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THE KING OF SWEDEN.

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meeting of all the cantons at Baden. I thank you for the printed paper* I received from you, which I was very glad to see. This winter season puts an end to all action here, and in all other parts of the world, save in Prussia, where the King of Sweden goes on with great success, the particulars whereof I will not trouble you with, supposing you are acquainted with them.

I fear none of my letters for some weeks past are come to your hands, because I find no mention of them in yours. I assure you I wrote constantly (two posts excepted), and will hope that they will yet come to your hands, having very little time to write duplicates. I have nothing to trouble you with further at this time, but rest

Your affectionate friend and servant,

Jo. THURLOE.

MR. J. H. HUMMEL TO MR. PELL.

28th December, 1655.

SIR,-Yours dated the 11th December at Geneva, did I receive at Berne the 15th October, with an adjoined paper to direct me to a gentleman in this town, Burckart ab Erlach, to receive of him quatuordecim duplones Gallicos; Domino Gerbero tantum dedi

* In Latin, of the escalade of Geneva,

duodecim, et ni fallor non plures ab Illustrissimo D. Legato repetii in literis meis ad ipsum. That gentleman was very willing to give me that sum, and I have given him an acquittance for it too; I stay to expect command, that I may know what I shall do with the rest,—namely, with the two doubloons which I yet have in my power. After that, when M. Bucher with Holtzhalb is come to us, his man brought me that desired and expected Commentary of D. William Gouge, with your name, Sir, upon the packets, but no letter else, and therefore do I not know the price of it, and what I do owe your worship for it. I pray, Sir, let me know it in your next, and you shall receive thankful satisfaction for your great pains which you took for your servant's sake. That same declaration which you did send unto me concerning the justice of cause of war between England and Spain, I did, according to your prescription, send faithfully to Mr. Auckins, at Zurich.

M. Bucher did relate the poor estate of the miserable Waldenses; the Lord in heaven be prayed for them. I pray you too, Sir, to urge their cause with all might, and I do hope you do it truly. I will do for them what I can. News we have very much. We have now open wars with the papistical cantons the Lord in heaven bless our warfare to his own glory, and propagation of his gospel. Our people, I think, shall, this night or the morning, take

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WAR IN SWITZERLAND.

325

their march, but I know not in what place. I pray, Sir, recommend our present business to your Highness Lord Protector, and give notice of our present state. So soon as we receive tidings of their proceedings will I, if possible, write unto you of the same; and so I leave you, Sir, and thank you heartily for your great love and care, and remain your indeed faithful and dutiful servant,

JOHN HENRY HUMMEL.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

Whitehall, 3rd Jan., 1655.

SIR, I received yours by the express, with the narrative of the controversy between Switz and Zurich, or rather, the protestant and popish cantons; and by Mr. Morland's packet, the English translation of the proposition made to you by the deputies of Zurich and Berne, with your joint answer thereto. These came to my hand yesterday; at the same time came to my hands your letter of the 20th, the former being of the 19th of the last month. I have communicated these papers, with some others I received, as well from yourself as Mr. Morland, to his highness and the council; and the bare reading of them hath taken up the most part of this day, so that there hath been no time for consideration of the matter therein con

tained, which is of great consequence, but they will be re-assumed again to morrow. What the resolution shall be thereupon shall be sent to you with all speed, which is all I can say to you upon this subject or upon aught else, there being no news at all here. I rest,

Your affectionate friend and servant, J. T.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Geneva, Jan. 9-19, 1655-6.

SIR,-We have received no letters from you this week or the last as for this week, we conceive the Paris post came into Lyons after our post was gone towards Geneva, for they say, there are no Paris letters come hither this week; so that we hope the next post will bring us your letters of two weeks.

January the fifth, Geneva sent three hundred foot to augment the Zurich army; January the sixth, I received these enclosed for his highness. In their letter to M. M. and me, the senate of Zurich thanks us for the answer that we gave their secretary in writing (whereof Mr. Morland says he sent you a copy), in the conclusion whereof we had prayed them to let us know their sense of the condition of the poor Waldenses. To which they answer, that as soon as their troubles are over they will not fail to resume their care of the Wal

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THE DUTCH COMMISSIONER.

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denses, and to further any consultations concerning the means necessary to their support and safety.

The next day, Jan. 7th, M. Morland and I went to M. H. Van Ommeren, to discourse concerning the Helvetian and Piedmontian affairs; he had received the like letters for himself and his superiors. He seemed resolved to write home that he might be recalled, accounting it unfit to stay any longer here, if the Helvetians would not meddle any further in the affairs of Piedmont till their own troubles were over. Some say, that he thinks long to be at home with a fair mistress, whom he had married before this time if this journey had not been interposed. Besides, his father, burgomaster of Arnhem, dying a little before he came out, so that he wears mourning, it is not unlikely that some domestical affairs may make him wish himself at home. As for the Helvetians, he said they must not look for any assistance from his principals, who would have their hands full of business in aiding Brandenburg against the Swedes. And yet he thinks not the like excuse sufficient for the Helvetians, when they say, "We are not fit to protect others further off till we can protect our own people from the insolence and cruelty of our next neighbours and allies."

Yesterday, the ordinary Zurich carrier brought us letters of two weeks, dated Decem. 27, and Jan. 3. They signify that part of Zurich army, under the