to bend your mind and thoughts in this direction, and we heartily pray for you and for your people peace and truth and prosperity in all your affairs."[2]—­The bearer of this letter to the Duke, as we know, was Mr. Samuel Morland, who had been selected as the Protector’s special Commissioner for the purpose.  He left London on the 26th of May.  He took with him, also, a copy of the Latin speech which he was to deliver to the Duke in presenting the letter.  As there is much probability that this Latin speech is also in part of Milton’s composition, and as it is in even a bolder and more indignant strain than the letter, it may be well to translate it too:—­“Your Serene and Royal Highnesses [the Duke and his mother both addressed?],—­The Most Serene Lord, Oliver, Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, has sent me to your Royal Highnesses; whom he salutes very heartily, and to whom, with a very high affection and peculiar regard for your Serenities, he wishes a long life and reign, and a prosperous issue of all your affairs, amid the applauses and respect of your people.  And this is due to you, whether in consideration of the excellent character and royal descent of your Highnesses, and the great expectation of the world from so many eminent good qualities, or in recollection, after reference to records, of the ancient friendship of our Kings with the Royal house of Savoy.  Though I am, I confess, but a young man, and not very ripe in experience of affairs, yet it has pleased my Most Serene and Gracious Master to send me, as one much devoted to your Royal Highnesses and ardently attached to all bearing the Italian name, on what is really a great mission.—­The ancient legend is that the son of Croesus was completely dumb from his birth.  When, however, he saw a soldier aiming a wound at his father, straightway he had the use of his tongue.  No other is my predicament, feeling as I do my tongue loosened by those very recent and bloody wounds of Mother Church.  A great mission surely that is to be called wherein all the safety and hope of many poor people is comprehended—­their sole hope lying in the chance that they shall be able, by all their loyalty, obedience, and most humble prayers, to mollify and appease the minds of your Royal Highnesses, now irritated against them.  In behalf of these poor people, whose cause pity itself may seem to make its own, the Most Serene Protector of England also comes as an intercessor, and most earnestly requests and beseeches your Royal Highnesses to deign to extend your mercy to these your very poor and most outcast subjects—­those, I mean, who, inhabiting the roots of the Alps and certain valleys in your dominion, have professed nominally the Religion of the Protestants.  For he has heard (what no one can say has been done by the will of your Royal Highnesses) that those wretched creatures have been partly killed by your forces, partly expelled by violence and driven from their home and country, so that they are now wandering,