A Letter from Scotland: Giving a true Relation of the present Posture of Affairs in that Kingdom, in reference to the expected Invasion from France; And particularly, the care that was taken to prevent the Castle of Edinburgh from being betrayed.  
Together with two Proclamations, the one against Ministers not Praying for Their Majesty's King Willam and Queen Mary. The other for a Solemn National Monthly-Fast  
Licenced May the 7th, J. F. 1692.  
Edinburgh, April 30. SIR,  
I AM sorry to find by yours, that in England you have no very good Opinion of us here, in this critical Juncture; but allow me to tell you, that though you have more Strength than we, we seem at least to have as great Zeal. I shall give you only the bare Matter of Fact. The Chancellor having an Express from Mr. Johnston our Secretary at London, called the Council, and imparted to them Her Majesty's Pleasure, for putting the Kingdom in a posture of Defence, that we might not be surprised in case our Enemies from abroad should make any attempt upon our Coast, or in our Neighbourhood, as it seems they intended; upon which the Council, in two or three meetings, did what belonged to them to do, in the following particulars.  
The Commander in chief of the Forces had immediately Orders to post them so, as that they could conveniently and speedily meet upon occasion; and in order to this, a Thousand Horse and Dragoons are to lie at Edinburgh, or not far from it.  
The Governors and Commanders of Castles and Forts were sent for, and Enquiry made what Stores and Provisions they had in them, and Orders given to furnish them with Provisions for six Months, and with all necessary Ammunition; for which end such quantities of Powder and other Ammunition as were to be had here, were ordered to be bought, and Orders were sent over the Kingdom to the other Towns, for sending to the Council an account of what Powder or other Ammunition was any where to be found: And in the mean while, the Magistrates of the place were ordered to take care, that none of it be sold without their Authority.  
Upon some Information which the Council received, particular care hath been taken of the Castle of Edinburgh, by removing all suspected and unnecessary People out of it, and by putting one of the inferior Officers under an Arrest. Upon information that many disaffected People were come to Town, and some lately from abroad, the Gates of the Town were shut, and a general Search was made, and some few apprehended; but for the greater secrecy in time coming, the Council signed a Warrant to the Chancellor, to seize on the Arms and Horses of persons whom he should judge disaffected, and such persons themselves, whom he should keep in Custody till they were presented by him to the Council at its next meeting. The Magistrates of this City were called for, and the care of the same recommended to them, particularly, to double their Guards, and to have the Names of all those that come hither every night, and that are not Inhabitants, to be brought to them; and that the Magistrates consider those Names, and deliver to the Chancellor at least once every week Lists of such of them as are suspected or unknown. The Council hath likewise ordered, That Fencible-men, and Heretors, (that is, as you call 'em, the Gentry and richest sort of Freeholders) all over the Kingdom, to be in a readiness with their Horses and Arms to meet under their several Commanders upon Advertisement given them, either by particular Order, or by the signal of Fires upon Beacons, which are ordered to be kindled upon the first appearance of a Fleet on the Coast. Letters are also sent to all the Members of Council, requiring them to attend; and the Council or Committees of Council are to sit every day during the present Alarms.  
The Council being informed, that some disaffected Churchmen prayed either for the late Government, or not for this, or in such ambiguous words, that their meaning was clear enough to be understood they meant the late King, ordered the Proclamation which I send you enclosed to be published. The Council had published the other Proclamation, which I also send you, some time before; but I send it to show you, that the generality of our Churchmen are well inclined.  
Thus, Sir, whatever Zeal you in England may have inwardly, we do hitherto at least show as much.  
'Tis true, there are Discontents and Divisions among us, but the subject of them is either the lesser concerns of what generally we take to be Religion, and for which sometimes we may indeed considerately enough venture, but sure, will ne'er in a plain case throw away the greater; or it is Remains of Animosities from the memory of the Violences of the late Reigns; but to endeavour to bring back those Reigns, were an odd way of resenting such Violences, and which one would think no man in these Kingdoms, that has either Sense or Honesty, should be guilty of. I am  
Sir, _____  

A Proclamation Anent Ministers not Praying for Their Majesties, King William and Queen Mary.  
WIlliam and Mary by the Grace of God, King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland Defenders of the Faith. To Macers of Our Privy Council, Messengers at Arms, Our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly, and severally, specially constitute Greeting:  
Forasmuch, as albeit, by the Act of the Meeting of Estates of this our Ancient Kingdom, Dated the 13th day of April, 1689, Our lieges were Certified, not to own or acknowledge the late K. James the Second for their King, but that they, and every one of them, should render their dutiful Obedience to Us; and in particular, that all the Ministers of the Gospel within this Kingdom should publicly Pray for Us, as King and Queen of this Realm, under the Pains and Certifications specified in the said Act: As also, We with Advice of Our Estates of Parliament, by Our Act of 22th of July, 1690. Ordained the said Act and Proclamation of the Estates of this our Kingdom, to be put to further Execution, against all such Ministers who had not given Obedience thereto, by praying for Us, in manner mentioned in the said Act: And that the Lords of Our Privy Council should proceed therein, or empower other Magistrates to do the same within their respective bounds, as they should see Cause. Yet nevertheless, the said Acts have been so far from receiving the punctual and exact Obedience due to them, That many Preachers have either presumed wholly to neglect Praying for Us, as King and Queen of this Realm, conform to the said's Acts, or at least have so far testified a want of Ingenuity and Plainness required in a Duty of this Nature, that they make use of such ambiguous and unclear Expressions in their Prayers, that the hearers cannot distinctly know they Pray for Us, to the Great Disparagement of the said's Laws, and contempt of Our Authority. Therefore We, with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, do strictly require and Command the Sheriff of the several Shires, Bailies of Regalities, Stewarts of Stewarties, and Magistrates of the burgh's Royal of this Kingdom within their Bounds and Jurisdictions respective, to make due and exact trial what Ministers Preaching in Churches or Meeting-Houses, within their respective bounds, Pray not ordinarily for Us, in such circumstantiat Terms, as their Hearers may distinctly know that they Pray for Us, as King and Queen of this Realm; and for that effect, We with the Advice foresaid, Hereby Require and Empower the several Magistrates respective foresaids, to conveen and call before them such persons as they shall think fit, to give Information and Evidence against such Ministers Preaching in Churches or Meeting-Houses, who fail in their Obedience to the Acts , in manner above set down, and that the said's Magistrates respective, Transmit under their Hands, to the Clerks of Our Privy Council, betwixt and the first day of June next to come, (for such as are on this side of the Water of Tay, and the fifteenth day of the said Month, for these on the other side thereof,) the Names of the several Ministers offending in the Premises, with the place of their residence, and the original Information and Evidence they have received and taken against them, to the Effect they may be Prosecute with all Rigour, and the Penalties and Certifications in the saids Laws contained, justly Inflicted and Executed against them. With Certification to the said's respective Magistrates who fail herein, they shall be repute as Connivers at, and Abettors of the said's Offenders, and negligent in the Execution and performance of their Offices and Duty committed to them, and prosecute as such accordingly. Our Will is Herefore, and we Charge you strictly and Command, That incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat cr●ss of Edinburgh, and to the remanent Mercat-crosses of the Head-Burghs of the several Shears of this Our Ancient Kingdom, and there; in Our Name and Authority, by open Proclamation, make intimation of the Premises: And Ordains these Presents to be Printed and Published in manner foresaid.  
Given under our Signet at Edinburgh, the twenty eighth day of April. And of our Reign, the fourth Year, 1692. Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii, In Supplementum Signeti. GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Sti, Concilii.  
God save King William and Queen Mary.   

A Proclamation, for a Solemn, National, Monthly Fast.  
WILLIAM and MARY, by the Grace of God, King and Queen of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith; to Our Lion King at Arms, and his Brethren Heralds, Macers of our Privy Council, Pursuivants, Messengers at Arms, our Sheriffs in that part, conjunctly, and severally, specially constitute, greeting:  
Forasmuch as several Synods, and others of this Church, have applied to the Lords of our Privy Council, that they would interpose their Authority, for indicting and keeping a solemn National Fast and Humiliation, in all the Kirks and Meeting-houses of this our ancient Kingdom, to implore the Blessing of the Lord upon us in our Counsels and Undertake, in defence of the true Reformed Religion, and of these Lands, and relief of the Oppressed abroad; and especially, that God would countenance Us in the present War, preserving our Royal Person, and giving Success to our Arms by Sea and Land, and preserve and establish the Protestant Religion at home and abroad. Therefore We, with Advice of the Lords of our Privy Council, do hereby command and enjoin, 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 25th day of May next, being the last Wednesday of that Month, and thereafter monthly, upon the last Wednesday of each Month, until the last Wednesday of September next inclusive. And ordains all Ministers, either in Kirks or Meeting-houses, to read these Presents publicly 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 publicly performed, and punctually observed, and Our pleasure in the Premises known. Our Will is, and We charge you straight, and command, that incontinent, these our Letters seen, ye pass to the Marcatcross of Edinburgh, and remanent Marcat Crosses of the Head-burghs of the several Shires and Stewartries within this Kingdom, and in Our Name and Authority, make publication of the Premises, that none may pretend Ignorance. And We ordain our Solicitor to dispatch Copies hereof, to the Sheriffs of the several Shires and Stewarts of the Stewartries, and their Deputes or Clerks, to be by them published at the Marcat-Crosses of the Head-Burghs, upon receipt thereof, and immediately sent to the several Ministers, both in Kirks and Meeting-houses, to the effect they may read, and intimat 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 Peril: And ordains th●se Presents to be printed, and published in manner aforesaid.  
Given under our Signet at Edinburgh, the 21st day of April, and of our Reign the fourth Year, 1692. Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii. In Supplementum Signeti. DA. MONCREIF, Cls. Sti. Concilii.  
God save King William and Queen Mary    

Printed for Tim. Goodwin at the Maidenhead in Fleetstreet.