Letters of state written by Mr. John Milton, to most of the sovereign princes and republicks of Europe, from the year 1649, till the year 1659 ; to which is added, an account of his life ; together with several of his poems, and a catalogue of his works, never before printed.

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 Ge∣neva, as also from the Dauphi∣nate, and many other Places border∣ing upon your Territories, wherein we are given to understand, That such of your Royal Highness's Sub∣jects as profess the Reformed Religi∣on, 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, implo∣ring 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 Prede∣cessors, a part of your Army fell up∣on '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 Fa∣milies are reduc'd to such Distress, that 'tis 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 re∣gard

we must acknowledge our selves link'd together not onely by the same tye of Humanity, but by joynt Communion of the same Re∣ligion, 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 Ance∣stors, 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 Re∣form'd Religion; that you would ratifie to 'em their conceded Privi∣leges and pristin Liberty, and com∣mand their Losses to be repair'd, and that an end be put to their Oppressi∣ons. Which if your Royal High∣ness shall be pleas'd to see perform'd, you will do a thing most acceptable to God, revive and comfort the mi∣serable

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 ear∣nest Solicitation. Which will both engage us to a reciprocal return of all good Offices, and lay the solid foun∣dations not only of establishing, but encreasing Alliance and Friendship between this Republick and your Dominions. Nor do we less pro∣mise this to our selves from your Ju∣stice 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.