Matchlesse crueltie declared at large in the ensuing history of the Waldenses apparently manifesting unto the world the horrible persecutions which they have suffered by the papists, for the space of four hundred and fifty years : wherein is related their original and beginning, their piety and purity in religion, both for doctrine and discipline : likewise hereunto is added an exact narrative of the late bloody and barbarous massacres, murders and other unheard of cruelties committed on many thousands of the Protestants dwelling in the valleys of Piedmont, &c. by the Duke of Savoy's forces, joyned with the French army and several bloody Irish regiments / published by command of His Highness the Lord Protector.

An Exposition on the 9. Commandement.

En aquest Commandement non es solament deffendu la messogna, ma tot a offensa, &c.

Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy Neigh∣bour.

IN this Commandement, we are not onely forbidden to lye, but all offences that may be done vnto our Neighbours, by false or fained words or workes. For all such as loue lying, are the Children of the Diuell, as also they that impeach the honour of their Neigh∣bour by lying, or beare false witnesse for the wicked. Hee that beares false witnesse, saith Saint Augustine,

wrongs these three. First God, whose presence is there∣by contemned. Secondly the Iudge, who is deceiued by him that lieth. And thirdly he wrongs the Innocent partie, who is oppressed by his false witnesse. All de∣tractors sinne against this Commandement. A de∣tractor or slanderer is compared to an open sepulchre, as Dauid speaketh, Their mouth is an open sepulchre. There is no graue so loathsome vnto God, as the mouth of a slanderer. And this was that that made S. Ambrose to say, that a thiefe is more to be boren-with then a detractor; for the one robbeth a man of his cor∣porall substance onely, the other of his good name. The slanderer deserueth to be hated of God and man. The stroke of the whip maketh markes in the flesh, but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones.