HIs Highness the Lord PROTECTOR and the Council, being (as becomes them) very sensible of, and deeply affected with the hand of the Lord, in the present general Visitation, with which not onely these populous Cities, but mot parts of the Nation are sorely afflicted, and many have been taken away; Do hold it their duty to invite the People of this Nation to humble themselves greatly before the Lord, whose displeasure We have highly provoked by Due unthankfulnes for, and abuse of Gospel Mercies, and that Peace, Health, and Plenty, which for diverse years last past We have (through his goodness) enjoyed, and by that spirit of Division, murmurring, prophaneness and enmity againt the power of Godliness, which is so pre­valent amongst Vs, besides many other abominations: His HIGHNESS therefore, with the advice of His Council, hath thought fit to declare and appoint, that Wednesday the Fifth of May next, be observed as a Day of solemn Fasting and Humiliation within the Cities of London and Westminster, the late lines of Communication, and Weekly Bils of Mortality, And Wednesday the Nineteenth day of the same Moneth within the places aforesaid, and all other places within England and Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed; Exhorting all, especially those that fear the Lord, to humble themselves before him, and turn from their evil wayes, and seek the Lord, that he will be plea­sed to forgive our sins, and heal Our Land; And that there may not onely be a length­ning out of our Tranquillity, but such returns of special Mercy, as may evidence to his people, and convince all that have evill will unto their Peace, that the Lord hath not forsaken Vs, but doth yet for his own Great Names sake take delight in Vs, to make Vs (though most unworthy) a People of his Praise. And His Highness doth earnestly recommend it unto all such as are touched with the sense of Gods hand and displeasure, to set themselves to the performance of this Duty, in such a Solemn and Spiritual manner as becomes such an extraordinary Duty, and as so sad an Occasion as this calls for. His Highness pleasure also is, that notice hereof be given in the se­veral Churches and Congregations by the respective Ministers, on the Lords Day be­fore the respective days aforesaid, for the better publication hereof.

Given at White-Hall the Nine and twentieth Day of April, in the Year of Our Lord, 1658.