WHereas the Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled , being deéply sensible of the sad and calamitous Condition of this Our Kingdom , occasioned chiefly by the impious and malicious Conspiracies of a Popish Party , who have not only Plotted and intended the Destruction of Our Royal Person , but the total Subversion of Our Government , and of the true Protestant Religion within this Realm by Law established ( All which the many and grievous Sins of this Nation have most justly deserved ) Have most humbly besought Vs , That by Our Royal Proclamation , a Day may be Solemnly set apart ; wherein all Our Loyal Subjects may by Fasting and Prayer , seek a Reconciliation with Almighty God , and with humble and penitent hearts implore him by his power and goodness , to Infatuate and Defeat the wicked Counsels and Imaginations of Our Enemies , and to continue his Mercies , and the Light of his Gospel to this Kingdom , and particularly to bestow his abundant Blessings upon Our Self , and this present Parliament , that their Consultations and Endeavours may produce Honour , Safety and Prosperity to Vs , and to Our People : We have to this their humble Request most readily inclined ; And do by this Our Royal Proclamation Command a General and Publick Fast to be kept throughout this whole Kingdom , in such manner as is hereafter directed and prescribed , that so both Prince and People may send up their Prayers and Supplications to Almighty God , to and for the purposes aforesaid . And to the end that so Religious an Exercise may be performed at one and the same time , We do hereby Publish and Declare to all Our loving Subjects , and do straitly Charge and Command , That on Friday , being the Eleventh day of April next , this Fast shall be Religiously kept and Celebrated throughout Our Kingdom of England , Dominion of Wales , and Town of Berwick upon Tweed . And that the same may be performed with all Decency and Vniformity , We , by the Advice of our Reverend Bishops , have Directed to be Composed , Printed and Published , such a Form of Divine Service , as We have thought fit to be used in all Churches and Places at the time aforesaid , and have given Charge to our Bishops to disperse the same accordingly . All which We do hereby expresly Charge and Command shall be Reverently and Decently observed by all Our loving Subjects , as they tender the Favour of Almighty God , and would avoid his Wrath and Indignation against this Land , and upon pain of undergoing such Punishments as We may justly inflict upon all such as shall contemn or neglect so Religious a Duty .