twenty nine, which is now one and twenty years, and it 84000l. oos. ood. The intereft from that time will far exceed the principal. LETTERS WRITTEN IN THE NAME OF OLIVER THE PROTECTOR. To the Count of OLDENBURGH. Moft Illuftrious Lord, BY your letters dated January twenty, fixteen hundred and fifty four, I have been given to understand, that the noble Frederic Matthias Wolifog, and Chrif topher Griphiander were fent with certain commands from your illuftrious lordship into England; who when they came to us, not only in your name congratulated our having taken upon us the government of the English republic, but alfo defired, that you and your territories might be comprehended in the peace which we are about to make with the Low Countries, and that we would confirm by our prefent authority the letters of fafeconduct lately granted your lordship by the parliament. Therefore in the first place we return your lordship our hearty thanks for your friendly congratulation, as it becomes us; and thefe will let you know that we have readily granted your two requefls. Nor fhall you find us wanting upon any opportunity, which may at any time make manifeft our affection to your lordship. And this we are apt to believe you will understand more at large from your agents, whofe fidelity and diligence in this affair of yours, in our court, has been eminently confpicuous. As to what remains, we moft heartily with the bleffings of prosperity and peace, both upon you and your affairs. Your illuftrious lordship's most affectionate, OLIVER, protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. To the Count of OLDENBURGH. Moft Illuftrious Lord, WE received your letters, dated May the fecond, from Oldenburgh, moft welcome upon more than one account; as well for that they were full of fingular civility and goodwill towards us, as because they were delivered by the hand of the moft illuftrious count Anthony, your beloved fon; which we look upon as fo much the greater honour, as not having trufted to report, but with our own eyes, and by our own obfervation difcerned his virtues becoming fuch an illuftrious extraction, his noble manners and inclinations, and laftly, his extraordinary affection toward ourfelves. Nor is it to be queftioned but he displays to his own people the fame fair hopes at home, that he will approve himself the fon of a moft worthy and moft excellent father, whofe fignal virtue and prudence has all along fo managed affairs, that the whole territory of Oldenburgh for many years has enjoyed a profound peace, and all the bleffings of tranquillity, in the midst of the raging confufions of war thundering on every fide. What reason therefore why we fhould not value fuch a friendship, that can fo wifely and providentially fhun the enmity of all men? Laftly, most illuftrious lord, it is for your magnificent prefent that we return you thanks; but it is of right, and your merits claim, that we are cordially, * Your illuftrious lordship's most affectionate, Westminster, June 29, 1654.. Superfcribed, To the moft Illuftrious Lord, ANTHONY GUNTHER, Count in Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst, lord in Jehivern and Kniphaufen. The horfes which threw him out of the coach-box, OLIVER, Protector of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, and IRELAND, &c., To the moft Serene Prince CHARLES GUSTAVUS King of the SWEDes, GOTHS, and VANDALS, Great Prince of FINLAND, Duke of ESTHONIA, CARELIA, BREME, VERDEN, STETTIN in POMERANIA, CASSUBIA, and VANDALIA; Prince of RUGIA, Lord of INGRIA, WISMARIA, as alfo Count PALATINE of the RHINE, and Duke of BAVARIA, CLEVES, and MONTS, &c., Greeting. Moft Serene King, THOUGH it be already divulged over all the world, that the kingdom of the Swedes is tranflated to your majefty with the extraordinary applause and defires of the people, and the free fuffrages of all the orders of the realm; yet that your majefty fhould rather choose, that we should understand the welcome news by your most friendly letters, than by the common voice of fame, we thought no fmall argument both of your goodwill towards us, and of the honour done us among the first, Voluntarily therefore and of right we congratulate this acceffion of dignity to your egregious merits, and the most worthy guerdon of fo much virtue. And that it may be lucky and profperous to your majefty, to the nation of the Swedes, and the true christian intereft, which is alfo what you chiefly with, with joint fupplications we implore of God. And whereas your majefty affures us, that the preferving entire the league and alliance lately concluded between this republic and the kingdom of Sweden fhall be fo far your care, that the prefent amity may not only continue firm and inviolable, but, if poffible, every day increase and grow to a higher perfection, to call it into queftion, would be a piece of impiety, after the word of fo great a prince once interpofed, whofe furpaffing fortitude has not only purchased your majefty an hereditary kingdom in a foreign land, but also could fo far prevail, that the most auguft queen, the daughter of Gustavus, and a heroess fo matchlefs in all degrees of praise and mascu line renown, that many ages backward have not produced BB3 duced her equal, furrendered the moft juft poffeffion of her empire to your majefty, neither expecting nor willing to accept it. Now therefore it is our main defire, your majefty fhould be every way affured, that your fo fingular affection toward us, and fo eminent a fignification of your mind, can be no other than most dear and welcome to us; and that no combat can offer itself to us more glorious, than fuch a one wherein we may, if poffible, prove victorious in outdoing your majefty's civility by our kind offices, that never shall be wanting. Your majesty's most affectionate, Westminster, July 4, 1654. OLIVER, protector of the commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. To the most Illuftrious Lord, LEWIS MENDEZ de HARO. WHAT we have understood by your letters, moft illuftrious lord, that there is an embaffador already nominated and appointed by the moft ferene king of Spain, on purpose to come and congratulate our having undertaken the government of the republic, is not only defervedly acceptable of itself, but rendered much more welcome and pleafing to us by your fingular affection, and the fpeed of your civility, as being defirous we fhould understand it first of all from yourfelf. For, to be fo beloved and approved by your lordship, who by your virtue and prudence have obtained fo great authoFity with your prince, as to prefide, his equal in mind, over all the most important affairs of that kingdom, ought to be fo much the more pleafing to us, as well understanding that the judgment of a furpaffing perfon cannot but be much to our honour and ornament. Now as to our cordial inclinations toward the king of Spain, and ready propenfity to hold friendship with that kingdom, and increafe it to a ftricter perfection, we hope we have already fatisfied the prefent embassador, and fhall more amply fatisfy the other, fo foon as he arrives. As to what remains, moft illuftrious lord, we heartily with the dignity and favour, wherein you now |