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ACT Of His Majesty's Privy Council of Scotland, for a solemn and public Thanksgiving throughout the Kingdom, upon Her Royal Majesties being with Child.  
Edinburgh, the seventeenth day of January, 1688.  
SInce it hath pleased Almighty GOD, the Fountain of all Life, by whom King's Reign and Kingdoms are established, to grant unto the Kings most excellent Majesty, fresh hopes of Royal Issue, by his most Serene Consort, Our Gracious Queen Mary, who (through the great Goodness and Blessing of God) is now with Child; And considering that the multiplying of the Branches of the Royal Family (especially Issuing from our present Sac●ed Sovereign, James the Seventh, under whose Auspicious, Wise and Clement Government, We enjoy so much Prosperity, Peace and Plenty) Is a most  Blessing, a Native Support and Strengthening of the Crown, and by just Consequence a public Blessing to this Kingdom, Tending to the further Security of the Peace and Happiness thereof: His Majesty Therefore (At the Humble and Earnest Desire, and by the Advice of his Privy Council) Hath thought fit upon this important Occasion, to set apart, and appoint a time, for rendering Devout and Solemn Thanks to GOD, for this great Mercy and Blessing, and for offering Public and Hearty Prayers, to his Divine Majesty, To Bless and Preserve the Sacred Person of our Dread Sovereign Lord, the King, to Prosper his Reign with Honourable and Glorious Successes, and to Prolong his Life, that he may see his children's Children, and his Throne may be as the Sun; As also that he may Bless, Preserve and Strengthen, His Royal Consort the Queen's Majesty, and make perfect his Work begun for Her, may Save and Defend Her from all Dangers and evil Accidents, that what She hath conceived, may be Preserved and Happily brought forth, to the Joy of our Sovereign Lord, the King, the further Security of his Crown, and the Happiness and Establishment of this Kingdom.  
For this end, His Majesty, with Advice foresaid, Doth Appoint and Ordain, that the foresaid  and Prayers, be Devoutly and Solemnly performed, in all the Paroch-Churches within the City and Diocese of Edinburgh upon the twenty ninth day of January instant, and in all the other Churches, within this Kingdom, upon the ninteenth day of February next. And His Majesty accordingly Requires and Commands, the most Reverend, and right Reverend, the Arch-Bishops and Bishops, to take care, that in all the Paroch-Churches, within their respective Dioceses, these Prayers and Thanksgivings be accordingly Celebrate, by all the Ministers and Presbyters under their Jurisdiction, and that they cause intimation be made hereof, by reading of the same, from the Pulpits in the several Paroch-Churches, the Lordsday, Immediately preceding the said's Solemn days of public Thanksgiving, respectiuè, And finally, His Majesty Charges and Commands all his Loving Subjects hearty, to join and concur in these Religious and Dutiful Performances, as they would show their Piety and Loyalty, in praying for the Life of the King, the Increase of his Royal Issue, the further Security of the Crown, and the Estbalishment of Peace, and Happiness in this His Ancient Kingdom. And that these Presents may be made public and known, His Majesty Ordains His Lion King at Arms, and his Brethren Heralds, the Macers of the Privy Council, and Pursuivants, to pass to the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh, and other places needful, and there, by open Proclamation, and with all accustomed Solemnities on extraordinary Occasions, make publication of the Premises, that none may pretend ignorance. Extracted forth of the Records of Privy Council, by Sir William Paterson Baronet, Clerk of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council,  
WILL. PATERSON, Cls. Sti. Concilii. 
 GOD save the KING.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred Majesty, Anno Dom. 1688.