1656.] INTRIGUES IN SWITZERLAND. 421 that there had been no action, the Spaniard yet keeping within the ports. There is no other news but what you will find in the enclosed print. I rest, your affectionate friend to serve you, Jo. THURLOE. MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. Zurich, June 12-22. SIR, I came from Baden hither June 4. The next day I wrote to you hence. Two days after, I received a letter from Mr. Secretary Thurloe, dated May 22. In it, I am commanded to use my best endeavours to find out the intentions of both sides in the treaty, and whether war or peace will be the issue of it; to which I cannot yet say much more than what I wrote to his honour from Baden, May 29th. Without doubt, Zurich intends to carry all so fairly in their demands and pleading, as that the interposing cantons must needs pronounce somewhat in their favour, and constrain Switz and their adherents to yield in some things. Switz and the rest seem to desire to delay the definitive sentence as much as they can, having little hopes that such a sentence will be much to their advantage; but longing to hear of the ruin of the Swedes, and of a greater forwardness in the emperor, pope, &c., to assist them against their heretical neighbours. In the meantime, the arbitrators are by their oath obliged to endeavour to make a full end of these controversies; yet they are loath to make use of their whole authority, but would be glad to find out a temperament not much distasteful to both sides. And therefore it is thought, they will set their wits on work to find out several ways of accommodation; by which means, some think, the next session will be longer than the former. It is to begin July 2. It is very likely that Zurich will desire the English resident to go thither again to countenance that part; but unless he receive supply from England by that time, he will be strangely put to it to provide so much ready money as will be fit for him to take thither with him, having by two months' experience learned how costly it is to appear at Baden, and to live there in such fashion as the present occasion of that treaty requires. Besides, at that time of the year, great numbers flocking to the hot baths (from whence that town hath its name), will raise the price of lodgings, and of all provisions, much higher than it was in April and May. Mr. Secretary wrote to him February 22nd, that his extraordinary expenses should be considered. But in the interim, it cannot but be a discouragement to a man to be put upon a necessity of borrowing much money of strangers, whilst the court-treasurers owe him five hundred pounds of his ordinary allowance for his use beyond the seas; 1656.] THE AMBASSADOR OF SAVOY. 423 but will not vouchsafe to let him know when any of it shall be paid. A public minister from England cannot with reason expect that it should be easy to borrow money in this country, so long as Sir Oliver Flemming's great debts in Zurich and in Basil remain unpaid. The ambassador of Savoy came to Zurich June 6 of his coming he gave no notice to the English and Venetian residents (there are no other public ministers here), and therefore neither of them took any notice of his being here. The next day, he went hence up the lake, toward the monastery of the hermitage, or (as they call it) Einsidlen, in the canton of Switz. Zurich is yet the most backward in the renewing of the league with France; but it is thought ere long they will be as forward as any of the rest. From Rome they wrote, very lately, that they had apprehended an Englishman, maintained by my Lord Protector. They say, he had about him the draught of Civita Vecchia, exactly described, with the shape of the coast and shore thereabouts. I hope this is but a fable, because I see to what end they might spread such a report. From Bellinzona (an Italian prefecture, subject to some of the cantons), they write that the pestilence is in Civita Vecchia; and that the new Doge of Venice died of a malignant fever (perhaps the pest), having been but nineteen days in that dignity. The Baden recess in Latin, and the Savoy ambassador's speech to the council here, I shall send open to Mr. Morland, that he may read them and send them to you this week. I am, Sir, your humble and faithful servant, MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE. Zurich, June 19.29. SIR,-Having received yours of the 28th of May, I told the chiefest here what you write concerning Colonel Lockhart's recommending them at the court of France, and his readiness to serve their interest there more particularly, when they shall let him know wherein they desire and believe he may be useful to them. They are yet scarce at leisure here to think what particulars to recommend to him. Since their coming home from Baden, they have sent to each of the arbitrators a copy of their demands and reasons. Yesterday, the common council, or greater senate of two hundred, assembled; because, a few days before, they had received letters from the French ambassador at Soloturn to all the protestant cantons; wherein he tells them, that at the last diet 1656.] THE FRENCH LEAGUE. 425 save one, they had by their deputies given him a solemn promise that they would renew the alliance with the king, on conditions of honour and equity. Of such conditions he intended to have treated with their deputies at the last diet at Baden; but some of them said, they had no instructions to that purpose. He therefore prays them, that all those that are sent to the next diet may have sufficient instructions and power to treat with him there, and to conclude the league. They sat long yesterday, and are at it again to-day. I do not yet hear that they have read the draught of the articles, as they were contrived by all the protestant deputies at spare hours of the last diet in Baden. That draught is not unknown to me, though I have desired no copy of it, because in treating, it may suffer great changes in every article. They will have a league for the protestants by themselves, distinct from that league that the French king makes with the popish cantons ; because, by this means, they shall have no occasion to dispute with those papists concerning such articles as they would insert with regard to their religion. As also the article of exception, in which they have named England, &c., the United Netherlands, &c. The former league with Henry the Fourth was for his own life, and his son's, and eight years after; now, they will have it for a certain number of years. In the draught they have named |