By the King, 
A PROCLAMATION For a General FAST.  
WILLIAM R.  

HONI SOIT 〈◊〉 MAL Y PENSE  
IE MAINTIENDRAY   royal blazon or coat of arms  
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; and that God would, in His great Mercy and Goodness, Relieve and Comfort such as Suffer Abroad for the Protestant Religion; The Kings most Excellent Majesty (by the Advice of His Privy Council) hath thought fit, and doth hereby Appoint and Command, That a General Fast, and Day of Solemn Humiliation be Religiously Kept and Observed throughout His Majesty's Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, in most Devout and Solemn manner, on Wednesday the Fifth Day of April next. And for the more Orderly Solemnising of the said Fast, His Majesty hath 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 hath given Charge for the Dispersing thereof through their several Dioceses in the whole Kingdom. And His Majesty doth most strictly Charge and Command, That the said Fasting 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 receiving such Punishment as His Majesty can justly Inflict upon all such as shall Contemn or Neglect so Religious and Necessary a Duty.  
Given at Our Court at Kensington the Twelfth Day of March, 1698/9. In the Eleventh 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. 1698/9.