We, taking into Our most serious Consideration the just and necessary
Hostilities in which We are engaged, and the unnatural Rebellion
carrying on in some of Our Provinces and Colonies 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, on Thursday the Third 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
imploring His Blessing and Assistance on Our Arms, and for restoring
and perpetuating Peace, Safety, and Prosperity, to Us and Our Kingdoms:
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 and necessary 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 Bailiffs 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 Thirteenth Day of December,
One thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, in the Twentieth Year of
Our Reign.