WHereas for about a Year last past, a Wicked Rebellion hath been Carried on and Maintained against Their Majesties in Their Kingdom of Ireland (which is known to be inseparably Annexed to the Imperial Crown of England) which Rebellion hath been Contrived, Incouraged and chief­ly Supported by the French King, Designing by that means to make an absolute Conquest of the said Kingdom, and hold it as a Province, or else to bring a total Ruine and Destruction upon the same; for which, and other Causes, Their Majesties have been Obliged to enter into a Just and Necessary War against the said French King. And whereas His Ma­jesty is Resolved, by the Assistance of God, Vigorously to Prosecute the said War by Sea and Land; And so Effectually to Reduce that Kingdom to its due Obedience, that Their Majesties Good Subjects there may not only be Res;cued from the present Force and Violence, but be Secured against all such Aggress;ions for the Future, and be Settled in a Firm and Lasting State of Peace, Safety, and Prosperity: For which purpose His Majesty hath determined to make a Royal Voyage and go thither in Person. puting His Trust in Almighty God (who hath by his marvellous providence hitherto preserved and conducted His Majesty) That he would vouchsafe a special Blessing on this his righteous undertaking, and thereby consummate the Deliverance of these Kingdoms. Their Majesties taking the premisses into their most Serious Cosideration have thought fit to appoint, and do by and with the Advice of their privy Council, hereby Appoint and Command a General and publick Fast and Humiliation to be observed throughout this Realm in most De­vout and Solemn manner, for Supplicating Almighty God for pardon or our Sins, and Imploring his Bles­sing and Protection in the preservation of his Majesties Sacred Person, and Prosperity of his Arms in Ireland, And the Naval Forces, to be Religiously kept and observed on Wednes;day the Twelfth day of March next, throughout Their Majesties Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and thenceforward to be observed on the third Wednesday in every Month successively Dur­ing the present War. And for the more Orderly Solemnizing of the said several fast Dayes, Their Ma­jesties have given directions to the Right Reverend the Bishops of this Kingdom, to Compose a Form of Prayers suitable to this Occasion, to be used in all Churches and Chappels, and other places of Publick Worship; And have given Charge for the Dispersing thereof through their several Diocesses in the whole Kingdom. And Their Majesties do most expresly Charge and command that the said Fasting and Pray­ers be Soberly, Reverently, and Decently performed by all Their Loving Subjects, as they tender the Fa­vour of Almighty God, and upon pain of such Punishments as Their Majesties can Justly Inflict upon all such as shall Contemn or Neglect so Religious a Work.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall the Twentieth Day of February, 1639. In the Second Year of our Reign.

GOD SAVE KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY.