Letters of State, Letters 2 · Letter 66
To the moſt Serene and Potent Prince Lewis, King of France.
Moſt Serene and Potent King, and moſt Auguſt Friend and Confederate,
YOUR Majeſty may call to mind, that at the ſame time, when the renewing the League between us was in agitation, and no leſs auſpiciouſly concluded, as the many Advantages from thence accrewing to both Nations, and the many Annoyances thence attending the Common Enemy, ſufficiently teſtify, thoſe dreadful Butcheries befel the Piedmontois, and that we recommended with great fervency of mind and compaſſion, their Cauſe on all ſides forſaken and afflicted, to your Commiſeration and Protection. Nor do we believe, that your Majeſty, of your ſelf, was wanting in a Duty ſo pious, that we may not ſay, beſeeming Common humanity, as far as your Authority, and the Veneration due to your Perſon, could prevail with the Duke of Savoy. Certain we are, that neither our ſelves, nor many other Princes and Cities were wanting in our Performances, by the Interpoſition of Embaſſies, Letters, aud Intreaties. After a moſt bloody Butchery of both Sexes, and all Ages, at length Peace was granted, or rather a certain Clandeſtine Hoſtility cover'd over with the name of Peace. The Conditions of Peace were agreed in your Town of Pignerol; ſevere and hard; but ſuch, as thoſe miſerable and indigent Creatures, after they had ſuffer'd all that could be endur'd that was oppreſſive and barbarous, would have been glad of, had they been but obſerv'd, as hard and unjuſt as they were. But by falſe Conſtructions, and various Evaſions, the Aſſurances of all theſe Articles are eluded and violated: Many are thruſt out from their ancient Abodes; many are forbid the Exerciſe of their Religion; new Tributes are exacted; a new Citadel is impos'd upon them; from whence the Soldiers frequently making Excurſions, either plunder or murther all they meet. Add to all this, That new Levies are privately preparing againſt 'em; and all that embrace the Proteſtant Religion are commanded to depart by a prefix'd day; ſo that all things ſeem to threaten the utter extermination of thoſe deplorable Wretches, whom the former Maſſaker ſpar'd. Which I moſt earneſtly beſeech and conjure ye, Moſt Chriſtian King, by that RIGHT HAND, which ſign'd the League and Friendſhip between us, by that ſame goodly Ornament of your Title of MOST CHRISTIAN, by no means to ſuffer; nor to permit ſuch liberty of Rage and Fury uncontroul'd, we will not ſay, in any Prince, (for certainly ſuch barbarous Severity could never enter the breaſt of any Prince, much leſs ſo tender in years, nor into the female thoughts of his Mother) but in thoſe ſanctifi'd Cut-throats, who profeſſing themſelves to be the Servants and Diſciples of our Saviour Chriſt, who came into this World to ſave Sinners, abuſe his meek and peaceful Name and Precepts to the moſt cruel ſlaughter of the Innocent. Reſcue you that are able, in your towring Station worthy to be able, reſcue ſo many Suppliants proſtrate at your feet, from the hands of Ruffians, who lately drunk with Blood, again thirſt after it, and think it their ſafeſt way to throw the Odium of their Cruelty upon Princes. But as for you, great Prince, ſuffer not, while you reign, your Titles, nor the Confines of your Kingdom, to be contaminated with this ſame Heaven-offending Scandal, nor the peaceful Goſpel of Chriſt to be defil'd with ſuch abominable Cruelty. Remember that they ſubmitted themſelves to your Grandfather Henry, moſt friendly to the Proteſtants, when the Victorious Leſdiguieres purſu'd the retreating Savoyard o're the Alpes. There is alſo an Inſtrument of that Submiſſion regiſter'd among the Publick Acts of your Kingdom, wherein it is excepted and provided among other things, That from that time forward the Piemontois ſhould not be deliver'd over into the Power of any Ruler, but upon the ſame Conditions upon which your Invincible Grandfather receiv'd them into his Protection. This Protection of your Grandfather, theſe Suppliants now implore from you as Grandchild. 'Tis your Majeſty's part, to whom thoſe People now belong, to give 'em that protection which they have choſen, by ſome exchange of Habitation, if they deſire it, and it may be done: Or if that be a Labour too difficult, at leaſt to ſuccour 'em with your Patronage, your Commiſeration, and your admittance into Sanctuary. And there are ſome Reaſons of State to encourage your Majeſty not to refuſe the Piemontois a ſafe Aſylum in your Kingdom: But I am unwilling that you, ſo great King, ſhould be induc'd to the defence and ſuccour of the miſerable by any other Arguments then thoſe of your Anceſtor's pledg'd Faith, your own Piety, Royal Benignity and Magnanimity. Thus the Immaculate and intire Glory of a moſt Egregious Act will be your own, and you will find the Father of Mercy, and his Son, King Chriſt, whoſe Name and Doctrine you have vindicated from nefarious Inhumanity, ſo much the more favourable and propitious to your Majeſty, all your days. The God of Mercy and Power infuſe into your Majeſty's Heart a Reſolution to defend and ſave ſo many Innocent Chriſtians, and maintain your own Honour.
Weſtm. May—1658.