We, taking into Our most serious Consideration the just and necessary
Hostilities in which We are engaged, 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
Publick Fast and Humiliation be observed throughout that Part of Our
Kingdom of Great Britain called England, Our Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick upon Tweed, upon Friday the Fourth 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 Judgements 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 Publick 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 Publick Worship, and to take care the same be timely dispersed
throughout their respective Dioceses.
Given at Our Court at St. James's, the Thirteenth of December, One
thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine, in the Twentieth Year of Our
Reign.