Warrant, 21 December 1699, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Eightt day of November J^aj v^ic nynty nyne years

A1699/11/7

A1699/11/7¹

Proclamation

Proclamation For a Solemn nationall Thanksgiving and publick prayers

Proclamation For a solemn nationall Thanksgiving and Publick prayers Being Read was voted approven and Signed. Wherof the Tenor follows.
William By the grace of God, King of great Brittain, France and Ireland defender of the faith; To […] Macers of our privy Councill, messengers at armes, Our Sheriffs in that pairt Conjunctly and Severaly Specially constitute Greeting. Forasmuchas It hath pleased God in his Infinitt Goodness graciously to visite this our ancient Kingdom in the time of its great need and Extremity, with a plentifull Harvest: As also, to Return us in Safety to owr Kingdomes, to the great satisfaction and Joy of all our good Subjects: It is our duty by a day set a pairt For that Effect, To pay our Solemn acknowledgements, and Return praise and Thanks to God for so great Blessings: For which also the ministers met at Edinburgh, in the Commission of the late Generall assembly, have addressed the Lords of our privy Councill That a Solemn day may be set a pairt, to be Religiously observed throughout this our ancient Kingdom for the Ends and in manner above and aftermentioned: Therfore we with advice of the Lords of our privy Councill, Do appoint and Command That the Thirty day of November Instant be Religiously observed as a Solemn day of publick worship, by all persones within this Kingdom, For Returning our most humble and hearty Thanks to God for the forsaid Blessings bestowed upon us and our people, And Because notwithstanding of these, and many other mercies yet it hath pleased the same Holy Lord, most Justly for our Sins To afflict both city and Countrey with sore sickness and frequent deaths, and by severall other Judgements, Specialy by frustrating the Endeavours that have been made for the advancing² Trade of this nation to testifie his displeasure against us. Therfore we further with advice forsaid, Require and ordain that on the same day Solemn and Fervent prayers be made to God, That he may mercifully look upon us, and That all Ranks and degrees of people, may search and try their ways, and turn to the Lord by true and unfeigned Repentance That he may Remove out Sins the procureing cause of all afflictiones, and may heal this Land, and Take off diseases from it, and may make us more fruitfull under the Gospell and means of grace; and may bless unto us what measure of plenty he hath been pleased to afford us, by the late prosperous Harvest: and we may no more abuse this his Goodness into wantoness and Forgetfulness, That he may be gracious unto us, and preserve our Person, and may guide and direct our Councills and actings, For his glory and the good of this our ancient Kingdom in all the Concernes thereof And That it may please God yet to countenance and Bless Endeavours, for advanceing the Trade of the nation and That he may graciously preserve, protect, and direct these, who are Employed therein, To a happy Issue: And That he may Remember in mercy, our distressed Bretheren, in other Reformed Churches and put a period to their persecutiones: And That he may in the mean tyme powerfully fortifie them by his Grace, That they may persevere in the profession of his Truth, to the End: which day of Solem worship for thansgiving and prayers, For the Causes and Ends forsaids, we heirby peremptorly Require and Enjoin to be observed, with all Religious Exercises Suiteable to such ane occasion by all our good Subjects ministers and others, as they will be answerable at their highest perill Our Will is Heirfore And we charge yow Strictly and Command, That Incontinent thir our Letters seen, ye pass to the mercat cross of Edinburgh and Remanent mercat Crosses of the hail head Burghs of the severall Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom; And Their In our name and authority, by open proclamation, make Intimation heirof, That none pretend Ignorance And ordains Our Solicitor To cause Transmitt Coppies heirof to the Sheriffs of the severall Shires, and Stewarts of Stewartries, or their Deputs and Clerks, to be by them published at the mercat Crosses of their head Burghs upon Receit thereof. And Immediatly Sent to the severall ministers To the Effect the same may be Intimate and Read in their Severall paroch-Churches, upon the Lords day Immediatly preceeding the said Thirty day of November, and ordains their presents to be printed and published. Given under our Signet at Edinburgh The Eight day of November, and off our Reign the Eleventh year i699. Sic Subscribitur.