1655.] PASQUIL AGAINST THE POPE. 133 They presume that Spain will help them, and that we shall have no assistance from any. From the same place, Feb. 6.—The French ambassador hath written here from Soloturn, that an express came from England to the court at Paris with articles of peace; and that he was sent back into England with order to the ambassador there to sign them. From Iverdon, Feb. 6.—We hear that the French king shall marry the infanta of Savoy. If he does, our neighbours of Geneva will be in great danger, and the canton of Bern too. From Lausanne, Feb. 5, old style.-In France, the cardinal hath caused the governors of the provinces to inquire of the protestants : 1. Whether they have procured my L. Protector's intercession for them? The answer was negative. 2. Whether in case the English should invade France, they would not defend the king and his dominions against them? The answer was affirmative. From Rome, Jan. 23.—Of the sixty-nine cardinals now alive, only three are absent, Sautoval, Cueva, and Mazarin. The other sixty-six are here in the conclave. We believe it will be long ere they agree in the choice of a new pope. Gen. Blake's fleet is going from Livorno towards Provence. The pasquils here are innumerable,—almost all obscene, or, at least, profane. This is reckoned one of the least blameworthy. One knocking at the door of Paradise, Saint Peter looked out, and asked, "Who's there?" He that had knocked, answered, "I am Pope Innocent the Tenth." "Unlock the door, and come in," said St. Peter. "I have not the keys about me," quoth the other. "No," said St. Peter, "you left them with Donna Olympia; go fetch them. I do not use to turn the key for popes; they may use their own keys." The old man going thence discontented, saw a door standing open, into which he was invited to enter, and was told that he was welcome. "O,” said Pluto, "long looked for, come at last." The hellish darkness was not so great but that Mascabruno quickly spied him : "And art thou come at last with all thy faults?" said he: "thou that madest me be executed un justly." "Not unjustly," said the pope; "your behaviour in the datary redounded too much to my dishonour." "What !" said the other, "I did nothing without order of your factotum, your donna." After much contesting, they fell to cuffs, and that with so much noise, that they disturbed Pencirollo, who coming out, and having learned the occasion of the quarrel, composed it for a time, by telling them it was impossible to decide the controversy between them, till Donna Olympia came thither, which would be very shortly. So that, in the interim, they ought to keep the peace. (Witness,) PASQUIN. MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. February 17th, 1654. SIR, I have had no letter from England this week, but letters from France have made it known here, that the parliament is dissolved, which I began to foretel here four weeks ago, that when it came to pass it might not seem strange to them; they do not seem much troubled at it here. I hope you have received a large account of M. D. from himself. He wrote to me from Bern, Feb. 11, that he was then printing something, and that he intended to write to you from thence, and then come hither to me. Your humble servant. 1655.] THE FRENCH LEAGUE. 135 MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. Feb. 24, 1655. SIR, I have by this post received two letters from you, the one dated Jan. 26, the other, Feb. 2, which latter tells me that you have received three of mine at once. There have been some contrary winds at sea, and the landways have been stopped by the overflowing of the river after the sudden thaws, which have done very great harm in several places of Germany. Your letters seem to meet with one of those hinderances, and mine with both. I give you many thanks for those satisfactory informations concerning the dissolution of parliament, the revolt of the army in Scotland, and the conspiracy of the Stewartines in England, of all which I hope to speak with M. D. within two or three days; he is now at Arraw. The deputies of this city went thither three days ago. What they have done there may be better said by the next post. But in short thus. All the protestant cantons have resolved to defer their renovation of the French league, though they hear that now all the popish cantons have signed it. In a letter written six days ago, M. D. tells me of one written from the senate of Geneva to H. H., which, if I do not misunderstand him, he saith he hath sent to you. As soon as the French treaty is come to an issue fit to be communicated, I shall hope that your letters will make it known to Your humble servant. From Cologne, Feb. 4-14.-King Charles and his party here seem very glad to hear that Hull* refuseth to obey the Protector. They say it is a good sign; as it was the first town that opposed the father, so it will be the first for the declaring for the restitution of the son. From Paris, Feb. 12.-If the treaty with England succeed, and Mary† intends to go into Savoy, we do not yet hear whither the Duke of York will go. MR. JOHN DURY TO MR. PELL. From Arraw, this 24th Feb., 1655. SIR, I am spoken to by the lords of Zurich who are here, to entreat you to help, by your letters to It was reported about this time, that Hull had rebelled against Cromwell's government, and the king had some intention of landing there. We find a similar report in the Mercurius Politicus in the beginning of March, at the time of the attempt at a general insurrection, when it was announced that Hull had revolted, that King Charles was there, and that the Duke of York had arrived at Bristol. Overton was to have opened Hull to the king. + Henrietta Maria, queen of Charles I. One condition of the treaty was, that the English royal family should be expelled from France. 1655.] PERSECUTION IN PIEDMONT. 137 his highness, to second their request unto the Duke of Savoy, in the behalf of the poor distressed protestants of Piedmont, who are commanded to be gone out of their native country (where they have lived so many hundreds of years), if they will not go to the mass. The Secretary Schmidt,* who is here, will write to the secretary there, who will give you more particular information of their case, and upon that information you are entreated to move his highness, that he would use such means for their relief as he shall think most expedient, either through France, from which Savoy now depends, or through some other interposition. The evangelical cantons write jointly to the duke on the distressed parties' behalf, and think that his intercession will be more effectual; this they entreat you would do by the post which goes on Monday morning, quia periculum est in mora, &c. MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. SIR,-This post brought me his highness's speecht inclosed in a letter of yours. At the same time I received another copy from Mr. Hartlib, which I gave to M. D.; some here desire to see it * Andrew Schmidt, under-secretary of Zurich. |