Bern will be a fitter place for the commissioners to meet in, than Basil or any other; that they prayed me to return their humble and hearty thanks to his highness for those renewed assurances of sincere and cordial affection toward them and their state; that they would speedily give notice of my proposals to the rest of the evangelical cantons, and to their ambassadors in Piedmont.

They wrote presently to their ambassadors, and sent it away by a post, about three of the clock in the afternoon of the same day.

As for the meeting rather at Bern than elsewhere, they pretend no other reason than the convenient distance from the three other evangelical cities, and from Geneva. But it is not unlikely that there is another reason why they would not meet at Basil. Upon occasion of my discourse with the burgomaster, mentioned in my last week's letter, this city wrote to Basil to feel their pulse for deeper engaging in this business. Basil sent them an answer (which I have not yet read), wherein they tell them, that the maintaining an ambassador in Piedmont is the utmost and last that they can do for the poor men; and that for several weighty reasons which they will make known to them at the next assembly of the evangelical cantons. It is likely that this letter makes them account Basil already weary of well-doing, and therefore unfit to hearken to consultations for more action.

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MORLAND AT GENEVA.

249

For my own part, when I consider what French, Austrian, and Heidelbergian humours that town is filled withal, I think I have some reason to suspect that English commissioners cannot reside there without great danger, nor their dependents and followers without frequent affronts.

The Dutch commissioner is not yet come hither. When he comes, I shall be mindful of the fifth instruction. I shall also endeavour to be ready to wait upon his highness's extraordinary commissioner, as soon as I have notice that he is come to the place prescribed.

I think it unnecessary to send you any news out of Piedmont, because we have nothing here but through Geneva, where Mr. Morland meets with it five or six days before us; and, besides, his letters come to London much sooner than mine, as will appear in comparing the dates of our letters; so that as long as Mr. Morland is there, your letters would come sooner to my hand if they were first sent to him, than now they do through Germany. I add this, because Mr. Ha.* tells me, that you desire another address for our letters. Fr. Ba. hath hitherto been careful enough; but Mr. Dury, being so near Frankfort, will be able to procure some other, and shortly give you notice of it, according to his promise in his last letter to me.

* Hartlib.

Your humble servant.

MR. MORLAND TO MR. PELL.

Geneva, Aug., English style, 1655.

SIR,-This hour, I received yours of the 10th Aug., wherein I perceive you expected a second letter from me, which I had undoubtedly sent you, but I had news here that for certain that you were on your way for Geneva; and therefore expecting your arrival every moment, I omitted one opportunity, which I yet hope the speed of this express will redeem. Affairs here at present are thus :-We have been much afraid ever since the arrival of the ambassadors of Swiss, lest they should precipitate that affair; wherefore, about three weeks since, I sent an express to Major Wyss, to entreat the ambassadors, for many weighty considerations, not to make overmuch haste, forasmuch as I did daily expect an ambassador from England, or new instructions for myself to join with them in my Lord Protector's name. To this letter, Major Wyss made me an answer to this purpose,-viz., that the ambassadors were pressing the business by all means possible, to bring it to a good and speedy issue; not at all mentioning my Lord Protector's influence or zeal for the good of the people. The ambassadors also sent a relation of all that had passed since their arrival, a copy of which I would send you, but I presume you have already seen it. Upon this, after I had consulted with, and had the advice of, the senate of Geneva, I wrote the ambassadors of Swiss

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a letter in the most submissive terms I could possibly, with eight considerations, which I have sent you enclosed, for the deferring the treaty some days.

I also wrote a letter to those poor people to the same purpose, promising them, that very suddenly they would hear from my Lord Protector, and also receive vast sums of money that were already raised and upon the way. way. About a day after I had sent this express, I received two letters from Mr. Secretary, giving the commands to do what I had already done, and which in effect justified all that I had done, which also assured me of your joining in this affair, and an extraordinary commissioner from England. Whereupon I translated Mr. Secretary's letters,-viz., all that was convenient, and enclosed them in a third letter, which I sent the same hour by an express to Pignerol, an answer to which I have not yet received.

Yesterday morning, I received one letter from the said Swiss ambassadors, and another from the people, an answer to my second letter with the eight considerations, to signify that the night before the date of the third letter, they had concluded and sent their patent to be signed by the duke; they also sent me the form of their patent. I cannot possibly at this instant have time to transcribe it (and I am commanded to keep all the originals of all papers), but do believe you will speedily see

them; they are, in brief, but very little more than what the duke granted in his letter to my Lord Protector, which he sent by me, besides that which they have concluded is no treaty, but concessions running in the name of the duke as having compassion and shewing favour to rebels. Neither were the ambassadors suffered to sign it, nor any mention made of them in the third patent; several other things there are very considerable in those papers, which you will better judge of them.

Upon the whole, the senate and ministers are extremely troubled at this action of the ambassadors, and do earnestly press me to entreat you to make all possible haste to Geneva, that we may consult together what is to be done, for I expect every moment an answer by my third express, that all is absolutely concluded. I long to hear from you to enjoy your company and counsel, for the business is now accompanied with many considerable difficulties. I beseech God Almighty make our way plain before us. I fear much those poor people will be left in more uncertainty, and their condition exposed to more hazard than ever; their adversaries have managed their business with much subtilty and cunning.

This morning, the senate communicated unto me a letter from the lords of Berne to them, signifying their earnest desire that the ambassadors should not hasten or conclude anything till they heard from