1655.] MASSACRES OF THE PROTESTANTS. 183 into a country where they meant to exercise all sorts of hostility, they must make their enemies bear the greatest part of the charge. I should tire you with more of this dialogue, if the post would give leave: I must trouble you no further at this time, yet, for all his haste, I will take so much time as to subscribe myself, Sir, your humble servant. MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. SIR, The French sheet which I sent you last week was brought me so late that I had not time. to read it over, or to say anything concerning it; otherwise, I should have prayed you to consider that letter of Servient, the French ambassador at Turin. It plainly shews, that he knew of the whole design, as the French horse had a principal hand in acting it. Monsieur Servient wrote that letter to the Huguenots that live under the protection of the French garrisons in Piedmont, and therefore some that escaped in the massacres of the valleys went into the French quarters, thinking themselves safe there; but see what they write : From Grenoble, May 6-16.-The French and Piedmontese persecutors are fallen into the valley of Pragela which belongs to the French; they intend to destroy all those that were fled thither; they burned twelve houses there, and had proceeded further, if the inhabitants had not resisted them. Those of that valley presently sent a deputy to the Duke of Lesdiguières to complain. There are yet eight hundred Piedmontois in arms. They have made a deduction or large narration of the true state of the business, to shew the falsehood of that which was printed concerning them in the weekly news of France. From Zurich, May 19.-Yesterday, about noon, Mr. D. left Zurich with no intention ever to see it again. When he comes to Basil, he will consider what way to take next. The news of the peace concluded between England and France is confidently affirmed by many here. Formerly, they would have been more glad to hear such news than now, because they now begin to take up thoughts of war with all their popish neighbours; they are roused by the business of Piedmont, and the noise of a design upon Geneva. The lower and the younger sort speak high and openly, but those of more experience and authority are considerate and more secret: they fear they shall not be able to do much for want of money. A few years ago, Zurich had one hundred thousand pounds sterling in their treasury more than they have now; they spent it upon fortifying their town, and assisting their neighbours in the last rebellion. They can make great levies of sure men among the protestants of Glaris and the Grisons, but not without money; they would be loath their enemies should know the low estate of their purse, but their friends will consider it, and not wonder at the inactiveness of those whose hands are bound up with the want of necessary requisites for action. If the peace be concluded, they hope his highness hath included all the protestant cantons. I have received yours of April 17. SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL. 25 May, 1655. SIR, I received two of yours by the same post; that of the 30th, which you expected should have 1655.] CROMWELL INTERFERES. 185 come the last week, came not until this; by both I see the barbarous and inhuman cruelties which are exercised towards the poor protestants in the valleys of Piedmont. It doth very much afflict his highness, and so it doth indeed this whole nation; and I hope nothing will be omitted which can be put in practice for their relief. There is a fast appointed and a general collection through the whole nation. His highness hath also writ unto the Duke of Savoy in their behalf; a copy of the letter you will receive herewith. He hath also writ to the King of France to mediate with the duke, and to all protestant princes complaining of this horrible massacre, as, to the King of Sweden, the King of Denmark, the States General, and also the six protestant cantons; the letter to them you will receive herewith, which you are to deliver to them. I have also sent unto you the copy thereof, that you may see what is writ; upon the delivery of it you may, by word of mouth, further explain the great grief and trouble his highness hath for this slaughter of these poor innocent people. The copy of the letter to the Duke of Savoy which I have sent you, I desire that you would not let it go out of your hands, nor any copies taken of it, until you hear that his highness's messenger is arrived at Turin, because I would have it secret at that court before the original be presented. I pray acquaint Mr. D. that I have also received his papers, and am very glad his negotiation hath so good success. I believe we shall all at length see the need we have of a union, and that a cordial one too; what is executed upon the poor Piedmontois is intended against us all, as they have opportunity and means. It is, I think, a Mr. Dury take great duty that both yourself and this sad occasion to press upon the protestants to be awake, and to join together for the common defence; and I doubt not of your endeavours therein. We have yet concluded no peace with France, nor done anything with Spain. I have not anything to write of news by this post. I rest, yours most affectionately, J. T. My service to Mr. D. MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. May 26, 1655. SIR,-As soon as I had received yours of May 4th, I sent the greatest part of it in Dutch to some principal persons here. It confirmed them in the belief of that common report, that the treaty with France was very near a friendly conclusion; this gave them reason to inquire of their chief secretary, whether he had delivered me the memorials which he had written a good while before. What his answers and excuses were, I know not; but they sent him to me with the papers. They were both in 1655.] PELL'S NEGOTIATIONS. 187 High Dutch only. He told me, that the greater of them concerned Rhætia, and our treaty with Spain; and was but a copy of that which they had given to M. D. about ten days before he left this city. The lesser concerned all the protestant cantons and their allies, wherein they prayed me to represent to his highness their desire to be included on the part of England in the treaty with France. With the rest of our discourse I will not trouble you at this time. When he was gone, I considered that you might desire to see, at least, the copies of those memorials, so I caused the lesser to be translated into Latin by one of their own professors, which I also keep by me as authentic; but I have written it out, and sent you herewith. I have also adjoined the Dutch, that if you please to try how near the translation comes to the sense, you may cause any one that understands High Dutch to translate it into English, and then compare it with the Latin : as for the other memorial, I have written to M. D. concerning it, that if he have not sent it, I may. This other discourse in French is not so fairly written as I could have had it, if it had come to my hands more timely; but you will easily find some one that can read French, who will be willing to write it out carefully and more legibly; it is a defence of the Piedmontois, of whom I have not heard any great news this week, save that about four thousand of them keep together still, with a |