The Earl of Mar

Extract from a handbill from Jacobite commander, the Earl of Mar, asking landowners and tenants to provide grain for the army, 24 November 1715 (SP 54/10/78).

Transcript

[JOHN]  EARL OF MAR, &c.
Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s Forces in SCOTLAND

OUR SOVEREIGN LORD JAMES VIII. Having been pleased to Entrust me with the Direction of His Affairs, and the Command of His Forces in Scotland; and it being necessary for the Subsistance [basic needs] of His Majesty’s Army, the Magazines of Meal* be timeously provided for that End: THESE ARE THEREFORE, IN His Majesty’s Name, Commanding and Requiring all Heretors*, Liferenters*, Feuars*, Wadsetters*, and Proprietars [owners] of Lands whatsoever, forthwith to cause Provide out of the First and Readiest of their Farms, the several Quantities of Meal following; viz. Two Bolls of Meal upon each Hundred Pounds Scots of valued Rent, of Lands belonging to Heretors, and Others engaged in His Majesty’s Service; and Four Bolls of Meal upon each Hundred Pounds Scots of valued Rent, belonging to Heretors and Others who are not engaged therein: (The following Cases excepted) viz. All Minors, Women Liferenters unmarried and superannuate Heretors; Provided if they have Sons that One or more of them be in the King’s Service, and all sequestrate Estates in Creditors Hands, mortified Lands, Lands belonging to Communities, and Female Heirs Portioners unmarried, who are only to be singly charged. And I hereby Command and Require, That the several Quantities of Meal in the respective Cases aforesaid, be Delivered in by the Heretors, and Others liable in Payment thereof, in Manner following; viz. The Meal payable forth of the Shires of Perth, Fife and Kinross, to be Delivered to the Commissary for Provisions at Perth, betwixt and the Tenth Day of December next; And the Meal payable furth of the Shire of Forfar, to be Delivered to the Magistrates of the Burghs of Dundee and Montrose, or to any Person or Persons to be by them appointed for that End, for whom they will be answerable, betwixt and the Fifteenth Day of December next; And the Meal payable out of the Shire of Kincardin, to be Delivered to the Collector of the Supply of the Shire of Kincardin, at Stonehive, or to the Magistrates of Montrose, as shall be most convenient for the Heretors, and that betwixt and the said Fifteenth Day of December; And the Meal payable furth of the Shire of Aberdeen, to be Delivered at Aberdeen, to be Delivered at Aberdeen to the Magistrates there, or to such Persons as they think shall think fit to name for Receiving thereof, for whom they will be accountable, and that betwixt [between] and the Twenty Fourth Day of December next: And the Magistrates of the several Burghs, and other Persons hereby empowered to Receive the said Meal, are Required to Provide proper Places in their respective [each] Towns, fit for keeping of the same till further Orders. And I hereby strictly Prohibite [forbide] and Discharge [order] the Magistrates of the respective Burghs aforesaid [mentioned], from Exacting [taking] any Custom [tax], or any other Dues [money] whatsoever, on Account of the Meal so ordered to be Delivered to them; hereby Declaring That the respective Quantities of Meal already delivered shall be allowed in Full or Part of the respective Quota’s now imposed.

Glossary:
Magazines of Meal: storerooms for grain
Heretors: Scottish landed gentry
Liferenters: Permanent tenant farmers
Feuars: The owner of a plot of land or property [in Scotland]
Wadsetters: A person who holds land by a mortgage

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