the importers or ressetters fined in the value of the saids Goods. [Page 5]It's hereby declared, that in this Prohibition, Silk stuffs, or Rib­bans, changing colloured, or watered, are not comprehended, nor plain Silk-stuffs, nor Ribbans. As also, that in the Prohibition in Our former Proclamation of the first of March, discharging the Importing of all Manufacture of Wool or Lint, Arras-Hangings and Carpets made abroad and Imported, are not discharged, but the same may be Imported as formerly.

And considering the great prejudice, not only the Merchants, who have great parts of their Stocks in these Goods upon than hands, but others may sustain, if a total prohibition of wearing at a definit day, were appointed and prefixed: And, upon the other part, how difficult it may prove to make the said Proclama­tion practicable and effectual against the Import & Sale, if the Mer­chants be not strictly bound up from any further Import or Sale: We have therefore thought fit, hereby to discharge all Merchants, or other persons whatsoever, by themselves, their wives, bairns, or servants, or any having warrant from them, or with whom they have any interest or share in gain or loss, To vend, sell, barter, or exchange any of the saids prohibited Goods contained in the said former, and this Our Proclamation, to any persons re­sidenters in this Our Kingdom, after the fifteenth day of June next; Except they sign and fend in to Our Council, and give Oath be­fore the Magistrat, at the times, and in manner following, contai­ned in the Band subjoyned; with certification to them, if they refuse to give up the said Inventor, and Bond, and Oath, or give the same unfaithfully, they shall be holden repute, and esteemed importers, venters, and ressetters of the saids prohibited Goods, and that the saids Goods shall be seized upon, burnt and destroy­ed, and they fined in the value thereof, Iose their freedom for ever, and be otherwise proceeded against, conform to the Laws for their contempt. And the Magistrats of the several Burghs, are hereby ordered from time to time, to search the Shops, Houses, and Chambers of such Merchants and others, as shall not give up Inventor, and give the Bond and Oath aftermentioned, [...] burn and destroy the saids prohibited Goods; which Bond and Inven­tor, the saids Magistrats are ordered to take from the hail Mer­chants within their Burghs, and send in the same to the Council, betwixt and the fifteen days of June and November next respectivè, for this year, and yearly thereafter in June and November; and shall send in with the said Inventor, Swatches of the several Stuffs and Ribbans contained in the same, marked and sealed upon a pa­per apart, bearing the same to belong to such a Merchant; And the Magistrats also are hereby ordained to send in with the said In­ventor, Oath, Bond & Swatches, yearly a report in write upon Oath, that they have truly and honestly performed their duty, & have spa­red and past by no Merchant, and a list of such persons as shall refuse the said Bond and Oath. And We do hereby declare, That whosoever shall delate any transgressors of this or Our former Proclamation, either as to Linen or Woolen Manufactures, or [Page 6]prohibited silver and gold Ribbans, or Laces, or Threed, or pro­hibited Silk-stuffs and Ribbans, or any otherwise has transgressed the said Proclamation, shall have the one half of the fines or other benefit arising thereby, for his incouragement. And the Tacks-men or Collectors of our Customs, Surveyors, Colle­ctors, Waiters, and their servants, are hereby strictly required, and commanded, to search for, seize upon, apprehend, burn and destroy, any of the saids prohibited Goods shall happen to be Imported contrair to the tenour of this and Our former Proclamation, and not to suffer the same to escape: With cer­tification to them if they failȝie, and suffer the saids prohibited Goods to be imported, either by tollerance or connivance, they shall not only amit and lose their Places, and forever be declared incapable to serve in that or any such publick Charge, and be fined in the value of the Goods, that through their default or neglect, shall happen to be Imported, but otherwise fined by Our Privy Council, conform to the quality and nature of their offence. And any Merchant or other person, who shall inform against any of the Fermorers, Collectors, Surveyors or Waiters, for neglect of their duty in the premisses, and prove the same, shall have their fines for a reward; and the Tacks-men and Collectors, are to send in their own Oaths, and the Oaths of ther Surveyors, Colle­ctors and servants twice in the year to the Council, that they have done their duty, as is before prescribed, under the penalty and cer­tification foresaid, and that at the foresaids diets appointed for the returning of the Bonds of the Merchants.

And, whereas there are divers good Laws and Acts of Parlia­ment already made for the incouragement of the Manufactories of this Kingdom, and for encouragement of Strangers to come there­to, to set up in their several Callings, against the export of Li­nen and Woolen yairn, anent the Weaving and Bleetching of Linen Cloth. And particularly, by the 4. Act of Our 1. Parl. Intituled, Act for erecting Manufactures, It is statute and ordained, that the Pri­viledges following, shall be granted to all such persons as have, or shall undertake to set up Manufactories, viz. If any stranger shall come, or be brought into this Kingdom by natives, to set up, work, and teach his Art in making of Cloth, Stuffs, Stockings, Soap, or any other kind of Manufactury, he shall enjoy the bene­fit of the Law, and all other Priviledges that a Native doth enjoy, with power to erect Manufactories either in Burgh or Landward, as they shall think fit, and there to dwell and exercise their Trade without any stop or trouble. And for their further encourage­ment, all Oyl, dying Stuffs, Forraign Wool, Pot ashes, or any other Materials whatsoever useful for Manufactories that shall be Imported, Are declared to be free of Custom and Excise, and other publick Dues; and that all Cloth, Stuffs, Stockings, or any other Commodity to be made and exported by them, be free of Custom and Excise, for nineteen years after the Month of January, 1662. And all Customers, Collectors, Fermorers of Custom and [Page 7]Excise, are discharged to demand any Custom or Excise, or any other Imposition for such Materials before-mentioned, belonging to Manufactories, as they will be answerable. And if any Stock shall be imployed for erecting or intertaining of any Manufactories, the same is to be free of all privat or publick Taxes whatsoever: and of all quarterings or levying of Souldiers upon Manufactories or the Masters thereof, are discharged; With power to the Masters, Erectors, or Intertainers of Manufactories, to meet by themselves for making of Ordinances for the good and advancement of their Trade, for the right ordering their servants, and for the suffici­ency of their Stuffs, Cloths, and others, and choise one of the most expert of their number, for visiting their Work.

And by the 43. Act of the same Parliament, The Exporting of Linen yairn forth of the Kingdom is discharged, under the pain of Confiscation of the same. All the Weavers are discharged to make any Linen Cloth of the price of ten shilling Scots the Elne or above, under the breadth of an Elne and two Inches, that the same be taken up by the Selvedge, and not by the Rig, and be so presented to the Mercat, and that the same be bleetched without lime, under the penalties of Imprisonment and fining.

By the 46. Act of the same Parliament, All Woorsted, Woolen-yairn, raw or unwaked-Cloths or Stuffs, except Plaiding, are dis­charged to be exported forth of the Kingdom, under the pain of Confiscation thereof. And by the 7. Act of the 1. Session of Our second Parliament, it is Statute and declared, for the increase and promoting of Trade and Manufactories, That all Stran­gers of the Protestant Religion, who shall come to, and set up new Works and Manufactories in the Kingdom, shall be naturalized as Native-born Subjects of this Kingdom, and are to enjoy Our Royal Protection, the benefit of the Law, and all other Privi­ledges which a Native doth enjoy; that they shall have liberty and freedom of Trade, to buy and purchase Lands, Hererages, and other goods, moveable and immoveable, and all other priviledges libertier and capacities which do belong to any Native Subject born within this Kingdom, as these several Acts of Parliament, containing divers other priviledges and immunities in favours of persons who shall erect. Manufactories, or set up, and work in the same, more fully bears. Which several Laws and Acts of Parliament foresaid; We, with advice of Our Privy Council, have thought fit, for the increase and promoving of Trade and Manufactories, to or­dain to be put to due and punctual Execution in all points. And We or sain these persons, who have already set up any Manufactories in this Our Kingdom, to have the whole priviledges and immuni­ties therein exprest. And particularly, We ordain all Materials whatsoever, useful for Manufactories, that shall be imported, to be free of Custom and Excise, and other publick dues, for the space of nineteen years after the date hereof, conform to the power re­served [Page 8]to Our Privy Council by the said 40. Act of Our first Par­liament, in case the same be not found to be perpetual, but only temporary.

And in regard the Execution of the said 40. and 43. Acts of Our said first Parliament, Is committed to Magistrats of Burghs, She­riffs of Shires, Lords of Regalities and Baronies, in their respe­ctive bounds: And that by their oversight and neglect the same has not been put in execution, We ordain and require, the saids Magistrats to put the same to due and punctual execution, to pu­nish the transgressors, and exact and uplift the penalties. And do declare, that if the saids Magistrats be remiss or negligent in their duty, they shall be called and pursued before our Council, and fi­ned therefore.

And, considering that the gifting of the Penalties of these Acts may be an occasion to obstruct the execution thereof, by the Do­nators componing therefore, We declare, that we will not here­after grant any gift of the same, and recommend to the Lords of Our Thesaury and Exchequer, not to grant any gift thereof, in prejudice of the execution of these Acts.

And whereas, albeit by the saids Acts it is determined, what the breadth of Linen-Cloth shall be wrought at by the Weavers, to make the same fit for sale, and have credit abroad; yet nothing is determined as to the length of the several pieces, We ordain, that hereafter, Linen brought to Mercat for publick sale, be made up in Pieces and half Pieces, and that the Piece contain twenty Elns, and the half Piece ten Elns, and that none be made up of shorter nor longer length for publick sale, under the pain of con­fiscation of the same. And We ordain the Weavers of all Linen Cloth for publick sale, to work the same at the breadth foresaid, and no otherwise; and betwixt and the first day of August next, to provide themselves with fine Reeds, Work-looms, and other fit materials for their Trade, under the penalty of Imprisonment for the space of fourteen dayes, and of twenty Pound Scots for ilk fault toties quoties, to be exacted by Magistrats of Burghs, Sheriffs of Shires, Lords of Regalities and Burghs in the respective bounds, and Confiscation of the same to the use of the Attatchers thereof. And the several Magistrats foresaids, are ordained in their respective bounds, betwixt and the first Thursday of September next, to give an account of the persons disobedient, that they may be further punished, in which they are not to fail, as they will be answe­rable.

And whereas divers un-free-men and others, who do not bear publick burthen within Burghs, are in use to import prohibited Commodities in Noblemen and Gentlemens Trunks, to the great prejudice of Trade; The Tacks men or Collectors of our Customs, [Page 9]Surveyors, Collectors, Waiters, and their servants, are hereby re­quired to sight the Trunks of any person of what quality soever, at their landing, and to seize upon, burn and destroy, the said prohibited Goods; with certification to them if they failȝie, they shall not only be liable for the value of the saids Goods, to be pay­ed to the use of any Merchant, Master or Member of any Manufa­ctorie, who shall first discover the same, besides, that they shall lose and amit their places. And it is hereby declared, it shall be leisome to the Deacons of the SKINNERS, TAYLORS and SHOOMAK­ERS, upon information given to them of the importing of any For­raign made Gloves, Cloaths, Shooes, Boots, or Slippers, now prohi­bited to be imported, to search for the same wherever they can be found: and in case they find any, to represent it to the Magistrats, to the effect the Magistrats upon trial and probation, may cause burn and destroy the same: or in case the same be imported and con­cealed, so that they cannot be discovered and seized, to pursue the importers or ressetters thereof, for the value of the same, which is to be applyed to their own use, for their pains in the discovery.

In regard that by the Book of Rates, the Imposition put upon made Work of Iron, Copper, & Brass, imported into this Kingdom, is appointed to be by the Stone weight; We have thought fit for the encouragement of the Manufactorie thereof in this Kingdom, and for ballance of Trade in these Commodities hereafter, to or­dain and appoint five of the hundred for Custom, and as much for Excise, to be put upon, and exacted by, Our Customers, for each hundred value of all such imported made Work, and not to be uplifted by the Stone weight.

Whereas it may be of great advantage to Trade, and improve­ment of Manufactorie, that some encouragement may be given for building of Ships within this Kingdom; We have thought fit to ordain all Materials necessary for building and rigging of Ships in this Kingdom; such as Timber and Planks for Shipping, Sails, Anchors, Cables and Towes, to be free of all manner of Duty; and do prohibite and discharge, the buying or building abroad, any Ships or Vessels, after the first day of June next, under the penalty of Confiscation thereof.

And seing for the encouragement of Fishing and export of Herring, being one of the greatest Commodities of this Kingdom, albeit Forraign Salt did all pay Custome and Excise at the the en­try; yet, it being intended, that Forraign Salt employed upon Herring, should be free of Burthen; The Act of Parliament in the year, 1669, ordains the Merchant exporter, to have allowed or repayed by the Customers, ten Pounds four shilling Scots for the Salt of each exported Last of Herring; And whereas, by the Act of Parliament in the year, 1673, anent the taking away the Praeemp­tion of Salt, it is appointed, that the exporters of Herring shall [Page 10]only be free of Custom at the export, being only twenty four shillings upon the Last, whereby the Merchants have ever since wan­ted the allowance of nine Pounds Scots, being a great detriment to the Kingdom; We have ordained, and ordain, that in time coming, the Merchant exporter shall have allowed or repayed by the Customers, ten Pounds four Shillings for the Salt of each exported Last of Herring, conform to the said Act of Parliament in the year 1679, and former practice.

And whereas, by divers Acts of Parliament, and the book of Rates, there are great Impositions laid upon Forraign Commodities, for the encouragement of Manufactures of this Kingdom, near to the nature of a Prohibition, and that by the connivance of the Customers, the saids Goods are permitted to be imported upon Composition; We do hereby ordain the Tacks-men or Collectors of our Customs, Surveyors, Waiters, and their servants, to exact the Custom and Excise put upon the saids Goods, without any manner of abate­ment or composition, under the penalty of losing their Offices, and being fined, and the one half of their fines to belong to Us, and the other half to the discoverer.

And for the encouragement of Learning and Manufactorie of Book-binding; We have thought fit, to ordain ten of the hun­dred to be exacted off all bound-Books warrantably imported for publick sale, conform to the book of Rates; but that all Books warrantably imported in Sheets not bound, be free of all manner of Duty.

And whereas upon tryal it is found, that the Goldsmiths in the City of Edinburgh, and other Burrows, do work below the Stan­dart of eleven penny fine, conform to the 56. Act of the 6. Par­liament of Queen Mary; We do hereby Require and Command the Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, and the rest of the Kingdom, to work up to the said Standard of eleven penny fine, under the pain of Death and Confiscation of their Moveables, which is the certi­fication of the said Act of Parliament. And for tryal of the Plate, Ordains the Deacon of the Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, to take Essay thereof, by the Copel-Essay and no otherways, and that the new made work bear the date, by the A. B. C. And the Deacon for the time is to be answerable for the Lignet the time of his Dea­conry, that it shall be according to the Standard, and for every particular piece of work marked by him, under the certification foresaid. And declares, that any Silver Work shall be found made and tryed, and marked otherways, after the first day of June next, or found in the Goldsmiths Work-houses or Shops, or in their possession, shall fall under the foresaid certification. And for a Check to the Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, We ordain the Dea­con once in two years, at the end of his Deacon-ship, to make up a Lignet of the several Essays, and give in the same to the Ma­ster of Our Mint, to be tryed by the Essay Master. And We [Page 11]discharge all Goldsmiths of any other Burghs, to make any Sil­ver Plate hereafter, except of the fineness foresaid; and appoint the Goldsmiths of each Burgh, to keep and Essay Box of all Plate made by them; which Box, they are ordained to send in to OUR GOLD­SMITH, or Deacon of the Goldsmiths of Edinburgh for the time, once in the year, to be tryed by them, or either of them, and thereafter by the Essay-masters of Our Mint, under the pain of Death and Confiscation of all their Moveables, conform to the Act of Parliament foresaid; and the Goldsmith, or Goldsmiths in other Burghs of the Kingdom, shall set his Name upon his Work, marked with the A. B. C. as aforesaid, and any Work other­ways made or marked by him, or which he shall have in his Shop, or possession, after the first of June next, shall fall under the fore­said certification. And we allow the Goldsmiths to take price for the new Work, conform to the augmentation of the fineness, as it is now prescribed; and for their Workmanship being plain, or better Work, as they and the buyers shall agree. And for the in­couragement of the Goldsmiths, and that the Lieges be not de­ceived and abused by Silver-work, under the foresaid fineness, im­ported from other places; We hereby discharge the Importati­on of all Silver-work by Merchants, or others for sale, except that which is marked with the ordinary marks of Silver-work of Lon­don or Paris, under the penalty of confiscation thereof, the one half for Our Use, and the other to the discoverer.

And seing by the Prohibition but by Us upon the several Com­modities mentioned in Our former, and this Our Proclamation, and by the execution of Our Laws, for the incouragement of Ma­nufacturies, the deduction allowed for the Excise of Salt, im­ployed upon Fishes exported, and materials imported for building of Ships, the same will considerably diminish Our Customes and Excise. And We having, with advice of Our Council, fully considered, what imported Commodities may best bear a further Duty, for ballancing and making up the same, with the least inconvenience to Trade, and the profite of the Kingdom; We with advice foresaid, conform to the foresaid 26. Act of Our 3. Session of Parliament, have ordained, and or­dain the additional Excise under-written, to be put upon, and exacted off the several Commodities following, viz. That whereas French Wine now pays of Custome, Excise and Bullion, six Pounds two shillings Sterling upon each Tun, We ordain each Tun of French Wine to pay eighteen shillings Sterling more of addition­al Excise: And each Tun of Brandy, which pays now ten Pounds Sterling the Tun, that the same pay twenty Pounds Sterling the Tun, with the burden of Bullion as formerly. And seing that Tobacco that comes immediatly from the Plantations, pays sixteen pennies Scots of Duty upon each pound weight, and that which comes from London and other parts, not immediatly from the Plantations, pays now two shilling Scots; We ordain, that the Duty upon Tobacco, coming immediatly from the Plantations, [Page 12]continue as formerly; but that [...] place pay eight pernies more, be [...] upon each pound weight, in regard ther [...] [...] [...]modities Transported to the Plantations, but none [...] for Tobacco, but only ready Money: and [...] beer, and other forraign B [...] or Ale imported, to pay [...] shillings Sterling the Tun of Custome and Excise. And that [...] Subjects may have no ground to murmur of any new burd [...] We do declare, that the additions foresaids upon Wine, Bra [...], Tobacco, Mum-beer, and other Forraign Beer and Ale, is on [...] in compensation of the Detriment, Our Customs and Excise [...] suffer by the saids Prohibitions, and are to continue and end un [...] while the Prohibitions appointed by this and Our former Procla­mations are in vigour, and Our Customs and Excise in Collection and no longer. Our Will is herefore, and We Charge you stri [...] ­ly and Command, that incontinent, these Our Letters seen, [...] ­pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places need [...] and thereat, in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation make Publication of the Premisses, that none pretend ignorant [...] as also of the Bond hereto subjoyned; the which to do, We com­mit to you conjunctly and severally Our full Power, by these Our Letters, delivering them by you duely execute, and [...] again to the bearer. And ordains these Presents to be Pri [...] ­ed.

GOD save the KING.