built by the Jesuits for their novices, at Santo Silvestro a Monte Cavallo, a solitary place; but, for his own part, he hath said, he will not stir out of Rome, but will spend his time in visiting the sick in the hospitals, or lazarets, as they call them. That the Swedish queen was about to retire into a monastery in Campo Martio, to avoid the infection.* SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL. Whitehall, 3rd July, 1656. SIR, I have nothing to tell you by this post, but that I have received yours by the last, save that it is a great trouble to me to find you have been in some straits for want of money. I hope you shall not be put for the future to encounter those incon * This wandering princess had been resident at Rome since the beginning of the year. In a letter from Paris, dated the 9-19th of January, is the following account of the treatment which she received there at her arrival:-"We hear from Rome, that the Queen of Sweden made her solemn entrance therein on the 30th of last month; that she was received by the sacred college at the gate called del Populo, where she mounted on horseback between the two legates, a hat upon her head, clothed after the French fashion; that on Christmas-day she received afterwards this pretended sacrament of confirmation; that she had dined in public with the pope in his chamber, his table being half a foot higher than the said queen's; that, after the ceremonies of her reception, she was lodged in the palace Farneze, there to be as long as she shall sojourn in Rome, which was to be three months, during which she was to be feasted by the pope, at the rate of one thousand crowns per diem, and afterwards go for Naples, and from thence for Spain, where she will turn a nun."-Birch's Thurloe Papers. 1656.] A PARLIAMENT CALLED. 439 veniences. Some part of your money is already MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. Zurich, July 10th, old style. SIR, I have told some here what you wrote to me June 19th, concerning the lending of the money promised them, &c. It is not hard to make them understand the greatness of the consequence of our present undertakings, and how deeply the protestant interest is concerned in the events and issue of the war between England and Spain; but they will not believe that ten thousand pounds is a sum so considerable in England as that it would be felt there, though here it would support their credit, and prevent great inconveniences, which otherwise will befall them, for want of ready money. The husbandmen of this country complain grievously, that they know not how to live by their labour, because they need many things which cannot be had but for ready money, and they are loath to take a little money for a great deal of corn and wine. So that they store up their commodities, and hope that the King of Sweden will shortly bring so many mouths into some part of Germany, that the current of the market must be turned that way; for now the Suevians bring corn to Zurich, where they sell it to the popish highlanders cheaper than the Tigurines can afford it. In this scarcity of money, the landlords and magistrates must receive their revenues in corn and wine, so that the treasurers hire more cellars and granaries, instead of buying more bags and chests. Many here urge the renewing of the league, more out of hope to finger some French money, than for love of France, or of any French interest. The ambassador knows their minds, and deals with them accordingly. He will not part with a penny till the league be renewed, though the crown of France be much in their debt. The sixteen senators, mentioned in my last, did not meet this last week. A rumour was spread here, that the deputies at Baden had agreed to defer all other business till the pacification were finished, and then all the protestant cantons might meet at Arraw, to deliberate concerning the French league. Yesterday, the senate here received a letter from Baden, from their chief secretary, assuring them that it was a false report, and praying them to send them such instructions as might enable them to treat with the ambassador. Wherefore, the said committee of sixteen meets again to-day. At Baden, the arbitrators have met several times; 1656.] THE WALDENSES. 441 but there was no general assembly of all the deputies till yesterday, to hear the French ambassador's proposition, as they call it. He came not to Baden till July 7th, in the evening. I hear not that any other public minister is come thither, or intends to appear at this session. The ambassador of Savoy wrote to me, July 8th, new style, from Tonon, in Savoy, and sent me the printed Latin declarations which he had promised me at Baden. I have sent them to-day to Mr. Morland, that he may compare them with the like papers (printed at Turin, in Italian, concerning the Waldenses,) which I sent to him a week ago. I make no question but Mr. Morland hath told you why the said ambassador would not pass through Geneva, according to his resolution when I saw him last. In his letter to me, he prays me to write to London, that the gazetteer may be admonished to write with more civility, and in terms better befitting so great a prince as his royal highness of Savoy. "For," saith he, " when he speaks of the Duke of Savoy, and of the people in the valleys, he dares place them before his royal highness. I pray you," says he, let them be taught to change cette façon d'escrire injurieuse." No doubt, he means, not Mercurius Politicus, or any English print, but the French half-sheets printed at London weekly, which they read at Turin, to see in what manner the English speak of the affairs of Piedmont. About two months ago, they were highly displeased, finding a passage to this purpose:-" Our brethren in the valleys of Piedmont fear a second massacre." In which words they conceived a double injury done to his royal highness, by representing him as one that took pleasure in massacreing and exterminating his subjects; and by styling that a massacre which was but a chastisement justly inflicted, but with great clemency, and extorted from him by their rebellion; for so the court at Turin speaks of that business. Nor did that ambassador speak much more favourably of it at Baden to Your humble and faithful servant. P. S. From Rome they write, that Queen Christina hath taken her leave of the pope, who sends her two galleys, to transport her and her servants to Marseilles, in France. SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL. Whitehall, 10th July, 1656. SIR, I see, by yours of the 19-29th of June last, that the arbitrators proceed very slowly in ending the differences between the cantons; and that the protestants are upon a treaty with France, apart from the popish cantons. We shall desire very much to know of the progress which is made in this treaty. |