me there is nothing wherein I should desire more willingly to be overcome then in Good will and Charity toward Brethren of the same Religion afflicted and wrong'd in their quiet Enjoyments as being one that would be accounted always ready to prefer the Peace and Safety of the Churches before my particular Interests So far therefore as hitherto lay in our power we have Written to the Duke of Savoy even almost to Supplication beseeching him that he would admit into his breast more placid thoughts and kinder effects of his Favour toward his most Innocent Subjects and Suppliants that he would restore the Miserable to their Habitations and Estates and grant 'em their pristin freedom in the Exercise of their Religion Moreover we Wrote to the chiefest Princes and Magistrates of the Protestants whom we thought most nearly concern'd in these matters that they would lend us their Assistance to intreat and pacifie the Duke of Savoy in their behalf And we make no doubt now but you have done the same and perhaps much more For this so dangerous a president and lately renew'd severity of utmost Cruelty toward the Reformed if the Authors of it meet with prosperous Success to what apparent dangers it reduces our Religion we need not admonish your Prudence On the other side if the Duke shall once but permit himself to be atton'd and won by our united Applications not onely our Afflicted Brethren but we our selves shall reap the noble and abounding Harvest and Reward of this laborious Undertaking But if he still persist in the same obstinate Resolutions of reducing to utmost extremity those People among whom our Religion was either disseminated by the first Doctors of the Gospel and preserv'd from the defilement of Superstition or else restor'd to its Pristin sincerity long before other Nations obtain'd that felicity and determins their utter extirpation and destruction we are ready to take such other Course and Counsels with your selves in common with the rest of our Reformed Friends and Confederates as may be most necessary for the preservation of Just and Good men upon the brink of inevitable Ruin and to make the Duke himself sensible that we can no longer neglect the heavy Oppressions and Calamities of our Orthodox Brethren Farewel To the Evangelick Cities of Switzerland WE make no question but the late Calamity of the Piemontois Professing our Religion reached your Ears before the unwelcome News of it arriv'd with us Who being a People under the Protection and Jurisdiction of the Duke of Savoy and by a severe Edict of their Prince Commanded to depart their Native Habitations unless within Three days they gave security to embrace the Roman Religion soon after were assail'd by Armed Violence that turn'd their Dwellings into Slaughter-houses while others without Number were terrifi'd into Banishment where now Naked and Afflicted without House or Home or any Covering from the Weather and ready to perish through Hunger and Cold they miserably wander thorough desert Mountains and depths of Snow together with their Wives and Children And far less reason have we to doubt but that so soon as they came to your knowledge you laid these things to heart with a Compassion no less sensible of their multipli'd Miseries then our selves the more deeply imprinted perhaps in your minds as being next Neighbours to the sufferers Besides that we have abundant proof of your singular Love and Affection for the Orthodox Faith of your constancy in retaining it and your Fortitude in defending it Seeing then by the most strict Communion of Religion that you together with our selves are all Brethren alike or rather one body with those unfortunate People of which no member can be Afflicted without the feeling without pain without the detriment and hazard of the rest we thought it convenient to Write to your Lordships concerning this matter and let you understand how much we believe it to be the general Interest of us all as much as in us lies with our common Aid and Succour to relieve our extirminated and indigent Brethren and not only to take care for removing their Miseries and Afflictions but also to provide that the mischief spread no farther nor incroach upon our selves in general encourag'd by Example and Success We have Written Letters to the Duke of Savoy wherein we have most earnestly besought him out of his wonted Clemency to deal more gently and mildly with his most faithful Subjects and to restore 'em almost Ruin'd as they are to their Goods and Habitations And we are in hopes that by these our Intreaties or rather by the united Intercessions of us all the most Serene Prince at length will be atton'd and grant what we have requested with so much Importunity But if his mind be obstinately bent to other determinations we are ready to communicate our Consultations with yours by what most prevalent means to relieve and re-establish most Innocent men and our most dearly beloved Brethren in Christ tormented and overlaid with so many Wrongs and Oppressions and preserve 'em from inevitable and undeserved Ruin Of whose welfare and Safety as I am assur'd that you according to your wonted Piety are most cordially tender so for our own parts we cannot but in our opinion prefer their preservation before our most important Interests even the safeguard of our own life Farewel Westminster May 19. 1655. O. P. Superscrib'd To the most Illustrious and Potent Lords the Consuls and Senators of the Protestant Cantons and Confederate Cities of Switzerland Greeting To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent King BY your Majesty's Letters which you Wrote in answer to ours of the 25th of May we readily understand that we fail'd not in our Judgement that the inhuman Slaughter and barbarous Massacres of those men who profess the Reformed Religion in Savoy perpetrated by some of your Regiments were the Effects neither of your Orders nor Commands And it afforded us a singular occasion of Joy to hear that your Majesty had so timely signifi'd to your Collonels and Officers whose violent precipitancy engag'd 'em in those inhuman Butcheries without the encouragement of Lawful Allowance how displeasing they were to your Majesty that you had admonish'd the Duke himself to forbear such Acts of Cruelty and that you had interpos'd with so much Fidelity and Humanity all the high Veneration paid you in that Court your near Alliance and Authority for restoring to their ancient Abodes those unfortunate Exiles And it was our hopes That that Prince would in some measure have condescended to the good Pleasure and Intercessions of your Majesty But finding not any thing obtain'd either by your own nor the Intreaties and Importunities of other Princes in the Cause of the Distressed we deem'd it not foreign from our duty to send this noble Person under the Character of our extraordinary Envoy to the Duke of Savoy more amply and fully to lay before him how deeply sensible we are of
in Flanders but now he resides at Paris or rather flutters unpunish'd about the City and at Court enrich'd with the Spoils of our Merchants Once more therefore We make it our Request to your Majesty which it is your Majesty's Interest in the first place to take care of That no person whatever may dare to justify the wrongs done to your Majesty's Confederates by the contempt of your Royal Edicts Nor can this Cause be properly referr'd to the Commissioners appointed for deciding Common Controversies on both sides since in this Case not only the Rights of Confederates but your Authority it self and the Veneration due to the Royal Name are chiefly in dispute And it would be a wonder that Merchants should be more troubled for their Losses then your Majesty provok'd at Incroachments upon your Honour Which while you disdain to brook with the same labour you will demonstrate that you neither repent of your Friendly Edicts in favour of our Republick nor conniv'd at the Injuries done by your Subjects nor neglected to give due respect to our demands From our Court at Westminster Novemb. 1656. Your Majesty's most bounden by Good-will by Friendship and Solemn League Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Frederic III. King of Danemark Norway the Vandals and Goths Duke of Sleswich Holsatia Stormatia and Dithmarsh Count in Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst c. Most Serene and Potent King our dearest Friend and Confederate WE receiv'd your Majesty's Letters dated the 16th of February from Copenhagen by the most worthy Simon de Pitkum your Majesty's Agent here residing Which when we had perus'd the Demonstrations of your Majesty's Good-will towards us and the Importance of the Matter concerning which you write affected us to that degree that we design'd forthwith to send to your Majesty some person who being furnish'd with ample Instructions from us might more at large declare to your Majesty our Counsels in that Affair And tho we have still the same Resolutions yet hitherto we have not been at leisure to think of a Person proper to be entrusted with those Commands which the weight of the matter requires tho in a short time we hope to be more at liberty In the mean while we thought it not convenient any longer to delay the letting your Majesty understand that the present Condition of Affairs in Europe has employ'd the greatest part of our Care and Thoughts while for some years to our great grief we have beheld the Protestant Princes and Supream Magistrates of the Reformed Republicks whom it rather behoves as being engag'd by the common Tye of Religion and Safety to combine and study all the ways imaginable conducing to mutual defence more and more at weakning variance among themselves and jealous of each other's Actions and Designs putting their Friends in fear their Enemies in hope that the Posture of Affairs bodes rather Enmity and Discord then a firm agreement of mind to defend and assist each other And this sollicitude has fix'd it self so much the deeper in our thoughts in regard there seems to appear some sparkles of jealousy between your Majesty and the King of Sweden at least that there is not that conjunction of Affections which our Love and Good-will in general toward the Orthodox Religion so importunately requires your Majesty perhaps suspecting that the Trade of your Dominions will be prejudic'd by the King of Sweden and on the other side the King of Sweden being jealous that by your means the War which he now wages is made more difficult and that you oppose him in his contracting those Alliances which he seeks 'T is not unknown to your Majesty so eminent for your profound Wisdom how great the Danger is that threatens the Protestant Religion should such Suspicions long continue between two such Potent Monarchs more especially which God avert if any symptom of Hostility should break forth However it be for our parts as we have earnestly exhorted the King of Sweden and the States of the Vnited Provinces to Peace and moderate Counsels and are beyond expression glad to behold Peace and Concord renew'd between them for that the Heads of that League are transmitted to us by their Lordships the States-General so we thought it our duty and chiefly becoming our Friendship not to conceal from your Majesty what our Sentiments are concerning these matters more especially being so affectionately invited so to do by your Majesty's most Friendly Letters which we look upon and embrace as a most singular Testimony of your Good-will toward us but to lay before your eyes how great a necessity Divine Providence has impos'd upon us all that profess the Protestant Religion to study Peace among our selves and that chiefly at this time when our most embittered Enemies seem to have on every side conspir'd our destruction There 's no necessity of calling to remembrance the Valleys of Piemont still besmear'd with the Blood and Slaughter of the miserable Inhabitants nor Austria tormented at the same time with the Emperor's Decrees and Proscriptions nor the impetuous Onsets of the Popish upon the Protestant Switzers Who can be ignorant that the Artifices and Machinations of the Spaniards for some years last past have fill'd all these places with the confus'd and blended havock of Fire and Sword To which unfortunate Pile of Miseries if once the Reformed Brethren should come to add their own Dissentions among themselves and more especially two such Potent Monarchs the chiefest part of our strength and among whom so large a Provision of the Protestants Security and Puissance lies stor'd and hoarded up against Times of Danger most certainly the Interests of the Protestants must go to ruine and suffer a total and irrecoverable Eclipse On the other side If Peace continue firmly fix'd between two such powerful Neighbours and the rest of the Orthodox Princes if we would but make it our main study to abide in Brotherly Concord there would be no cause by God's assistance to fear neither the force nor subtilty of our Enemies all whose Endeavours and laborious Toils our Union alone would be able to dissipate and frustrate Nor do we question but that your Majesty as you are freely willing so your willingness will be constant in contributing your utmost Assistance to procure this blessed Peace To which purpose we shall be most ready to communicate and join our Counsels with your Majesty professing a real and cordial Friendship and not only determin'd inviolably to observe the Amity so auspiciously contracted between us but as God shall enable us to bind our present Alliance with a more strict and Fraternal Bond. In the mean time the same Eternal God grant all things prosperous and successful to your Majesty From our Caurt at White-Hall Decem. 1656. Your Majesties most closely united by Friendship Alliance and Good-will Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector
the most Illustrious Prince of Tarentum YOUR Love of Religion apparently made known in your Letters to us deliver'd and your excelling Piety and singular Affection to the Reformed Churches more especially considering the Nobility and Splendor of your Character and in a Kingdom too wherein there are so many and such abounding hopes propos'd to all of Eminent Quality that revolt from the Orthodox Faith so many Miseries to be undergone by the Resolute and constant gave us an occasion of great joy and consolation of Mind Nor was it less grateful to us that we had gain'd your good Opinion upon the same account of Religion which ought to render your Highness most chiefly belov'd and dear to our selves We call God to Witness That whatever hopes or expectations the Churches according to your Relation had of us we may be able one day to give them satisfaction if need require or at least to demonstrate to all men how much it is our desire never to fail 'em Nor should we think any fruit of our Labours or of this Dignity or Supream Employment which we hold in our Republick greater then that we might be in a condition to be serviceable to the enlargement or the welfare or which is more sacred to the Peace of the Reformed Church In the mean time we exhort and beseech your Lordship to remain stedfast to the last minute in the Orthodox Religion with the same resolution and constancy as you profess it receiv'd from your Ancestors with Piety and Zeal Nor indeed can there be any thing more worthy your self or your Religious Parents nor in consideration of what you have deserv'd of us though we wish all things for your own sake that we can wish more Noble or Advantagious to your Lordship then that you would take such Methods and apply your self to such Studies that the Churches especially of your Native Countrey under the Discipline of which your Birth and Genius have render'd you Illustriously Happy may be sensible of so much the more assur'd security in your Protection by how much you excel others in Lustre and Ability White-Hall April 1654. Oliver the Protector c. To the most Serene Prince Immanuel Duke of Savoy Prince of Piemont Greeting Most Serene Prince LEtters have bin sent us from Geneva as also from the Dauphinate and many other Places bordering upon your Territories wherein we are given to understand That such of your Royal Highness's Subjects as profess the Reformed Religion are Commanded by your Edict and by your Authority within three days after the Promulgation of your Edict to depart their Native Seats and Habitations upon pain of capital Punishment and Forfeiture of all their Fortunes and Estates unless they will give security to relinquish their Religion within Twenty days and embrace the Roman Catholick Faith And that when they appli'd themselves to your Royal Highness in a most Suppliant manner imploring a Revocation of the said Edict and that being receiv'd into pristin favour they might be restor'd to the Liberty granted 'em by your Predecessors a part of your Army fell upon 'em most cruelly Slew several put others in Chains and compell'd the rest to Flye into Desert places and to the Mountains cover'd with snow where some Hundreds of Families are reduc'd to such Distress that 't is greatly to be fear'd they will in a short time all miserably Perish through Cold and Hunger These things when they were related to us we could not chuse but be touch'd with extream Grief and Conpassion for the Sufferings and Calamities of this Afflicted People Now in regard we must acknowledge our selves link'd together not onely by the same tye of Humanity but by joynt Communion of the same Religion we thought it impossible for us to satisfie our Duty to God to Brotherly Charity or our Profession of the same Religion if we should onely be affected with a bare sorrow for the Misery and Calamity of our Brethren and not contribute all our endeavours to Relieve and Succour 'em in their unexpected Adversity as much as in us lies Therefore in a greater measure we most earnestly Beseech and Conjure your Royal Highness that you would call back to your thoughts the moderation of your most Serene Predecessors and the Liberty by them Granted and Confirm'd from time to time to their Subjects the Vaudois In Granting and Confirming which as they did that which without all question was most grateful to God who has bin pleas'd to reserve the Jurisdiction and Power over the Conscience to himself alone so there is no doubt but that they had a due consideration of their Subjects also whom they found Stout and most Faithful in War and always Obedient in Peace And as your Royal Serenity in other things most laudably follows the footsteps of your Immortal Ancestors so we again and again beseech your Royal Highness not to swerve from the path wherein they trod in this particular but that you would vouchsafe to Abrogate both this Edict and whatsoever else may be Decreed to the Disturbance of your Subjects upon the account of the Reform'd Religion that you would ratifie to 'em their conceded Privileges and pristin Liberty and command their Losses to be repair'd and that an end be put to their Oppressions Which if your Royal Highness shall be pleas'd to see perform'd you will do a thing most acceptable to God revive and comfort the miserable in dire Calamity and most highly oblige all your Neighbours that Profess the Reformed Religion but more especially our selves who shall be bound to look upon your Clemency and Benignity toward your Subjects as the fruit of our earnest Solicitation Which will both engage us to a reciprocal return of all good Offices and lay the solid foundations not only of establishing but encreasing Alliance and Friendship between this Republick and your Dominions Nor do we less promise this to our selves from your Justice and Moderation to which we Beseech Almighty God to encline your Mind and Thoughts And so we cordially Implore Just Heaven to bestow upon your Highness and your People the Blessings of Peace and Truth and prosperous Success in all your Affairs White-Hall May 1655. Oliver Protector of the Republick of England to the most Serene Prince of Transilvania Greeting Most Serene Prince BY your Letters of the 16th of Nov. 1654. you have made us sensible of your singular good-will and affection toward us and your Envoy who deliver'd those Letters to us more amply declar'd your desire of contracting Alliance and Friendship with us Certainly for our parts we do not a little rejoyce at this Opportunity offer'd us to declare and make manifest our Affection to your Highness and how great a value we justly set upon your Person But after Fame had reported to us your egregious Merits and Labours undertaken in behalf of the Christian Republick when you were pleas'd that all these things and what you have farther in your thoughts to do in the defence and
for promoting the Christian Interest should be in Friendly manner imparted to us by Letters from your self this afforded us a more plentiful occasion of Joy and Satisfaction to hear that God in those remoter Regions had rais'd up to himself so Potent and Renowned a Minister of his Glory and Providence And that this great Minister of Heaven so fam'd for his Courage and Success should be desirous to associate with us in the common Defence of the Protestant Religion at this time wickedly assail'd by Words and Deeds Nor is it to be question'd but that God who has infus'd into us both though separated by such a spacious interval of many Climates the same desires and thoughts of defending the Orthodox Religion will be our Instructor and Author of the ways and means whereby we may be assistant and useful to our selves and the rest of the Reformed Cities provided we watch all opportunities that God shall put into our hands and be not wanting to lay hold of ' em In the mean time we cannot without an extream and penetrating sorrow forbear putting your Highness in mind how unmercifully the Duke of Savoy has Persecuted his own Subjects Professing the Orthodox Faith in certain Valleys at the feet of the Alps. Whom he has not only constrain'd by a most severe Edict as many as refuse to embrace the Catholick Religion to forsake their Native Habitations Goods and Estates but has fall'n upon 'em with his Army put several most Cruelly to the Sword others more Barbarously Tormented to Death and driven the greatest number to the Mountains there to be consum'd with Cold and Hunger exposing their Houses to the Fury and their Goods to the Plunder of his Executioners These things as they have already bin related to your Highness so we readily assure our selves that so much cruelty cannot but be grievously displeasing to your ears and that you will not be wanting to afford your Aid and Succour to those miserable Wretches if there be any that survive so many Slaughters and Calamities For our parts we have Written to the Duke of Savoy beseeching him to remove his insenc'd Anger from his Subjects as also to the King of France that he would vouchsafe to do the same and lastly to the Princes of the Reformed Religion to the end they might understand our sentiments concerning so fell and savage a piece of Cruelty Which though first begun upon those poor and helpless People however threatens all that Profess the same Religion and therefore imposes upon all a greater necessity of providing for themselves in general and consulting the common Safety which is the course that we shall always follow as God shall be pleas'd to direct us Of which your Highness may be assur'd as also of our sincerity and affection to your Serenity whereby we are engag'd to wish all prosperous success to your Affairs and a happy issue of all your Enterprizes and Endeavours in asserting the Liberty of the Gospel and the Worshippers of it White-Hall May 1655. Oliver Protector to the most Serene Prince Charles Gustavus Adolphus King of the Swedes Greeting WE make no question but that the same of that most rigid Edict has reach'd your Dominions whereby the Duke of Savoy has totally Ruin'd his Protestant Subjects Inhabiting the Alpine Valleys and commanded 'em to be extirminated from their Native Seats and Habitations unless they will give security to renounce their Religion receiv'd from their Forefathers in exchange for the Roman Catholick Superstition and that within Twenty days at farthest so that many being kill'd the rest Strip to their Skins and expos'd to most certain destruction are now forc'd to wander over desert Mountains and through perpetual Winter together with their Wives and Children half dead with Cold and Hunger and that your Majesty has laid it to heart with a Pious sorrow and compassionate consideration we as little doubt For that the Protestant Name and Cause although they differ among themselves in some things of little Consequence is nevertheless the same in general and united in one common Interest the hatred of our Adversaries alike insenc'd against Protestants very easily demonstrates Now there is no body can be ignorant that the Kings of the Swedes have always joyn'd with the Reformed carrying their Victorious Arms into Germany in Defence of the Protestants without distinction Therefore we make it our chief request and that in a more especial manner to your Majesty that you would solicit the Duke of Savoy by Letters and by interposing your intermediating Authority endeavour to avert the horrid Cruelty of this Edict if possible from People no less Innocent then Religious For we think it superfluous to admonish your Majesty whither these rigorous begininnings tend and what they threaten to all the Protestants in general But if he rather chuse to listen to his Anger then to our joynt Intreaties and Intercessions if there be any Tye any Charity or Communion of Religion to be Believ'd and Worshipp'd upon Consultations duly first communicated to your Majesty and the chief of the Protestant Princes some other course is to be speedily taken that such a numerous multitude of our Innocent Brethren may not miserably Perish for want of Succour and Assistance Which in regard we make no question but that it is your Majesties Opinion and Determination there can be nothing in our opinion more prudently resolv'd then to joyn our Reputation Authority Councels Forces and whatever else is needful with all the speed that may be in pursuance of so Pious a design In the mean time we beseech Almighty God to Bless your Majesty Oliver Protector c. to the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces WE make no question but that you have already bin inform'd of the Duke of Savoy's Edict set forth against his Subjects Inhabiting the Valleys at the feet of the Alps Ancient Professors of the Orthodox Faith by which Edict they are commanded to abandon their Native Habitations stript of all their fortunes unless within Twenty days they embrace the Roman Faith and with what Cruelty the Authority of this Edict has rag'd against a needy and harmless People many being slain by the Soldiers the rest Plunder'd and driven from their Houses together with their Wives and Children to combat Cold and Hunger among desert Mountains and perpetual Snow These things with what commotion of Mind you heard related what a fellow-feeling of the Calamities of Brethren pierc'd your breasts we readily conjecture from the depth of our own Sorrow which certainly is most Heavy and Afflictive For being engag'd together by the same tye of Religion no wonder we should be so deeply mov'd with the same Affections upon the dreadful and undeserved Sufferings of our Brethren Besides that your conspicuous Piety and Charity toward the Orthodox where-ever overborn and oppress'd has bin frequently experienc'd in the most urging streights and calamities of the Churches For my own part unless my thoughts deceive
such exasperated Cruelties inflicted upon the Professors of the same Religion with our selves and all this too out of a hatred of the same Worship And we have reason to hope a success of this Negotiation so much the more prosperous if your Majesty would vouchsafe to employ your Authority and Assistance once again with so much the more urgent importunity and as you have undertaken for those Indigent People that they will be Faithful and Obedient to their Prince so you would be gratiously pleas'd to take care of their Welfare and Safety that no farther Oppressions of this nature no more such dismal Calamities may be the portion of the Innocent and Peaceful This being truly Royal and Just in it self and highly agreeable to your Benignity and Clemency which every where protects in soft security so many of your Subjects professing the same Religion we cannot but expect as it behoves us from your Majesty Which Act of yours as it will more closely bind to your Subjection all the Protestants throughout your spacious Dominions whose Affection and Fidelity to your Predecessors and your self in most important Distresses have bin often conspicuously made known so will it fully convince all Foreign Princes that the Advice or Intention of your Majesty were no way contributory to this prodigious Violence whatever inflam'd your Ministers and Officers to promote it More especially if your Majesty shall inflict deserved punishment upon those Captains and Ministers who of their own Authority and to gratifie their own Wills adventur'd the perpetrating such dreadful Acts of Inhumanity In the mean while since your Majesty has assur'd us of your justly merited aversion to these most inhuman and cruel Proceedings we doubt not but you will assord a secure Sanctuary and Shelter within your Kingdom to all those miserable Exiles that shall flye to your Majesty for Protection and that you will not give permission to any of your Subjects to assist the Duke of Savoy to their prejudice It remains that we make known to your Majesty how highly we esteem and value your Friendship In testimony of which we farther affirm there shall never be wanting upon all occasions the real assurances and effects of our Protestation White-Hall July 29. 1655. Your Majesty's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarine Most Eminent Lord Cardinal HAving deem'd it necessary to send this Noble Person to the King with Letters a Copy of which is here enclos'd we gave him also farther in Charge to Salute your Excellency in our Name as having entrusted to his Fidelity certain other matters to be communicated to your Eminency In reference to which Affairs I intreat your Eminency to give him entire Credit as being a Person in whom I have repos'd a more then ordinary confidence White-Hall July 29. 1655. Your Eminencies most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England to the most Serene Prince Frederick III. King of Danemark Norway c. WITH what a severe and unmerciful Edict Immanuel Duke of Savoy has expell'd from their Native Seats his Subjects inhabiting the Valleys of Piemont men otherwise harmless onely for many years remarkably famous for embracing the Purity of Religion and after a dreadful Slaughter of some numbers how he has expos'd the rest to the hardships of those desert Mountains Stript to their Skins and barr'd from all relief we believe your Majesty has long since heard and doubt not but that your Majesty is touch'd with a real commiseration of their Sufferings as becomes so puissant a Defender and Prince of the Reformed Faith For indeed the Institutions of Christian Religion require that whatever Mischiefs and Miseries any part of us undergo it should behove us all to be deeply sensible of the same Nor does any man better then your Majesty foresee if we may be thought able to give a right conjecture of your Piety and Prudence what dangers the success and example of this fact portend to our selves in particular and to the whole Protestant name in general We have written the more willingly to your self to the end we might assure your Majesty that the same sorrow which we hope you have conceiv'd for the Calamity of our most Innocent Brethren the same opinion the same judgment you have of the whole matter is plainly and sincerely our own We have therefore sent our Letters to the Duke of Savoy wherein we have most importunately besought him to spare those miserable People that implore his mercy and that he would no longer suffer that dreadful Edict to be in force Which if your Majesty and the rest of the Reformed Princes would vouchsafe to do as we are apt to belive they have already done there is some hope that the Anger of the most Serene Duke may be asswag'd and that his Indignation will relent upon the Intercession and Importunities of his Neighbour Princes Or if he persist in his Determinations we protest our selves ready together with your Majesty and the rest of our Confederates of the Reformed Religion to take such speedy methods as may enable us as far in us lies to relieve the distresses of so many miserable Creatures and provide for their Liberty and Safety In the mean time we beseech Almighty God to bless your Majesty with all Prosperity White Hall May 1655. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. to the most Noble the Consuls and Senators of the City of Geneva WE had before made known to your Lordships our excessive Sorrow for the heavy and unheard of Calamities of the Protestants Inhabiting the Valleys of Piemont whom the Duke of Savoy Persecutes with so much Cruelty but that we made it our business that you should at the same time understand that we are not onely affected with the multitude of their sufferings but are using the utmost of our endeavours to Relieve and Comfort 'em in their distresses To that purpose we have taken care for a gathering of Alms to be made throughout this whole Republick which upon good grounds we expect will be such as will demonstrate the affection of this Nation toward their Brethren labouring under the burthen of such horrid Inhumanities and that as the Communion of Religion is the same between both People so the sence of their Calamities is no less the same In the mean time while the Collections of the Money go forward which in regard they will require some time to accomplish and for that the Wants and Necessities of those deplorable People will admit of no delay we thought it requifite to remit beforehand Two thousand Pounds of the Value of England with all possible speed to be distributed among such as shall be judg'd to be most in present need of Comfort and Succour Now in regard we are not ignorant how deeply the miseries and wrongs of those most innocent people have affected your selves and that you will not
to sollicit your Lordships to forsake your Ancient and most Faithful Friends the English French and Danes and enter into a strict Confederacy with your old Enemy and once your domineering Tyrant now seemingly atton'd but what is most to be fear'd only at present treacherously fawning to advance his own Designs Certainly he who of an inveterate Enemy lays hold of so slight an occasion of a sudden to become your Counsellor what is it that he would not take upon him where would his Insolency stop if once he could but see with his eyes what now he onely ruminates and labours in his thoughts that is to say Division and a Civil War among the Protestants We are not ignorant that your Lordships out of your deep Wisdom frequently revolve in your Minds what the posture of all Europe is and what more especially the condition of the Protestants That the Cantons of Switzerland adhering to the Orthodox Faith are in daily expectation of new Troubles to be rais'd by their Countrey-men embracing the Popish Ceremonies scarcely recover'd from that War which for the sake of Religion was kindled and blown up by the Spaniards who suppli'd their Enemies both with Commanders and Money That the Councils of the Spaniards are still contriving to continue the slaughter and destruction of the Piemontois which was cruelly put in execution the last year That the Protestants under the Jurisdiction of the Emperor are most grievously harass'd having much ado to keep Possession of their Native Homes That the King of Sweden whom God as we hope has rais'd up to be a most stout Defender of the Orthodox Faith is at present waging with all the Force of his Kingdom a doubtful and bloody War with the most Potent Enemies of the Reformed Religion That your own Provinces are threatened with Hostile Confederacies of the Princes your Neighbours Headed by the Spaniards and lastly that we our selves are busied in a War proclaim'd against the King of Spain In this posture of Affairs if any Contest should happen between your Lordships and the King of Sweden How miserable would be the condition of all the Reformed Churches over all Europe expos'd to the Cruelty and Fury of unsanctifi'd Enemies These cares not slightly seize us and we hope your Sentiments to be the same and that out of your continu'd Zeal for the common Cause of the Protestants and to the end the present Peace between Brethren professing the same Faith the same Hope of Eternity may be preserv'd inviolable your Lordships will accommodate your Counsels to these Considerations which are to be preferr'd before all others and that you will leave nothing neglected that may conduce to the establishing Tranquility and Union between your Lordships and the King of Sweden Wherein if we can any way be useful as far as our Authority and the Favour you bear us will sway with your Lordships we freely offer our utmost Assistance prepared in like manner to be no less serviceable to the King of Sweden to whom we design a speedy Embassie to the end we may declare our Sentiments at large concerning these matterso We hope moreover that God will bend your Minds on both sides to moderate Counsels and so restrain your Animosities that no provocation may be given either by the one or the other to fester your differences to extremity But that on the other side both parties will remove whatever may give offence or occasion of jealousie to the other Which if you shall vouchsafe to do you will disappoint your Enemies prove the consolation of your Friends and in the best manner provide for the welfare of your Republick And this we beseech you to be fully convinc'd of that we shall use our utmost care to make appear upon all occasions our extraordinary Affection and Good-will to the States of the Vnited Provinces And so we most earnestly implore the Almighty God to perpetuate his Blessings of Peace Wealth and Liberty upon your Republick but above all things to preserve it always flourishing in the Love of the Christian Faith and the true Worship of his Name From our Palace at Westminster Aug. 1656. Your High and Mightinesses most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England to the most Serene Prince John King of Portugal Most Serene Prince UPON the 11th of July last Old-stile we receiv'd by Thomas Maynard the Ratification of the Peace Negotiated at London by your Extraordinary Embassador as also of the private and preliminary Articles all now confirm'd by your Majesty And by our Letters from Philip Medows our Agent at Lisbon dated the same time we understand that our Ratification also of the same Peace and Articles was by him according to our Orders sent him deliver'd to your Majesty And thus the Instruments of the foremention'd Ratification being mutually interchang'd on both sides in the begining of June last there is now a firm and settl'd Peace between both Nations And this pacification has given us no small occasion of joy and satisfaction as believing it will prove to the common benefit of both Nations and to the no slight detriment of our common Enemies who as they found out a means to disturb the former League so they left nothing neglected to have hinder'd the renewing of this Nor do we question in the least that they will omit any occasion of creating new matter for scandals and jealousies between us Which we however have constantly determin'd as much as in us lies to remove at a remote distance from our thoughts rather we so earnestly desire that this our Alliance may beget a mutual confidence greater every day then other that we shall take them for our Enemies who shall by any artifices endeavour to molest the Friendship by this Peace establish'd between our selves and both our People And we readily perswade our selves that your Majesty's thoughts and intentions are the same And whereas it has pleas'd your Majesty by your Letters dated the 24th of June and some days after the delivery by our Agent of the interchang'd Instrument of confirm'd Peace to mention certain clauses of the League of which you desir'd some little Alteration being of small moment to this Republick as your Majesty believes but of great importance to the Kingdom of Portugal we shall be ready to enter into a particular Treaty in order to those Proposals made by your Majesty or whatever else may conduce in the judgment of both Parties to the farther establishment and more strongly fastning of the League wherein we shall have those due considerations of your Majesty and your Subjects as also of our own People that all may be satisfi'd and it shall be in your choice whether these things shall be Negotiated at Lisbon or at London However the League being now Confirm'd and duly Seal'd with the Seals of both Nations to alter any part of it would be the same thing as to annul the whole which we
c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Lewis King of France Most Serene and Potent Prince our most August Confederate and Friend BY so speedily repaying our profound Respect to your Majesty with an Accumulation of Honour by such an Illustrious Embassy to our Court you have not onely made known to us but to all the People of England your singular Benignity and Generosity of Mind but also how much you favour our Reputation and Dignity For which we return our most cordial Thanks to your Majesty as justly you have merited from us As for the Victory which God has given most fortunate to our United Forces against our Enemies we rejoyce with your Majesty for it and that our People in that Battel were not wanting to your Assistance nor the Military Glory of their Ancestors nor their own Pristin Fortitude is most grateful to us As for Dunkirk which as your Majesty Wrote you were in hopes was near Surrender 't is a great addition to our joy to hear from your Majesty such speedy Tidings that it is absolutely now in your Victorious hands and we hope moreover that the loss of one City will not suffice to repay the twofold Treachery of the Spaniard but that your Majesty will in a short time Write us the welcome News of the Surrender also of the other Town As to your Promise That you will take care of our Interests we mistrust it not in the least upon the Word of a most Excellent King and our most assured Friend confirm'd withal by your Embassador the most accomplish'd Duke of Crequi Lastly we beseech Almighty God to prosper your Majesty and the Affairs of France both in Peace and War Westminster June 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Eminent Lord Cardinal Mazarin Most Eminent Lord WHile we are returning Thanks to the most Serene King who to Honour and Congratulate us as also to intermix his Joy with ours for the late glorious Victory has sent a splendid Embassy to our Court we should be ungrateful should we not also by our Letters pay our due acknowledgments to your Eminency who to testifie your Good-will toward us and how much you make it your study to do us all the Honour which lyes within your power have sent your Nephew to us a most Excellent and most Accomplish'd young Gentleman and if you had any nearer Relation or any Person whom you valu'd more would have sent him more especially to us as you declare in your Letters adding wlthal the Reason which coming from so great a Personage we deem no small advantage to our Praise and Ornament that is to say to the end that they who are most nearly Related to your Eminency in Blood might learn to imitate your Eminency in shewing Respect and Honour to our Person And we would have it not to be their meanest strife to follow your Example of Civility Candour and Friendship to us since there are not more conspicuous Examples of extraordinary Prudence and Vertue to be imitated then in your Eminency from whence they may learn with equal Renown to Govern Kingdoms and manage the most important Affairs of the World Which that your Eminency may long and happily Administer to the Prosperity of the whole Realm of France to the common Good of the whole Christian Republick and your own Glory we shall never be wanting in our Prayers to implore From our Court at White-Hall June 1658. Your Excellency's most Affectionate Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles Gustavus King of the Swedes Goths and Vandals c. Most Serene and Potent Prince our dearest Confiderate and Friend AS often as we behold the busy Counsels and various Artifices of the common Enemies of Religion so often do we revolve in our Minds how necessary it would be and how much for the safely of the Christian world that the Protestant Princes and most especially your Majesty should be united with our Republick in a most first and solemn Confederacy Which how ardently and zealously it has bin sought by our selves how acceptable it would have bin to us if ours and the Affairs of Swedeland had bin in that posture and condition if the said League could have bin sacredly concluded to the good liking of both and that the one could have bin a seasonable Succour to the other we declar'd to your Embassadors when first they enter'd into Treaty with us upon this Subject Nor were they wanting in their duty but the same Prudence which they were wont to shew in other things the same Wisdom and Sedulity they made known in this Affair But such was the Perfidiousness of our wicked and restless Countrey-men at home who being often receiv'd into our Protection ceas'd not however to machinate new disturbances and to resume their formerly often frustrated and dissipated Conspiracies with our Enemies the Spaniards that being altogether taken up with the preservation of our selves from surrounding dangets we could not bend our whole care and our entire Forces as we wish'd we could have done to defend the common Cause of Religion Nevertheless what lay in our power we have already zealously perform'd and whatever for the future may conduce to your Majesty's Interests we shall not onely shew our selves willing but industrious to carry on in union with your Majesty upon all occasions In the mean time we most gladly Congratulate your Majesty's Victories most Prudently and Couragiously atchiev'd and in our daily Prayers implore Almighty God long to continue to your Majesty a steady course of Conquest and Felicity to the Glory of his Name From our Court at White-Hall June 1658. Oliver Protector of the Commonwealth of England c. To the most Serene Prince the King of Portugal Most Serene King our Friend and Confederate JOhn Buffield of London Merchant has set forth in a Petition to us That in the year 1649. he deliver'd certain Goods to Anthony John and Manuel Ferdinando Castaneo Merchants in Tamira to the end that after they had sold 'em they might give him a just account according to the Custome of Merchants after which in his Voyage for England he fell into the hands of Pyrates and being Plunder'd by 'em receiv'd no small Damage Upon this News Antony and Manuel believing he had bin Kill'd presently look'd upon the Goods as their own and still detain 'em in their hands refusing to come to any Account covering this Fraud of theirs with a Sequestration of Englisb Goods that soon after ensu'd So that he was forc'd the last year in the middle of Winter to return to Portugal and demand his Goods but all in vain For that the said John and Anthony could by no fair means be perswaded either to deliver the said Goods or to come to any Account and which is more to be admir'd justifi'd their private detention of the Goods by the Publick Attainder Finding therefore that being a