Morland and me; and a printed French translation of the protestant cantons' manifesto. It is not so well translated as it might have been, but I do not yet hear that it hath been published in French by those of Berne; though it might seem necessary, because they have so many subjects that understand no other language. Here was much talk of the defeat given to the army of Berne by an ambushment of those of Lucerne; yet I hear no man say, that the number of men lost on either side was above three hundred; others say, that one hundred and sixty of the Bernois were slain, and about sixty wounded. But their southern men ran away, so that the Lucernois took six field-pieces, and some baggage. It is hoped that this loss will awaken the courage of the Bernenses, and make them go about their work in good earnest ; it is said, they have an army of twenty thousand men. The army of Zurich is about fifteen thousand, but some of them are already in garrisons in Turgow and the country of Baden. The rest are with the general at the siege of Rapperswill, where the frost had made it very difficult to use the spade for approaches. January 18th was designed for the first use of several batteries newly finished. Schaffhausen hath sent about a thousand men to Zurich, but they refuse to serve offensively, saying, they come only for their defence; so that Zurich must divide them among their garrisons.

1656.]

THE HOUSE OF SAVOY.

339

We hear for certain that Prince Thomaso is dead, and one of his sons; some say it is his eldest, who could make a shift to guess what he said.

speak so as that men might

Others say it is one of the

other two sons, who were wholly dumb, being born deaf. The Duke of Savoy hath yet one uncle alive, about sixty-six years old, who married his niece, one of the duke's sisters, but hath no children. Nor hath the duke any brother; so that the house of Savoy is likely to decay.

If God himself will avenge the innocent blood spilt by that house, we must not wonder that he crosses the counsels, and hinders the endeavours, of those men that would be employed to that end.

Sir, this week there came no letter from you to your humble servant.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Geneva, Jan. 23, at night.

SIR,-To-day, before noon, I wrote to you and sent it to Mr. Morland to convey to you by the post of Lyons. This evening, an express brought letters, dated Jan. 18th, from the consul and senate of Zurich to me and to Mr. Morland, praying us to convey this enclosed to his highness, and to lend them some money if we can spare any. In their letter was enclosed a piece of a letter from the Vene

tian resident at Milan to the Venetian resident at Zurich, who communicated it to those of Zurich. I have Englished it and sent it herewith.

With those letters from the consul, &c., came another of the same date to me, from the secretary of Zurich, that was here in December. He also prays me to lend them some money, and for news, adds, that they have begun to batter Rapperswill, so that they hope to get it in short time.

As for their letter, we have resolved to send it by an express to-morrow morning as soon as the gates are opened; not doubting but that he will get to Lyons before the letters be sent from thence towards Paris; so that you may receive these at the same time with those that we sent hence to-day.

But for money, I am not in case to lend them any; unless Mr. Secretary take order with the treasurer at court, I must rather think of borrowing. I perceive by my wife's last letters that she had received no money thence since August last, and that was for the quarter expiring with June. So that two quarter days (Septem. and Decem.) are past since she received any for herself or me. Your humble and faithful servant,

J. P.

H

1656.]

QUARREL OF THE CANTONS.

341

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

24th January, 1655. SIR, It is expected that your journeys to and fro will occasion an extraordinary expense; and if you please to give me some light into it, I shall take care that you be answered a further sum of money than your ordinary appointment.

The French king intends to send an extraordinary embassy to the cantons to reconcile them. You will do very well to understand the minds of the protestants therein, and what would be desired by them from their protestant friends and allies in such a case.

Since the writing of my letter to Mr. Morland, we hear for certain that the Swede and Elector of Brandenburgh are agreed, which is of great advantage to the protestant interest. I pray leave a cypher with Mr. Morland before you go, that he may send a copy of it to me.

Your servant,

J. T.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Geneva, Jan. 30.

SIR, The last week, I wrote twice to you, because, after the post was gone, I received a letter for his highness, which we sent away the next

morning. We hope it came soon enough to Lyons to be sent to Paris with the former.

Yesterday, we received a letter from Mr. Secretary Thurloe, dated Jan. 17, written to Mr. M. and me jointly; the Zurich postilion being then here, I wrote by him, and gave notice of some of the expressions in the said letter.

Their affairs are in an uncertain posture. The army of Berne hath not yet attempted anything worth speaking of. Zurich army lies still before Rapperswill, and hopes to get it shortly by mere force. The bridge that there crosseth the lake is 1700 paces long. The ice hath all this while kept their boats from breaking or burning it; but a week ago they finished a battery that flanks that bridge. At the first, they intended to spare the town as much as might be; but now, they say they are resolved to beat it down to the ground with their cannon rather than make a long siege of it. They have heard that the popish cantons have recalled their soldiers that served the King of Spain in Milan, and that they are returning home with money from the pope and the governor of Milan. Some cantons are busily contriving articles of agreement, which they hope to draw up in such a manner as both sides may be pleased.

Five regiments are come out of Piedmont into Chablais, whence, it is said, they intend to fall into the southern parts of the dominion of Berne, but