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1655.]

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between France and these countries, accounting it good husbandry to give us some yearly peacemoney, and so to live securely by us; rather than to disoblige us, yea, or to conquer us, and then to be at a hundred times the expense in maintaining of garrisons, which the present counsellors of France seem not to think upon.'

I had not made any considerable interruptions whilst he was in this discourse of money, expecting that he would at length come to make his inferences, that for want of money they could do nothing at all in a way of war; or if they did, they must have some huge sum deposited, &c. But when I saw him ready to go away, I said thus: "After the council of 200 and other cantons shall have considered my proposals, I make no doubt but that they will either concur with England, or else they will make me so well understand the reasons of their non-concurrence, that I may be able to represent them fully to his highness, &c., that England may not imagine that the evangelical cantons care not for the evangelical cause.'

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August, 4-14.-Of the little alarm at Geneva, I shall not need to write, because Mr. Morland is there; I received a letter from him to-day. This week, yours of July 14-24 came to your humble

servant.

MR. MORLAND TO MR PELL.

SIR, I have formerly had the happiness to have been in your company at Col. Montague's* chamber at Whitehall, where, indeed, I was so much convinced of your singular worth and abilities in all respects, that from that time I had ever a longing desire of a further acquaintance with you, and enjoyment of your company. At that time, by your sudden departure out of England, both myself and many others, to our great grief, were frustrated of our hopes and expectations; but now since the providence of God has lately called me forth upon this negotiation to a place not far from that of your abode, my own inclinations and real respect to your person daily prompting me, the near affinity of our employments (the one respecting the being, and the other, well-being of the people of God,) continually inciting me, and also the strict commands of Mr. Secretary Thurloe in a late letter of his obliging me, I cannot but express my earnest desire of an intimate correspondence with you. If there

* Sir Edward Montagu, knight, who had distinguished himself during the civil war in the service of the parliament, and was subsequently made joint High Admiral of England. He was M. P. for Huntingdonshire. At the restoration, it was by his persuasion that the whole fleet agreed to acknowledge Charles II., by whom he was soon afterwards created Earl of Sandwich. He was killed in the great sea-fight with the Dutch, off Southwold Bay, in 1672.

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chief minister of Zurich,

be anything which respects the deliverance of those poor people of the valleys wherein you can inform me, I most earnestly beg it of you; and what comes to my hands from time to time, I shall most freely impart unto you. I had written to you from Turin, and also to the from whom I received a civil letter, had I not feared it would have been intercepted, they at that court endeavouring to stop all correspondence during my abode there. abode there. About two weeks since, I came (according to orders) to Geneva, having had my answer from the duke, which was to this purpose that those people had behaved themselves most rebelliously, but for my Lord Protector's sake, he would grant them the freedom of their religion within their limits, and general pardon (none excepted) for all that was passed, and their goods that they had without their limits, but would not grant them to live in their ancient habitations. This answer I have sent to my Lord Protector, with all other papers, which are many and large, touching this business; I in the meantime staying here, at Geneva, till I receive orders to return home, or new instructions to go to Turin, and treat in behalf of those poor afflicted people. I had letters of credence also to the senate of Geneva, which I have delivered; and dispatched my answer to the Lord Protector. My business with the senate of Geneva was to signify my Lord Protector's re

spect to the senate, and to consult with them about the truth of this bloody massacre, and the means of relieving, either by money or other ways, all which I have sent to England in writing. Dear sir, I have not an opportunity now to be more prolix. I beg an answer from you, and remain, Sir,

Your most affectionate servant,

SAM. MORLAND.

(Received 8th August, 1655.)

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

10th August, 1655.

SIR, I have received yours of the 21st of the last month, which doth not administer to me any occasion to trouble you with an answer thereunto; besides, it is not probable that they will find you at Zurich, my former letter signifying to you his highness's commands for your going to Geneva ; only I thought fit to let you know the news which we received from General Pen and Venables the last Saturday, that they had landed the army at the island of Jamaica, after that they had without success attempted Hispaniola, where their loss is not so considerable by much as is spoken of; and I trust this diversion is in mercy to us, the island where they now are being better in itself, and of much greater advantages for any further design

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than the former. And it had been much better for them to have attempted this first, and they were advised to it. Our fleet was all well, save one Dutch bottom, which was set on fire by her own men through negligence. We sent above forty ships, and not one miscarried in all the voyage. Things remain here as they did by my last. I remain, your affectionate friend to serve you,

J. T.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

August 11th, 1655. SIR,--The last week, I wrote largely in answer to a long letter of yours. August the 9th, at night, I received at one time two packets from you, both dated July 20th; and according to the instructions in each of them, I desired audience the next morning early. The secret council made haste to grant it to me, so that before eleven o'clock that day, I had spoken to them in Latin, and delivered to them the heads of my speech written in their own language. The secretary of state brought me this

answer:

That they are very glad to hear that his highness continues in that resolution to help that poor people; that they shall be ready to appoint commissioners to communicate with such as his highness shall send ; that they conceive that the city of

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