LEtters (my deare friend) as well as kisses mingle soules: Your free and reall corre­spondence you have retained with me since my arrivall into these forraine parts, having conveyed my heart into thy bo­some, and transported thine hither as it were in a mutuall exchange. France is full of the Relation of the English affaires; with us in Paris there are many discourses of the late battell, but I beleeve but a few true ones: though the Malignants and fugitives of our Nation here cry no the Cavaliers victorious, which we that love our Countrey hope is not truth. Here are rumours of Forces which the King of France has in Picardy at Calice, Bulloigne, and other opposite parts to our English shore, with a Fleet also in those. Havens. I make no doubt but you have heard of them in England, whither some conjectured they were to be imployed; but I have with my most industrious care and my best intelligence striv'd to get knowledge in that affaire, which bona fide I shall impart to you as I have received the notice from some of good and eminent credit in this Court. It is not unknowne to thee (gentle Will) that Paris and other parts of France have been the constant San­ctuary, to which our English Delinquents voted so since the Session of the High Court of Parliament (I meane such as could escape the Island) have resotted for refuge, as Se­cretary Windebanke, Master Iermin, and the rest of those tur­bulent spirits, that like the fellow that set Diana's Temple on fire at Ephesus, onely to leave a memory though of mis­chief to posterity, sought to acquire fame to themselves by their Countries ruine. And these men have with their ut­most endeavours striv'd to endeare their cause to the King of France, exemplifying the injustice of their sufferings, and [Page 4]candalizing as much as tis possible for persons of their spleene and malice, the Intentions and actions of the Ho­nourable the High Court of Parliament; especially Ma­ster Iermin, who by the meanes of his acquaintance in the Court of France, where sometimes hee was Em­bassadour, and by the Commands of the Queene of England, hath indifferent respects, and free admittance into the society of the best there; the King himself affording him his care very often: To whom hee did remonstrate with much earnestnesse the affaires of his Majesty of England, intimating how injuriously they dealt with him here; that he was in a manner expulsed by violence from his Palace; that his Royall Consort, his Majesties Sister, the Queen, was as it were enforced to reside for her safety in the Netherlands: That his Master the King could not with so much interest challenge aid, or expect succours from any Prince of Chri­stendome, as from his Majesty, being his next neighbour, and his brother: That hee was for the common interest of Kings, and their honour, engaged to the cause, being so pre­judiciall to Majesty, to have subjects as it were give Lawes to their Prince: And therefore hedesired his Majesty would please to transferre an able Fleet, with good store of am­munition, and all other military provision, into the North of England, for the Kings assistance, whom he was confident would make his Majesty ample retribution for his curtesie, and be ready to serve him in any affaire with his best ability. The King of France (as I was credibly informed) shaping M. Iermyn this answer; That for his good Brother the King of Englands troubles, he was as much afflicted as if they had hapned to himselfe; that he could heartily will that a sud­den and faire attonement were made up between the King and his Parliament, whom hee conceived very honourably of; and that he could not beleeve so many brave and loyall men of ability and worth as were assembled in the present Parliament, would do any thing against their allegeance to their Soveraigne, or the peace and safety of the Kingdom; that it was absolutely affirmed, that King Charles was rather mis-informed against his Parliament by some Malignants, [Page 5]then that his Parliament did either offer or intend any vio­lence to his sacred person, or diminution to his royall dignity or Prerogative. That for the Queene his deare Sister, hee conceived she went into Holland for her healths sake, and to accompany her daughter the Princesse, rather then of feare of her safety in England: That for the setting forth of any Fleet, or sending hither any provisions of War, as the case stood with him, though he would gladly furnish his Majesty with any assistance in his power, yet he could no way possi­ble grant his desires, having imployment for all his ships, men, and ammunition; having the King of Spaine to ene­my in all parts of his Dominions, being enforced to keepe three severall Armies on foot against him, viz. one in Pi­cardy, to secure those Frontiers from the invasion of the Low-countries; one in Gascony, to repell the attempts of the Biscayners; and a third in Berne and Languedock, to as­sist the Catalonians, that had put themselves into his pro­tection: and that besides hee did conceive he could not with the safety of the amity between France and Eng­land send any Forces into that Kingdome against the PARLIAMENT, which he considently belee­ved were full of duty and good intentions to the KING: and therefore prayed Master Iermin to cease any further treaty in that behalfe which he could not in honour listen to, nor withsafety put in practice, the Councell of France being not to be won to give their consents to any thing that might infringe the league with England. Master Iermines cake being dowe, as the saying is, with this reply, and that refus­sall of his purpose, hath not, to my best notice, since solici­ted his suit, but rests here without much noyse. And in good troth, if my bolt may be hot, in affaires so sarre above my capacity, there is no possibility, had the French any in­tentions to attempt ought against the Kingdom of England, that it should suit to any effect: the army and fleet which was at Calico and about those parts, being billetted there­abouts meerly for the defence of those Provinces against the incursions of the Walloons, who from their garrisons of Graveling, Saint Omers, Bapam, Ayres, Bethun and Cambray, [Page 6]daily and mightily infest those frontiers with their parties; and for any ships, they cannot peep: out of their ports of Bollone, Calico, or Haberdugrave, but the little Dunkerker hath them by the backe, who watch all advantages to sur­prize the Frenches: and for any of the other parts of France, they are either too remote from our English coasts, or unfur­nish'd of any cousiderable number of vessells. Burdeaux and the river of Garoune, which have the most and best ships be­ing very loth to have any enmity with England, whither they vend their wines, deriving to themselves, and all the whole Countrey large annuall emoluments out of their traf­fique with that Kingdome; and for the ports of France in the Mediterranean seas, they were very simple that would imagine the King of France would bring any of his men of war from Marseilles, which consist most part of Galleys, in­to our seas, in which they are uselesse by the long tract of the Spanish coasts; being they must needs passe the straights; which are constantly guarded with store of able galleys, both to stop the passages of the Prench and Turks; so that the ma­lignants in England may as well hope for succours out of the world in the Moone, as our of any part of Prance; and for ammunition, especially powder and lead, the frequent and divers warres here have rendred it so scarce, that they would gladliet purchase it in England then export it out of their owne Countrey: this is my conjecture, in which I am certaine I have not drawne my arrow by ill aime, if I hit not the marke. For other newes here in Paris, it is all of the ordinary sort; the nimble witted French Taylors have brought up a new fashion of doublets, upon whose skirts none shall sit, they being for their smalnesse scarce discern­able, some thirty about a doublet: I make no doubt you will have it ere long with you in London, and be a la mode de France: there is rumour here, that the Pope is lately dead, and that there is like to be a shrewd contention among the Cardinalls. The Spanish faction standing for Cardinall Sp [...] ­nola; and the French for the old Popes Nephew. Would all were peace in England, on the condition all the Conclave of them were at the gallowes, and so dearest Will adieu, and be sure there is nothing more pretious to me then thy love, I being so many wayes ingaged thy Servant, W. S.