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Holland, SP 84/162
1. (164, Latin) A copy of a letter from Richard Cromwell to the States General, announcing his assumption as Protector and continuing George Downing as Resident, unsigned, dated September 6, 1658.
2. (165, English) "Richard P. Instructions to George Downing Esq: Our Resident with ye Lords ye States Generall," unsigned, dated September 6, 1658. This order to Downing reappoints him to office and gives him more specific instructions to carry out the provisions of the letter.
Comment: The letter is not included in any collection of Milton's letters, nor has it been identified as Miltonic. It is, however, an example of a document which because of the date and subject deserves to be considered. When Richard assumed the position of Protector, it was necessary to inform other nations that an orderly succession had taken place, that former policies would not change, and that former Ambassadors and Residents were being reappointed. There are two of Milton's letters to that effect, one to Louis XIV (Works, 124; Prose, 159) and a companion to Mazarian (Works, 125; Prose, 160), of the same substance and with the same date as this one to the States General. It is reasonable to assume that Milton was responsible for the preparation of letters to more than one of the many European states that had to be contacted at that time, but in the absence of any more substantive evidence, no definite claim for attribution can be made here.
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