HIs Highness the Lord Pro­tector, having received a Pe­tition from several Churches of Christ, professing the Re­formed Religion, lately sea­ted at Lesna, and other pla­ces in Poland, representing their sad and deplorable condition, through the persecution and cruelty of their Antichristian Enemies in those parts, in the time of the War in Poland, by whom they have not one­ly been driven from their habitation, and spoi­led of their goods upon the account of Reli­gion onely, but forced to flie into Silesia for pre­servation of their lives, and for the Liberty of their Consciences, where a considerable [Page 2] number of them continue in great want and misery. The truth whereof hath been wit­nessed, aswel by Deputies sent unto His High­ness from the said Churches, authorized by an Instrument under the hands of the Pa­stors of five of those Churches, as also by the Testimony of several Protestant Princes, who out of a deep sence of the Calamity of those distressed Exiles, have afforded them shelter until it shall please the Lord otherwise to pro­vide for them. And His Highness having in like manner received a Petition from Twen­ty Protestant Families heretofore seated in the Confines of Bohemia, where Misnia belongs unto it, representing their distressed and la­mentable condition, through the persecution of the Iesuites and Inquisitors of the House of Austria, by whom they have been driven out of their habitations, and spoiled of their goods, upon the sole accompt of Religion, who now for the safety of their lives, and for the liberties of their Consciences, are re­tired into the Marquisate of Culembach, where they finde a present shelter in this their very sad and calamitous condition, which hath been witnessed both by their Deputies sent unto His Highness, authorized by an Instru­ment under the hands of the chief of those Families, as also by a publique Certificate from thence. And it being the earnest desire of the said afflicted Churches and Families, as­wel by their several Petitions, as by their Deputies, that His Highness out of compas­sion to their sufferings, would be pleased to recommend their lamentable condition to their Brethren in these Nations, in whom they hope to finde Bowels of Mercy, yearn­ing [Page 3] towards those, who professing the same Faith with them, are now under so great ex­tremities and misery for the Cause of the Go­spel, and testimony of the Lord Jesus.

His Highness being greatly afflicted with the miserable and calamitous condition of the said Churches, and Families, and not doubting but the people of these Nations, whom the Lord hath graciously and wonder­fully preserved from that Antichristian Bon­dage and Tyranny, will have a fellow-feel­ing of the afflictions of their Brethren, hath with the Advice of His Privy-Council, thought fit to recommend their case to the Charity of those whose hearts the Lord shall stir up in these Nations, to afford them some seasonable relief, whose liberality in this kind hath been testified in their large Contributi­ons to the relief of the poor Protestants in the Valleys of Piedmont, to the refreshing of their Bowels (touching the faithful distribution whereof an account is ordered by His High­ness to be printed for general satisfaction.) And to the end the said Collections may be carefully made, and the moneys thereupon collected be disposed of, to the relief of the said poor Churches, and their Members, and the Families aforesaid, and to no other uses, His Highness doth hereby require and com­mand the Ministers and Churchwardens of the respective Parishes within England and Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, the next Lords Day after this Declaration shall come unto their hands, to publish the same, and on the Lords day following to make a Collection of the charitable Contribution of the People in their Parishes, and that within [Page 4] three dayes after, they pay over the sum or sums so Collected unto the high Sherif of the respective Counties, to be by him paid into the hands of Sir Thomas Viner, and Sir Christopher Pack Knights, Aldermen of the City of London, who are appointed Trea­surers for this service, and who shall trans­mit the moneys so to be by them received for the relief of the said poor distressed Churches, and their Members, and the aforesaid Twen­ty families, in such manner and proportions as the Committee formerly appointed for the disposing of the moneys for the relief of the said poor Protestants in Piedmont, shall, with respect to their several numbers and suffer­ings, think fit, and direct, and to the end none of the moneys collected for so pious and cha­ritable an end may miscarry, The Minister and Churchwardens aforesaid, are enjoyned upon payment of the said money to the respe­ctive Sheriffs as aforesaid, to send up unto the said Sir Thomas Viner a note in writing under their hands, of the sum so Collected, the Parish and County where such Collection was made, and the person to whom the same was paid, to the end care may be taken, and the same may be duly returned and imployed to the use intended.