"In January 1658 Karl Gustav marches his army, horse, foot, and artillery, to the amount of twenty thousand, across the Baltic ice, and takes an island without shipping,--Island of Fuenen, across the Little Belt; three miles of ice; and a part of the sea _open_, which has to be crossed on planks.

Nay, forward from Fuenen, when he is once there, he achieves ten whole miles more of ice; and takes Zealand itself--to the wonder of mankind." Such, in Mr.Carlyle's summary (_History of Frederick the Great, i.

223, edit._ 1869), was the feat of the Swedish warrior against his Danish enemy.

It was followed almost immediately by a Peace between the two Powers, called _The Peace of Roeskilde_, by which Sweden acquired certain territories from Denmark, but very generous terms on the whole were granted to the Danes.

Of all this there had been news to Cromwell, not only from his own correspondents, but also in an express letter from Charles Gustavus; and it is to this letter that Milton now replies in Cromwell's name:--"Most serene and potent King, most invincible Friend and Ally,--The Letter of your Majesty, dated from the Camp in Zealand, Feb.