imself, had told
Cromwell more about Stoupe than he previously knew, and "possessed
Cromwell with such an ill opinion of him that after that he never
treated him with any confidence."[1] If the story is true, Stoupe's
loss of favour dates from Jan. 1656-7, or two months before Milton's
letter to Bigot. It would seem, however, that he was still employed
in some way as one of Thurloe's agents; and hence Milton's use of him
to convey the cash to France.[2] That Milton knew Stoupe would have
been certain without this evidence; but the evidence is
interesting.[3]

[Footnote 1: Burnet's _Hist. of his Own Time_, Book I.]

[Footnote 2: Of the L2000 sent from London to Geneva in June 1655 as
the first instalment of relief for the Piedmontese Protestants
(Cromwell's own subscription) L500 had been sent through Stoupe. See
ante p. 190.]

[Footnote 3: Stoupe might make a good character in any historical
novel of the time of the Protectorate. His career did not end then.
He was to be "a brigadier-general in the French armies," and one
knows not what else, before Burnet made his acquaintance.]

Of the following State-Letters of Milton, all belonging to our
present section of his life, five bear date before his second
marriage, and five after. Those after the marriage come at longer
intervals than those before:--

(XCI.) TO THE KING OF PORTUGAL, _Oct._ 1656:--Peace with
Portugal being happily ratified, the Protector is despatching
THOMAS MAYNARD to be his consul in that country. This letter is to
introduce him and bespeak access for him to his Majesty.

(XCII.) TO THE KING OF SWEDEN, _Oct._ 1656:--A soldierly
knight, Sir William Vavasour, who has been in England, is now
returning to his military duty under the Swedish King. The
Protector need hardly recommend back to his Majesty a servant so
distinguished, but ventures to do so, and to suggest that he should
be paid his arrears.

(XCIII.) TO THE KING OF PORTUGAL, _Oct._ 1656:--An English
ship-master, called Thomas Evans, is going to Lisbon to prosecute
his claim for L7000 against the Brazil Company, being damages
sustained by the seizure of his ship, the _Scipio_, six years
before, by the Portuguese Government, while he was in the Company's
service. The Treaty provides for such claims; and, though the
Protector has written before on the subject generally, he cannot
but write specially in this case.

(XCIV.) TO THE SENATE OF HAMBURG, _O