THe Lords Commissioners of his Majesties privy Council , considering that several seditious and disaffected persons , who travell through the Country ; as pedlars , and packman , or common Posts , have made it their business these divers years bygone , to carry false and seditious news , and to sell and disperse transonable lybels and pamphlets , and to convocat some of his Majesties giddy and unstable Subjects to house and field Conventicles : those nourseries of Schisme and rendavouses of rebellion , whereby the peace and unity of the Church , has been almost distroyed , and the goverment it self indangered . Wherefore the saids Lords doe hereby in his Majesties Royal name and authority strictly prohibit and discharge all persons whatsomever , under the notion of pedlars , packman , or common Posts , to travel throw any parts of the Shyres of Lanerk , Stirling , Ranfrew and Dumbartoun , or Jurisdictiones whither of Royalty or Regality within the samen , the pedlars , or packman , without a Pass from one of our privy Councellors , Shireffs , beallies of Regalities , or their deputts , magistrats of Royal brughs and all common posts , to carry any Letters or missives , without license from the general post-master : with certification to them or any of them , that if they shall presume or take upon hand to travel without the saids Passes , they shal be persewed as vagabounds and soruers , and as dispersers of seditious lybels and pamphlets ; and doe hereby require and command all Shireffs , beallies of Regalities and there deputts , Justice of peace , and magistrats of brughs Royal , to apprehend the persons of the saids pedlars , or common Posts , who have not the said Passes or license as said is , and Imprison there persons till they find Caution not to Contraveen herein hereafter , under the penalty of five Hundreth merks , and to answer before the Lords of his Majesties privy Council when ever they shall he called for , for there contempt and disobedience .

And ordains these presents to be printed and published at the mercat-cross of Glasgow , and heal other mercat-erosses within the four Shyres , that none pretend ignorance .