Forasmuch , as albeit by the Fundamental Laws of all Monarchies , the power of Arms is Lodged in the King , and the rising in Arms be punishable as Treason ; and that the Estates of Parliament of this Kingdom , reflecting with horror upon the great confusions and distempers , and the execrable rebellion of the last Age , occasioned by the unwarrantable rising in Arms against Our Royal Father of blessed Memory , whereby , not only the Royal Government was endeavoured to be overturned , but the Properties and Liberties of the Subjects destroyed , under the specious , but false pretext of Religion and Conscience ; Did by the first Act of Our first Parliament , Declare , that it should be high Treason to the Subjects of this Kingdom , or any number of them , more or less , upon any ground or pretext whatsoever , to rise or continue in Arms , without Our special Warrant and Authority first interpon'd thereto ; and by the second Act of the second Session of that same Parliament , they likewise Declar'd , that if any Person or Persons , should Levy , Warr , or take up any Arms against Us , or any Commissionated by Us , they should be declared and adjudged Traitors , and should suffer forefeiture of Life , Honour , Lands and Goods , as in cases of High-Treason : Yet We being always most desirous to essay all means of Clemency , for correcting such of Our Subjects as could be any ways reclaimable , Have not hitherto put those Acts into such execution as the disorders and irregularities of some of Our Subjects did require , hoping their going to Field-meetings , those Rendevouzes of Rebellion with Arms , might have proceeded meerly from Custome , or mistake ; But now finding by the frequent opposition made in Arms to Our Forces , acting in Our Name , the invading of Our Officers , and the exciting others to go to such Meetings in Arms , upon design to oppose Our Forces , that such as frequent these Meetings , do go there in Arms upon a criminal and treacherous design , which grows to that same proportion that We use Clemency : And We being desirous that none of Our Subjects should be led in a snare by Our former Lenity , and to the end their condign punishment according to these Laws , may be the more justly chargeable upon the obduredness , and obstinacy of the Offenders ; Have therefore , with advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council , after mature deliberation , thought fit to Declare , that We will hereafter order the Judges of Our respective Judicatures , and the Officers of all Our Forces , to proceed against all such who go with any Arms to those Field-meetings , as Traitors . And least that any of Our Subjects may pretend , by the just rigor We will use against such as do go to Conventicles in Arms , that We resolve to slacken Our prosecution of other Field Conventicles ; We have therefore thought fit , to require all Our Judges and Officers to put Our Laws and former Commands in vigorous Execution , even against those who frequent these Field-meetings without Arms ; We being fully convinced both by reason and experience , that those meetings do certainly tend to the ruine and reproach of the Christian Religion and Discipline , to the introduction of Popery and Heresie , the subversion of Monarchy , and the contempt of all Laws and Government . Our Will is herefore , and We charge you straitly , and Command , that incontinent , these Our Letters seen , ye pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh , and other Head-Burghs of the several Shires of this Kingdom , and thereat , in Our Name and Authority , by open Proclamation , make publication of the Premisses , that none pretend ignorance .