fifteen; but it is likely that will be changed, as also many other circumstances of all the rest. And therefore I will not trouble you with any more of it, but will here take my leave, and rest,

Sir, your humble and faithful servant.

MR. PELL TO COLONEL LOCKHART.

Zurich, June 19.29. RIGHT HONOURABLE.-In Mr. Secretary Thurloe's letters of April 17th, I was commanded to correspond weekly with you, and to let you know the true state of affairs here, because, as anything doth offer itself, you would endeavour to dispose the court of France to favour these protestant cantons. In my answer to that letter, I told Mr. Secretary that I knew not your title and the manner of superscribing, &c. His reply came to my hands June 14. In it he gives me no other direction for a superscription than that which for this first time I have used, which may serve as long as my letters come to you under a covert from Mr. Morland; but if I must make use of other hands to send my letters to you without covert, I must also superscribe otherwise. In these last letters, Mr. Secretary adds, that you have, in very serious terms, recommended to the court the condition of the protestant cantons, &c., and had received a friendly answer, &c.

1656.]

AFFAIRS OF SWITZERLAND.

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This I have signified to the chiefest here; and have told them, that after this general recommendation, if they desired to make a more particular use of England's good-will towards them, they might by me, or without me, let Monsieur Lockhart know what they desired and believed might by his means be there obtained for them. I do not perceive that they are agreed in anything as yet to be desired in the French court by that way; and therefore I am not yet constrained to send you a hasty description of the state of their affairs.

Their deputies are to return to Baden, July 2nd, old style, for the finishing of the pacification, by composing their late controversies with some of the popish cantons. A few days ago, they received a letter from M. de la Barde (ambassador for France in these countries), in which he prays all the protestant cantons to give their deputies for Baden sufficient instructions and power to treat with him concerning the renewing of their league with the King of France, and to conclude it; for there he intends to meet them. This gave occasion to the senate of two hundred to assemble yesterday and to-day. I think they will not proceed to any final resolutions to that purpose without making them known to your honour's most humble and faithful servant,

JOHN PELL.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

19th June, 1656.

SIR,-The answer which you signified by yours of the 29th of May, to have given to the deputies of Zurich concerning the lending of the money promised them for the war, is very just and true. Our want of money to support our own engagements is more than theirs can be, and our cause wholly relates to the protestant interest, which in all probability will stand or fall (I mean for the And present) as the issue of this war will be. although their matters are not yet settled, but that there is some danger of a new irruption, yet it is much more probable that they will agree than differ; if the dispositions of both had not been to a peace, matters would not have been brought to the state they are now in.

The last news which we had from the fleet was by a ship which came from them the 14th of May, which assures us, they were in good condition, part of them before Cadiz, and part of them in the bay of Tangier, taking in fresh water.* The same ship

*The despatch of General Montagu, dated May 29th, is printed in the Thurloe papers. Two projects had been consulted upon the attacking the fleet in the harbour of Cadiz, and an assault upon Gibraltar, but both had been given up as impracticable; the latter (which seems to have been a favourite idea of Cromwell), because they wanted land troops. When these plans had been given up, Montagu went with a part of the fleet to Tangier, to take in water, &c.

1656.]

THE PEACE WITH PORTUGAL.

429

brings a report, that the peace between this state and Portugal was ratified by that king, but we having no letter thereof, do not give credit thereunto. There is no other news here but what the print contains.

I rest, your affectionate friend to serve you,

Jo. THURLOE.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

Zurich, June 26th, old style.

SIR,-In my last week's letter, I told you that the French ambassador's letter to the protestant cantons had given occasion to the greater senate of Zurich to meet two days together. After my letter was sent to the post, I heard that, in the senate house, they had read the Baden draught of the articles mentioned in my last; and that the senators had expressed their different opinions with so much violence, that they were ready to draw their swords upon one another, (for none of them ever goes out of doors without a sword.) It was thought that those that were for the renewing of the league were more than those that were against it; but in the end of the second day, when it was put to the question, they found a greater number of voices for the laying the league aside till they had finished that other business at Baden concern

ing the composing their late controversies with Switz, &c. The next morning, they here received a letter from the senate of Berne, pressing them to hasten the renewing of the league with France, according to the ambassador's desire, whereupon the foresaid vote was revoked; and, after much contest, they agreed to scan all the articles one by one. The fourth day began with no less heat than the former, so that they grew weary of that way. They therefore agreed to refer that business to a committee of sixteen senators; twelve chosen out of the upper fifty, and four out of the remaining hundred and fifty.* Those sixteen were named before their two deputies went hence towards Baden, June 23. They desired to carry with them complete instructions and sufficient power to treat at Baden with the ambassador, and to conclude the league. the senate is not here so forward, nor, indeed, was such haste necessary; for the French ambassador will not be there before July 2nd, which is the day appointed for the beginning of the new session of the arbitrators, &c. In the meantime, the deputies of the cantons are to despatch the ordinary affairs, (of accounts, &c., which use to be audited yearly at Midsummer,) that so they may be at leisure to resume that more troublesome business of pacification, &c.

But

* The two classes, constituting the council of two hundred.