1654.]

SPAIN AND GENOA.

23

between the provinces about the secret article, to persuade them to peace and union, to prevent the designs of the malignant party; and I hear the letter took very well.

It is said here, that the affair between Spain and Genoa will soon be reconciled; but methinks it hath another complexion. Get as certain intelligence and information as you can about the affairs in the parts where you are, and especially concerning the protestant party.

Your assured friend, ADRIAN PETERS.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

I WROTE to you the last week, none from you since June 25.

July 8, 1654. but have received The last of yours

was dated June 10; so that it came in fifteen days, which we wondered at, it being seldom heard that an express should be able to get hither in so short a time, especially if he go (as that letter) not the shortest way through France. We hope that your extraordinary employments at this time hindered your writing to us; for we are not willing to entertain a fear that your letters to us have been twice intercepted.

The citizens here do look for the return of their deputies from their grand assembly about a week hence. In the meantime they are not able to give us

a particular account of what hath been done there. It is said that the French ambassador there offers to lay down ready money for the jewels mentioned in my last; but the man that hath them in keeping is not yet in sight. The same ambassador hath also undertaken to demonstrate that that letter was counterfeit which, this time twelvemonth, was presented to them all, as from the Emperor, to persuade them to except Alsatia in their league with France, if they would needs renew it. The man that presented it is well known, a burgomaster of Uri, (one of the popish cantons.) He served the Emperor as colonel against the Swedes in Germany. The general opinion is, that the Emperor sent him a blank, signed with his own hand, and a commission to pen such a letter, in his name, as the state of their affairs should require. They have so good an opinion of the man, for a patriot, that he is now chosen by this great assembly for one of the four that are to hear that intricate question of the jewels, and the claims of all the captains, and to make an end of it, if they can, lest it should prove a spark of contention to set all this country on fire, as some have hoped.

I fear that all the cantons, as well papist as protestant, (save only Solodurn and Lucern,) did agree to give the French ambassador this answer-that they will not give ear to any proposals of their renewing their league, till the King, his master, hath

1654.]

THE TREATY WITH FRANCE.

25

paid them all the money already due to them. But he cannot be ignorant that Zurich hath already decreed that, for their part, they will not renew the league with the French King, although he pay them all the money due to them; and, to make it the surer, have taken that business out of the hand of the fifty, and made it a reserved case for their supreme council of two hundred men.

Mr. Stockar hath written from Baden to his friends here, that he will come and see them, three or four days hence. From him we hope to learn some more particulars, and with more certainty. Your humble servant.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL AND

MR. DURY.

GENTLEMEN,-I received

London, 14th July, 1654. yours from Zurich of the

24th of June, with the papers inclosed, which administer no occasion of further instructions unto you, nor doth anything which hath occurred here since your departure. That which at present is of most consideration is, the treaty with France. I perceive the Protector insists to have an article inserted into the treaty-that those of the reformed religion in France should have the exercise of their religion as full as they ought by any law granted. But this the ambassador seems positively to deny.

And if both persist in their resolutions, as I perceive they will, little is to be expected from the treaty. In the mean time the hostility continues. This day we had news that the ships of this state have brought in three Frenchmen of good value. The form of including the protestant cantons into the peace made between this and the state of the United Provinces is agreed upon, and a copy thereof comes herewith unto you: the original I keep by me, until I hear that this is safely arrived, and then I shall send that. In the mean time, you shall do well to communicate this to the cantons. Two of the conspirators in the late plot were executed on Monday last, (Vowell and Gerard ;) Vowell was hanged at the Mews, Gerard beheaded on Tower-hill. The Portuguese ambassador's brother was likewise beheaded at the same time, for the murder done upon the Exchange.* It is very observable, that the quarrel upon the Exchange was begun by those two persons who were condemned and executed both of a-day, though for several crimes. Care will be taken to return your money. I will add no more

now, being in haste, but subscribe me,

Your affectionate friend and servant,

ADRIAN PETERS.

*See, for the particulars of this conspiracy, State Trials, v. 518, et seq.; and as implicating Charles, and the exiled court, Godwin, iv. 73, et seq., and Thurloe, ii. 248, 249, 257, 258, 330, 331-336, 350-355.

1654.] PELL AND THE BURGOMASTER.

27

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

July 15th, 1654.

SIR, I wrote to you by the last post. The next day Mr. Stockar came to this town. I spake not with him till Tuesday, July 11. He did not remember that ever he had seen me in England; nor did I speak with him here but in the hearing of M. D. [Dury], and therefore the relation of that meeting I leave to him.

The next day, that is, July 12, I visited the elder burgomaster, (for here they have, as it were, two lord mayors at a time.) He was gone to the baths a little before our coming hither, and came home this day was seven night, so that I had never seen him before. I first sent to the principal secretary, desiring him to send me word when I might conveniently visit the burgomaster. At the hour appointed, the same secretary, attended with an officer, came to conduct me to the burgomaster's house, where we found the old man, with divers officers, expecting us. He led me into an inner parlour, where (none being by, but the said secretary) I spoke to him in Latin; and, after some passages of civility, I told him I should hereafter crave his advice for the managing of such commands as I should receive from H. H. He understands Latin very well; but told me he had given over speaking of Latin these fifty years; and so answered