THE Meeting of Estates of this Kingdom , Considering the Danger and Hazard the Religion , Peace , and Quiet of the Kingdom is in , by the Growth , and Increase of Popery , and Papists of late , Occasioned by the Imploying them in Places of greatest Trust within the Kingdom ; And continuing them in Places , and Offices Civil and Military , and allowing them to Exercise the same als freely in all respects , as Protestants , against the standing Laws of the Kingdom . Have thought fit to Discharge , and hereby Discharges , all Papists from Exercising any Civil or Military Offices within this Kingdom , and from Exercising as Sheriffs of Shires , Stewarts of Stewartries , Bailies of Regalities , Magistrats of Burghs , Justices of Pe●ce , Collonels , Lieutenant-Collonels , Captains of Horse , and all other Officers in the Militia , or carrying Arms therein , under the Pains and Penalties contained in the Acts of Parliament . And for the further Security of the Publict Peace and Quiet , they Require and Command all Papists within the Kingdom , of whatsoever Rank or Condition , to deliver up their Arms ( excepting Gentlemen , their ordinary wearing Swords ) to the Sheriffs , Stewarts , Lords , or Bailies of Regalities , and Magistrats of Burghs , within whose Jurisdiction they live , viz. Those on the South side of the Water of Esk , within six days after Publication hereof , at the Mercat Cross of the Head-Burgh of the Shire : And these on the North-side of the said Water , within ten days after the same . Certifying such as shall be found to have any Arms after the days foresaid respectivè , They shall be proceeded against with all rigour , for their Contempt and Disobedience : And Ordains and Requires the saids Sheriffs , and othe Magisirats forsaid , or in case of their negligence , the Collonels or Lieutenant-Collonels of the Militia Foot , or Captains of Horse , to search for , and seize upon any Arms which they shall be Informed to be kept up undelivered , belonging to Papists , in any Houses or Places suspected , and to secure the same , and to return an exact Account of their diligence , betwixt and the dayes following , viz. These on this side of Esk , betwixt and the tenth day of April next , and these be-north the same , betwixt and the twentieth day of the same Moneth of April , as they will be answerable on their highest Peril . And the said Estates do Command and Charge all Papists , not being Inhabitants of the Town of Edinburgh , or any place adjacent thereto , to remove ten Miles from the said Town , or at least , to their respective Dwelling-Houses , within fourty eight hours after publication hereof , under all highest pains ; And Grants Order and Warrand to Heraulds , Macers , or Messengers at Arms , Sheriffs in that part , to pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edi●burgh , and remanent Mercat-Crosses of the several Head-Burghs of the Shires , and make publication hereof in the usual manner , that none may pretend ignorance . Extracted out of the Records of the Meeting of Estates , by me