1655.]

CROMWELL'S INSTRUCTIONS.

293

ambassadors themselves writing after to his highness in commendation thereof; yet his highness is most willing to use all fitting means for the amendment thereof, and doth direct that you should signify the same unto those you received your letters from, with this, that his highness thinks it most necessary that the particular things to be insisted upon, for the alteration of the treaty and amendment thereof, be first agreed upon, as well between them as the states-general, before any address be made to the duke; as also the means by which the things desired shall be endeavoured to be accomplished. In both which his highness is of opinion things very effectual should be insisted upon. To ask that which will be of little avail if granted, or to ask things to purpose in such manner as would but teach the duke to deny them, would be alike dishonourable to the askers, and leave these people in a worse condition than they are; and therefore his highness would have you to communicate freely in these things, both with them of Zurich, as also with the Dutch extraordinary commissioner, that so you may come to a perfect knowledge of their full mind and intentions therein. And thereupon you are to certify unto his highness, what the particulars are which they would have amended in the treaty, and what they will do for the effecting thereof; and then you shall receive such instructions as his highness, upon considera

tion of the whole, shall think most convenient for that affair. And this way of proceeding has been pitched upon here in three respects:-First, neither the poor people themselves, nor any others in their behalf, have represented to his highness the particular defects which are in the treaty. Secondly, it is supposed that the Swiss, by their ambassadors who were employed in the treaty, do better understand the true state of that business, and know better what is necessary and reasonable to be asked, than we that are at this distance. Thirdly, the papers that have been sent hither, concerning the defects of this treaty, have in some things differed from themselves, and much more from those which were sent upon the same subject to the states-general. Now which of these, or whether something between them both, were the most convenient, his highness thought it best for his own information to put it in this way, as also for avoiding many inconveniences which would fall out in this business, if we should either ask different things, or desert a joint prosecution of them after we had once begun. And this is all that is necessary to be said to you upon this subject, wherein you are to communicate and advise with Mr. Morland during his abode at Geneva, and to use all diligence to bring these things to some maturity. In the meantime, his highness will use his utmost endeavours with the French king, on the behalf of the aforesaid poor

1655.] DECLARATION AGAINST SPAIN.

295

distressed protestants, which you shall also let the duke and Swiss commissioners know.

As for the business of Switz, we perceive by the aforesaid letter from Zurich to yourself, that the ambassadors of the evangelical cantons sent unto those of Switz were returned re infecta, and were to make report of their proceedings to their principals at Arraw at a day then to come, when further resolutions were to be taken concerning that business, the issue whereof we suppose we may receive from you by the next; until when, his highness doth not see what he can say upon that subject, more than that you do assure them in his name, that he hath not a greater sense of his own, or the safety of this commonwealth, than he hath of the good and welfare of them and the common evangelical interest in those parts; whereof he will make demonstration at all times as he shall have opportunity.

I have herewith sent you the declaration against Spain, translated into Latin. We have no news but what is in the print enclosed. I shall give direction to the treasurer to be more careful to pay your warrants, and be ready to serve you in what else concerns your own particular; which assure yourself shall be considered as to your extraordinary expenses occasioned by travelling up and down.

I rest, your affectionate friend and servant,

JO. THURLOE.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Geneva, November 14. SIR, Yesterday noon, having opened your packet, I sent one of the copies of the declaration to Mr. Morland; and as soon as I had written into Switzerland, I went to him myself with your letter to me. He said he had a shorter from you, but did not shew it me; he had not been abroad in seven or eight days, but he resolved to go to M. H. Van Ommeren, and to say such things to him as we both had agreed on. He told me, that you had received

his letter of October 10th, and therefore he wondered that mine of the same date was not come to your hand; for he said he sent it by the same post, and so far as he can remember, under the same covert with his own. I hope it will at length find the way to you, and that mine of later date, as Oct. 24th, 31st, and Nov. 7th, are come orderly and safely to you. The last week, I sent you a copy of another letter written to me from the magistrates of Zurich; and also a copy of the religious league which the popish cantons made about seventy years ago. It is very likely that it differs not from that which they renewed in September last, and so the divines of Zurich seem also to say in their adjoined letter. The fast, of which they make mention in the end of it, is appointed to be observed by all the protestant cantons and their confederates, even at Geneva, Nov. 22, old style.

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FRANCE AND SPAIN.

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I have received a letter from the secretary of the assembly at Arraw, acknowledging the receipt of mine of Nov. 3rd, and promising me an account from the deputies there. But I hear they went thence to Baden, and so it is likely that, at the end of that assembly, they will in one letter give me some account of what was done in both. They will be glad to hear of England's peace with France, and war with Spain; for it is in these countries a general observation with hardly any exception,-the papists are for Spain, the protestants are for France. And although at this time they have no great reason to love France, yet as long as the house of Austria is so great, they do not wish France less powerful than it is, lest the balance should become more But if the power of Austria and Spain were considerably abated, the Switzers' jealousy over France would increase visibly. But their jealousy and enmity is hardly worth taking notice of abroad, so long as they are balanced at home by their popish confederates. That they may become more useful, it is necessary that they crush those popish cantons, which seems to be the work that they have now in hand; but it will be hardly effected, without help from those friends who are too far off to send them any assistance but pecuniary; and they think they need no other.

uneven.

As for Piedmont, I hope some of Mr. Morland's late letters will give you some satisfaction for the