Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/353

 Rise of Russia a?id Prussia 315 them crying, " Let us through to kiss the valorous hand ! " Together they lifted up a shout of joy. I begged the Ger- man officers to forbid this, but in spite of them a great crowd shouted aloud, " Long live the king ! " There is a huge pile of captured flags and tents ; in short, the enemy has departed with nothing whatever but his life. Let Christendom rejoice and thank the Lord our God that he has not permitted the heathen to hold us up to scorn and derision and to ask, " Where, now, is your God ? " IV. The Rise of Prussia The Great Elector was very anxious to withdraw his province of Prussia from Poland, which still claimed sovereignty over it. He first allied himself with Sweden, and defeated the Poles in the battle of Warsaw (1650). He then deserted Sweden, and allied himself with the Poles, on condition that they should acknowledge his sovereignty over Prussia. Cromwell found time to ask his secretary, John Milton, the poet, to felicitate the Great Elector on his successes. Most Illustrious Prince ; dearest friend and ally : Whereas your Highness' exceptional ability in both peace and war is already famous throughout the world, and your greatness of spirit and constancy are such as to make all neighboring rulers zealously seek your friendship, since none of them could desire a truer or more faithful friend and ally ; so we, in order to prove that we too are among those who hold the highest possible opinion of you and your distin- guished services to the Christian Church, have sent to you the noble lord, William Jepson, a colonel, and a member of our upper house, in order that he may convey to you, in our name, our most cordial greetings, our best wishes for a happy termination of all your undertakings, and our espe- cial good will and inclination toward you in all things. We 354. Crom- well pre- sents his respects to the Great Elector (i657)-