blazon or coat of arms incorporating the Commonwealth Flag (1649-1651) ●ct for a Day of public Thanksgiving to be observed throughout England and Wales, on Thursday the First of November, 1649. Together with a DECLARATION of the Grounds thereof.  

THe great and wonderful Providences, wherein the Lord hath eminently gone forth in mercy towards this Nation, have been such, that however many do shut their eyes, or murmur against them, or at least refuse to join in public Acknowledgements, and Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the same; Nevertheless, the Lord hath been pleased to publish to all the world, That it is the work of his own hand: Nor hath his infinite goodness and favour been restrained to England only, but extended to Ireland, which he hath been pleased to remember in its low estate; and when his People there were as dry bones, He hath not only revived them in a way almost as miraculous as a Resurrection from the Dead, but been pleased to raise both them and us to a high pitch of hope, That the Lord will go on to perfect his work in ●●●d, and make it likewise at last a quiet Habitation for his People, and establish the power and purity of ●●●el there. The consideration whereof, and of the Goodness and Power of God in the late wonderful 〈◊〉 which he hath been pleased to give unto the Parliaments Forces there before Dublin (never to be for●●●●● And the further progress God hath made in giving in Drogheda, a place of great Strength and Conse●●●●●●●efended by a considerable number of their prime Officers and Soldiers, the particulars whereof are ex●●●●●●●n the Lord Lieutenants and other Letters, lately Printed; and since that, by striking Terror into the 〈…〉 the Enemy, so as they have yielded up or deserted many other considerable Castles and garrisons, as ●●●●●ndalk, Carlingford, the Newry, and other Places, and some other additional Victories which God hath cast in 〈…〉 not but make a deep impression on the hearts of all that fear the Lord, and provoke them to exceeding ●●●●●lness and rejoicing.   

●●on consideration of all which, the Parliament out of their deep sense of so great and ●ontinued Mercies, Have thought fit, as in duty to God, to set apart a day for public ●nd solemn Thanksgiving to the Lord, the Author of these Mercies: And they do there●● act and Ordain, That Thursday the First of November next, be kept as a day of pub●●●●●●hanksgiving to the Lord, in all the Churches and chapels, and places of Divine 〈◊〉 within this Commonwealth of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick up●●●●●ed: And that the Ministers of the respective Parishes and places aforesaid, be and here●●●● are required and enjoined to give public notice on the lordsday next preceding the ●●●●st of November, of the day so to be observed, to the end the People of their several Con●●●●●ons may the more generally and diligently attend the public Exercise of God's Wor●●●● 〈◊〉 Service, there to be dispensed upon this occasion; At which time, that the People may 〈…〉 particularly and fully informed of this great Victory and Successes, the said Ministers 〈…〉 by required to publish and read this present Act. And for the better observation of the day, 〈…〉 ●arliament doth hereby inhibit and forbid the holding or use of all Fairs, Markets, and ser●●rks of men's ordinary Callings upon that day: And all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of ●●●ce, Constables and other Officers, be and are hereby enjoined to take especial care of 〈◊〉 observance of the said day of Thanksgiving accordingly.   

Die Jovis, 11 Octobr. 1649.  
●●●●red by the Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Act be forth with printed and published▪  
Hen: Scobell, Cleric' Parliamenti.   

London, Printed by John Field for Edward Husband, Printer to the Parliament of England. 1649.