C R  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
A PROCLAMATION For a public general Fast throughout the Realm of SCOTLAND.  
CHARLES, by the Grace of GOD, King of Scoland, England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. To all and sundry Our good Subjects, Greeting;  
Forasmuch, as We considering the eminent Danger Our Royal Person and Government, and the Protestant Religion have been of late, and are still exposed unto, through an Damnable and Hellish Plot, contrived and carried on by the Papists, for taking away Our Sacred Life, and for the subversion of the Protestant Religion, and of the Government of these Kingdoms (which GOD of His Infinite Mercy hath hitherto prevented and disappointed, and We hope will prevent and disappoint for the future) And being very sensible of the Fatal Consequences of such an Horrible and Sanguinary Conspiracy and Design; We, out of Our Religious Disposition, have readily approven of an Humble motion made to Us for commanding a General Fast, to be Religiously kept throughout this whole Kingdom, to Implore the Mercy of Almighty GOD for the preservation of the Protestant Religion, as it is by Law established, and for the protection of Our Royal Person and Government; As also, to pray that GOD will more and more bring to Light, and confound all Secret Contrivances and Machinations against Us, and in Us, against all Our Loyal Subjects; We, with advice of Our Privy Council, have therefore thought fit by this Our Proclamation, to Indict a General and Public Fast and day of Humiliation, that all Our loving Subjects may send up their fervent Prayers and Supplications to Almighty GOD, to, and for, the purposes aforesaid. Our Will is herefore, and We strictly Command and Charge, that the said Fast be Religiously and Solemnly kept throughout this Our whole Kingdom, by all Subjects and People within the same, upon the third Wednesday of December next, being the eighteenth day thereof, to the end that so necessary and Religious and Exercise may be performed by all at one and the same time. Requiring hereby the Reverend Arch-Bishops, and Bishops, to give notice hereof to the Ministers in their respective Dyocesses, that upon the Lordsday immediately preceding the said eighteenth day of December, they cause Read and Intimate this Our Proclamation from the Pulpit in every Parish Church, and that they Exhort all Our Subjects to a Serious and Devout performance of the said Prayers, Fasting and Humiliation, as they tender the Favour of Almighty GOD, and the Safety and Preservation of the Protestant Religion, and of Our Sacred Life and Government, and as they would avoid the Wrath and Indignation of GOD against this Kingdom: Certifying all those who shall contemn or neglect such a Religious and necessary Duty, they shall be proceeded against, and punished as Contemners of Our Authority, and Persons, Disaffected to the Protestant Religion, as well as to Our Royal Person and Government.  
Given under Our Signet at Edinburgh, the fifteenth day of November, one thousand six hundred and seventy eight, and of Our Reign the thirtieth year. Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii. Al. Gibson, Cls. Sti. Concilii. 
 GOD Save the KING.   

EDINBURGH, prited by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred MAJESTY, 1678.