that failed, I sent to him to burn it. All his business is to dispose of my plate, which I doubt is all I am ever like to get of six thousand pounds the King owed me before he gave me this in part. The Duke is expected as soon as the winds will give him leave, for they say he has left the thoughts of coming by land, and they are very weary of Scotland; and, as I fear, with reason.
I am ever and truly yours.
February 16th.I went to the Prince; he shewed me Sir W. Temple's letter; he spoke of Sir Lionel Jenkins; he hath no great opinion of him.
18th.Monsieur Siegle was with me; he told me he did not believe his Master would make an alliance with France. Mr, Kennedy was with me in the afternoon, and told me that there were three pretenders to the Government of Flanders—the Prince of Newburg, the Prince of Parma, and le Marquis de los Balbaces. The first was likely to have it. The Duke de Montalto is to be Gouverneur des Armes, which is an office that hath not lately been; he commanded all the military affairs. The Secretary hath great power given him, which makes people think that they intend to have a
