Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Fifteenth day of Apryle J^aj vi^c nyntie seven years

A1697/4/24

A1697/4/24¹

Proclamation

Proclamation for a solemn nationall fast

The proclamation afterinsert Being read was votted approven and signed wherof the tenor folloues
William By the Grace of God King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland defender of the faith To […] Macers of our privie Councill messengers at armes our Shirreffs In that part Conjunctly and severally speciallie Constitut Greeting Forasmuchas the Great and abounding sins and provocations of this nation wherby the wrath of almighty God may be soe Justly Incensed Doe Call aloud to us and our people to Humble our Selves before God and Every one for his oun sins wherby he hath provocked the divyne Majestie and Increased the publick guilt And that we should most Importunatly deprecat these Judgements which these Great and Crying sins may soe Justly bring upon us and our poeple And that the hazard and danger to which our royall persone may be exposed during this ensuing Campaigne And the Great Concern this our antient Kingdome hath in the preservatione of our persone and in the prosperity and establishment of our Government uith the Great transactions presently under agitation abroad And that the present seasone of the year doe also Call for a Generall Fast and a day of solemn humiliation to be keeped throughout this Kingdome which Considerationes hath Lykeuayes Moved the Commissioners of the Late Generall Assembly to address the Lords of our privie Councill for that effect Therfore we uith advyce of the Lords of our privie Councill Command and appoint a day of Solemn fasting humiliation and prayer to be observed throughout the whole Kingdome with publick preaching and other religious duties upon thursday the tuenty seventh day of May nixt to Come upon which all are to be deeply humbled before God for the Great and Crying Sins of all ranks and orders of men in the nation and every one for their oun sins And therfore to deprecat his deserved wrath And fervently to Implore his mercy and Grace And more especiallie for the preservation of our persone the prosperity and establishment of our Government and for a Spirit of wisdome and Counsell to direct us and these Intrusted by us in these publick and Generall negotiations wherin we are at present Concerned And to bless the seasone of the year for prospering the fruits of the Ground untill he Croun the year with his goodnes which day of solemn humiliation and prayer above appointed we uith advyce forsaid require and Command to be most religiously and seriously observed by all our poeple in the forsaid duties of publick prayer and preaching and all other acts of deep humiliation and devotion suitable to the saids Causes and occasions as they tender the favour of almighty God and upon paine such punishment as may be Justly Inflicted upon all such as shall Contemn or neglect so religious and necessary a duety Our Will is Heirfore And ue Charge yow strictly and Command That Incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat Crosses of Edinburgh and to the remanent mercat Crosses of the haill head burghs of the severall shires and steuartries uithin this Kingdome And ther In our name and authoritie make publication herof that none pretend ignorance And we ordaine our sollicitor to dispatch Coppies herof to the Shirreffs of the severall shires and steuarts of steuartries and their deputs or Clerks To be by them published at the mercat Crosses att the head burghs upon recept therof And Immediatly sent to the severall Ministers To the effect that the same may be Intimat and read in the severall paroch churches upon the Lords day Immediately preceeding the day above appointed As ye will Ansuer to us therupon The whilk to doe we Committ to yow Conjunctlly and Severallie our full pouer by these our Letters delyvering them by yow deuly execut and Indorsed againe to the bearer And ordaines these presents to be printed Given under our signet at Edinburgh the fifteenth day of Aprile and of our reign the nynth year 1697 sic subscribitur.