i792. memowrs of Sir William Lockhart. 3 
vanced to the rank of captain of horse in that service. 
He once more returned home ; but having met with 
a cold rebuff from Charles. 1. he remained in the 
country for some time, then resolved once more to go 
abroad. With that view he went by the way of 
London to visit his father, then a prisoner in the 
tower, and to obtain permifsion from the Protector 
to travel. Cromwell was no stranger to the uncom- 
mon talents of Mr Lockhart, and gave him the most 
flattering reception. Among many other favours he 
conferred, with a view to attach Mr Lockhart to his 
interest, he offered to bestow upon him for a wife, 
Mifs Robina Sewster, his own neice, a lady whose 
singular accomplifhments had attracted the warmest 
regards of this enterprising Scotsman. He accepted 
the offer with gratitude. He married this lady in 
April 1654, who continued his faithful companion 
during the remainder of his life. 
Being now so nearly connected with the Protector, 
his character and talents became still better known 
to him, and Oliver knew well how to avail himself 
of these to the greatest advantage, He had been for 
some time at a lofs te find a proper person for dis- 
charging the important duties of ambafsador at the 
court of France, at that time ‘the gayest, and, under 
the influence of Mazarine, the most intriguing ca- 
binet in Europe. He was determined that his am- 
bafsador fhould be received with the same honours, 
and treated with the same respect, as ever the royal 
ambafsadors had been; but, to effect this, great talents, 
and much addrefs werenecefsary. Lockhart he found to 
be the very man, as if he had been created by heaven 
