rs which is now the most famous
of his official performances for Cromwell. It was in the second week
of May, 1655, that the news of the Massacre of the Piedmontese
Protestants reached England; and from the 17th of that month, onwards
for weeks and weeks, the attention of the Protector and the Council
was all but engrossed, as we have seen (ante pp. 38-44), by that
dreadful topic. Here are a few of the first Minutes of Council
relating to it:--

_Thursday, May_ 17, 1655:--Present: HIS HIGHNESS THE LORD
PROTECTOR, Lord President Lawrence, the Earl of Mulgrave, Colonel
Fiennes, Lord Lambert, Mr. Rous, Major-General Skippon, Lord
Viscount Lisle, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Colonel Montague, Colonel
Jones, General Desborough, Colonel Sydenham, Sir Charles Wolseley,
Mr. Strickland. _Ordered_, "That it be referred to the Earl of
Mulgrave, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Rous, and Colonel Jones, or
any--of them to consider of the Petition [a Petition from London
ministers and others], and also of the papers of intelligence
already come touching the Protestants under the Duke of Savoy, and
such other intelligence as shall come to Mr. Secretary Thurloe, and
to offer to the Council what they shall think fit, as well
_touching writing of letters_, collections, or otherwise, in
order to their relief ... That it be referred to Colonel Fiennes,
Mr. Strickland, Sir Gilbert Pickering, and Mr. Secretary Thurloe,
to prepare the draft of a letter to the French King upon this day's
debate touching the Protestants suffering in the Dukedom of Savoy,
and to bring in the same to-morrow morning."

_Friday, May_ 18:--At a second, or afternoon sitting
(_present_: Lord President Lawrence, Lord Lambert, General
Desborough, the Earl of Mulgrave, Colonel Fiennes, Colonel Jones,
Colonel Sydenham, Colonel Montague), "Colonel Fiennes reports from
the Committee of the Council to whom the same was referred the
draft of a Letter to be sent from his Highness to the King of
France concerning the Protestants in the Dukedom of Savoy; which,
after some amendments, was approved and ordered to be offered to
his Highness as the advice of the Council."

_Tuesday, May_ 22:--_Present_: Lord President Lawrence,
Colonel Sydenham, Mr. Rous, Colonel Montague, Colonel Jones,
General Desborough, Mr. Strickland, Colonel Fiennes, Lord Viscount
Lisle, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Lord Lambert. "The Latin draft of a
Letter to