WHereas His Highness from a deep Sence of the sad Calamities of the poor Inhabitants of the Valleys of Lucern, Angrona, and others within the Dominions of the Duke of Sa­voy (occasioned by their faithful Adherence to their profession of the Reformed Religion) and from a Confidence that the Good People of this Nation would (in this day of their Brethrens Trouble) manifest a serious Sense of the Sufferings of their Fellow-Mem­bers, professing the same Faith and Hope, did in May last (by and with the Advice of the Council) publish a Declaration, thereby inviting the People of England and Wales, to set apart the Fourteenth of June last for a Day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation, and seeking the Face of God on behalf of those oppressed Witnesses of Iesus Christ, expressing withal His desire, that the Peo­ple might then be stirred up to a free and liberal Contribution for their Relief, to be made in such way and maner as was set forth in certain Instructions thereunto annexed: And whereas His High­ness hath received Information, That (although the People of many Parishes and Congregations have with a liberal hand extended their Bounty, in contributing largely to their Relief, yet) through the negligence of some, to whom the dispersing of the said Declarations and Instructions to the re­spective Parishes, was intrusted, the said Fast and Collection hath been in many places wholly omit­ted; To the intent therefore that those whose Hearts God shall stir up, may not be deprived of so precious an Opportunity of Refreshing the Bowels of the afflicted Members of Christ, His High­ness (upon Advice with His Council) doth hereby recommend it to all the several Parishes and Congregations in England and Wales, where the said Collection hath not been made, that they would improve this present Season of drawing out their Compassion on behalf of their said distressed Bre­thren; As also to the Ministers of the said several Congregations, to stir up the People thereof to a Free and Liberal Contribution as aforesaid, and to pursue the way for Collecting and Paying in the said Moneys prescribed in the said Instructions. And whereas several Sums of Money already collected are not yet returned nor certified, according to the said Instructions, His Highness doth here­by Will and Require the several Ministers, Churchwardens, and other persons imployed about the said Collections, and the several Iustices of Peace, to whose hands any of the Moneys so collected have been paid, speedily to return as well the Certificates as the said Moneys, according to the pur­port of the said Instructions, that so those Ends which have been propounded, and shall be faithfully prosecuted for imploying the said Moneys for the said Protestants Relief, may with more speed and ad­vantage be accomplished; On which Accompt His Highness doubts not, but all persons who bear the Name of Christ, will (according to their several Concernments herein) lay out their Interests and faithful Endeavors in this so pious, necessary and honorable a Work, with Chearfulness and Ex­pedition.

Given at White-Hall this 12^th day of July, 1655.