A PROCLAMATION, Appointing a Solemn and Public Thanksgiving. 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 Great and Public Blessings, Conferred upon Us and Our People by the Almighty God, of His Infinite Goodness, do justly call for Public Acknowledgements and Solemn Thanksgiving; so it is our Duty, and the Duty of all Our good Subjects, at this time, by a Day solemnly set apart, to return Praise and Glory to His blessed Name, who in Answer to the frequent and fervent Prayers, humbly and devoutly offered up, and poured forth before Him at the several solemn Fasts observed and kept thorough this Our ancient Kingdom, during Our last Campaign in Flanders, hath been pleased to preserve Our Person from the many and great Dangers of the War in Our late Expedition there, and to Disappoint, and Defeat the Barbarous and Horrid Conspiracy for taking away Our Life by Assasination, and to bring back Our Royal Person to Our Kingdoms; and at Home to Protect and Defend the Protestant Religion and Our Government, against the Designs and Attempts of their Open and Secret Enemies: And for which Causes also, the Ministers assembled in the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale, with such as correspond with them from several other Synods, have made Address to the Lords of Our Privy Council, that a Solemn Day of Public Thanksgiving may be set apart, to be Religiously Observed throughout this Our ancient Kingdom. Therefore, We with Advice of the Lords of Our Privy Council, Do Appoint and Command, that the Tenth Day of November current for the Town of Edinburgh and Suburbs, comprehending Leith, Cannongate and West-Kirk, and the Twenty Fourth of the said Month of November for all the rest of this Our ancient Kingdom, be Religiously and Devoutly Observed, as a Solemn Day of Public Thanksgiving, by all Persons within this Kingdom, both in Churches and Meeting-houses, for returning most Hearty and Humble Thanks and Acknowledgement to the Divine Goodness, for his signal Blessings and Deliverances already bestowed upon Us and Our People, and to Implore the Continuance thereof in the Mercy of Our God, and that a Spirit of Council and Wisdom may Assist Us in Our Consultations and Undertake at Home and Abroad in time coming. And to the effect Our Will in the Premises may be known, OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, and we Charge you strictly, and Command, that incontinent these our Letters seen, ye pass to the Mercat-cross of Edinburgh, and remanent Mercat-crosses of the whole head burgh's of the several Shires within this Kingdom, and of the Stewartries of Kirkcudbright, Annandale, and Orknay, and there in Our Name and Authority, make Publication hereof, that none may pretend Ignorance. And Ordains Our Solicitor to cause make Intimation hereof to the Ministers within the Town of Edinburgh and Suburbs, comprehending as abovesaid, by sending Copies to them, or any other way he thinks fit, and to cause send Printed Copies hereof to the Sheriffs of the several Shires, and Stewards of the Stewartries' foresaids, whom We Ordain to see the same Published, and appoints them to send Doubles thereof to all the Ministers both in Churches and Meeting-houses within their respective Jurisdictions, that upon the Lordsday immediately preceding the said's Tenth and Twenty Fourth Days of November current, the same may be Intimat and Read in every Paroch-Church and Meetinghouse. Certifying all such who shall Contemn or Neglect so Religious and Important a Duty, as the Thanksgiving hereby Appointed is, they shall be Proceeded against, and Punished as Contemners of Our Authority, and as highly Disaffected to Our Persons and Government. And Ordains these Presens to be Printed. Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the third day of November, and of Our Reign the fourth year, 1692. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii, Et In Supplementum Signeti. GILB. ELIOT, Cls. Sti. Concilii. God save King William and Queen Mary. Edinburgh, Printed by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to Their most Excellent Majesties, 1692.