CR  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for a public, general, and solemn Fast.  
THe King's most Excellent Majesty, upon the humble Petition of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in the present Parliament assembled, taking into his Princely consideration the many important causes, and extraordinary occasions calling upon him, and his people for a joint and general humiliation of all Estates of His Kingdom, before Almighty God in Prayer and Fasting, aswell for averting this heavy Visitation of Plague and Pestilence, already begun, and dangerously dispersed in many parts of this Kingdom, as also for drawing down his Blessing upon his Majesty and His people, and Armies both by Sea and Land, hath therefore (according to the Royal and laudable example of other godly Kings) by the advice and assistance of His Prelates and Bishops, caused an Order or Direction for public Prayer and Fasting, to be conceived and published in Print, in a Book for this special purpose, to be generally observed and solemnised, in humble hope and confidence, that when both Prince and People together through the whole Land, shall join in one common, & solemn Devotion, of sending up their faithful and repentant Prayers to Almighty God at one instant of time, the same shall be more available to obtain that mercy, help and comfort from him, which in the present important occasions this Church and Commonwealth do stand in need of.  
His Majesty doth therefore by this present Proclamation straight charge and command, That a general, public, and solemn Fast be kept and holden, as well by abstinence from food, as by public Prayers, Preaching, and hearing of the Word of God, and other sacred duties, according to the direction of the said Book, in all collegiate and parish-Churches and Chapels within this Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, upon Wednesday, the twentieth day of this instant month of july, and from thencefoorth continued upon the Wednesday of every week following, by the reverend, religious, and devout Assembly of the whole Congregation of such of the Inhabitants in each several place, as are free and safe from danger of Infection, and may in every Family be conveniently spared; Willing and requiring, aswell all Archbishops, and Bishops, in their several Provinces, and Dioceses, and all Parsons, Uicars and Curates, within their several Parishes and Charges, as also all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, and other Officers in their several places, limits, and jurisdictions, respectively to take especial care, that this His Majesty's Royal commandment be duly executed and observed: And that they themselves be lights of good example to the rest; And that all others in manner aforesaid, do diligently and devoutlyfollow and perform the same, as they tender their duties to Almighty God, and to their Prince and Country, and will answer for their profane, or contemptuous neglect hereof at their uttermost perils.  
Given at the Court at White-Hall, the third day of july, in the first year of his Majesty's Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. God save the King.   

¶ Printed at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M. DC. XXV.