friend of the English Commonwealth and of the Protector (see Vol.  IV. pp. 424, 480-1, 527, 635-6).  Cromwell, therefore, introduces JEPHSON, and requests all furtherance for him.

  (CIII.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF BREMEN, August
  1657:—­Also to introduce and recommend JEPHSON; who, on his route
  from Oldenburg eastwards, would pass through Bremen.

  (CIV.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF HAMBURG, August
  1657:—­Still requesting attention to JEPHSON on his transit.

  (CV.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF LUBECK, August
  1657:—­Still recommending JEPHSON; who, at Lubeck, would be near
  his destination, the camp of Charles Gustavus.

(CVI.) TO FREDERICK-WILLIAM, MARQUIS OF BRANDENBURG, August 1657:—­At first this Prince, better known now as “The Great Elector, Friedrich-Wilhelm of Prussia,” had been on the side of Sweden against Poland; and, in conjunction with Charles Gustavus, he had fought that great Battle of Warsaw (July 1656) which had nearly ruined the Polish King, John Casimir.  Having been detached from his alliance with Sweden, however, in a manner already explained (ante p. 313), he had now a very difficult part to play in the Swedish-Polish-German-Danish entanglement.—­As Jephson had instructions to treat with this important German Prince, as well as with the King of Sweden, Cromwell begs leave to introduce him formally.  “The singular worth of your Highness both in peace and in war, and the greatness and constancy of your spirit, being already so famed over the whole world that almost all neighbouring Princes are eager for your friendship, and no one could desire for himself a more faithful and constant friend and ally, in order that you may understand that we also are in the number of those that have the highest and strongest opinion of your remarkable services to the Christian Commonweal, we have sent to you the most Honourable WILLIAM Jephson,” &c.:  so the note opens; and the rest is a mere request that the Elector will hear what Jephson has to say.—­The relations between the Elector and the Protector had hitherto been rather indefinite, if not cool; and hence perhaps the highly complimentary strain of this letter.

(CVII.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF HAMBURG, August 1657:—­All the foregoing, for Jephson, must have been written between August 13, when the news of the proclamation of war between Sweden and Denmark reached London, and August 29, when Jephson set out on his mission.  MEADOWS left London, on his distinct mission, two days afterwards.[1] His route was not to be quite the same as Jephson’s; but he also was to pass through Hamburg.  He is therefore recommended separately, by this note, to the authorities of that city.  His letters of credence to the King of Denmark had, doubtless, already been made out,—­possibly by himself.  They are not among Milton’s State-letters.

[Footnote 1:  Whitlocke, under Aug. 1657.]