We, taking into Our most serious Consideration the just and necessary
Hostilities in which We are engaged with the French King, and the
unnatural Rebellion carrying on in some of Our Provinces and Colonies
in North America, and putting Our Trust in Almighty God, that he will
vouchsafe a special Blessing on Our Arms both by Sea and Land, have
resolved, and do, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, hereby
Command, That a Public Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout that
Part of Great Britain called England, Our Dominion of Wales, and Town
of Berwick upon Tweed, upon Wednesday the Tenth Day of February next;
that so both We and Our People may humble Ourselves before Almighty
God, in order to obtain Pardon of Our Sins; and may, in the most devout
and solemn Manner, send up Our Prayers and Supplications to the Divine
Majesty, for averting those heavy Judgments which Our manifold Sins
and Provocations have most justly deserved; and imploring His Blessing
and Assistance on Our Arms; and for restoring and perpetuating Peace,
Safety, and Prosperity, to Us and Our Kingdoms: And We do strictly
Charge and Command, That the said Public Fast be reverently and
devoutly observed by all Our loving Subjects in England, Our Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, as they tender the Favour of
Almighty God, and would avoid His Wrath and Indignation; and upon Pain
of such Punishment as We may justly inflict on all such as contemn and
neglect the Performance of so religious and necessary a Duty. And,
for the better and more orderly solemnizing the same, We have given
Directions to the Most Reverend the Archbishops, and the Right Reverend
the Bishops of England, to compose a Form of Prayer suitable to this
Occasion, to be used in all Churches, Chapels, and Places of Public
Worship; and to take Care the same be timely dispersed throughout their
respective Dioceses.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the First Day of January, One
thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, in the Nineteenth Year of
Our Reign.