A proclamation for observing the staple-port at Camphire.

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RR

DIEV ET MON DROIT

HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE

A PROCLAMATION For Observing the Staple-port at Camphire,

WILLIAM and MARY by the Grace of GOD, King and Queen of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith;

To 〈1 span left blank〉〈1 span left blank〉 Macers of our Privy Council, Messen∣gers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, Greeting:

Forasmuch as by many antient Contracts past betwixt the Royal burghs of this our antient Kingdom, and the Town of Camphire in Zeland, and which have been approved by the Kings our Predecessors, the whole Trade and Commerce, as to the Staple-commodities ex∣ported from this our Kingdom, to the seventeen Provinces of the Nether-lands, has been Settled and Established at the said Town of Camphire, as being found by experience the fittest place for the Scots Staple, and there being in the former Reigns of our Royal Predecessors many Proclamations issued forth, requiring all our Subjects traveling to the seventeen Provinces of the Nether∣lands, to export all Staple-goods and Commodities to the said Staple-port, and to no other Port nor place, and ordaining the Laws and Acts of Parliament, and Acts of the Convention of the Royal-burghs to be put to due and vigorous Execution, for the full Obser∣vance of the same: And We being informed, that of late, the Staple-trade of this Kingdom, hath been altogether diverted from the said Staple-port at Camphire, and carried to Roterdam, and other places in the Nether-lands, to the great Prejudice and Discouragement of Trade, and contrair to the foresaid Agreement with Camphire, from presences that the said Town of Camphire neither could, nor would furnish sufficient Convoyes, for convoying the saids Ships, both out-ward and in-ward bound, from and to the said Port now in the time of War. And now it being Certified to us, that the Magistrats of the Town of Camphire have engadged to the Royal-burghs, that they will furnish sufficient Convoyes, for securing of the Trade betwixt that Port and the Firth and Road of Leith, twice in the year, viz. against the middle of September, and the middle of March yearly, commensing from the middle of September next; And We being fully Resolved, that all the standing Laws and Acts of Parliament, and Acts of Convention of our Royal-burghs, be put to full and vigorous Execution, for the more due Observance of the said Staple-port for the future; Do therefore with Advice of the Lords of our Privy Council, hereby require all our Subjects to give all due and exact Obedience to the foresaids Acts made for observing of the Staple-por•• Discharging all Merchants and Skippers, or any other our Subjects, to export forth of this our Kingdom, any Goods or Commodities, that are or shall be declared to be Staple Commodities, to any other Port or Place in the Nether-lands, but only to the said Staple-port and Town of Camphire in Zeland, under the Pains and Certifications mentioned in the saids Acts of Parliament, and Acts of the Convention of Burghs, which Pains and Penalties, We ordain to be exacted from the Transgressors with all rigour, and that they be further proceeded against, as our Council shall find Cause. And further, We with Advice foresaid, do hereby Require the General Farmers, Tacksmen, or Collectors of our Customs, and their Sub-collectors, Surveyers for the time being, that they make exact search and tryal of all Staple goods and Commodities that shall be hereafter transported forth of this Kingdom, to any Port of the seventeen Provinces of the Nether-lands, and take sufficient Security from the Merchants or Skippers transporters thereof, that they shall transport the same to the said Staple-port at Camphire, and at no other Place nor Port within the said seventeen Provinces, and that they shall not break Bulk before their arrival thereat, conform to the Acts of Parliament, oblidging the said Exporters to report Certificats from the Conservator, or his Deputs at Camphire, bearing, that the said Staple-commodities were livered thereat, without breaking Bulk; And We do Ordain the saids Testificats, to be delivered in Quarterly by the Collectors at the several Ports, to the Agent of our Roy∣al-burghs for the time, to the end exact Diligence may be done by him, against all the Transgressors of the said Staple, conform to the saids Acts. OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, and We charge you strictly and Command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-cross of Edinburgh, and whole remanent Royal-burghs of this Kingdom, and other places needful, and thereat, in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation make publication of the Premisses, to the effect, Our Royal-burghs, and all Mer∣chants and other Persons, may have timeous notice hereof, and give due and punctual Obedience thereto, as they will be answerable at their outmost Perril, 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 Indorsed again to the Bearer, And Ordains these Presents to be Printed.

Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the Eleventh day of August, and of Our Reign the fourth Year, 1692.

Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii. In Supplementum Signeti. GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Sti. Concilii

GOD save King William and Queen Mary.