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Cromwell, for whom she declared she had as great a respect and honor as for any man alive. She likened him to her ancestor, Gustavus I., who from a private condition had become sovereign of Sweden. She frequently conversed with Whitelocke upon the events in England, and highly extolled all the great actors in them. She especially commended Milton's power of reasoning and the eloquence of his writings.

One day at a court-ball, Whitelocke was invited to lead off the dance with her. He, after much modest reserve, finally consented, and as they resumed their seats, the Queen remarked that the Dutch had reported that there were none of the Parliament party but who were base mechanics, and that she had given Whitelocke her hand in the dance to test him; and she concluded by declaring that the Dutch were slanderers, and that he was a gentleman and bred a gentleman. The Queen now ratified a treaty of peace with the Protector, and determined that her last act of government should be a compliment to Cromwell whom she so much admired. Christina then abdicated her throne. A favorable treaty with Denmark immediately followed, which secured the passage of British vessels through the Sound. Cromwell now achieved his great purpose; he was in terms of alliance with all Protestant Europe, and England stood forth as the great champion of Protestantism.

CHAPTER IX.

WHILE the Protestant powers of Europe grate

W

fully secured themselves under the protection of Oliver Cromwell, the Catholic monarchs studiously sought his friendship. The rival nations of Spain. and France competed for the alliance with the Protector, and strove to acquire it at the expense of each other. Spain sent to Cromwell an ambassador extraordinary, who, in behalf of that haughty nation, proposed the most conciliatory terms, and offered the most liberal sacrifices for the friendship of Cromwell. Money, honor, and national policy were all profusely poured out at the feet of the English ruler. Spain would oppose the claims of Charles II. to his hereditary crown, and compel France to the same dishonorable policy; Spain would pay an annual tribute of six hundred thousand crowns a year to England; Spain would wage war with Louis XIV.; Spain, in a word, would promise all to secure the great Cromwell for an ally.

France even outbid her rival for the friendship of the Protector. The magnificent Louis addressed the most obsequious and complimentary letters to Crom

Courted by Monarchs.

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well. The French ambassador to England was raised to the highest diplomatic rank, and ordered to support his dignity with the greatest splendor, that full honor might be done to the popular sovereign of Great Britain. Louis le Grand came down from his stilted magnificence, and condescendingly offered to adopt the parvenu Cromwell into the family of kings with the endearing appellation of Mon Cousin, a recognition of relationship which he proudly rejected for the less intimate and more dignified title of "My Lord the Protector." Charles II. was living in Cologne; Louis promised, in order to conciliate Cromwell, that the rest of his family, who were then under the protection of France, should join him. The French king offered his aid in restoring Dunkirk to the possession of the English, and promised to pay a liberal subsidy of a million or more into the British treasury. Cardinal Mazarin, who was the minister of Louis XIV., was profuse in his compliments and courtesies. "Tell me," he writes to the French ambassador in England, "whether it would be well to send some Barbary horses to M. Le Protecteur, and tell me whether it would be too great a familiarity to send him a present of wine."

Cromwell received these homages to his greatness with the personal indifference of a truly great man, but endeavored, like a prudent statesman, to bend them to the advantage of his policy. He leaned towards an alliance with France, but he carefully

withheld his pledge to either suitor until he was prepared for action. Spain and France were both in turn led to hope for a decision in their favor, while the Protector was balancing. Cromwell demanded better terms from each. From Spain he wanted religious toleration for English subjects, and free navigation in the West-Indies. Of France he demanded the banishment of the Stuarts and English Royalists, more money, the yielding up of Brest until Dunkirk should be taken, and toleration for the French Protestants. Neither power was prepared to grant so much, while Cromwell was not disposed to bate a jot of his demands. Spain and France were thus kept in suspense, but continued to rival each other in their assiduous court to the English ruler.

Of constitutional kings it has been said that they reign, but do not govern. Cromwell was a sovereign who governed, but did not reign. His power was acknowledged everywhere, abroad and at home; and where his will prompted its exercise, no fear weakened nor favor appeased it. As he vigorously carried out his foreign policy, so he rigorously administered his domestic government. The law of the land was never so resolutely executed as under the rule of the Protector. The execution of a brother of the Portuguese ambassador was a vindication of justice which no government in the world, in that age, would have ventured but Cromwell's. Don Pantaleon de Sa had got into a street-brawl, one day, with young

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Major Gerard. Swords were drawn, and an encounter ensued, in which the Portuguese Don was worsted. He accordingly hastened to his brother the Portuguese ambassador's house, and arming about twenty persons attached to the embassy, issued out to revenge his wounded dignity. On reaching the place of the former encounter, which was Exeter 'Change, one of the most frequented parts of London, the vindictive Portuguese and his crew set upon a person who was mistaken for Gerard, and killed him. A great excitement and disturbance followed, which were quieted by the intervention of an armed guard, who seized Don Pantaleon and thrust him into prison. He was tried, convicted, and condemned to be beheaded. The rights of ambassadors were urged in his behalf; his brother solicited with all his great influence; Portugal interposed her power: but Cromwell stood firm, and nobly vindicated the law of England. Don Pantaleon lost his head. Major Gerard, who had in the mean time been condemned for a Royalist conspiracy by a tragic coïncidence suffered within the same hour. The Portuguese ambassador, on the very day of the execution, signed a treaty with England, and took his departure a few hours before his brother recorded with his blood the impartiality of English justice.

The first Protectorate Parliament met on Sunday, September 3d, 1654. In accordance with the religious sentiment which pervaded the government, the