ce between
the two Powers, called _The Peace of Roeskilde_, by which
Sweden acquired certain territories from Denmark, but very generous
terms on the whole were granted to the Danes. Of all this there had
been news to Cromwell, not only from his own correspondents, but
also in an express letter from Charles Gustavus; and it is to this
letter that Milton now replies in Cromwell's name:--"Most serene
and potent King, most invincible Friend and Ally,--The Letter of
your Majesty, dated from the Camp in Zealand, Feb. 21, has brought
Us all at once many reasons why, both privately on our own account,
and on account of the whole Christian Commonwealth, we should be
affected by no ordinary joy. In the first place, because the King
of Denmark (made your enemy, I believe, not by his own will or
interests, but by the arts of the common foes) has been, by your
sudden advent into the heart of his kingdom, and without much
bloodshed, reduced to such a pass that he has at length, as was
really the fact, judged peace more advantageous to him than the
war undertaken against you. Next, because, when he thought he could
in no way sooner obtain such a peace than by using Our help long
ago offered him for a conciliation, your Majesty, on the prayer
merely of the letters of our Envoy, deigned to show, by such an
easy grant of peace, how much value you attached to Our friendship
and interposed good-will, and chose that it should be My office in
particular, in this pious transaction, to be myself nearly the sole
adviser and author of a Peace which is speedily to be, as I hope,
so salutary to Protestant interests. For, whereas the enemies of
Religion despaired of being able to break your combined strength
otherwise than by engaging you against each other, they will now
have cause, as I hope, thoroughly to fear that this unlooked-for
conjunction of your arms and hearts will turn into destruction for
themselves, the kindlers of this war. Do you, meanwhile, most brave
King, go on and prosper in your conspicuous valour, and bring it to
pass that, such good fortune as the enemies of the Church have
lately admired in your exploits and course of victories against the
King now your ally, the same they may feel once more, with God's
help, in their own crushing overthrow."[1] From this letter it will
be seen that the missions of Meadows and Jephson, but especially
that of Meadows,