MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Zurich, June 5, old style.

SIR, I received no English letters at all by the last post. In mine to you last week from Baden, I wrote that the pope's nuncio was still at the monastery, near Baden; but the next day, I heard he was returned to Lucerne, giving out that he came to Wettingen only to visit the monastery, and when the catholic deputies came thither from Baden to salute him, he had advised them to embrace peaceable counsels, and therefore to make no more delays, but to submit all to the sentence of the arbiters.

I came hither Baden ends to-day.

yesternight.

The diet at The deputies from Zurich intended to go from thence yesterday. I made ready to go with them, but they sent me word that they must stay a day longer, because the arbiters had penned a recess, or final resolution for this session, and they had desired all the deputies to subscribe it, which they could not do yesterday, because one of those of Berne was absent, and would not return to Baden till night. Besides, there was another little stop: deputies were come from Mulhausen, and prayed the protestant deputies not to go from Baden, before they had given them some counsel in an unexpected business. There is a little village or little town subject to Mulhausen, which M. Har

1656.]

THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR.

419

court hath lately claimed as belonging to Brisach. Those of Mulhausen fear that the French have a mind to quarrel with them. I believe the protestant deputies will only give them advice what to do in the interim, till they can represent this business to the cities that sent them.

I, being ready to go, and finding they did not desire me to stay any longer there, went away without them, that I might be here to-day to write by the post of this place. The ambassadors of France and Savoy tarry to-day at Baden to write by the same post, and intend to leave that town. to-morrow. He of France returns to Soloturn, but he of Savoy told me, he intends to dine at Zurich to-morrow, from thence to go see a solitary place called the hermitage (Einsidlen), and thence to Lucerne, Fribourg, Berne, Geneva, &c. At Zurich, Berne, and Geneva, he intends to speak in their senate houses, and to give them better information concerning the Waldenses, both in respect of what is past and what the resolutions of the court are for the time to come; of which the chiefest in my opinion is, that though the duke be constrained to allow the inquisition in the plains of Piedmont, yet he will never admit it in any part of Savoy, or in the valleys of Piedmont. As for what is past, he hath promised to send me the relation as it was published at Turin in Latin, Italian, and French.

The arbiters intend not to meet again at Baden

about the settling this peace till four weeks hence. They will name a day in their recess, of which, perhaps, I shall receive a copy to-day before the post go hence. Howsoever, the deputies of Zurich intend to be here to-night, and they will bring a copy with them.

As for the alliance with France, Zurich would have money before they promise to renew it. The French ambassador tells me, that he hath much money in his hands, but hath no order to deliver a penny of it to them before the league be renewed; so that till one or both sides change these resolutions, nothing can be done. He told me, that the pestilence was gotten from Sardinia to Naples, and now from Naples to Rome, where it is much feared, because it useth to make great havoc of men's lives in those countries.

I am, Sir, your faithful and humble servant.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

Whitehall, 10th June, 1656.

SIR, This is only to let you know the receipt of yours of the 22nd of May, having little else to entertain you with by this post. The letters from the fleet of the 9th of May (the last that we had) do import nothing more than that the fleet was in good condition before and about Cadiz, and

1656.]

INTRIGUES IN SWITZERLAND.

421

that there had been no action, the Spaniard yet keeping within the ports. There is no other news but what you will find in the enclosed print. I rest, your affectionate friend to serve you,

Jo. THURLoe.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Zurich, June 12-22.

SIR, I came from Baden hither June 4. The next day I wrote to you hence. Two days after, I received a letter from Mr. Secretary Thurloe, dated May 22. In it, I am commanded to use my best endeavours to find out the intentions of both sides in the treaty, and whether war or peace will be the issue of it; to which I cannot yet say much more than what I wrote to his honour from Baden, May 29th. Without doubt, Zurich intends to carry all so fairly in their demands and pleading, as that the interposing cantons must needs pronounce somewhat in their favour, and constrain Switz and their adherents to yield in some things. Switz and the rest seem to desire to delay the definitive sentence as much as they can, having little hopes that such a sentence will be much to their advantage; but longing to hear of the ruin of the Swedes, and of a greater forwardness in the emperor, pope, &c., to assist them against their heretical neighbours. In

the meantime, the arbitrators are by their oath obliged to endeavour to make a full end of these controversies; yet they are loath to make use of their whole authority, but would be glad to find out a temperament not much distasteful to both sides. And therefore it is thought, they will set their wits on work to find out several ways of accommodation; by which means, some think, the next session will be longer than the former. It is to begin July 2. It is very likely that Zurich will desire the English resident to go thither again to countenance that part; but unless he receive supply from England by that time, he will be strangely put to it to provide so much ready money as will be fit for him to take thither with him, having by two months' experience learned how costly it is to appear at Baden, and to live there in such fashion as the present occasion of that treaty requires. Besides, at that time of the year, great numbers flocking to the hot baths (from whence that town hath its name), will raise the price of lodgings, and of all provisions, much higher than it was in April and May. Mr. Secretary wrote to him February 22nd, that his extraordinary expenses should be considered. But in the interim, it cannot but be a discouragement to a man to be put upon a necessity of borrowing much money of strangers, whilst the court-treasurers owe him five hundred pounds of his ordinary allowance for his use beyond the seas;