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A Proclamation Declaring Mr Richard Cameron, and others, Rebels and Traitors.Given under our Signet at Edinburgh, the last day of June, one thousand six hundred and eighty, and of our reign the thirty two
year.
The Proclamation begins erroneously referring to the Queensferry papers as found on Donald Cargil; they were in fact on the body of Henry Hall, moreover, Cargil escaped capture on that occasion. However, the purpose of the Proclamation is many fold. First to declare the participants at the Declaration of Sanquhar on 22 June 1680 traitors. Second to force the land owners to interrogate all their tenants aged sixteen and over about the whereabouts of the alleged traitors, and to give evidence on Oath. Third to certify the task had been done and to provide names of those who did not appear to the summons or, who declined to give evidence on Oath. Fourth to give authority for the use of force and an open pardon if the traitors and their associates happened to get killed or mutilated in the arrest. Fifth to offer rewards DEAD or
ALIVE for the named rebels.
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Which Covenant, with several most Impious, Scandalous and Seditious Pamphlets were taken from the said Mr Donald Cargil, (one of their Preachers) at the Queensferry, upon
the Third day of June Instant.
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Like as ,the said Mr Richard Cameron, and his Brother and Mr Thomas Douglas, accompanied with several Ruffians, and particularly John Vallang, Brother in law to Robert Park, one of the Bailiffs of Sanquhar , David Mackmitchel of Lorgfoot,Thomas Campbel son to Campbel late of Dalblair in Auchinleck Paroch, John Moodie brother to the miller at Cubs-Milne, in the same Paroch,John Fowller , sometimes servant to the deceased Lindsay of Covingtown, Patrick Gemill son in law to Charles Logan Messenger at Cumnock-maines, James Stewart son to Archibald Stewart at Calfey end, near to the Earl of Galloway`s House, Alexander Gordown called of Kilsture, Francis Johnstoun Merchant in Clidsdale Creichtown, son to Robert Creichtown of Achtitinch now in Waterhead, and others to the number of twenty one persons, did upon the twenty two of June,enter
within the Burgh of Sanquhar …
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We have therefore with the advice of our Privy Council , thought fit, as use is in such cases, to declare the said …. open and Notorious Traitors and Rebels against Us and our Authority Impowering and requiring All
Our Good Subjects to treat them as such.
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| We do call the hail Heretours, or their Bailiffs or Chamberlands, in case of the Heretors absence, to cause call and cite before them in a Court, all persons living on their respective Lands, Men or women, above the age of sixteen years,in all the paroches underwritten vis, Carsfern, Balmaclellan, Dalry, Kells, Barr in Carrick, the Moor Kirk of Kyle, Galstown, Lowdon, Tindergarth, Streven, Lesmehago, Sanquhar,Irongray, Glencairn, Cumnock, Monigaff, and Penningham, upon the second and last Tuesdays of July and August next. And to take the Oaths of all the said persons living upon the respective land .whether any of these Traitors foresaid were in that
Paroch, and where and when ; …
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| I do solemnly swear by the Eternal God, that I have truly and faithfully examined upon Oath,, the whole Persons Men and women living upon my lands who compeared, who are above the age of sixteen years, whereof I am Heretor, Bailiff, or Chamberlain, within the Paroch of and that I have caused my Officers give Execution on Oath, that he did cite all the said persons to the foresaids Diets, and have given account of the persons who
compeared not, or compearing refused to give Oath .
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Wanted DEAD or ALIVE
| And if in pursute of the said Traitors they resisting to be taken, any of our said magistrates, or other our good subjects shall happen to kill or mutilat them, or any of them, We do hereby declare that they nor none assisting them shall ever be called in question , or pursued Criminally or Civilly therefore in time coming …. And for better encouragement of such as shall apprehend and bring in the saids Traitors dead or alive , the apprehender of Mr Richard Cameron
shall, as Reward, have five thousand merks; ….
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Too soon the hunt was over at
Ayrsmoss on 22 July 1680.
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