The Earl’s relations with Mazarin continued to be unsatisfactory during the Spring of 1654, but the Cardinal gave him liberty to choose the theatre of operations in which he would serve with his regiments. In a letter to M. le Tellier from Montauban on 14 June 1654, the Earl stated that he had chosen to serve in Piedmont, whither he was about to march his troops. He added a request that Sir Lewis, who was Lieutenant-Colonel of one of the infantry regiments, might be given the appointment of Marshal of Camp and if possible receive in addition letters of service :—“Je vous demande encore celle d’un brevet de Mareschal de Camp pour mon frère le Chevalier Dyve qui a l’honeur d’estre cognu de vous. Si on luy accorde les lettres de service aussy dans l’armeé de Piemont l’obligation en sera plus grande, mais je vous prie tousjours très humblement de ne m’en pas refuser le brevet honoris gratia et pour luy donner l’authorité que je luy souhais sur mes troupes qu’il ne peut pas excercer comme Liéutenant Colonel de mon regiment d’infanterie.”

Le Tellier replied in a letter of 4 July that he was sending Dyve’s commission but was unable to send letters of service since it was not desired to add to the establishment in Italy :— “Je vous envoye le brevet de Mareschal de Camp que vous m’avez demandé pour Monsieur votre frère mais je n’ay pas la liberté d’y adjouster les lettres de service parce qu’on ne veut pas en augmenter le nombre en Italie.

Before Bristol could set out for Italy however he fell ill and for many months was cared for in the College of Jesuits at Albi. It was while he was here that he received the following letter from his brother John, who was not quite as tolerant of the Earl’s ways as was Sir Lewis :—

Lambeth House

Sept. 25. 1654

My Lord,

I am not less troubled for your lordship’s want of health then for my prison and the incommodities of the stone, having after a sharp fitt of 24 hours a fortnight since avoided one.