SECRETARY THURLOE TO MESSRS. DOWNING, PELL, AND MORLAND.

Whitehall, 16th Sept. 1655, stilo veteri.

GENTLEMEN,-I have this day received your joint letter, but without any date, whereby it is hard for me to understand what you mean by the words to-morrow, or Tuesday next, which I find therein. I have communicated it to his highness, as I also have the paper sent therewith, who, having well weighed them, is of opinion, that there appears no cause for altering the former resolutions which have been sent unto you for the return of Mr. Downing, and residence of the other two of you at Geneva for the distribution of the money, and executing such other instructions as the providence of God may give occasion for. It is true it appears by your papers, both now and formerly received, that the protestants have in effect quit their cause by this treaty, taken the guilt upon themselves, and justified the duke; but it appears not that the body of them are sensible thereof (some particular persons, indeed, speak with much trouble), much less that the cantons do repent of it, or have any inclination to disown their ambassadors. The chief secretary of Zurich, in his letter to Mr. Pell, August 30, says, that the council of Zurich wished them to stay to see the treaty performed (so far are they from disallowing it), and although they

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were also to stay at the desire of the English ambassadors, to co-operate with them for the good of the said inhabitants, that cannot be otherwise intended than in seeing that treaty performed; and as for the clause at the end of that letter, that their ambassadors should contribute their endeavours to help forward such things as should be found out for those poor people above what was in the treaty, it is a very cold expression, and relates still to the treaty, which is further explained by another letter of a divinity professor, written also to Mr. Pell, where he earnestly entreats, not that a new treaty be made, but that the defects of the old one be supplied, and in such a manner as there may be a care had of their reputation. This being considered, as also the letter which the ambassadors of the Switsers wrote to Mr. Morland, of the 21-31 August, whereby they say, that the treaty being, not only concluded and ratified by the duke, but also signed, confirmed, and enrolled, by those of the valleys themselves, and a considerable part thereof executed, they could neither revoke it, nor do anything to suspend it, and the rather because it is such a treaty as doth not diminish, nay, confirms all their liberties of religion; and that whosoever asks more for them must desire new things such as they never had before, &c. As also their letter to the people of the valleys themselves, in which they

commend and justify this treaty in every part thereof. I say, these things being weighed, it could not be apprehended here that any hope remained of obtaining other terms for those people, in conjunction with the cantons, as things now stand; but, on the contrary, if those things were asked which were just, necessary, and significant, it would be against the opinion of the Switsers, and that which they would hold themselves in honour obliged to oppose, in maintenance of that treaty which they have interested themselves so far in. And if upon such demand a new irruption should follow, things would be quite upon another foot than they were before, when the duke began the war and massacre, to the abhorrence of all the protestant world, yea, even of the papists in France; but now it would be looked upon as that which was blown up by my Lord Protector, irritating those people to break their faith with the duke, after a treaty concluded by the advice, and with the consent, of the evangelical cantons, not for defending their old liberties, but for obtaining new concessions; and it cannot be thought that their ambassadors have proceeded without the knowledge and direction of their superiors. And whatever is said now by them is to no other end than to carry it fair with England, after such a transaction as this is; wherein (to speak plainly) no great friendship was expressed to England,

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nor zeal to the protestant cause; but, however, you are to maintain all good friendship and correspondence with them.

The case being thus stated,-viz., that the Switsers will not in honour set aside that treaty, nor my Lord Protector in judgment and conscience do anything that may imply his approbation thereof, as he would if he should say anything about the execution of any one particular in it, or complain that La Tour is not dismantled, or any other part not observed; and besides, upon the news of the agreement, the Dutch have either absolutely resolved not to send their commissioners, or are at least uncertain in it; it will be very hard to know in what manner further applications are at present to be made to the duke, at least not until one of yourselves be spoken with, from whom his highness may understand the true state of this whole business, and all the circumstances thereof, for which purpose Mr. Downing is sent for home; and thereupon such further resolutions will be taken as we

shall see the lords making way for. And in the meantime, the other two of you will be there ready to inform yourselves of all occurrences, and communicate the same hither, as also consider of the best way and manner of disposing the collected money, as you were directed by my last. I rest, your very affectionate friend and faithful servant,

JO. THURLOE.

MR. MORLAND TO MR. PELL.

Geneva, 18th Sept. 1655, old style.

SIR,-About two days ago I received this enclosed note, which I suppose is your hand, without name, date, or place where you were. I have sent you a copy of the commission; I have also sent you a copy of the attestation, which Ambassador Stockar (who arrived last Friday night) gave me to shew that he is altogether innocent as to this late heady treaty. He altogether disowns it, and says, he will protest against it in the general assembly; you will know what use to make of this for your advantage. He made a long narrative of his proceedings at Turin and Pignerol. He says, that Ambassador Hirtzell was the chief promoter of the treaty, and that he believes they will be all called to account for it. I have sent a relation of all the particular conferences between him and me, as also between him and the Holland ambassador, this day by an express after Mr. Downing, who, as I formerly wrote to you, is by a special order sent for back into England to make a report of the whole, and you and I commanded to abide at Geneva, or in our stations. The Parisian letter I cannot presently send you, but will so soon as I can. In the meantime, I remain, Sir, your faithful servant,

SAM. MORLAND.