THE Estates of Parliament taking to their Consideration, the great Important War, wherein His Majesty continueth to be necessarly Engaged, for De­fence of the True Reformed Religion, the Safety 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 like­ways the Dangers which do thence threaten this Kingdom, and 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 Blessing of Almighty GOD, for Preservati­on 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 the Peace of Europe. And the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale, now met at Edinburgh, having made Application to my Lord Commissioner for this end: There­fore His Majesty, with Advice and Consent of the said Estates of Parliament, doth hereby Com­mand and Appoint, That the second Thursday of June next, being the thirteenth day of the said Moneth, be set apart as a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation, for making Prayers and Supplications to GOD, for the ends above-mentioned; and that the said day be Religious­ly and Strictly Observed by all Persons within this Kingdom: And Ordains all Ministers to read these presents publickly in their Congregations a Sunday at least before the said second Thursday of June next, appointed for keeping the said Fast; Certifying such of the Leidges who shall not give due Obedience, or shall Contemn or Neglect the Keeping and Observing the said Day and Duties, that they shall be proceeded against by Fyning, not exceeding One hundred Pounds Scots Money: And Warrands and Commands the Sheriffs, Stewarts of Stew­artries, Lords and Baillies of Regalities, and their Deputs, Justices of Peace, Magistrats of Burghs within their several Jurisdictions, to proceed against the Persons guilty, and 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 His 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 the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council, of these Ministers who shall fail of their Duty herein. And Ordains these Presents to be Printed, and Published at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, and hail remanent Mercat-Crosses of the Head-burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, that none may pretend Ignorance: And that Copies be dispatched in the usual manner, to the Sheriffs and Stewarts, Baillies of Regalities, or their Deputs, and Magistrats of Burghs; as likewise to all Ministers, that they may seriously exhort all Persons to a sincere and devout Observance of the Premisses.