HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
❧ By the King.  
A Proclamation for a general and public Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his great mercy in staying his hand, and assuaging the late fearful Visitation of the Plague.  
WHereas the Kings most Excellent Majesty, upon the fearful increase, and spreading of the late Infection of the Plague, in the Imperial City of this Kingdom, and places adjacent, and from thence in the more remote places of the Land, out of his most Religious consideration of the immediate hand of God therein, did command, that all his people throughout this whole Realm, should by fasting & prayer humble themselves unto Almighty God, and by their true repentance and humiliation seek to divert his wrath, and fearful Visitation. And his Majesty himself in His own Person did give a memorable example thereof to all his people, Which Religious duty, being accordingly observed, and for diverse months continued, it hath pleased God of his abundant mercy and goodness to stay his hand, and beyond the policy and hopes of man, to withdraw his Rod, and almost wholly to remove the same.  
Now the King's Majesty, with all possible Thanks, acknowledging the gracious mercy of the Divine Majesty, towards Himself and His people, and acknowledging also, that they are not worthy of future favours, who are not truly thankful for benefits already received, Hath thought fit, that, by His Royal authority, there should be a general and public Thanksgiving to God throughout this whole Kingdom, for so great & gracious a deliverance. And therefore He doth hereby command, and publish His Royal pleasure to be, That upon Sunday, the nine & twentieth of this present month of january, in, and throughout the Cities of London and Westminster, and places adjacent; And upon the nineteenth day of February next, in all other places of this Realm, there shall be celebrated a public Thanksgiving to God for this so great mercy.  
The manner and form whereof, shall be directed by a small Book, which shall to that purpose be composed by the Reverend Bishops, by His Majesty's express direction, and by them shall be sent and dispersed through their several Diocese; Whereof His Majesty's pleasure is, that all His loving Subjects shall take notice, and religiously, with that devotion which appertaineth to so pious a Work, shall solemnize the same.  
Given at Our Court at White-Hall, the two and twentieth day of january, in the first year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. 
 God save the King.   

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