In August 1657 Milton, after three months of total rest, so far as the records show, from the business of writing foreign Letters for the Protector, resumed that business. We have attributed his release from it for so long to the fact that his old assistant MEADOWS was again in town, and available in the Whitehall office, in the interval between his return from Portugal and his departure on his new mission to Denmark; and the coincidence of Milton's resumption of this kind of duty with the precise time of Meadows's preparations for his new absence is at least curious. Though it had been intended that he should set out for Denmark immediately after his appointment to the mission in February, he had been detained for various reasons; and now in August, the great war between Denmark and Sweden having just begun, he was to set out in company with another envoy: viz. MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM JEPHSON, whom Cromwell had selected as a suitable person for a contemporary mission, to the King of Sweden (ante p. 312). It will be observed that eight of the following ten Letters of Milton, all written in August or September 1657, and forming his first contribution of letters for the Second Protectorate, relate to the missions of Jephson and Meadows:-- (CI.) To CHARLES X., KING OF SWEDEN, _August_ 1657:--His Highness has heard with no ordinary concern that war has broken out between Sweden and Denmark. [He had received the news August 13: see ante p. 313.] He anticipates great evils to the Protestant cause in consequence. He sends, therefore, the most Honourable WILLIAM JEPHSON, General, and member of his Parliament, as Envoy-extraordinary to his Majesty for negotiation in this and in other matters. He begs a favourable reception for Jephson. (CII.) TO THE COUNT OF OLDENBURG, _August_ 1657:--On his way to the King of Sweden, then in camp near Lubeck, JEPHSON would have to pass through several of the German states, and first of all through the territories of this old and assured friend of the English Commonwealth and of the Protector (see Vol. IV. pp. 424, 480-1, 527, 635-6). Cromwell, therefore, introduces JEPHSON, and requests all furtherance for him. (CIII.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF BREMEN, _August_ 1657:--Also to introduce and recommend JEPHSON; who, on his route from Oldenburg eastwards, would pass through Bremen. (CIV.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF HAMBURG, _August_ 1657:--Still requesting attention to JEPHSON on his transit. (CV.) TO THE CONSULS AND SENATE OF LUBECK, _August_ 1657:--Still recommending JEPHSON; who, at Lubeck, would be near his destination, the camp of Charles Gustavus.