The business of the Piedmontese Protestants still occupied the Council, and there were letters to various foreign powers.

Of new diplomatic arrangements of the Protector about this time, and through the whole session of the Parliament, account will be more conveniently taken hereafter; but Ambassador Lockhart's temporary presence in London, and his frequent colloquies with the Protector over French affairs, Spanish affairs, the movements of Charles II abroad, a rumoured dissension between Charles II.

and his brother the Duke of York, and Mazarin's astute intimacy with all, are worthy of remark even now.

It was on Dec.

10, 1656, that Lockhart received from his Highness the honour of knighthood at Whitehall; and on Feb.