GHTINESSES THE STATES GENERAL OF THE UNITED
PROVINCES, _Dec._ 1657:--A fit sequel to the foregoing, for it
is the Letter Credential to GEORGE DOWNING, just selected to be his
Highness's Resident at the Hague, and so the counterpart of
Nieuport (ante p. 312). "GEORGE DOWNING," it begins, "a gentleman
of rank, has been for a long time now, by experience of him in many
and various transactions, recognised and known by Us as of the
highest fidelity, probity, and ability." He is, accordingly,
recommended in the usual manner; and there is intimation, though
not in language so strong as that of Lockhart's credentials to
France, that "communications" with him will be the same as with his
Highness personally. "Communications" only this case, Downing not
being a plenipotentiary like Lockhart.[1]

[Footnote 1: Downing's father was Emanuel Downing, a settler in
Massachusetts, and his mother was a sister of the celebrated
Governor John Winthrop. Though born in this country (in or near
Dublin in 1623), their son had grown up in New England, much under
the charge of Hugh Peters, who was related to him. He graduated at
Harvard University in 1642. Thence he had come to England, and, from
being a preacher in Okey's regiment of dragoons in the New Model
(1645), had passed gradually into other employments. He had been
Scoutmaster-General to the Army in Scotland (1653), but had been
attached since 1655 to Thurloe's office, and employed, as we have
seen, in diplomatic missions. His appointment to be Cromwell's
minister at the Hague was a great promotion. His salary in the post
was to be L1100 a year, worth nearly L4000 a year now. (Sibley's
_Biographical Sketches of Graduates of Harvard University_. I.
28-53, with corrections at p. 583.)]

(CXVI.) TO THE PROVINCIAL STATES OF HOLLAND, _Dec._
1657:--While recommending DOWNING to the States General, his
Highness cannot refrain from recommending him also specially to the
States of Holland, self-governed as they are internally, and "so
important a part of the United Provinces" besides.

(CXVII.) TO FERDINAND, GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY, _Dec._
1657:--The Protector's last letter to the Grand Duke (ante 372) had
produced immediate effect. The rascally Englishman Ellis, who, to
the discredit of English and Christian good faith, had run off
with the cargo of rice, sugar, and coffee, belonging to the Sultan
of Turkey, had been arrested in Leghorn. So the Gr