By the Committee for the Affairs of the Poor Protestants in the Valleys of PIEDMONT.  
THe Alwise and Holy God, whose ways of Providence are always righteous, though often secret and unsearchable, hath made it the constant lot and portion of his people in this world, to follow the Lord in bearing his Cross, and suffering Persecutions, thereby holding forth and verifying that irreconcilable Enmity between the seed of the Woman, and the seed of the Serpent, which was visible betimes in the Bloodshed of righteous Abel, whom Cain (though his brother) slew, being of the wicked one, yea and for this cause, for that his own works were evil, and his brothers good. Thus they that are born after the flesh, persecute them that are born after the spirit to this day, and so will do while the the world lasteth. In which Cause and Quarrel the Lord hath very many glorious ends. But scarcely have any sort of the Church's Enemies more clearly followed the pernicious ways of Cain herein, then hath the Antichristian Faction of Rome done, that Mother of Harlots and Abominations, whose garments are died red with the blood of Saints, which they have always cruelly shed, and made themselves drunk with, even the blood of those holy Followers of the Lamb, chief who would not receive Antichrists mark, nor worship his Image, nor drink of the golden Cup of his Fornications, but rather come out from them, and witness against them, though they did it in sackcloth, and were slain for it.  
Among those chosen and faithful Witnesses, the Lord seemeth very signally to have raised up those Christians, who (though dispersed in divers Countries) have been commonly known by the name of Waldenses, who for some Centuries of years have lived among their Enemies as Lambs among Wolves, to bear their Testimony for the Truth of Christ, against the apostasies and blasphemies of Rome, for which they have been killed all the day long, and appointed as sheep for the slaughter. Nevertheless the Lord, the great Shepherd of the sheep, hath made their Blood thus shed, to become a constant seed of faithful and valiant Witnesses for him; which is indeed the more marvellous in our eyes, that this Bush hath so long burned, and is not yet consumed.  
This little Flock and Remnant which the Lord hath left and reserved, are scattered partly in the Valleys of Piedmont, of whose tragical Sufferings we have not long since heard, and have drawn forth our Bowels to them, whereof a very faithful Account is given to the world, both for satisfaction of Brethren and Friends, and for stopping the mouths of all Calumnies.  
The other part of this poor; yet precious Remnant, have been dispersed in the Kingdoms of Bohemia and Poland, whose Sufferings, together with the Lords signal Providences about them, have been very eminent and remarkable, as hath been made appear unto Us by three godly persons, delegated by those persecuted Churches, which are now the sad Monuments of their Enemy's Rage, and of the Lords sparing Mercies.  
These have made their Addresses to His Highness the Lord Protector by Petition, declaring the deplorable estate wherein this persecuted Remnant now lieth, and with loud cries importuning the Christian Bowels and Bounty of this Nation, which cannot but be moved to mourn over them, and to show mercy to them. And indeed upon a due sense and consideration of this lamentable subject, even common humanity, but much more Christian charity should provoke us to a  of their present distressed Condition.  
These sometimes flourishing Churches, were by degrees worn out by the constant Undermine and open Outrages of the Antichristian party, being first driven out of Bohemia into Poland, then after their taking root and spreading in Poland unto a numerous Company, were forced out of the chief Cities there, and now at last by the Jesuited and enraged Polish Army persecuted in their few hiding places, with fire and sword.  
Their Ministers were tortured to death by most exquisite and unheard of Barbarism, by cutting out of the Tongues of some, pulling out the Eyes, and cruelly mangling the Bodies of others; nor did their Rage and brutish Cruelty reach only to Ministers, but to others, yea even to women and young children, whose heads they cut off, and them at their dead mother's breasts.  
Nay, their rage broke out, not only upon the Living (not one of whom they spared that fell into their hands) but also upon the dead, plucking the bodies of honourable Persons and others out of the graves, tearing them to pieces, and exposing them to public scorn.  
But the chief Eyesore and Object of their Fury was the City of Lesna, which (after plundering and murdering all whom they found therein) they burned to ashes, and laid in rubbish; only the Lord in his mercy having alarmed the City of their Enemies approaching march, the greatest part of the Inhabitants (being three famous Churches) saved themselves by flight, and are now wand'ring up and down in Silesia, the Marquisate of Brandeuburg, Lusatia and Hungary, poor, destitute, afflicted and naked.  
His Highness and the Council having referred unto this Committee the Testimonials and Petitions sent by the said Churches, We finding upon examination thereof, their case to be thus deplorable, which is more at large stated and declared in their own Narrative, have caused the said Narrative to be translated, and herewith published, thereby to stir up the Lord's people in these Nations to put on bowels of mercies towards these their exiled and afflicted brethren, refreshing their hearts by your love, and the tokens of it in a cheerful and liberal supply; which will not only preserve this holy seed from perishing, that hath a blessing in it, but also uphold among them the purity of Religion and Power of the Gospel.  
The rather considering the present freedom from these bloody outrages, we the people of these Nations do by the blessing of the Lord enjoy, the continuance whereof we may the more comfortably hope for, by how much our compassions are more freely extended to those in misery. And if a cup of cold water given to one disciple, as such, shall not lose its reward; how much more when a bountiful relief is given to more than five thousand disciples?  
Which we should be the more forward to advance, because they acknowledge they have received much confirmation in the Religion for which they suffer, by light received from our Countryman john Wicklef, that famous Witness of Christ against Antichrist, even in the darkest times of Popery.  
And we doubt not but that God who hath lately opened your bowels to so large and eminent a Contribution towards the persecuted Protestants of Piedmont, (for which many Thanksgivings have been made to God on your behalf) will again draw out your hearts upon this like sad occasion, to the like bountiful liberality, it being our duty to cast our bread upon the waters, and to give a portion to six and also to seven, not being weary of well-doing, because in due time we shall reap, if we faint not. Considering also how honourable it is to act grace, and to lay out ourselves upon such occasions, we recommend it again as the work of God accompanied with his own voice, calling aloud upon us to enlarge ourselves in this ministration, and withal to pour out our hearts in faith and prayer, that the Lord would yet please to raise up Zion upon the Ruins of Babylon, hastening his work, and blessing means to it.  


John Trevor  
Christopher Pack  
Will. Purefoy  
Edward Cresset  
Thomas Vyner  
Joseph Caryl  
John Owen  
Will. Jenkyn  
Philip Nye  
Will. Cooper  
Edmond Calamy.     

The utmost Fury of Antichrist against the Protestants or Reformed Church of the Bohemian Confession in Poland, set down in a brief (but faithful) Narrative, and according to the truth of the matter.  
THe Spouse of Jesus Christ, she who in the Cradle was besprinkled with the blood of a Protomartyr, hath always brought forth into the world men like Abel or Stephen, that so there might never be wanting to cry from the earth unto God, and that the wounds of that Rose which lies among the Thorns of Persecution might not be concealed. Every age, and every year in each age, and every month and day in each year, hath produced new inundations of blood unto this day; and yet the little flock of the Lord hath always increased under persecutions, one while here; another there, shifting their seats and habitations. While it pleased God by the means of Wicklef to kindle the light of the Gospel in Great Britain, john Huss asserted the truth of Jesus Christ in the midst of thick darkness of Popery in Bohemia, many thousands being stirred up by God to receive it, who despising all the cruelty of Tyrants, received it with joy, until by God's assistance they took rooting in the Kingdom, and grew up into flourishing Churches. In a short time after, Antichrist breathing out his fury, the Truth was banished out of Bohemia, and the Confessors being driven out, transplanted the Gospel into Poland; where being favourably entertained by King Sigismond, they in a short time increased to so great a number, that being little inferior to the Papists, they were able to boast of an equal authority and privileges with them. Hence it came to pass that the Kings at their Coronations were wont not only to promise, but solemnly to swear protection to such as disagreed from the Roman Religion, and therefore they proceeded not to open persecutions, save only in those Cities where the Jesuits had seated themselves in power (to wit) Cracovia, Posen, Lublin, Vilna, and where by their disciples, and by stirring up the common people to fury, the Churches of the Reformed Professors were a good while ago demolished, and divers Ministers cruelly massacred. Nevertheless the malice of the Enemies being no whit allayed, they were many ways afflicted, first indirectly, afterwards by pretences under colour of Law, until those Churches being worn out by degrees, and overthrown, were not many years ago reduced to a very inconsiderable number, especially when as in the Reign of the late King, the enemies being confident they might do any thing, brought things to this pass at length, that there were no more than Twenty one Congregations remaining in the Greater Poland, and those also ready to perish. But among these Twenty one remaining Churches, the chief, and as it were the Mother of them all, was that of Lesna, which was divided into three Congregations, the Bohemian, the Polonian and the Germane; each of which had their own Pastors, but the Communicants jointly were about Two thousand: Therefore it was that this Church was in the first place exposed to the Enemy's malice, and of late designed to the slaughter, as well by reason of its being very much frequented and grown famous, as also because of the Synod there usually celebrated, as likewise a famous University and Printing-house, and Books frequently published to the world. When therefore in the year 1655. the Swedish Army out of Pomerania drew near to the borders of Poland, and the Nobility were summoned to Arms, according to the Custom of the Country, it came to pass that the Papists broke forth into many furious expressions, crying out, That the Heretics had invited the Enemy, and therefore they were first of all to be put to the sword and extirpated; which reports, though most falsely scattered abroad (for the searcher of hearts and reins knoweth, that we never so much as dreamt of it) yet they easily found credit among the sworn enemies of the Gospel, who sought nothing more than our ruin. Hereupon they who first consulted to agree with the Swedish Army, being terrified by its power, concluded about the Surrender of all Great Poland into the King's protection, and namely, the Royal Cities of Posen, Calissen, Meserick, and to which also Lesna was expressly added: In a little time after they endeavoured to cast off the Swedish Yoke, and turned their Arms not against the Swedes, but first against our Evangelical Professors, as conspiring with the Swedes upon the account of Religion, and none of them scrupled to take revenge upon them. They first of all set upon those of Lesna, with resolution of putting all to the sword, and destroying that Heretical City by fire, and they had effected both, unless God had by sending some persons before, who by signifying the coming of the Enemy, and with what intent they came, had possessed the Citizens with a panic fear, so that leaving all their Estates, they every man fled; and thus within the space of one hour, a most populous City abounding with all manner of wealth, was left without Inhabitants, who in a miserable condition wandered then into the neighbouring Woods and Marshes into Silesia. But the Polish Nobility with their Army entering the City, did what they pleased, slaying a great number of decrepit old people, and sick persons, that were not able to save themselves by flight; then the City itself was first plundered, and afterwards so destroyed by Fire for three days together, that no part of it remained beside rubbish and ashes. In what manner they would have handled the Citizens, especially their Pastors, they shown by their heroic actions performed in other places, by the most savage Slaughtering of divers Ministers of the Church, and other faithful Members of Christ of both Sexes; for of all that they laid hold on, they gave not one man quarter, but very cruelly put them to death with most exquisite tortures. They endeavoured to force Mr Samuel Cardus, Pastor of the Church of Czuertzinen, to renounce his Religion, after they had taken him, and miserably handled him with all manner of cruelty, but he stoutly resisting, they first put out his Eyes, and led him about for a Spectacle, than they pulled off his Finger's ends with pincers; but he not yet condescending to their mad Fury, they found out a new kind of torment, poured melted Lead into his mouth, and at length while he was yet half alive, they clapped his Neck between folding Doors, and violently pulling them together, severed his Head from his Body. They took john jacobides, Pastor of the Church of Dembnick, and Alexander Wartens his Colleague, and another that was in company with them, as they passed through the Town of LUBIN, and hurrying them up and down for divers hours, and grievously handling them after the manner of Tyrants, than last of all cutting their Throats with a Razor, threw them headlong, while they were yet breathing, into a great pit, which had been beforehand prepared for their Martyrs, and stifled them by casting down Dung and Dirt upon them. They a great while pursued Andrew Oxlitius a young man designed for the Ministry, whom after long seeking, they at last found in the open field, and in the end having taken him, they cut off his Head with a , chopping it into small pieces, and the dead carcase also they slashed in a barbarous manner. The same fate befell Adam Milota a Citizen of Lesna; but they more grievously handled an old man of above seventy, whose name was Simon Priten, and many others, whose names it were too tedious to relate. Of that barbarous execution which they did upon the weaker Sex, there were besides other examples, horrid Trophies of Cruelty erected in the said City of Lesna: a pious Matron there, who was the mother of three children, not being able quick enough to leave the City, and being slain in the open street, they cut off her hands and feet, and cutting off her children's heads, they laid two of them at her breasts, and the third by her side. In like manner, another woman having her hands and feet cut off, and her tongue cut out, being enclosed and bound in a Sack, lived the space of two days, making most miserable lamentation. Grief forbids us to add more, for they behaved themselves so furiously towards us, that there remains not an example of any one man saved of all those that happened to fall into their hands. It is notoriously known how that fury of theirs tyrannised also over the dead; some they dragged out of their graves and cut in pieces, as at Zichlin; others they exposed naked for a public Spectacle, as at Lesna; of which outrageous action we had an example, even in the dead Body of the most Serene Landgrave of Hassia, which was drawn out of the grave, who was heretofore slain in a most barbarous and tyrannical manner at Koscian, but buried by our Friends at Lesna. The like was acted also upon the Body of the most Noble Arciszevius, heretofore the valiant Admiral of the Hollanders in Brazile, which was likewise dragged out of the grave, and being stripped of the Grave-clothes, was found after the firing of Lesna. There are divers other examples, which the Christian Reader may find in the Book, Entitled, Lesnae Excidium, faithfully written, and lately set forth in print; but they are such examples only as are commonly known, for who is able to relate all things in particular? as burning men alive, drowning others with stones tied about their necks, etc.  
Now Lesna being destroyed, the fury of the Enemy proceeded to the persecutions of others, they in a short time utterly demolished all our Congregations, not only driving away the Pastors, but also either burning or leaving most of the Temples desolate, as at Karmin, Dembnick, Skochy, Czriuczin, etc. yea and the Auditories themselves were either slain (as in the Town of Skochy, where there was a very flourishing Church of the Bohemian Exiles, Sixty persons, both men and women were cruelly put to death) or else they were scattered abroad, so that there remained not one place wherein the Worship of God may be celebrated. Lo, this is the most miserable state and condition of our Churches; moreover our Countrymen, to the number of 5000 besides youths and children, being dispersed in banishment (which hath now befallen most of us the second time) especially throughout Silesia; as also through the Marck, Lusatia, Hungary, etc. find no comfort, but much misery, and are there exposed to the hatred and envy of men. We that are Pastors dare not openly minister to our Auditories with the Word and Sacraments, but only in private Meetings, or in Woods among Fenny places, God only seeing us, who is witness of these calamities, and our comfort in extremities. Indeed being thus destitute of all things, we lead a wretched life in banishment, being afflicted with hunger and nakedness, and are become next to the most miserable Waldenses, the greatest spectacle of calamity to the Christian World, for so it hath seemed good to that Sovereign Wisdom that governs all things, that we should be inheritors of the Closs and persecution of those men from whom we have derived the original of our Doctrine and external Succession: For truly we are the remaining Progeny even of the Waldenses, with whom being raised from the ashes of blessed Huss, and with whom combining into the same holy Fellowship of the Faith and afflictions of Christ, we have for two whole ages and more, been perpetually subject to the like storms of Calamities, until at length we fell into this Calamity, greater than ever was known in the memory of our Fathers, and which threatens us with utter destruction, unless God prevent it. The truth is, this business constrains us to amazement and tears, greater than can be expressed in words, to set forth our affliction and sorrow: If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, we desire that this affliction of Joseph may be recommended, especially to all that are of the household of Faith. Let them not suffer those to perish whom the same Faith, and the same Spirit of Christ hath joined with them in so near a relation; we beseech them in the Name of Christ, that they would rather make haste to relieve those who are ready to perish, we being assured that we suffer this persecution upon no other account, then for the confession of the Truth, from those Enemies who have acted such things as these are against us in times past, and are now at length by God's permission, pouring out their fury upon us.  
Signed in the name of the said distressed Churches, by their Delegates and now Exiles for the Cause of Christ; 

Adam Samuel Hartman, Pastor of the Church of Lesna in Poland, and Rector of the famous University there.  
Paul Cyril a late Member of the University of Lysna.     

LONDON: Printed by HEN. HILLS and JOHN FIELD, Printers to His Highness. Anno Dom. 1658.