1.1.

WILLIAM by the grace of GOD, King of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith; To
Macers of Our Privy Council, Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that Part, conjunctly and severally, specially constitute, Greeting; Forasmuchas, it hath pleased the Holy and Righteous God, for the many great and hainous Sins and Provocations of this Kingdom, to afflict the same with the lamentable Stroke of Dearth and Scarcity, (which if not in His mercy prevented) doth threaten a dreadful Famine; As likeways that the reformed Churches Abroad, are through His Holy and Soveraign Displeasure, partly under grievous Persecution, and partly under great and imminent Hazards, which justly call for our humbleing of our selves for our own Sins, and for a tender Simpathie towards our said afflicted Brethren: Likeas the General Assembly of this Church lately conveened, Have therefore addressed the Lords of Our Privy Council, that a day of Humiliation may be Appointed and kept for the Causes foresaids, more fully mentioned in their Act thereanent. Therefore We with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, Command and Appoint a day of Solemn Humiliation and Prayer and Fasting, to be observed throughout the whole Kingdom, upon the Ninth day of March next to come, to the effect that all Our good Subjects may on that day, make earnest Prayer and Supplication to GOD for the Pardon of Our Sins, and for turning away and averting His Wrath from this, and other reformed Churches, and that He may command Deliverance for His afflicted People, under Persecution, bless and preserve Us and Our Government, for the continuance of that Peace and Tranquillity, and liberty of Gospel Ordinances with Purity and Freedom that we at present injoy, and that He may bless His Gospel with Success, and grant a seasonable Seed-time, and bless the Seed with increase for the relief of the Poor, and of the present Distress of the Kingdom: Which Day, We with Advice foresaid, do Require and Command to be religiously and most seriously observed by all Ranks and Degrees of People, by solemn Prayer and Preaching, and other Acts of Devotion to be performed for the Causes and Ends foresaids, both in publick and privat throughout the whole Kingdom. OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, and We charge you strictly and Command, that incontinent these Our Lettersseen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and remanent Mercat-Crosses of the haill Head-burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, and there in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make Publication hereof that none pretend Ignorance; And We Ordain Our Solicitor to cause Print thir presents, as also the Act of the General Assembly thereto annexed, and to transmit the same, or Copies thereof to the Sheriffs of the several Shires, and Stewarts of Stewartries, or their Deputs and Clerks, to be by them published at the Mercat-crosses of their Headburghs upon Receipt thereof, and immediatly sent to the several Ministers, to the effect the same may be intimat and read in their several Paroch-Churches, upon the Lords Day immediatly preceeding the Day above-appointed.

Given under Our Signet at Edinburghthe seventh day of February, and of Our Reign the Tenth Year, 1699.

1.2.

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, Anno Dom. 1699.