The PROCLAMATION
For a General FAST in the Nation.
To the Tune of, Packington's Pound.
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I.
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BY Brittains true Monarchs, Great William and Mary,
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who have the like Title to Ireland and France,
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Proclamation is Issu'd, whereby to prepare you,
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by Fasting and Prayer, their Just Cause to Advance.
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By which you may see,
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That all Kingdoms be
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The Gift of God only, and no Prince's Foe:
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And learn, by true Fasting, Devoutly to Pray
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Usurpers and Rebels may ne'r get the Day.
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II.
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About a Year past, not much less, or more,
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When first they did Reign, and a little before,
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A Wicked Rebellion, in Ireland, has been
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Carry'd on, and maintain'd, against our King and Queen,
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By Irish, too Wild,
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But Parent, more Vil'd,
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That would keep that Kingdom, even from his own Child
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But learn, by true Fasting, Devoutly to Pray,
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That God the Occasion would soon take away.
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III.
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You're told this Rebellion's Contriv'd and Supported
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by Lewis of Bourbon, Usurper of France;
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And by him Encourag'd, as some have Reported,
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by tempting the late King to Abdicate hence:
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But what is a Story,
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Will shake his Vain-Glory,
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He Banish'd him thither to Act the meer Tory.
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Then learn, by true Fasting, Devoutly to Pray,
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Usurpers, etc.
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IV.
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But would you have thought it, this French King design'd
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to make little Ireland a Province of France,
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Nay, more to Destroy it, its King he Confin'd
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in Person, by Arms, to make its Defence;
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And call it his Own,
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Tho' thereby 'tis known,
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What Wrong to King William and Mary is done:
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Then in all true Fasting, be sure you do Pray,
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Such Impious Usurpers may ne'r get the Day.
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V.
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The War made for this, and some other Causes
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as Honest, but what, you are left for to guess;
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One (perhaps) is, because the Old Gentleman Pauses,
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and won't go to God, his Children to Bless,
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With quiet Enjoyment,
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Of their great Employment,
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But makes a Complaint, has no Reason or Rhyme in't:
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So whilst it continues, in Fasting then Pray,
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Usurpers and Rebels, etc.
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VI.
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This War very Just, besides Necessary,
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the King doth resolve, with vigour to make;
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God assisting the Pious, how can it Miscarry,
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at whose Command, both Sea and Land quake:
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On which he will Fight,
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To recover his Right,
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And to due Obedience, Reduce Ireland quite:
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That so it may happen, be sure you all Pray,
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Usurpers and Rebels, etc.
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VII.
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To Rescue good Subjects from Force and Oppression,
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and give them Prosperity, Safety, and Peace,
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As well as secure them from future Agression:
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King William resolves to quit his own Ease,
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And in (Person) so Stout,
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Ne'r yet put to Rout,
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To lose Soul and Body, or bring it about:
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That soon it may be so, Devoutly all Pray,
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Usurpers and Rebels, etc.
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VIII.
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Putting Trust in th' Almighty, by whose sole permission,
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in a marvellous manner, King William succeeds;
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And not to be guilty of any Omission,
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may stop the least Blessing to his Righteous Deeds;
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The Kingdoms ill Fate,
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So to Consumate,
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They may once again Settle, be it early or late:
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Their Majesties seriously, bids you to Pray
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Devoutly, that Rebels may ne'r get the Day.
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IX.
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Their Majesties too, to avoid Innovation,
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were Advis'd by their Wise Privy-Council in this,
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Sway'd by the same Persons so Govern'd the Nation
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in both the last Reigns, that nought went amiss:
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And so never fear,
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But just as those were,
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These Princes will little less Happy appear.
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God Pardon all Sinners, Repenting, and Pray
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Usurpers and Rebels, etc.
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X.
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Those Devils of Discord, who tempt to Rebellion,
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were all most subject to Fasting and Prayer;
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Then no Man can wonder, you must not rely on
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one Wednesdays Devotion, when Legions appear:
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The Twelfth of March past,
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Whilst this War shall last,
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The Third Wednesday Monthly, will be a strict Fast;
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With Solemn Devotion, wherein you must Pray
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Usurpers and Rebels, etc.
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XI.
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For decent Solemnizing, this no Mock-Devotion,
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the Right Reverend Bishops, so Loyal and True,
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Must frame Prayers & Collects, with such proper Portions
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of Scripture, as fit an Occasion so new:
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The Commandments then,
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Will be Two less than Ten,
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And Old Non-Resistance ne'r mention'd agen;
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But sent to the Irish, the better to Pray,
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Usurpers and Rebels may ne'r get the Day.
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