was to take back to his master.  Perhaps the Swede knew that even this was written by the Protector’s blind Latinist.—­“Oliver, Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, Ireland, &c., to the most Serene Prince, Charles Gustavus, King of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals, &c.” is the heading of the letter; which proceeds thus:—­“Most Serene King,—­As we have justly a very high regard for the friendship of so great a Prince as your Majesty, one so famous for his achievements, so necessarily should that most illustrious Lord, CHRISTIERN BUNDT, your Ambassador Extraordinary, by whose endeavours a Treaty of the closest alliance has just been ratified between us, have been to as, were it but on this pre-eminent account, an object of favour and good report.  We have accordingly judged it fit that he should be sent back to you after his most praiseworthy performance of this Embassy:  but not without the highest acknowledgment at the same time of his other excellent merits, to the end that one who has been heretofore in esteem and honour with you may now feel that he is indebted to this our commendation for yet more abundant fruits of his assiduity and prudence.  As for the transactions that yet remain, we have resolved shortly to send to your Majesty a special Embassy for those; and meanwhile may God preserve your Majesty safe, to be a pillar in His Church’s defence and in the affairs of Sweden!—­From our Palace of Westminster,—­July 1656.  Your Majesty’s most affectionate, OLIVER, Protector &c.”—­Count Bundt, we may add, remained in England a month more after all, receiving farther attentions and entertainments; and not till Aug. 23 did he finally depart, taking with him not only Milton’s Letter, but also a present from the Protector of L1200 worth of “white cloth” and a magnificent jewel.  It was because this jewel could not be got ready at once that he had staid on; and it was worth waiting for.  “The jewel was his Highness’s picture in a case of gold, about the bigness of a five-shillings piece of silver, set round the case with sixteen fair diamonds, each diamond valued at L60:  in all worth about L1000.”  The Count wore the jewel tied with a blue ribbon to his breast so long as he was in sight, barging down the Thames.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Whitlocke, IV. 257-273.]

(LXXXII.) To the King of Portugal, Aug. 1656:—­Mr. Philip Meadows has been in Lisbon since March, busy in the duties of his mission, and sending letters and reports home.  There was still danger, however, in being an agent for the English Commonwealth in a Roman Catholic country; and Meadows had nearly shared the fate of Dorislaus and Ascham.  On the 11th of May, as he was returning at night to his lodgings in Lisbon, carried in a litter, he was attacked by two horsemen, who “discharged two pistols into the litter and shot him through the left hand."[1] The wound was not serious; but the King of Portugal was naturally in great concern.  He offered a large reward for the discovery of the