to Overton. The substance of the
letter, as in Mr. Macray's abstract of it for the Calendar of the
Clarendon Papers (II. 344), is as follows:--"_The King to Col.
Ov[erton]._ Has received such information of his affection that he
does not doubt it, and believes that he abhors those who, after all
their pretences for the public, do now manifest that they have
wholly intended to satisfy their own ambition. He has it in his
power to redeem what he has heretofore done amiss; and the King is
very willing to receive such a service as may make him a principal
instrument of his restoration, for which whatsoever he or his family
shall wish they shall receive, and what he shall promise to any of
his friends who may concur with him shall be made good." If this
letter was among those found among Overton's papers at Leith (which
is not very likely), little wonder that Cromwell would not trust
him at large a second time.]

At the date of Overton's imprisonment the Protector was making up his
mind to dismiss his troublesome First Parliament after his four
months and a half of experience of its temper; and six days after
that date he did dismiss it, to its own surprise, before it had sent
him up a single Bill. How many Latin letters had Overton's friend
Milton written for the Protector in his official capacity during the
four months and a half of that troublesome Parliament? So far as the
records show, only three. They were as follows:--

(XLIX.) "To THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD, LUIS MENDEZ DE HARO,"
_Sept._ 4, 1654:[1]--The Spanish Prime Minister, Luis de Haro,
had recently, in the Protector's apparent indecision between the
Spanish alliance and the French alliance, resolved to try to secure
him for Spain by sending over a new Ambassador, to supersede
Cardenas, or to co-operate with him. He had announced the same in
letters to Cromwell; who now thanks him, professes his desire to be
in friendship with Spain, and promises every attention to the new
Ambassador when he may arrive, Cromwell pays a compliment to the
minister himself. "To have your affection and approbation," he
says, "who by your worth and prudence have acquired such authority
with the King of Spain that you preside, with a mind to match, over
the greatest affairs of that kingdom, ought truly to be a pleasure
to me corresponding with my apprehension of the honour I shall have
from the good opinion of a man of excellence." Milton is dexterous