resolution to sell their lives very dear, and not to suffer themselves to be murdered or scattered so easily as the others have done.

Whilst I am writing, other letters are come from those quarters, as :

From Geneva, May 22.-It was the Marquis of San Damian, a Savoyard, and son-in-law to the Marquis of Pianetta, that made that irruption into the valley of Praguela (though it be subject to the French), when he burned twelve houses of those of our religion, and killed three men, saying, that they had harboured those that were escaped from the slaughter in the other valleys; but those of Praguela suffered him not to pass further, but sent their complaints to the Duke of Lesdiguières, the governor of Dauphiné, whose answer was little to the purpose, and not worth writing. Some troops of the Duke of Savoy attempted a second irruption, but the inhabitants of the valley of Praguela repulsed them. They extremely wonder to see Savoy dare to offer violence in any part that is not subject to the duke, but to the French king; but the connivance and collusion of the French is manifest enough in this business. But the court of Turin begins to see that they have begun a piece of work that they know not how to end. How far strangers may ever meddle, they know not; they know already that their fugitive heretics are not all killed, but that they have chosen two captains, Jayer and Jenavel; Jayer hath between seven and eight hundred men under his command, and Joshua Jenavel about four hundred that play the men, and dare look a far greater number in the face.

Sir, your humble servant.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

SIR, By a letter from P. Hacker, dated May 11th, I understood there was a new stop in the

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THE POPE.

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French treaty, and that the Spanish extraordinary ambassador makes great offers to England. I will not take upon me to see to the bottom of either of their treaties, but I know that this pope professeth an earnest desire to conclude a peace between them, and indeed to compose the quarrels of all the popish crowns and princes, to which end he hath published a proclamation of an universal jubilee for all that pray for such a peace. I have read that proclamation, reprinted in Latin at Lucerne, by the command of Borromeo, the pope's nuncio for Switzerland. Without doubt the nuncio in France will cause infinite numbers of copies to be reprinted there also, so that you may easily get one from Calais, and therefore I shall not need to send one to you from hence. But I may add, that this pope pretends to more holiness and justice than the officers of the court of Rome can endure, so that I am apt to think, that they wish him dead already; sure I am, that in many places of France, prophecies have been scattered, that this pope shall

not outlive the next month. As for the memorial mentioned in my last concerning the Grisons, if I do not misunderstand M. D., he will send it to you.

This week, one of the burgomasters gave me a visit. He said, that he hoped that their business with the Austrians concerning imposts, &c., was brought to a good conclusion, and that, perhaps, the French

ambassador will bring his king's letter to them at their general meeting at Baden, June 18-28; that the treaty between France and the protestant cantons is in no greater forwardness now, than it was two or three years ago; that they would be paid all their claims before they speak of renewing, because they dare not trust French promises, and do verily believe, that if they should first renew, they should not get the thirtieth part of what they claim now. He told me, that Cardinal Mazarin had written to the Duke of Savoy, blaming him, not for dealing so cruelly with the Piedmontois, but for choosing no better time to do it in; that it was now altogether unseasonable.

Two days after, one of the secretaries came to me, telling me the senate had commanded him to communicate two letters to me. They were both from the Prince Elector of Heidelberg, in answer to two letters which the protestant cantons had written to him; the one concerning M. D., from whose person he shews a manifest aversion, and the more for England's sake; the other concerning the Piedmontois, for whom, he says, he is sorry, and will give land to them that will come to him, but his country is not in case to afford them any pecuniary assistance.

M. D. writes to me, that he is resolved not to go near Heidelberg. The electors resident at Basil told him, that Prince Rupert was not likely to go

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he passed

into Italy, but the citizens of Bern say, through their town incognito, and is gone to Modena, to be general of that army. A little time will discover whether these conjectures be true

or no.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

8th June, 1655.

SIR, I received yours by the last post, and am glad to find that the protestant cantons have taken the miseries of the poor Piedmontois so much to heart, as to send a serious embassy about it to the duke; and especially that they intend to back it with their arms, wherein no question they will be successful, having so good a cause to engage in, and that which all good Christians will assert with them. And it were of a great moment for the P. (Protector) here to understand fully their intentions therein, very particularly as also in what you write, that they are upon counsels of making war with all their popish neighbours. Certainly they will find others willing to communicate with them upon such counsels, and to bear their share in whatever should be agreed upon. I desire you to inform yourself very particularly in these points, and be very careful to communicate things fully hither. I writ you by my last, that his highness had sent an envoy to the Duke of Savoy, and sent you

a copy of the letter to be carried with him, and that he had also writ to the French king. He hath received an answer from France, whereby he disowns any knowledge of his troops being engaged therein, and promiseth to mediate in their behalf. However, the treaty is not concluded with France, but is upon very doubtful terms; and if the cantons would speak out, and freely declare what their intentions were, the better measures might be taken here. The fast and collection for the poor Piedmontois is to be upon next Thursday; I hope the collection will be liberal. In the meantime, his highness hath sent out of his own purse unto Geneva 2000l., to be distributed amongst them for their relief; here is no alteration of affairs since my last, nor no news.

I rest, your affectionate servant, T.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

June 9th, 1655.

From Zurich, June 4.-Two days ago, the post from Geneva brought us many particulars concerning Piedmont, of which we had heard little before. Several men use several expressions, but the sum of all is comprehended in these two following letters :

I. When the army was gone out of the valleys of Piedmont, our brethren returned into them, but found that the army had burnt all that they could not carry away; wherefore the poor men were constrained to seek meat where it was to be had; and, for their own safety, to beat up the nearest quarters of their