hey
first treated of the matter with Us. Nor, truly, were they wanting
to their duty; but, as was their custom in other things, in this
matter also they displayed prudence and diligence. But we have been
so exercised at home by the perfidy of wicked citizens, who, though
several times received back into trust, do not yet cease to form
new conspiracies, and to repeat their already often shattered and
routed plots with the exiles, and even with the Spanish enemy,
that, occupied in beating off our own dangers, we have not hitherto
been able, as was our wish, to turn our whole attention and entire
strength to the guardianship of the common cause of Religion. What
was possible, however, to the full extent of our power, we have
already studiously performed; and, whatever for the future in this
direction shall seem to conduce to your Majesty's interests, we
shall not desist not only to desire, but also to co-operate with
you with all our strength in accomplishing where they may be
opportunity. Meanwhile we congratulate, and heartily rejoice in,
your Majesty's most prudent and most valiant actions, and desire
with assiduous prayers that God may will, for the glory of his own
Deity, that the same course of prosperity and victory may be a very
long one."--So far as Milton's state-letters show, this is the last
of the relations between Oliver Cromwell and Karl-Gustav of Sweden.
But, in _Thurloe_ and elsewhere, there are farther traces of
the great Swede in connexion with Cromwell, and of the interest
which the two kindred souls felt in each other. Passing over some
weeks of still uncertain movement of the Swede hither and thither
in his complications with Austria, Poland, Denmark, Muscovy,
Brandenburg, and the Dutch, we may note the sudden surprise of all
Europe when, early in August, he tore up his brief Peace with
Denmark, re-invaded Zealand, and marched straight upon Copenhagen.
His reasons for this extraordinary act he thought it right to
explain to Cromwell in a long letter dated from his quarters near
Copenhagen, August 18, 1658. The letter can have reached Cromwell
only on his death-bed; and, on the whole, Cromwell had to leave the
world with the consciousness that the League of Protestant Powers
for which he had prayed and struggled was apparently as far off as
ever. The election to the vacant Emperorship had already taken
place at last, July 8, 1658