command of Lieutenant-general Ulrich, hath subdued all Turgow, and made them all swear obedience to Zurich alone. They have sent prisoners to Zurich, the governor, his secretary, and sergeants, being all of the canton of Switz, whose turn it was to govern Turgow. Another part of Zurich army, commanded by Major-General Werdmüller, had taken Keysers-stul, and Zursach, and hoped quickly to subdue the parts thereabouts. But the town of Baden seemed resolved to make strong resistance, fortifying themselves, having already pulled down the capuchin's cloister, a large, fair, new building, and also their hospital, the fairest in all Switzerland. But they doubted that the sparing of those two buildings might cause the speedy loss of their town when it came to be besieged. The general himself had besieged Rapperswill, and intended not to leave it till he had taken it. Of Berne they had no news, save a report that their first task was to besiege Lucern. But you expect certain intelligence, and not uncertain reports from

Your humble and faithful servant.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Geneva, January 16th.

SIR, Yours dated December 20th and 27th, I

received three days ago, and one of January 3rd

1656.]

RUMOUR OF NEGOTIATIONS.

329

came to my hands yesterday; which last assured me that ours of December 19th and 20th, with our express, are come to you in due time. I shall be glad to know the resolutions concerning the cantons, &c. I hope you have before this time received mine of December 26th, with my translation of a letter written December 18th, from the senate of Zurich to me. In that which I wrote last week, I enclosed a letter from the evangelical cantons to his highness, and a copy of one from the senate of Zurich to me and to Mr. Morland; also the Helvetian grievances in English, and the manifesto of the said cantons in High-Dutch. In which manifesto no mention is made of Friburg and Soloturn, so that they may account themselves unconcerned if they abstain from assisting the other popish cantons. This sets them upon thoughts of accommodation of the whole business, and they endeavour to keep Basil and Schaffhausen in the same mind. It is believed that both sides have so little money that the war cannot last long without the supplies of other princes, of which there is great noise. The petty cantons boast that Savoy alone hath offered to send them a hundred thousand crowns. I hear that some of the subjects of Berne, to outboast them, replied, “England alone hath promised to lend us two millions of livres ;" which, when it was told me (I think to try what I would say), I only

answered, that England had not yet made any such promise by me, nor by any other that I knew of.

January the 12th, in the morning, I received the letter which I here send you in English. I conceive that, in the subscription, they have added "the citizens of Berne," that it may appear that the borrowing of money and the obligations to repay it are not offered without the consent of the commonalty. I wrote back to them that we had received their letter, and should have a care of the business recommended in it.

We do not yet hear that the army of Berne hath besieged Lucern or Mellingen, as they promised to do, but they may be excused, if they first make sure all their limits. Wagner, the governor of their southern parts, hath enough to do to look to the Valesians, who are said to be ready to enter into his government by the east end of the lake, or to cross it in barks and frigates by the favour and assistance of the Marquis of Lullin, governor of Chablais, in Savoy. Geneva hath increased the number of their scouts and guards, because they have heard of the great preparations that Savoy

makes.

Here is a rumour that Wagner hath intercepted a letter written from the French ambassador to the said Marquis of Lullin, telling him it is time to throw away his vizard, and declare himself, &c.

1

1656.]

SUSPICIONS CONCERNING FRANCE. 331

And it is somewhat more confidently affirmed, that a marriage is contriving between the French king and the Duke of Savoy's sister; which the pope also approves, and would have that duke marry the heir of Spain; which two marriages would, as he conceives, well help forward the peace between the two crowns.

As for the French ambassador at Soloturn, it is very well known that when the Boors rebelled, he was very glad of it, hoping that thereby the protestant cantons might be necessitated to submit to any conditions that France should please to propose. And time will shew whether he has not now encouraged the popish cantons to give these occasions of new troubles, that so France may have a fair pretence to assist them, as having renewed their league; and to do nothing for the protestant cantons, because they have hitherto refused to renew a league with him. They would be glad to have assurance that France would do them no harm, and to that end, I believe, desire so much to be included in the Anglo-Gallic treaty.

I am, Sir, your humble servant,

J. P.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL AND
MR. MORLAND.

Whitehall, 17th January, 1655. GENTLEMEN, I believe you looked for the return of your messenger before now, or, at least, to have received an answer to the letters and papers you sent by him, touching the differences between the protestant and popish cantons, as they were represented to you by the two deputies of Zurich and Berne. The reason why you have not is, because it was observed by the papers which were delivered by the aforesaid deputies, that there was a meeting of all the cantons then to be at Baden, where an accommodation would be endeavoured, the issue whereof his highness and council did think it necessary for them to see, before they could take any certain resolution upon those affairs. those affairs. As I had writ thus far, I received your letters of the 2nd of January, being near eight of the clock at night, with the papers enclosed; whereby we see that the assembly of Baden have brought forth no agreement, but, on the contrary, a war is begun between them. All that could be done this night was to read the letters and papers, and appoint the morning for the consideration of what concerns both Switzerland and Piedmont, which certainly have a great relation one to the other. What the resolution shall be you shall receive by the express with all possible speed.