We, taking into Our most serious Consideration the just and necessary
Measures of Force which We are obliged to use against Our Rebellious
Subjects in Our Colonies and Provinces in North America; and putting
Our Trust in Almighty God, that He will vouchsafe a special Blessing on
Our Arms, both by Sea and Land, have resolved, and do, by and with the
Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby command, That a Publick Fast and
Humiliation be observed throughout that Part of Our Kingdom of Great
Britain called Scotland, upon Thursday the Twenty sixth Day of February
next; that so both We and Our People may humble Ourselves before
Almighty God, in order to obtain Pardon of Our Sins; and may, in the
most devout and solemn Manner, send up Our Prayers and Supplications
to the Divine Majesty, for averting those heavy Judgments, which Our
manifold Sins and Provocations have most justly deserved, and for
imploring His Intervention and Blessing, speedily to deliver Our loyal
Subjects, within Our Colonies and Provinces in North America, from
the Violence, Injustice and Tyranny of those daring Rebels, who have
assumed to themselves the Exercise of Arbitrary Power; to open the
Eyes of those who have been deluded by specious Falsehoods into Acts
of Treason and Rebellion; to turn the Hearts of the Authors of these
Calamities; and finally to restore Our People in those distracted
Provinces and Colonies to the happy Condition of being Free Subjects
of a Free State, under which heretofore they flourished so long and
prospered so much. And We do strictly charge and command, That the
said Publick Fast be reverently and devoutly observed by all Our
loving Subjects in Scotland, as they tender the Favour of Almighty
God, and would avoid His Wrath and Indignation; and upon Pain of such
Punishment as We may justly inflict on all such as contemn and neglect
the Performance of so religious a Duty. Our Will is therefore, and We
charge, That incontinent this Our Proclamation seen, ye pass to the
Market Cross of Edinburgh, and all other Places needful, and there,
in Our Name and Authority, make Publication hereof, that none pretend
Ignorance. And Our Will and Pleasure is, That Our Solicitor do cause
printed Copies hereof to be sent to the Sheriffs of the several Shires,
Stewarts of Stewarties, and Bailif's of Regalities, and their Clerks,
whom We ordain to see the same published; and We appoint them to send
Doubles hereof to the several Paroch Kirks within their Bounds, that
upon the Lord's Day immediately preceding the Day above mentioned,
the same may be published and read from the Pulpits immediately after
Divine Service.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Twenty-third Day of January,
One thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, in the Eighteenth Year
of Our Reign.