PAX QVAERITUR BELLO OLIVARIUS DEI ◆ GRA: REIPUB: ANGLIAE, SCOTIAE, ET HIBERNIAE, & c PROTECTOR  blazon of the Commonwealth  
❧ By the Protector.  
A DECLARATION Of His Highness the Lord PROTECTOR, for a Day of Solemn Fasting and HUMILIATION.  
HIs Highness the Lord PROTECTOR and the Council, being (as becomes them) very sensible of, and deeply affected with the hand of the Lord, in the present general Visitation, with which not only these populous Cities, but mot parts of the Nation are sorely afflicted, and many have been taken away; Do hold it their duty to invite the People of this Nation to humble themselves greatly before the Lord, whose displeasure We have highly provoked by Due unthankfulness for, and abuse of Gospel Mercies, and that Peace, Health, and Plenty, which for divers years last passed We have (through his goodness) enjoyed, and by that spirit of Division, murmuring, profaneness and enmity againt the power of Godliness, which is so prevalent amongst Us, besides many other abominations: His HIGHNESS therefore, with the advice of His Council, hath thought fit to declare and appoint, that Wednesday the Fifth of May next, be observed as a Day of solemn Fasting and Humiliation within the Cities of London and Westminster, the late lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, And Wednesday the Nineteenth day of the same Month within the places aforesaid, and all other places within England and Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed; Exhorting all, especially those that fear the Lord, to humble themselves before him, and turn from their evil ways, and seek the Lord, that he will be pleased to forgive our sins, and heal Our Land; And that there may not only be a lengthening out of our Tranquillity, but such returns of special Mercy, as may evidence to his people, and convince all that have evil will unto their Peace, that the Lord hath not forsaken Us, but doth yet for his own Great Names sake take delight in Us, to make Us (though most unworthy) a People of his Praise. And His Highness doth earnestly recommend it unto all such as are touched with the sense of God's hand and displeasure, to set themselves to the performance of this Duty, in such a Solemn and Spiritual manner as becomes such an extraordinary Duty, and as so sad an Occasion as this calls for. His Highness' pleasure also is, that notice hereof be given in the several Churches and Congregations by the respective Ministers, on the Lords Day before the respective days aforesaid, for the better publication hereof.  
Given at White-Hall the Nine and twentieth Day of April, in the Year of Our Lord, 1658.   

London, Printed by Henry Hills and John Field, Printers to His Highness, 1658.