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 sense 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 requisite to remit beforehand two thousand pounds of the value of England, with all possible speed to be distributed among such as shall be judged 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 yourselves, and that you will not think amiss of any labour or pains where you can be assisting to their relief, we made no scruple to commit the paying and distributing this sum of money to your care; and

to give ye this farther trouble, that according to your wonted piety and prudence, you would take care that the said money may be distributed equally to the most necessitous, to the end, that though the sum be small, yet there may be something to refresh and revive the most poor and needy, till we can afford 'em a more plentiful supply. And thus, not making any doubt but you will take in good part the trouble imposed upon ye, we beseech Almighty God to stir up the hearts of all his people professing the orthodox religion, to resolve upon the common defence of themselves, and the mutual assistance of each other against their imbittered and most implacable enemies in the prosecution of which we should rejoyce that our helping hand might be any way serviceable to the church. Farewel.

Fifteen hundred pounds of the foresaid two thousand will be remitted by GERARD HENCH from PARIS, and the other five hundred pounds will be taken care of by letters from the LORD STOUP.

" June 8, 1655."

"To the Evangelic Cities of SWITZERLAND.

"In what condition your affairs are, which is not the best, we are abundantly inform

ed, as well by your public acts transmitted to us by our agent at Geneva, as also by your letters from Zurick, bearing date the 27th of December. Whereby, although we are sorry to find your peace, and such a lasting league of confederacy broken; nevertheless, since it appears to have happened through no fault of yours, we are in hopes that the iniquity and perverseness of your adversaries are contriving new occasions for ye to make known your long-ago experienced fortitude and resolution in defence of the Evangelick faith. For as for those of the Canton of Schwits, who account it a capital crime for any person to embrace our religion, what they are might and main designing, and whose instigations have incensed 'em to resolutions of hostility against the orthodox religion, nobody can be ignorant, who has not yet forgot that most detestable slaughter of our brethren in Piemont. Wherefore, most beloved friends, what you were always wont to be, with God's assistance still continue, magnanimous and resolute; suffer not your privileges, your confederacies, the liberty of your consciences, your religion itself, to be trampled under foot by the worshippers of idols; and so prepare yourselves, that you may not seem to be the defenders onely of your own freedom and safety, but be ready likewise to aid and succour, as far as in you lies, your neighbouring brethren, more especially those

most deplorable Piedmontois; as being certainly convinced of this, that a passage was lately intended to have bin opened over their slaughtered bodies to your sides. As for our part, be assured, that we are no less anxious and solicitous for your welfare and prosperity, than if this conflagration had broken forth in our Republick; or as if the axes of the Schwits-Cantons had bin sharpened for our necks, or that their swords had bin drawn against our breasts, as indeed they were against the bosoms of all the Reformed. Therefore, so soon as we were informed of the condition of your affairs, and the obstinate animosities of your enemies, advising with some sincere and honest persons, together with some ministers of the church most eminent for their piety, about sending to your assistance such succour as the present posture of our affairs would permit, we came to those results, which our envoy PELL will impart to your consideration. In the mean time, we cease not to implore the blessing of the Almighty upon all your counsels, and the protection of your most just cause as well in war as in peace.

"Your Lordships and Worships most affectionate, OLIVER, Protector of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, &c.

"Westminster, Jan. 1655."

"OLIVER, Protector of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, &c. to the most Serene Prince CHARLES GUSTAVUS, by the Grace of God King of the SWEDES, GOTHS, and VANDALS, Great Prince of FINLAND, &c.

"MOST SERENE KING,

'Seeing it is a thing well known to all men, that there ought to be a communication of concerns among friends, whether in prosperity or adversity; it cannot be but most grateful to us, that your Majesty should vouchsafe to impart unto us by your letters the most pleasing and delightful part of your friendship, which is your joy. In regard it is a mark of singular civility, and truly royal, as not to live onely to a man's self, so neither to rejoyce alone, unless he be sensible that his friends and confederates partake of his gladness. Certainly then, we have reason to rejoyce for the birth of a young prince born to such an excellent king, and sent into the world to be the heir of his father's glory and Vertue; and this at such a lucky season, that we have no less cause to congratulate the royal parent with the memorable omen that befel the famous Philip of Macedon, who at the same time received the