NEWS FROM FRANCE: OR, A TRUE DISCOVERY Of the practices of divers of our English Fugitives there.  
Wherein maliciously they would engage the French King to give assistance to His Majesty against His High Court of PARLIAMENT.  
With the King of FRANCE's Answer to their Malignant Counsels.  
Sent in a Letter from PARIS to a person of good account in this City, and by him published.  
Whereunto is added a true Copy of the Londoners last Petition to the high Court of Parliament for Peace.  In DOMINO CONFIDO  printer's or publisher's device 
Decemb: 12 LONDON, Printed for john Matthewes.   

News from FRANCE.  
letters (my dear friend) as well as kisses mingle souls: Your free and real correspondence you have retained with me since my arrival into these foreign parts, having conveyed my heart into thy bosom, and transported thine hither as it were in a mutual exchange. France is full of the Relation of the English affairs; with us in Paris there are many discourses of the late battle, but I believe but a few true ones: though the Malignants and fugitives of our Nation here cry no the Cavaliers victorious, which we that love our Country hope is not truth. Here are rumours of Forces which the King of France has in Picardy at Calais, Boulogne, 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 employed; but I have with my most industrious care and my best intelligence strived to get knowledge in that affair, 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 unknown 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 mean 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, only to leave a memory though of mischief to posterity, sought to acquire fame to themselves by their Country's ruin. And these men have with their utmost endeavours strived to endear their cause to the King of France, exemplifying the injustice of their sufferings, and candalizing as much as 'tis possible for persons of their spleen and malice, the Intentions and actions of the Honourable the High Court of Parliament; especially Master Iermin, who by the means of his acquaintance in the Court of France, where sometimes he was Ambassador, and by the Commands of the Queen 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 he did remonstrate with much earnestness the affairs 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 Royal Consort, his Majesty's 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 Christendom, as from his Majesty, being his next neighbour, and his brother: That he was for the common interest of Kings, and their honour, engaged to the cause, being so prejudicial to Majesty, to have subjects as it were give Laws to their Prince: And therefore hedesired his Majesty would please to transfer an able Fleet, with good store of ammunition, and all other military provision, into the North of England, for the King's assistance, whom he was confident would make his Majesty ample retribution for his courtesy, and be ready to serve him in any affair with his best ability. The King of France (as I was credibly informed) shaping M. jermyn this answer; That for his good Brother the King of England's troubles, he was as much afflicted as if they had happened to himself; that he could hearty will that a sudden and fair atonement were made up between the King and his Parliament, whom he conceived very honourably of; and that he could not believe so many brave and loyal men of ability and worth as were assembled in the present Parliament, would do any thing against their allegiance to their Sovereign, or the peace and safety of the Kingdom; that it was absolutely affirmed, that King Charles was rather misinformed against his Parliament by some Malignants, then that his Parliament did either offer or intent any violence to his sacred person, or diminution to his royal dignity or Prerogative. That for the Queen his dear Sister, he conceived she went into Holland for her health's sake, and to accompany her daughter the Princess, rather than of fear 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 employment for all his ships, men, and ammunition; having the King of Spain to enemy in all parts of his Dominions, being enforced to keep three several Armies on foot against him, viz. one in Picardy, to secure those Frontiers from the invasion of the Low-countries; one in Gascony, to repel 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 he did conceive he could not with the safety of the amity between France and England send any Forces into that Kingdom against the PARLIAMENT, which he confidently believed were full of duty and good intentions to the KING: and therefore prayed Master Iermin to cease any further treaty in that behalf which he could not in honour listen to, nor withsafety put in practice, the Council of France being not to be won to give their consents to any thing that might infringe the league with England. Master jermines 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 noise. And in good troth, if my bolt may be hot, in affairs so far above my capacity, there is no possibility, had the French any intentions to attempt aught 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 merely for the defence of those Provinces against the incursions of the Walloons, who from their garrisons of Gravelling, 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 back, who watch all advantages to surprise the Frenches: and for any of the other parts of France, they are either too remote from our English coasts, or unfurnished of any cousiderable number of vessels. Bordeaux and the river of Garoune, which have the most and best ships being very loath to have any enmity with England, whither they vend their wines, deriving to themselves, and all the whole Country large annual emoluments out of their traffic with that Kingdom; 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 useless by the long tract of the Spanish coasts; being they must needs pass the straits; 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 Moon, as our of any part of Prance; and for ammunition, especially powder and lead, the frequent and divers wars here have rendered it so scarce, that they would gladliet purchase it in England then export it out of their own Country: this is my conjecture, in which I am certain I have not drawn my arrow by ill aim, if I hit not the mark. For other news here in Paris, it is all of the ordinary sort; the nimble witted French Tailors have brought up a new fashion of doublets, upon whose skirts none shall sit, they being for their smallness scarce discernible, 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 Cardinals. The Spanish faction standing for Cardinal Sp●nola; and the French for the old Pope's Nephew. Would all were peace in England, on the condition all the Conclave of them were at the gallows, and so dearest Will adieu, and be sure there is nothing more precious to me then thy love, I being so many ways engaged thy Servant, W. S.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS Now assembled in the high Court of PARLIAMENT.  
The humble Petition of divers Inhabitants of the City of LONDON, and the Liberties thereof.  
SHOWETH,  
THat the present sense of our miseries, and apprehension of inevitable ruin both of the Church and Commonwealth, make us to become humble duitors to this Honourable Assembly (the likest means under God for our relief) to consider our distressed estates, and to provide a speedy remedy for our present and future evils, earnestly desiring you to weigh the care and judgement of our Predecessors, who by a known Law, settled and preserved our Protestant Religion, our Liberties, and Properties, with a right understanding between King and Subjects, which produced peace and plenty in our streets.  
And to reflect with serious thoughts upon our present distempers, violating Religion by Papists and Sectaries, engaging our Nation into a civil, bloody, and derstructive war, invading our Laws 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 destruction of Christians, the unnatural effusion of blood; fathers against sons, brothers by brothers, friends by friends slain, then, famine and sickness, the followers of a civil war, making way for a general confusion, and invasion by a foreign Nation, while our Treasure is exhausted, our Trade lost, and the Kingdom dispeopled. These things weighed and enlarged by your wisdoms, 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 we humbly crave, that (not lending an ear to any fomenters of these present wars under what pretence soever, nor remembering aught that may increase jealousies, or continue divisions between his Majesty and his House of Parliament) you will speedily tender his Majesty (according to his Royal inimations) such Propositions for Accommodation, as he may with honour and safety to the whole Kingdom accept. For effecting whereof, we shall be ready to assist you with the best and utmost of our abilities, and whilst you endeavour Peace, we shall send up our Prayers to Heaven for the blessing of Peace upon you and all that desire it.  
FINIS.