By His EXCELLENCY

WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq;
Captain-General and Governour in Chief, in and over His Majefty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay
in New-England.

A PROCLAMATION for a general FAST.

P O N Consideration of the unnatural, wicked and traiterous Rebellion in Great-Britain, against His Majety's facred Person and rightful and happy Government, in Favour of a Popish PRETENDER to his imperial Crown, excited and supported by the Powers of France and Spain, for the Subverfion of our religious and civil Libe-ries, and the Introduction of Popery and arbitrary Power into the British Dominions; and the many Cala-mities and Miseries already confequent thereupon, and the Manifestation of the righteous Anger of Almighty GOD against us for our many heinous and provoking Sins; and upon Consideration alfo of our absolute De-pendance upon the Power and Goodneſs of divine Providence, as well for the Supprefſion of this Rebellion, and the prevent-ing of an Invasion from our foreign Enemies, and restoring Peace to our Nation, as for a Blesſing upon all the Affairs and Intereſts of this Province in the Year enfuſing;

I have thought fit, with the Advice of his Majety's Council, to appoint Thursday the Thirteenth Day of March next, to be observed throughout this Province, as a Day of solemn Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer; hereby calling upon Ministers and People to humble themselves under the mighty Hand of God, in a deep Sense of his just and holy Indignation against us, and to make penitent Confession as well of their own Sins, as the great Indulgence, Intrepidity and Immorality abounding among us; as also of our vile Ingratitude towards Almighty God; as well for our former Deliverances in our greatest Extremity, from Popery and arbitrary Power, as for the singular and distinguishing privileges we enjoy thro' the divine Favour in our happy Constitution of Government, under his Majety's wife and gracious Administration, with our other Iniquities, which have incensed the Indignation of a righteous God against us; and to our Confession of Sin to join our humble and important Supplication to the divine Majety, that he would mercifully forgive all our heinous Offences, and make this present severe, tho' righteous, Corrections of his Providence, the happy Means of a general Repentance and Reformation throughout his Majety's Dominions; that he would turn away his fierce Anger from us; that he would blast all the execrable Plots and Deligms laid against his Majety's Crown and Life, and the happiness of his good Subjects under his Government: that his Majety's precious Life and Reign may be long continued, and the Proteftant Succession in his illuſtrious House established and prolonged to the latest Pokerity; that their Royal Highneſſes the Prince and Princes of Wales, the Duke, and the rest of the Royal Family, may be continually encompals'd with the divine Favour; that all his Majety's Subjects may be firmly united in loyal and dutiful Affection to his Person, and hearty Reſolutions to support his Government, and a just Abhorrence of Popery, and the detestable Principles and Practices of the Church of Rome; that Success may attend his Majety's Arms, for suppressing intestine Rebellions, and for humbling the Pride of our foreign Enemies, and reſtoring Tranquility to Europe; And also that God would be graciously pleased to direct and bleſs the Administrations of this Government, protect and defend us against our Enemies both by Sea and Land, and give Success to our Attempts against them; that he would revive our Trade and protect our Navigation and Fishery, continue Health among us, and mercifully confirm it among his Majety's good Subjects at Cape-Breton, and defend that Conqueſt against the Affaults of our Enemies, and establish the true Proteftant Religion there in its Purity and Power; that God would graciously bleſs the Husbandry of this Land; and that the various Seasons of the Year may be favourable to the Fruits of the Earth, for the producing of a plentifull Harveſt; that the Enjoyment of our religious and civil Privileges may be prolonged; And above all, that the pure and peaceable Religion of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST may prevail and flourish in all Parts of the Earth; And all ſervile Labour and Recreations are forbidden on the said Day.

Given at the Council-Chamber in Boston the Twenty-sixth Day of February 1745. In the Nineteenth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.

By His Excellency's Command,
with the Advice of the Council,
J. Willard, Secr.

W. Shirley.

GOD Save the KING.

BOSTON: Printed by John Draper, Printer to His Excellency the GOVERNOR and COUNCIL.