SInce it hath pleased Almighty GOD, the Fountain of all Life, by whom Kings Reign and King­domes are established, to grant unto the Kings most excellent Majesty, fresh hopes of Royal Issue, by his most Serene Consort, Our Gracious Queen Mary, who (through the great Goodness and Blessing of God) is now with Child; And considering that the multiplying of the Branches of the Royal Family (especially Issuing from our present Sac [...]ed Soveraign, James the Seventh, under whose Auspitious, Wise and Clement Government, We enjoy so much Prosperity, Peace and Plenty) Is a most Desireable Blessing, a Native Support and Strengthning of the Crown, and by just Consequence a publick Blessing to this Kingdom, Tending to the further Security of the Peace and Happiness thereof: His Majesty Therefore (At the Humble and Earnest Desire, and by the Advice of his Privy Council) Hath thought fit upon this important Occasion, to set apart, and appoint a time, for rendering Devout and Solemn Thanks to GOD, for this great Mercy and Blessing, and for offering Publick and Hear­ty Prayers, to his Divine Majesty, To Blesse and Preserve the Sacred Person of our Dread Soveraign Lord, the King, to Prosper his Reign with Honourable and Glorious Successes, and to Prolong his Life, that he may see his Childrens Children, and his Throne may be as the Sun; As also that he may Blesse, Preserve and Strengthen, His Royal Consort the Queens Majesty, and make perfect his Work begun for Her, may Save and Defend Her from all Dangers and evil Accidents, that what She hath conceived, may be Preserved and Happily brought forth, to the Joy of our Soveraign Lord, the King, the further Security of his Crown, and the Happiness and Establishment of this Kingdom.

For this end, His Majesty, with Advice foresaid, Doth Appoint and Ordain, that the foresaid Thanks-giving and Prayers, be Devout­ly and Solemnly performed, in all the Paroch-Churches within the City and Diocesse of Edinburgh upon the twenty ninth day of January instant, and in all the other Churches, within this Kingdom, upon the ninteenth day of February next. And His Majesty accor­dingly Requires and Commands, the most Reverend, and right Reverend, the Arch-Bishops and Bishops, to take care, that in all the Paroch-Churches, within their respective Diocesses, these Prayers and Thanksgivings be accordingly Celebrate, by all the Ministers and Presbyters under their Jurisdiction, and that they cause intimation be made hereof, by reading of the same, from the Pulpits in the se­veral Paroch-Churches, the Lords-day, Immediatly preceeding the saids Solemn days of publick Thanksgiving, respectivè, And fina­ly, His Majesty Charges and Commands all his Loving Subjects heartily, to joyn and concur in these Religious and Dutiful Performances, as they would shew their Piety and Loyalty, in praying for the Life of the King, the Encrease of his Royal Issue, the further Security of the Crown, and the Estbalishment of Peace, and Happiness in this His Ancient Kingdom. And that these Presents may be made publick and known, His Majesty Ordains His Lyon King at Armes, and his Brethren Heraulds, the Macers of the Privy Council, and Pursevants, to pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, and there, by open Proclamation, and with all accustomed Solemnities on extra­ordinary Occasions, make publication of the Premisses, that none may pretend ignorance. Extracted forth of the Records of Privy Coun­cil, by Sir William Paterson Baronet, Clerk of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council,