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 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, 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, 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.

And to reflect with ſerious thoughts upon our preſent diſtempers, violating Religion by Papiſts and Sectaries, engaging our Nation into a civill, bloody, and derſtructive war, invading our Lawes and Liberties, endangering all our lives, and utterly diſinabling us to relieve our diſtreſſed brethren in Ireland: We beſeech you likewiſe to conſider the effects of a continued war, as the diſtruction of Chriſtians, the unnaturall effuſion of blood; fathers againſt ſonnes, brothers by brothers, friends by friends ſlaine, then, famine and ſickneſſe, the followers of a civill war, making way for a generall confuſion, and invaſion by a forraigne Nation, while our Treaſure is exhauſted, our Trade loſt, and the Kingdome diſpeopled. Theſe things weighed and enlarged by your wiſedomes, we doubt not will be as ſtrong motives in you to labour, as in us to deſire a ſpeedy Peace, and a happy Accommodation.

Wherefore wee humbly crave, that (not lending an eare to any fomenters of theſe preſent wars under what pretence ſoever, nor remembring ought that may increaſe jealouſies, or continue diviſions betweene his Majeſty and his Houſe of Parliament) you will ſpeedily tender his Majeſty (according to his Royall inimations) ſuch Propoſitions for Accommodation, as hee may with honour and ſafety to the whole Kingdome accept. For effecting whereof, wee ſhall be ready to aſſiſt you with the beſt and utmoſt of our abilities, and whileſt you endeavour Peace, wee ſhall ſend up our Prayers to Heaven for the bleſſing of Peace upon you and all that deſire it.