to Basil, and then to Schaffehausen, before he comes hither again. This journey may perhaps take up a month's time. Before he went, I advised him to write to Monsieur Bisterfeld, a German, a learned man, who is one of the most inward counsel to S. Rakòtsi, Prince of Transylvania, a prince of the reformed religion, as he was also to his father (George Rakòtsi), when he so hampered the enemy in Hungary, anno 1645. I (considering the present state of the house of Austria, and the waking posture in which we hear the Prince of Transylvania to be,) told M. D. that I thought it would be very fit for us to endeavour a correspondence with the said counsellor. We are both known to him by fame, and M. D. had spoken with him many years ago. M. D. assented; and at his going hence left a letter with me to be sent into Transylvania, wherein he gave him an account of his business here, and took occasion to add something of the present state of England. If he answer us, I shall see whether it be not possible to lay the foundation of a correspondence-first, for true reports of action, and, perhaps, afterward for counsels.

M. D. was sent hence to Bern with several letters of recommendation, and the younger of their principal secretaries, with a city officer to accompany him thither; which will give an example to those of Bern to do as much for him, when he goes from thence to Basil, &c. Yesterday I sent him a copy

1654.]

MR. STOCKAR.

39

of that paper which I found enclosed in yours. He may make some use of it to several persons. For aught I hear, Mr. Stockar is not yet gone from Bern. If M. D. find him there, and shew him that paper, he will be well pleased to see honourable mention made of his negociation in England and Holland; and so much the rather, because he will hope it may be subservient to a design of his, which he told us, but finds not many of his own countrymen to whom he dares to be so open. He would fain be sent back into England to congratulate his Highness, and give thanks for their inclusion in the treaty of peace, but with secret instructions for a treaty of much greater importance. I confess, for mine own part, I do not perceive the counsels of these parts as yet ripe for such kind of treaties; and yet two or three such emergencies as have lately happened would have some influence upon them to the alteration of some of their counsels.

The foresaid paper I delivered yesterday, in the afternoon, to one of their burgomasters, with a speech, in the end whereof I told him that, if he pleased, he might keep that till I delivered him the original. He replied, that they should give his Highness thanks hereafter, but in the meantime he prayed me to do it for them in my next letters. I believe that he hath to-day read that paper in the council, which may put them to a new trouble to change their gratulatory letters; for I fear they were ready

written. Perhaps they will resolve to put their gratulation and their gratitude all into one letter. And yet they will hardly resolve upon such a thing without sending copies of the said paper to all the cantons, and asking their advice.

When you answer this, and consequently send me the original, I wish you may have so much leisure as to adjoin some instructions, how, if I be asked, I should interpret that inclusion-that is, what real assistance, in case of need, they may hope for. But when I remember this will hardly come to your hands before this day three weeks, I fear that it will be so near the beginning of Parliament that you will be too full of greater business.

If there be so little hope of any good effect of the treaty with France, it is the less matter though you be a week older before you know what it was which these desired you to insert into that treaty.

A letter, dated at Amsterdam, 14-24 July, tells us that Mr. Stoupe was come thither, and was gone from thence, having taken with him into England the second son of Monsieur Huldrick, the principal divine of this country, and, as they call him here, their Antistes. He hath been a great hinderer of the renewing the league. I hear the young man is a good chirurgeon, and, besides high and low Dutch, speaks and writes Latin, French, and Italian very well, and would be glad to find such a service in England as his friends might like. It is likely Sir

1654.] THE TREATY WITH FRANCE.

41

Oliver Fleming* will make mention of him; and I do not fear that he shall find ever the worse entertainment, because he hath this little recommendation from your most humble servant,

J. P.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

August 19, 1654.

SIR,-I omitted to write by the last, having nothing worth the trouble either to myself or you, and I have very little to tell you now, more than that I have received yours the last week, but the post is not yet come this week, so that I cannot give you any answer to anything you have written by the letters we are expecting. Our affairs, blessed be God, go well in Scotland. We are in pursuit of Middleton as far as Caithness, and hope to unkennel them all before winter. We can yet make no accord with France, nor are we scarce so near it as when we began. The ambassador will not hear of anything to be done for the protestants, whose interests, I hope, we value here. Care hath been taken here for your money, and the fault is in your agents if you have not the fruit of it. I rest,

Your assured friend, AD. PETers.

* Sir Oliver Fleming was master of the ceremonies to the Protector.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

August 19, 1654.

SIR, I hope you have received the sheet I sent

last week. In the cover of it I

said I had received

This week I have

no letter from you that week. received one from you, dated July 28, which answers mine of July 8; so that it seems your answer to mine of July the 1st should have come hither the last week, but hath somewhere lost its way (like yours of June the 2nd, that was fifty days old ere I received it.) I shall desire M. D., when he comes to Basil, to make inquiry after yours of July 21. It may be he will find it there; but, for fear it should never be found, I have here sent a copy of a paper which was in mine of July 1, to which I desire to know what you answered in this letter which I now speak of as lost.

I hear that Mr. Stoupe is come safe to London. I hope he hath delivered the three letters which M. D. and I sent by him, dated June 2.

I have told the principal secretary here what you write concerning an article to be inserted for them in the treaty with France. He says he will acquaint the Proceres with it; and that the four principal protestant cantons are to send deputies about some other business to Baden, September 5, and then they may consider in what form of words such an article is to be penned. Your humble servant.