d, what is most to be feared, quite fawning." The
Protector earnestly adjures their High Mightinesses the States to
be on their guard. "We are not ignorant that you, in your wisdom,
often revolve in your minds the question of the present state of
Europe in general, and especially the condition of the Protestants:
how the Cantons of the Swiss following the orthodox faith are kept
in suspense by the expectation from day to day of new commotions
to be stirred up by their countrymen following the faith of the
Pope, and this while they have hardly emerged from that war which,
plainly on account of Religion, was blown and kindled by the
Spaniard, who gave their enemies leaders and supplied the money;
how for the inhabitants of the Alpine Valleys the designs of the
Spaniards are again contriving the same slaughter and destruction
which they most cruelly inflicted on them last year; how the German
Protestants are most grievously troubled under the rule of the
Kaiser, and retain their paternal homes with difficulty; how the
King of Sweden, whom God, as we hope, has raised up as a valiant
champion of the Orthodox Religion, is carrying on with the whole
strength of his kingdom a doubtful and most severe war with the
most powerful enemies of the Reformed Faith; how your own Provinces
are threatened by the ominous league lately struck up among your
Papist neighbours, of whom a Spaniard is the Prince; how we here,
finally, are engaged in a war declared against the Spanish King."
What an aggravation of this condition of things if there should be
an actual conflict between their High Mightinesses and Sweden! Will
not their High Mightinesses lay all this to heart, and come to a
friendly arrangement with Charles Gustavus? The Protector hardly
understands the causes of the disagreement; but, if he can be of
any use between the two powers, he will spare no exertion. He is
about to send an embassy to the Swedish King, and will convey to
him also the sentiments of this letter.--That the preparation of
this Letter to the States-General had been very careful appears
from the following minute relating to it in the Council Order-Books
for Tuesday Aug. 19:--"Mr. Secretary [Thurloe] reports the draft of
a letter to the States-General of the United Provinces; which was
read, and committed to Sir Charles Wolseley, with the assistance of
the Secretary, to amend the same, in pursua