Att Edinburgh the Fyfth day June J^aj vj^c nyntie six years

A1696/6/23

A1696/6/23¹

Proclamation

Proclamation for a solemn nationall fast and humiliation

The proclamation after insert being read was votted approven and signed wherof the tenor folloues
William By the Grace of God King of Great Britaine France and Ireland Defender of the faith To […] Macers of our privie Counsell messengers at armes our shirreffs in that part Conjunctlly and severally speciallie Constitut Greeting Forasmuchas the Continuance of a dangerous and necessarie warr wherin we and our people are Engadged and which Inevitablie exposes our royall persone to Great and Continuall Dainger And that in the success and prosperitie of our arms by Sea and Land The uelfare of our kingdoms and of the Churches of God both at home and abroad are highly Concerned Doe Call for Earnest and fervent prayer to God for success to our arms protection to our royall persons And for his gracious assisting us and our allayes with a spirit of wisdome Counsell and Courage In all our Consults desegns and undertakings against the Commone enemy And that Deep humiliation and fasting before the Lord should be Joyned uith our fervent supplications For the Causes Forsaids and that a day should be solemnly sett apairt To be keeped through all the Churches of this Kingdome for that effect And for appointment of which solemn fast and day of humiliation The Ministers and Elders now mett at Edinburgh Commissioners appointed by the Late Generall Assembly of the nationall Church of this our antient Kingdome Have also addressed the Lords of our privie Councell and that for the same Causes and ends forsaids throughout the whole kingdom upon the dayes follouing viz In all the churches upon this syde of Tay upon Teusday the sixteenth day of June Currant And in all the rest of the paroch churches uithin this Kingdome upon teusday the threttieth day of the said moneth upon which dayes of solemne humiliatione and prayer respectively forsaids as we and our people are to be deeply humbled for our Great and manifold provocationes And to deprecat the wrath of God for our Ingratitude for former deliverances so we are Importunatly to Implore the divine majestie for the Continuance of his protection and good hand upon us and that he would turne auay his anger and threatned Judgements from us and our people so Justly deserved for our great unthankfulnes and manifold provocations Which days respectively forsaids we with advice of the Lords of our privie Councell Requyre and Command to be religiously and seriously observed by all Ranks and degrees of people and that the samen be whollie spent and Imployed upon preaching and hearing the uord and the other Acts of devotione forsaid Certifying such of the Leidges who shall not Give due obedience heirunto or who shall Contemn or neglect the Keeping and observing of the saids days and Duties That they shall be proceeded against by fyning not exceeding ane Hundred pounds scotts And ue uith advice forsaid Requyre and Command the shirreffs of the severall shires steuarts of steuartries Lords and Baillies of Regalities and their Deputes Justices of peace and magistrats of burghs uithin their severall Jurisdictions to proceed against the persons guiltie and to exact the fynes accordingly To be applyed the one halfe to the Judge and the other halfe to the poor of the paroch And Certifying such ministers as shall faill of their duty In not observing the premisses and not reading and duely Intimating of thir presents in manner aftermentioned They shall be processed before the Lords of our privie Councell And ue uith advice forsaid require the severall Magistrats abovementioned betuixt and the tuenty second day of Jully nixt to Come to make report to the Lords of our privie Councill of these Ministers uithin their respective Jurisdictions who shall faill in their deuty and obedience to the premisses Our will is heirfore And ue Charge yow strictly and Command That Incontinent these our Letters seen ye pass to the mercat Cross of Edinburgh and to the remanent mercat Crosses of the head burghs of the severall shires and steuartries uithin this Kingdome and in our name and authority make publication hereof That none pretend ignorance And ue ordaine our Sollicitor to dispatch Coppies hereof 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 of the head burghs upon recept thereof And Imediatly sent to the severall ministers To the effect they may read and intimat the same from their pulpitts upon the Lords day Immediatly preceeding the days above appointed And ordaines these presents to be printed and published in manner forsaid Given under our signet at Edinburgh the fifth day of June and of our Reigne the Eight year i696 sic subscribitur Poluarth cancelar Melvill p:s. Lauderdale Leven Annandale John Hamilton Tarbat James Steuart John Hamilton² James Murray