LETTER CCXXII.

By the new and closer Treaty signed with France in March last, for assaulting the Spanish Power in the Netherlands, it was stipulated that the French King should contribute Twentythousand men, and the Lord Protector Six-thousand, with a sufficient Fleet; which combined forces were straightway to set about reducing the three Coast Towns, Gravelines, Mardike and Dunkirk; the former when reduced to belong to France, the two latter to England; if the former should chance to be the first reduced, it was then to be given up to England, and held as cautionary till the other two were got. Mardike and Dunkirk, these were what Oliver expected to gain by this adventure. One or both of which strong Haven-towns would naturally be very useful to him, connected with the Continent as he was,-continually menaced with Royalist Invasion from that quarter; and struggling, as the aim of his whole Foreign Policy was, to unite Protestant Europe with England in one great effectual league.2 Such was the French Treaty of the 23d of March last.

Oliver's part of the bargain was promptly and faithfully fulfilled. Six-thousand well-appointed men, under Commissary-General Reynolds, were landed, 'in new red coats,' 'near Boulogne, on the 13th and 14th days of May' last; and a Fleet under Montague, as we observe, sufficient to command those seas, and prevent all relief by ships in any Siege, is actually cruising there. Young Louis Fourteenth came down to the Coast to see the English Troops reviewed; expressed his joy and admiration over them;-and has set them, the

123 March, 1656-7: Authorities in Godwin (iv. 540-3).

2 Foreign Affairs in the Protector's Time (in Somers Tracts, vi. 329-39), by some ancient anonymous man of sense, is worth reading.

Cardinal and he have set them, to assault the Spanish Power in the Netherlands by a plan of their own! To reduce not Gravelines, Mardike and Dunkirk,' on the Coast, as the Treaty has it, but Montmédi, Cambray, and I know not what in the Interior;- the Cardinal doubling and shuffling, and by all means putting off the attack of any place whatever on the Coast! With which arrangement Oliver Protector's dissatisfaction has at length reached a crisis; and he now writes, twice on the same day, to his Ambassador, To signify peremptorily that the same must terminate.

Of Sir William Lockhart, our Ambassador in France' in these years, there were much more to be said than we have room for here. A man of distinguished qualities, of manifold adventures and employments; whose Biography, if he could find any Biographer with real industry instead of sham industry, and above all things with human eyes instead of pedant spectacles, might still be worth writing in brief compass. He is Scotch; of the Lockharts of Lee' in Lanarkshire; has been in many wars and businesses abroad and at home; was in Hamilton's Engagement, for one thing; and accompanied Dugald Dalgetty or Sir James Turner in those disastrous days and nights at Preston, though only as a common Colonel then, and not noticed by anybody. In the next Scotch War, he received affronts from the Covenanted King; remained angrily at home, did not go to Worcester or elsewhither. The Covenanted King having vanished, and

2

1 Noble (ii. 233-73) has reproduced, probably with new errors, certain Ms. 'Family Memoirs' of this Lockhart, which are everywhere very vague, and in passages (that of Dunkirk, for example) quite mythological. Lockhart's own Letters are his best Memorial;-for the present, drowned, with so much else, in the deep slumber-lakes of Thurloe; with or without chance of recovery. 2 Antea, vol. ii. p. 31.

Lockhart's connexions being Presbyterian-Royalist, there was little outlook for him now in Scotland, or Britain; and he had resolved on trying France again. He came accordingly to London, seeking leave from the Authorities; had an interview with Oliver now newly made Protector,-who read the worth of him, saw the uses of him, advised him to continue where he was.

He did continue; married 'Miss Robina Sewster,' a Huntingdonshire lady, the Protector's Niece, to whom, in her girlhood, we once promised a distinguished Husband;' has been our Ambassador in France near two years now ;2-does diplomatic, warlike, and whatever work comes before him, in an effectual and manful manner. It is thought by judges, that, in Lockhart, the Lord Protector had the best Ambassador of that age. Nay, in spite of all considerations, his merits procured him afterwards a similar employment in Charles Second's time. We must here cease speaking of him; recommend him to some diligent succinct Biographer of insight, should such a one, by unexpected favour of the Destinies, turn up.

'To Sir William Lockhart, our Ambassador in France.

SIR,

Whitehall, 31st August, 1657.

I have seen your last Letter to Mr. Secretary, as also divers others: and although I have no doubt either of your diligence or ability to serve us in so great a Business, yet I am deeply sensible that the French are

1 Antea, vol. i. p. 344.

2 Since 30 Dec. 1655 ( Family Memoirs' in Noble, ii. 244).

3 Now with the Court at Peronne (Thurloe, vi. 482, 487); soon after at Paris (Ib. 496).

ance.

very much short with us in ingenuousness1 and performAnd that which increaseth our sense of this' is, The resolution we 'for our part' had, rather to overdo than to be behindhand in anything of our Treaty. And although we never were so foolish 'as' to apprehend that the French and their interests were the same with ours in all things; yet as to the Spaniard, who hath been known in all ages to be the most implacable enemy that France hath,-we never could doubt, before we made our Treaty, that, going upon such grounds, we should have been failed towards' as we are!

To talk of "giving us Garrisons" which are inland, as Caution for future action; to talk of "what will be done next Campaign,”—are but parcels of words for children. If they will give us Garrisons, let them give us Calais, Dieppe and Boulogne ;—which I think they will do as soon as be honest in their words in giving us any one Spanish Garrison upon the coast into our hands! I positively think, which I say to you, they are afraid we should have any footing on that side of the Water,' though Spanish.

I pray you tell the Cardinal from me, That I think, if France desires to maintain its ground, much more to get ground upon the Spaniard, the performance of his Treaty with us will better do it than anything appears yet to me of any Design he hath!-Though we cannot so well pretend to soldiery as those that are with him; yet we think that, we being able by sea to strengthen and secure his Siege, and 'to' reinforce it as we please by sea, and the Enemy 'being' in capacity to do nothing

1 'ingenuity,' as usual, in orig.

to relieve it, the best time to besiege that Place will be now. Especially if we consider that the French horse will be able so to ruin Flanders as that no succour can be brought to relieve the place; and that the French Army and our own will have constant relief, as far as England and France can give it, without any manner of impediment, especially considering the Dutch are now engaged so much to Southward1 as they are.

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I desire you to let him know That Englishmen have had so good experience of Winter expeditions, they are confident, if the Spaniard shall keep the field, As he cannot impede this work, so neither will he be able to attack anything towards France with a possibility of retreat. And what do all delays signify but even this:' The giving the Spaniard opportunity so much the more to reinforce himself; and the keeping our men another Summer to serve the French, without any colour of a reciprocal, or any advantage to ourselves!

And therefore if this will not be listened unto, I desire that things may be considered of To give us satisfaction for the great expense we have been at with our Naval Forces and otherwise; which out of an honourable and honest aim on our part hath been incurred, thereby to answer the Engagements we had made. And, in fine,' That consideration may be had how our Men may be put into a position to be returned to us;-whom

'Spain-ward: so much inclined to help the Spaniard, if Montague would let them; a thing worth Mazarin's consideration too, though it comes in irregularly here!

2 You may cut off his retreat, if he venture that way.