Forasmuch as the Commission of the General Assembly of this Church, have applyed to the Lords of Our Privy Council, That they would interpose their Civil Sancti­on, for keeping of a Solemn National Fast and Humiliation, in all the Kirks and Meeting-houses of this Our Ancient Kingdom, for Imploring the blessing of the Lord upon Us, in Our Counsels and Undertakings, in Defence of the true Refor­med Religion, and of these Lands; And especially, that God would countenance Us in this present War, preserving Our Royal Person, and giving Success to Our Arms by Sea and Land, at Home and Abroad. Therefore We, with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, do hereby Command and Enjoyn, that the said Solemn Fast and Humiliation, for the Ends above-set-down, be Religiously Obser­ved, by all Persons within this Kingdom, both in Churches and Meeting-houses, upon the last Wednesday of May next to come, and thereafter Monethly, upon the last Wednesday of each Moneth, untill the last Wednesday of August next inclusivè. And Ordains all Ministers either in Kirks, or Meeting-Houses, to Read these pre­sents, publickly from the Pulpit, a Sunday or two before the first day appointed for keeping the said Fast, and Humiliation, and upon a Sunday, before each last Wednesday, during the space foresaid; And to the effect that this so Necessary and Religious a Duty may be publictly performed, and punctualy Observed, and Our pleasure in the Premisses known, OUR WILL IS Herefore, and We Charge you straitly, and Command, That incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and remanent Mercat-Crosses of the Head Burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, and in Our Name and Authority, make Publication of the Premisses, that none may pretend ignorance. And We Ordain Our Sollicitor, to dispatch Coppies hereof, to the Sheriffs of the several Shires, and Stewarts of the Stewartries, and their Deputs, or Clerks; To be by them published at the Mercat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs, upon Receipt thereof. And immediately sent to the several Ministers, both in Kirks and Meeting­Houses; To the effect, they may Read and intimate the same from their Pulpits, and may seriously exhort all Persons to a sincere and devote Observance thereof, as they will be answerable at their perril. And Ordains these Presents to be Printed, and Published in manner forsaid.