Inſtructions for the Commiſsioners of the Militia for the County of_____concerning giving Licenſe to ſome of the Scotiſh Nation to remain in England.

VVHereas by a late Act of Parliament, Entituled, An Act to prohibit all Commerce and Traffique between England and Scotland, and Enjoyning the Departure of Scots out of this Com­wonwealth, herewith ſent, all thoſe of the Scotiſh Nation are forbid­den to continue in England, under the penalties therein expreſſed, un­leſs permitted ſo to do by the Parliament or Councel of State, as by the ſaid Act appeareth: And whereas there may be divers of that Nation now in England, that are of good and peaceable Behavior, and from whom there is no cauſe to fear that evil which the ſaid Act intends to prevent, yet will be by the ſaid Act in danger to be proceeded againſt as is thereby directed: And for that it would be a great trouble to the Councel, and a charge to the perſons, to make their perſonal Application to the Councel from all parts of the Commonwealth; The Councel, in purſuance of the Power given unto them, have thought fit to commit unto your care, the permitting of ſuch of the Scotiſh Nation to continue here,〈…〉under the following Qua­lifications:

ALl ſuch as having Families, do exerciſe any Trade or Manufacture, or that are Servants or Apprentices, and have reſided in England before and ever ſince the Scotiſh Invaſion in the year 1648, and have not been, nor are Delinquents, or under Sequeſtration by any Act or Ordinance of Parliament, nor Soldiers of Fortune, nor have mani­feſted their diſaffection to the Parliament and preſent Government.

You are hereby authorized to give Licenſe to theſe to ſtay in Eng­land (if they deſire it of you) for ſo long onely as until the Parliament or Councel of State ſhall give Order to the contrary: The Names of which perſons, with their Dwelling, are to be Entred into a Book by you to be provided for that purpoſe.

The perſons thus to be Licenſed by you, are to take and Subſcribe the Engagement appointed by Authority of Parliament; and alſo ſhall before ſome of you who are Juſtices of the Peace, enter into Recog­nizance Cuſtodibus Libertatis, &c. in ſome convenient Sum not under Two hundred pounds, and ſo upward, according to the quality of the perſons, which is left to your judgement; conditioned, That they ſhall act nothing to the prejudice of this Commonwealth and preſent Government: And ſhall (within ſuch time after Summon left at their houſes, as you ſhall judge ſufficient for their journey, according to the diſtance of their dwelling hence, which we leave to you to determine and expreſs) make their appearance before the Parliament or the Councel of State, as they ſhall be by the ſaid Summons appointed; Their Subſcriptions of the Engagement, and Recognizances, you ſhall cauſe to be Regiſtred as aforeſaid.

You ſhall cauſe enquiry to be made after ſuch of the Scotiſh Na­tion as ſhall continue in your County, and are not qualified as above­ſaid, and that have not your Licenſe thereupon, and cauſe them to be proſecuted and proceeded againſt according to the ſaid Act.

You are before the Firſt of October, to certifie to us all your pro­ceedings upon theſe Inſtructions, The Names of the perſons Licenſed, with their Subſcriptions and Recognizances: And if you meet with any particular caſe that is not clearly enough provided for by the ſaid Act or theſe Inſtructions, worthy of conſideration, You are to ſigni­fie the ſame to us for further direction.