THE Committee of Estates presently conveened by His Majesties speciall Warrand and Authority ; Laying seriously to heart the great Trust committed to them for carrying on , ordering , and using of all means which may tend to the securing of the Peace of this Kingdom , and maintaining and furthering His Majesties Power and Authority therein . Considering , that by many Acts of Parliament , all Leiseing-makers , and tellers thereof , makers of evil Information , or engendering discord betwixt the KING and His People ; All Reproachers , or Slanderers of His Majestie , Government , or Realms , depravers of His Laws , misconstruers of His Proceedings , medlers in the affaires of His Estate : As also , all hearers of any such Leisings , Calumnies or Slanders , by Word or Writ , and Concealers thereof , should be punished as seditious persons , Enemies to His Majestie ▪ and the pain of Death to be execute upon them , as at length is contained in the 43. Act. of K. James 1. his 3. parl . The 83. Act of K. James Fifth his 6. parl . The 134 Act parl . 8. The 10. Act parl . 10. The 205 Act parl . 14. of K. James 6. And the 27 Act of the 2. parl . of His Sacred Majesties uniquhile dearest Father of blessed Memory , Which more particularly , in relation to any such Reproaches , Lies , or Calumnies concerning the Kingdom of England , and His Majesties worthy Subjects therein , is expresly prohibite by the 9 Act of King James 6. his 20 parl . holden in Anno 1609. under the pain specified in the said Act. Likeas , all Convocation of His Majesties Leidges without His Majesties special Command , or expresse Licence , what ever Quality , Estate ▪ or Function the Persons be of , Spirituall , or Temporall , is expresly prohibite by the 〈…〉 Act parl . 8. K ▪ James 6 ▪ under the pains therein contained . As also , The Remonstrance presented to the Committee of Estates in Anno , 1650. Declared by Hi● Majestie and Parliament in July 16●● Sediti●●● 〈…〉 Neverthelesse , and albeit it hath pleased the Almighty GOD of His wonderfull Goodnesse and Providence , happily to restore His Sacred Majesty to the peaceable Government of His Ancient Kingdoms , and all His Majesties Subjects to t●●●ir wonted Peace , Freedom , and Priviledge , which is ( as it ought to be ) a matter of great rejoycing to all good Christians and Loyal Subjects whatsoever , both at home and abroad : Yet the said Committeee of Estates , certainly knowing , and receiving dayly Information , that several of His Majesties Leidges and Subjects within this Kingdom , do contrary to the saids Acts of Parliament , Convocat , Conveen and Assemble themselves , without His Majesties special Command and Licence : And that there are several scandalous seditious Speeches uttered and Preached in Sermons , Declamations and otherwise , and several calumnious Pasquils , Libels , Ryms , and others Writs Devised , Vented , and Published to the reproach or slander of His Majesties Person , Estate , or Government : As also , That several His Majesties Subjects , do own , adhere to , avow , abate , or assist the foresaid Remonstrance , whereby His Majesties Loyal well-meaning Subjects may be drawn from their due Allegiance , and ensnared in such seditious Combinations and Meetings , and involved in their said Treasonable Plots and Practices , unlesse timeous remedy be provided . Therefore , The Committee of Estates , in His Majesties Name and Authority , Command and Charge , that no Subject , or Subjects within this Kingdom , of whatsoever Quality , Estate , or Function they be of , Spirituall , or Temporall , presume , or take upon hand , to Convocate , Conveen , or Assemble themselves together for holding of Councils , Conventions , or Assemblies , to Treat , Consult , or Determinate in any matter of Estate , Civil , or Ecclesiastick , ( except in the ordinary Judicatories ) without His Majesties special Command and expresse Licence had and obtained to that effect . As also , that none of them of whatsoever Function , Degree or Quality , presume , nor take upon hand , privatly , or publictly , in Sermons , Preachings , Declamations , Speeches , or otherwise , by Word or Writ , to Utter , Devise , or Vent any purpose of Reproach or Slander against His Majesties Person , Estate , or Government , His Parents , or Progenitors , or to deprave His Laws and Acts of Parliament , or misconstrue His Proceedings , whereby any misliking may be moved betwixt His Majesty and His Nobility , and Loving Subjects , or to medle in the Affairs of His Majesty and His Estate , present , bygone , and in time coming ; Or to own , abate , or assist the foresaid Remonstrance , With Certification , they shall be proceeded against , conform to the Tenors of the saids respective Acts of Parliament . Likeas , The said Committee of Estates Declares , that any person or persons , who hears any such Leising , Calumnie , or Slanderous Speech , or shall see or have any such Pasquils , or Writs as aforesaid , and reveals not the same to His Majesty , or one of the said Committee , or to the Sheriff , Steward , or Bailie of the Shire , Stewards in Regality , or Royalty , or to the Provest , or one of the Bailies within Burgh , as with best conveniency he may ; be whom the same may come to the knowledge of His Majesty His Parliament , the said Committee of Estates , or His Majesties Privie Council , by whom the saids Leising-makers and Authors of such slanderous Speeches may be called , tryed , and punished according to the saids Acts , In that case they shall incurre the like Censure or punishment as the principall party offender . And the said Committee of Estates , considering that His Majesties Leidges are subject more easily to be ensnared and entised to any such Seditious or Treasonable Courses and Practices by Ministers in their Sermons , Prayers , Declamations , and private Discourses : The said Committee do Declare , that upon Information given to them of any thing uttered or spoken contrary to the Tenor of the preceeding Act , the same being lawfully proven in presence of the said Committee , or Parliament , or His Majesties Privy Council , They summarily will Sequestrate their whole Stipend , and Imprison their person , untill His Majestie , Parliament , or Committee of Estates , or any other Judge competent shall proceed to the finall cognition and Sentencing of their said Crime or Crimes . And to the effect , that this Act and Ordinance may come to the knowledge of all His Majesties Leidges , Ordains Publication to be made thereof , at the Mercat Crosse of Edinburgh , and at the Mercat Crosses of the Heid Burghs of the Shires ; And Ordains the Magistrates of the several Heid Burghs to send so many of the saids Proclamations to each Collector of the Assessment of every Shire , requiring the said Collector to send the same to the several Paroches , that the foresaid Proclamation may be Read after Sermon , and Affixt upon the Kirk-doors of each Paroch , and upon the Mercat Crosse of each Heid Burgh . Extracted forth of the Books of the said Committee , be me