STRANGE NEWS FROM FRANCE OR, The Copy of a Letter which was sent from thence to the Ordinary Ambassador for the King of France, unto his Majesty of great Britain, who lies in Lincoln's Inne-Fields, Febr. 8. 1641.  
Wherein is set down a true Relation of a most Wonderful Apparition and terrible Spectacle that was seen upon a Mountain in Province, February, 4. 1641.  
Vnot the Amazement of all the Spectators, to the number of above two thousand.  
Faithfully translated into English, according to the French Copy.  
By W. V Gent.  
London, Printed for John Thomas, 1641.   

Strange NEWS from France.  
MY LORD,  
AFter I have done acquainting your Lordship with the affairs of Spain and Italy, as fare as my weak intelligence is able to inform you, pray give me leave to write your Lordship something concerning your own Country (France) and verily my Lord, although Histories both modern & ancient are copious enough in setting down not only the Acts of Chivalry, and Warlike guests of the people and French Nation, but also the strange Accidents and supernatural events that have happened in the Realm: Yet a more conspicuous than this whereof I am now going to inform your Lordship, which happened Febr, the 4. New stile, nor more worthy of the remembrance of posterity, I think is not mentioned in our Chronicles or annual records, for aught yet that I could ever read; not to hold your Lordship in further expectance, or to raise your admiration with attendance, which without doubt will be sufficiently affected with the nature of the Relation: The Wonder following was this:  
IN the Province of Avignon, two leagues from St. Vincents near the Mountain and Plains called De Varra cavil, being the Demeanes and Hereditary of the late possession of the late unhappy Monsieur Memoran●●●, betwixt seven and eight in the morning, the day above mentioned, it being a great Gloom of Must not seldom seen with us, were sensible heard, the call of divers Drums beating to Arms, after that the Trumpets, distinctly sounded but a sella; after that both Drums and Trumpets, clearly and terribly, the one by beating, the other by his tantaraing gave evident notice of marching, the Neighbours and Inhabitants thereabouts to the number of some two or three thousand people fit for Arms, presently flew unto their Weapons, thinking that some power of Spain had been coming to invade them through the Grisons Country, but going to use and aslay their Arms, they found themselves so possessed and ceased with a pale and ghastly fear, that little stomach they had to go to meet these supposed Enemies: The Priest of the Parish caused the Bell to be toled to Prayers, assuring the people that by the effects he felt in himself, and those he perceived in them; this was not the Army of any Earthly power, but of the King of Heaven: The people gave of the course of Arming and followed his advice, went to their Church, and to their devotion, all the Drums in a very great number sounded most distinctly divers distinct marches, as of several Nations: and as did the Drums for the Jnfanterie, so did the Trumpets for the Cavalry, some sounding deeper, some shriller, the voices of Commauders was plainly heard but not understood. This This continued some an hour and a half of thereabouts: all which time the Mist never seen before lay upon the Mountain and plain in a very dismal manner, th' Priest did his Office in exhorting the people to trust in God, and to pray unto him, showing himself more Man, than all his Parishioners besides.  
At the last, it broke up a most clear day, the Mist was dispersed, and the Sun shined, as for this time of the year in his full strength, and with the appearing of the Sun, the Inhabitants took, at the Priest's persuasion some better encouragement to behold the wonders of God being then assured, as well they might, that it was a Message from Heaven, the Sun thus clearly shining, appeared two marshaled Armies upon the Mountain, the Ensign of one being white, and a Sable Cross, of the other the Ensign red, and the Cross white, in direct form of Battalia one against another, their Horse Marshaled in the Wings in a very perfect way cavalry, at last the Cannons rattled on both sides for the space of half an hour, during which time the two Armies were seen to draw on softly, not only the noise and smoke of Cannons were evidently seen; and heard, but the very form of Cannons with their Carriages, Gunners, and Fire-sticks, was apparently perceived, and descried, by above three Thousand People, who have deposed it and sworn it some of them, being of no small quantity, after the play of Cannon on both sides the Armies drew near, and the horse delivered charges ceived charges very fiercely on both sides, the Lances were both seen and heard to shiver, men as they appeared, fell from horse, and horse fell under men, with great noise, groans and piteous clamours, at last the gross of both Armies met, and fought in a main body, two whole hours most pitiful ejaculations being all the while heard, men fell evidently on both sides to all men's view, but more on the side that had the white Ensigns and Cross sable, then on the Other, at last the Mountain was all covered again with the smoke of Powder, the sent whereof came hot into the noses of the Inhabitants below. At length some half an hour after the shooting and clashing began to cease, than again most gloriously appeared the Sun, and only appeared the Army that bore the red colours with the White-Crosse, vaunting, triumphing, and with great joy shooting, and echoing as well with Voice, as with Drum, Fife, and Trumpet, on the side of the white Ensigns, and Sable-Crosse, were by them descried abundance yea, an innumerable multitude of dead Carcases, both of horse and men, broken Artillery, shivered Lances, and all other miserable tokens of a vanquished party, the other Army fair marched away into the Air to all their thinking, but the other lay in the posture as is written, some people would have gone up that very day unto the Mountain; but were otherways advised by their Popish Priests, and the rest of the Clergy in those parts, the morrow they went up, but saw nothing, nor any broken weapons, or dead Corpse whatsoever, as did appear in that number the day before, save only upon the top of the Mountain, there being a great plain, they went in that plain up to the knees in blood, yea ingore-blood: Sir, what this may pretend God knoweth, but you have the Relation as here it was delivered unto his Majesty by the said Parish Priest: And the Gentry, Inhabitants of the place, with a Testat signed with above a thousand hands more of those that were Spectators the first day, and went up the Mountain to view; on the next, I myself (as my place it is) have spoken with divers of the Gentlemen that came up, and took the pains of purpose to inform his Majesty, who all aver it in that worthy serious manner that here we are forced to believe it, as I know your Lordship will take it for no other from him that would be hearty sorry to inform you otherwise.  
Your Lordship's servant to command. P. Riville. Paris. Febr. 7. 1641.  
FINIS.