=George R=.
We, taking into our most serious Consideration the just and
necessary Measures of Force which We are obliged to use
against Our rebellious Subjects in Our Colonies and
Provinces 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 13th
Day of December next; and 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 Devine
Majesty, for averting those heavy Judgments which Our
manifold Sins and Provocations have most justly deserved,
and for imploring his Intervention and Blessing speedily to
deliver Our loyal Subjects within Our Colonies and Provinces
in North America from the Violence, Injustice, and Tyranny,
of those daring Rebels who have assumed to themselves the
Exercise of Arbitrary Power; to open the Eyes of those who
have been deluded by specious Falsehoods into Acts of
Treason and Rebellion; to turn the Hearts of the Authors of
these Calamities, and finally to restore Our People in those
distracted Provinces and Colonies to the happy Condition of
being free Subjects of a free State; under which heretofore
they flourished so long and prospered so much.
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 upon all
such as contemn and neglect the Performance of so religious
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, the Thirtieth Day of October, One Thousand seven
hundred and seventy-six, in the Seventeenth Year of Our
Reign.