'I sent one Lewis de Bourgoyne (reteined by me as a domesticke to have helped me for the French tongue) into France, to view and returne mee the strength of all the ports usward. Hee began at Callis and went through all the Wash (?) to Bourdeaux, and there staid some time to dispose that people who then favoured the Prince of Condé's interest in contradistinction to the crowne of France, and likeliest to have given a footing to the English had there been occasion ministered of attempting them by land. Wee had some correspondence with the Prince of Condé by credentialls to Monsieur Barrière, and from Bourdeaux by some commissioners they sent over express, who came but a few weekes before our interruption, 1653; but that which to mee look'd most hopefull and important I was just then beginning a correspondence with Cardinal de Retz, commonly called the Coadjutor, Mazarine's rivall and antagonist, who pretended to fancy and favour the Commonwealth of England, as so; some lettres past, but not much donne beyond mutuall credence, and that also perish'd after Bourgoine's returne from Bourdeaux. Coll. Saxby (the old Agitator) was sent to Bourdeaux on the same errand by Gen. Cromwell and myself upon joint advice with good summes of money, but what harvest he made of his negociations Gen. Cromwell or his ministers could only tell who overturn'd us and succeeded in those concernments.'