THE ESTATES OF PARLIAMEMT, upon Application, made to them, by the Ministers of the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and several other Ministers from other parts of this Kingdom, Taking to their Consideration, the great important War wherein His Majesty is ne­cessarly ingaged, for the Defence of the True Reform'd Religion, the Safety and Security of this, and His other Kingdoms; and the Recovery and Establishment of the Rights, Liberties and Peace of the rest of Christendom, so much at this time Invaded and Disturbed, with the continual Ha­zards to which His Majesties Sacred Person is thereby exposed: As likewise the Dangers which do thence Threaten this Kingdom, & all that can be dear to His Majesties good Subjects therein, either as Chri­stians or Men, both by Invasion from Abroad, and the froward Disaffection, and restless Machinations of evil and unnatural Countrey-men at Home; And how much it is the Duty and Interest of all good Men, for these Causes, and on this occasion, to Implore the Mercy, Favour and Blessings of Almighty God, for Preserving of His Majesties Royal Person, and Directing, Assisting and Prospering Him in all His Counsels and Undertakings; And more especially, that God would Countenance and Assist Him in the present War, give Him Success to His Arms by Sea and Land, and Defeat all the Designs, Coun­sels and Practices of His secret and open Enemies, both at Home and Abroad, for the Preservation of the True Protestant Religion, securing the Safety of these Kingdoms, and the happy Restoring of the Peace of Europe: Therefore Their Majesties, with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament, Do hereby Command and Appoint. That a Day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation, for making Prayers and Supplications to God, for the ends above-mentioned, be Religiously and strictly observed by all persons within this Kingdom, both in Churches and Meeting-Houses, upon the third Thursday of this Moneth of May, and the third Thursday of every Moneth thereafter, until intimation of forbearance be made by the Lords of their Majestie [...] Privy Council; And Ordains all Ministers to read these Presents pub­lickly in their Congregations, a Sunday at least before the said first Day appointed for keeping the said Fast, and so forth a Sunday before each third Thursday foresaid, during the space above-mentioned a And their Majesties with Consent foresaid, Ordains these Presents to be Printed, and Published at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and remanent Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries wihin this Kingdom, that none may Pretend ignorance; and that Copies be dispatched in the usual manner to the Sheriffs and Stuarts, Baillies of Regalities, their Deputs, and Magistrats of Burghs; as likewise to all Ministers concerned, that they may seriously exhort all persons to a sincere and devour observance of the Premisses; Certifying such of the Lieges who shall not give due obedience, or who shall contemn or neglect the keeping and observing of the saids Days and Duties, that they shall be pro­ceeded against, by Fining, not exceeding an hundred pounds Scots, toties quoties: And Warrands and Commands the Sheriffs, Stewarts of Stewartries, Lords and Bailies of Regalities, and their Deputs, Ju­stices of Peace, Magistrates of Burghs within their several Jurisdictions, to proceed against the persons guilty, and to exact the Fines accordingly, to be applyed, the one half to the Judge, and the other half to the poor of the Paroch: And Certifying such Ministers as shall fail in their Duty, in not Reading this Proclamation, and observing the Duties therein prescribed, they shall be Processed before the Lords of their Majesties Privy Council; and hereby Requires all Sheriffs, Stewarts, Lords and Baillies of Rega­lities, and their Deputs, Justices of Peace, Magistrats of Burghs, and their Clerks, to make Report to their Majesties Privy Council, of these Ministers who shall failȝie of their Duty herein. Extracted forth of the Records of Parliament by