sign, which will be done upon
Monday next. It is not possible for me to send unto your Excellence
a copy of the articles as they are now agreed; I hope to do it by
the next, when you will be satisfied concerning the reports I hear
there are in Sweden, concerning the honourable terms the Dutch have
gotten by this treaty. I know not what men may expect in matters of
honour; I am sure the true interest of the nation, both in point of
trade and otherwise, is provided for more fully than ever hath been
in any treaty made between these States.

"The French Ambassador had a public audience on Monday last. There
is joined with him in commission one Monsieur le Baas, in quality of
a Commissary, who is a great confidant of the Cardinal's, and a very
crafty man. The French doth certainly intend by all means to make a
league with his Highness, and offers very frankly and considerably
as to our present interest. The Spaniard thinks he saith more to
invite the Protector to look that way and embrace an alliance with
him; and sure he is the steadier friend, and hath the better and
more considerable trade.[142]

"The news I have either from France or Holland this week your
Excellence will receive enclosed. The affairs in Scotland do not
much alter: Middleton is very active to get an army, but keeps in
the most northerly parts. We never met with any of their forces but
we beat them--the last letters being that we fell upon a party and
took forty prisoners and sixty horse, which is all we have from
thence.

"I have done my utmost to get the Swedish ships released; but to say
the truth, although some of the Swedes are innocent, yet many of
them appear to be deceivers, which makes the rest fare the worse. I
endeavoured to get a resolution of the case your Excellence wrote
about by your former letters, so as to have sent it by this post,
but could not; the orders which have been made about it since my
last I have sent, whereof your Excellence may see the care that is
had to do justice therein.

"What your Excellence is informed concerning the preferring of the
Agent of the Swiss to Lagerfeldt in their farewell, is a great
mistake. I know no honour done to him at his going away, but the
sending the answer of his letter to him by the master of the
ceremony; he had neither gift nor entertainmen