The beginning, progresse, and conclusion of the late troubles in France &c. Faithfully observed, and written from a gentleman now in Paris, to a person of honour in this kingdome. Dated at Paris March 23. 1649.

THE Beginning, Progreſſe, and Concluſion of the late Troubles in FRANCE. Sir,

I Beleeve I have loſt three or four letters that I ſent you in the beginning of theſe troubles and I am like to be at a greater loſſe by not receiving your anſwers to them: But I ſhall deſire you by the next Poſt to ſend me an abſtract of yours, that I may underſtand whither they containe any thing ſo neceſſary, as will conſtrain me to inquire after them at St. Jermins. I will take no notice of the laſt actions in England, nor tell you how impatiently they are ſupported here, and every where, as farre as the correſpondence of this place can reach: but you ſhall obſerve in France the greateſt cure of the moſt deſperate diſeaſes, that perhaps is mentioned in ſtory.

The Prince of Condy had beſeidged this City with his owne Army, the chiefe of that drawn out of Catalonia, that out of Italy, and ſome Troopes out of Germainy. The Parliament of this City had raiſed 14000 Mercinaries, and had 10000 Burgois, ever attending extraordinary Convoys. Duke Longivile was marching with 8000 Mercinaries from Rovin, an Army in Britaine, and another (though very ſmall) in Province: The Arch Duke Leopold, and Duke of Loraine entred into France, and Marſhall de Turin come out of Germany, (and after many Letters of promiſed Loyalty to the King, Cardinall and Prince of Condy) declared for the Parliament: This warre continued very hot during this Seidge: wherein the Pariſians were continually beaten from their Convoyes, by the P. of Condy, and D. Longevile as often defeated by the Count de Harcourt; and at laſt (which gives to be of greateſt importance) Count Erlock (Turin being declared Traytor at S. Germans) wrought ſo with the Officers of that Germain Army, that the Marſhal was glad to eſcape with fifty of his own Guard: Theſe ſucceſſes you might imagine would humble the Pariſians into a Treaty, but it was more occaſioned by thoſe obſervations the Parliament here, and elſewhere made of the people and their Generalls: For three times they have been ready to revolt, and teare them out of their Robes, the Burgois have been jealous, and both Burgois and Parliament jealous of the Princes their Generalls; who now have onely the popular voyce. But thoſe Princes, and Parliament, that began this War by the example of England, did miſtake the conſtitution of their owne Nation, or did not obſerve the conſtitution of ours.

For ours are more open handed, and more apt to disburſe franckly towards the maintenance of their wills, and (as they are more fluingly flegmatick) more conſtant to their affections, or hatred than the French, for here the people have ſhifted four times their Favorites; and when they came to leavy monies, (though in a ſmall proportion) the Parliament found more Enemies, and fiercer within the walls, then abroad: Thus ſeverall cauſes hath begot this Treaty, ſo much unexpected by the world, and finiſhed by the Deputies in two daies, with all perfectings of hands, and Seals thoſe Deputies being Plenipotentiaries.

But thoſe Articles they brought from Court were as honourable, and as ſolidly eſſentiall for the Crown as could be wiſhed, and ſuch as left the revolted Princes, and Generalls in their firſt condition, without any reward for raiſing this ſtorme; which they knew by ſecret intelligence from Court, before the Deputies brought them to the Seſſions at the Pallace.

Therefore the Princes raiſed the people into ſuch a Fury as they aſſembled like a whole Nation about the Hoſtell Devile; and meeting the Parliament denied the peace, and were ready to ſacrifice them, if the Burgois had not come in a ſtrong body to their reſcue; and all this Tumult was begotten by the ſpecious advantages the Princes have againſt the Court for the protection of Mazarine, whom the Prince of Condy preſerves and defends in his firſt condition, and would not ſuffer the Articles to paſſe unleſſe the Cardinall ſigned them.

Munday the 14. from 6. in the Morning, till 6. at Night, the debate held; the Princes and their Confederates moved to have the Articles burnt by the hand of the Hangman, becauſe the Cardinalls hand was to them, but that would not be admitted; then it was propounded, not to accept of them, and to ſend downe for new conditions; but at laſt it was concluded (the Burgois awing the people without, which fomented the choler within) that the Articles ſhould be accepted, and onely by the ſame Deputies, the Queen ſhould be humbly requeſted to moderate two of them, one concerning the lict de Juſtice to be kept at St. Germains; the other concerning the Parliaments not aſſembling during this year 49. but it was likewiſe concluded, that though the Queen did not conſent to that moderation that they ſhould ſigne the peace, and the Princes and Generalls are obliged to accept of ſuch Conditions as the ſaid Deputies can procure for them: Duke Longivile) who hath already united himſelfe by a civill Meſſage to the Prince of Condy) is included in this peace, and the City of Rovy, if they ſigne it in ten dayes, and ſo is Brittaine, and Provance, if they ſigne it in twenty; and the chiefe of the Articles conſented to by both ſides, is that ſome choſen from the Deputies of Paris, ſhall immediately accompany the Ambaſſadours of the Court for the generall Peace.

Now, Sir, I muſt tell you, my opinion is, that it is happy for the Crowne, that they had this Civill War, becauſe the Parliament and Princes have gained ſo much experience from it, as gives them a perfect knowledge of the inconſtancy of the people, and of one another, and of ſuch parſimony in the natures of all as cannot give them any courage to a new undertaking; and it is well their humours are found out, and purged, whilſt ſo excellent a Phyſitian as the Prince of Condy was extant; who is a true State Phyſitian, and gives violent Medicines. I am weary, and

Sir, Your moſt humble faithfull Servant, F. C. Paris 23. March, 1649. FINIS.