(LIX.) TO THE MOST EMINENT LORD, CARDINAL MAZARIN, May 25, 1625:[1]—­Not content with writing to Louis XIV., Cromwell addressed also the great French Minister.  After mentioning the dreadful occasion, the letter proceeds—­“There is clearly nothing which has obtained for the French nation greater esteem with all their neighbours professing the Reformed Religion than the liberty and privileges permitted and granted to Protestants by edicts and public acts.  It is for this reason chiefly, though for others as well, that this Commonwealth has sought for the friendship and alliance of the French to a greater degree than before.  For the settlement of this there have now for a good while been dealings here with the King’s Ambassador, and his Treaty is now almost brought to a conclusion.  Moreover, the singular benignity and moderation of your Eminence, always manifest hitherto in the most important transactions of the Kingdom relating to the French Protestants, causes me to hope much from your own prudence and magnanimity.”

[Footnote 1:  Utterly undated in Printed Collection and in Phillips, and quite misplaced in both; properly dated “May 25, 1655” in Skinner Transcript.]

(LX.) TO THE STATES-GENERAL OF THE UNITED PROVINCES, May 25, 1655:[1]—­To the same effect as the letters to the Swiss Cantons and the Kings of Sweden and Denmark, but with emphatic expression of his Highness’s peculiar confidence In the Dutch Republic in such a crisis.  He offers in the close to act in concert with the States-General and other Protestant powers for any interference that may be necessary.

[Footnote 1:  So dated in official copy, as printed in Morland’s book, pp. 558-560; but undated in Printed Collection and in Phillips, and dated “West., Junii—­1655” in Skinner Transcript (No. 41 there).  This last is a mistake; for Thurloe speaks of the letter as already written May 25 (Thurloe to Pell, Vaughan’s Protectorate, I. 185).  The official copy, as given in Morland, differs somewhat from Milton’s draft. “Ego” for Cromwell, in one sentence, is changed into “Nos;” and the closing words of the draft, “et is demum, sentiet orthodoxnon injurias atque miserias tam graves non posse nos negligere” are omitted in the official copy, possibly as too strong.  These may be among the amendments made in Council, May 23.]

(LXI.) TO THE PRINCE OF TRANSYLVANIA, May, 1655:[1]—­Transylvania, now included in the Austrian Empire, was then an independent Principality of Eastern Europe, in precarious and variable relations with Austria, Poland, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire.  The population, a mixture of Wallachs, Magyars.  Germans, and Slavs, was largely Protestant; and the present Prince, George Ragotzki, was an energetic supporter of the Protestant interest in that part of Europe, and a man generally of much political and military activity.  He had written, it appears, to Cromwell on the 16th