By the King, 
A PROCLAMATION For a General FAST.  
WILLIAM R.  
FOR the Imploring a Blessing from Almighty God, upon His Majesty, and all His Dominions, and for the Averting of those judgements which our manifold Sins and Provocations have most justly Deserved, The Kings most Excellent Majesty has thought fit, and doth (by the Advise of His Privy Council) hereby Appoint and Command, That a General Fast, and Day of Solemn Humiliation be Kept and Observed throughout His Majesty's Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, in most Devout and Solemn Manner, on Wednesday the Twenty eight Day of April next. And for the more orderly Solemnising of the same, His Majesty has 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 His Majesty doth strictly Charge and Command, That the said Fast and Prayers be Soberly, Reverently and Decently performed by all His Loving Subjects, as they tender the Favour of Almighty God, and upon Pain of such Punishments as can justly be inflicted upon all such as shall Contemn or Neglect so Religious a Work.  
Given at Our Court at Kensington the Eighteenth Day of March, 1696/●. In the Ninth Year of Our Reign. 
 God save the King.   

LONDON, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, deceased, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 16●6/7