W R  
DIEV ET MON DROIT  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  By the Lords Justices, 
A PROCLAMATION For a General FAST.  


Tho. Cantuar.  
J. Summer C. S.  
Pembroke C. P. S.  
Devonshire,  
Shrewsbury.  
Dorset.  
Godolphin.    
WE taking into Our most serious Consideration the continued War, in which His Majesty (Our Gracious Sovereign) together with most of the Princes and States of Europe, are Engaged against the French King, and that upon the Success thereof the Common Safety of His Majesty's Kingdom doth, under God, wholly depend, and putting Our trust in Almighty God, that he will Vouchsafe a Special Blessing on His Majesty's Righteous Undertake, and Consummate the Deliverance of these Nations, by Settling the same in a firm and lasting State of Peace, Security, and Prosperity, have thought fit to Appoint, and do (by and with the Advice of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council) hereby Appoint and Command a General and Public Fast, and Humiliation, to be Observed throughout His Majesty's Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, in most Devout and Solemn Manner, for Supplicating Almighty God for the Pardon of Our Sins, and for Imploring his Blessing and Protection in the Preservation of His Majesty's Sacred Person, and Prosperity of His Arms both at Land and Sea, on Friday the Twenty sixth Day of June. And for the more orderly Solemnising of the same, We have given Directions to the Right Reverend the Bishops of this Kingdom, to Compose a Form of Prayer suitable to this Occasion, to be used in all Churches and Chapels, and other Places of Public Worship, and to take care for the timely Dispersing of the same through their several Dioceses in the whole Kingdom. And We do strictly Charge and Command, That the said Fast and Prayers be Soberly, Reverently and Decently performed by all His Majesties Loving Subjects, as they tender the Favour of Almighty God, and upon Pain of such Punishments as His Majesty can justly inflict upon all such as shall Contemn or Neglect so Religious a Work.  
Given at the Council Chamber at Whitehall, the Three and Twentieth Day of May, 1696. In the Eighth Year of His Majesty's Reign. 
 God save the King.   

LONDON, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceased, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1696.