1654.]

THE FRENCH IN ITALY.

93

From the same hand, the same day, upon another paper :

The principal galley of Naples is arrived out of Spain; they say that they brought Cardinal de Retz from thence, and landed him at Piombino.

The Marquis of Bajone is also arrived, with three other galleys of the same squadron. He brings news that eighteen great ships are coming out of Spain, so that they hope they shall have forces enough to drive out the French. At this present it is said there are about four thousand horse ready; all the gentry of Naples offer to bring in more. Ammunition is sent hence every way. All the gunners are kept in a readiness to be sent to places that need them. Divers are imprisoned upon suspicion of intelligence with the French. The viceroy has made the Prince of Avellin general of the horse of the whole kingdom of Naples, and has sent him into Spain to get his patent confirmed. Don Vincent Tutta Villa opposes him.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

December 9.

SIR,-The last week, with news from Naples, &c., I sent you a letter from, etc. to H. H. They expected the original of that inclusion which is therein mentioned, but at length resolved to defer their thanks &c. no longer. Of their spirit and inclinations I shall endeavour, ere long, to give you an account, as you wish me in yours of 17th November, which I received at the usual time. Mr. D. tells me, that he intends also to write to you the next week he returned hither but yesterday. I

give you thanks for your news, in lieu whereof be pleased to accept these :

From Naples, November 14-24th.

Upon the 7-17th of this month, near the tower of Annunciata, the Spaniards met with about four hundred Frenchmen, that waded through a river; they killed one hundred and sixty, and took forty prisoners. Among them were fifteen officers of the Duke of Guise; as Cesare de gli Oddi, of Perase, a sergeantmajor, shot through the shoulder with a musket; also the Marquis de Poma, of the house of Gonzaga. There were very few Spaniards killed or taken prisoners. I hear of no prisoner of note but the Prince of Castel-aneta; twenty-seven of the wounded Frenchmen were put into the hospital of Annunciata, the rest were sent to several places. Since which brush the French have attempted nothing, but are shut up in Castel-aMare by the Spaniards.

James Homodei, late governor of Castel-a-Mare, is sent prisoner to the castle of Capua, for not doing his duty as he might.

Here is a new pardon proclaimed for all those that will serve in the war, which many prisoners have accepted, and have their liberty.

Yesterday, in the evening, news came hither that the French admiral was beaten in pieces by a tempest, a little way from Castel-a-Mare. Some say that more of them were at the same time utterly spoiled, and that the Spaniards had taken a small vessel that was going to Rome with letters from the Duke of Guise.

Many say that the Queen France, having received full make a general peace.

From Paris, 20th November. Christina shall shortly come into power from the King of Spain to

The Duke of Gloucester is admitted a student in the Jesuits' College of this town. He has three English Jesuits for his directors.

1654.]

PELL'S NEGOTIATIONS.

95

The common report was, that General Blake had a design to attack the Duke of Guise; but the Cardinal Mazarin says openly that he has the Protector's word that he shall do no such thing.

Sir, your humble servant.

MR. PELL TO SECRETARY THURLOE.

December 16, 1654.

SIR,-I give you many thanks for divers considerable passages in yours of November 24. I communicated all to M. D., according to your command. Together with these you shall receive large letters from him. He intends to write to you again by the next post. He is now busy to dispatch all that shall be thought requisite to be done before we go hence towards Geneva, toward which place he would be going the next week, so that he may be there about the end of December. Before he goes I hope we shall find time not only to consider how to settle a correspondence, &c., but also to confer his sense of my business with my present opinion of it; and then I shall, without delay, give you an account, according to your order in yours of November 17.

As for the false news which your letters take notice of, Cologne ordinarily publishes such, and Constance, whence, this last week, we had in print a confident report that the parliament at West

minster was in hourly expectation to be dissolved. The French news told us of Colonel Shapcot's speech, and that divers other colonels were cashiered, and some imprisoned; and if the treaty break off between England and France, I make no question but the letters and gazettes of Paris, Orleans, and Lyons, will outdo Cologne and Constance for false reports of English news. So that your friends and servants here may have somewhat to do to undeceive and disabuse your well-willers of this country. It is already given out, and believed by some here, that the Protector pretends he cannot go on in the treaty with France, because it would intrench upon the interest of French Protestants; but that the true cause is, the French ambassador's stiffness about place, utterly refusing to let the French King's name stand after the Protector's in either of the instruments of the treaty. Yet, I see, they write from Paris that their King will use all possible means to prevent a complete breach with England, as being unwilling to meet with so great a diversion from his hopeful designs against the Spaniards.

Of their success in Italy reports are various; but from Naples a careful hand writes thus:

On Tuesday night (he means November 14-24) all the bells were rung here, and the streets were full of men and women crying "God save the King of Spain !" Their joy was caused by the news that the French had quitted Castel-a-mare, and were gone to sea, taking with them the body of M. Plessis

1654.] THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER.

97

Bellievre, lieutenant-general of the army, which died at Castela-Mare of his wounds received near the tower of Annuntiata. The Duke of Guise sent his prisoner, the Prince of CastelAneta, to Naples, to treat about exchanging of prisoners, as they used to do in Flanders, but the viceroy would not hear of it; so that the prince returned, and yielded himself prisoner again to the duke.

From Paris they write thus:

The Duke of Florence hath held council of war several times, because he hears that General Blake is coming thither with his fleet. The Tuscans are resolved to defend their country stoutly.

A letter from the pope hath been presented by his nuncio to our king, signifying the arrival of Cardinal de Retz, demanding information of his crimes,-promising to do justice, but utterly refusing to submit him to any other judges than the consistory of cardinals. The nuncio presseth him for an answer, but hath none yet. The nuncio promised the Duke of Gloucester, and the Queen his mother, that, in very short time after his entrance into the Jesuits' college, he should have great ecclesiastical benefices; amongst the rest, he named the bishoprick of Metz; but Ormond hath him thence, and marred the Jesuits' whole design.

SECRETARY THURLOE TO MR. PELL.

SIR, I have received yours of the 2nd of December, with that inclosed to his highness. I have not much to trouble you with by this, things remaining much in the same condition as by my last,