A LETTER Sent from the Queen of SWEDEN To the King of FRANCE TOUCHING, The Affairs of that Kingdome, and the King of Scots With her Majesties desires and gracious promise thereupon.
ALSO A Message from the States of Holland to his Majesty concerning the peace of that Kingdome, and the United Provinces.
WITH A perfect Abstract and Narrative of the whole proceedings and transaction of affairs, between the French and Dutch, in relation to the Commonwealth of England, and the King and Crown of Spain.
Brought over by the last Post and Packets, Iune the 2d. 1652. ⟨June .5.⟩
LONDON: Printed for G: HORTON. 1652.
The Queen of SWEDENS Letter to the King of FRANCE.
DIstance of place must make no difference of minds, Love and Life amongst hearts make an end together; I have long longed to hear from you; but now having such an opportunity, I thought good to let you know, that I yet live to love you, and withall present you with such Occurrences that are most remarkable and extant in these parts, viz. her royall Majesty [Page 4] the Queen of Sweden hath sent a Letter to the King of France; wherein she earnestly implores his Majesty to hearken to an accommodation and Treaty for a generall peace, and o comply with his Councel, in all such wayes and means, that may tend to the honour of his Majesty, and the liberty and freedome of all his liege people in generall: for composing the present differences, and setling of a perfect Union, Her Majesty offers her mediation in the businesse, and to that end and purpose hath sent another letter to the Prince of Conde, and the Duke of Orleans, desiring their condiscentions and assent thereunto, but as yet they have returned no answer; the King hath answered her, and imployed a Messenger of his own: Her Majesty in the said Letter, reminds the King of the Pension formerly granted and conferred upon the Scotch King, desiring a continuance thereof, &c. which probably will not be effectuall; by reason that the present emergent affairs of that Kingdome; requireth extraordinary and vast summes of moneys, for the carrying on of the work in hand: for indeed, great are the differences and distractions throughout his whole Territores, and its conjectured, that they will not soon be composed; by reason that the Duke of Lorrain is come into the assistance of the Prince of Conde, and to that end the work is to be taken into mature deliberation at the Councell conveened in the Louvre, in ororder whereunto on Sunday last about ten a clock at night, the Duke of Lorreign arrived here, having been met before by his royall Highnesse the Duke of Orleans, with the Pith, the Prince of Conde, the Duke of Beauford the Prince of Tarante, and many other Grandees of the same party as far as Grosbois in Brie.
[Page 5] He came into Paris (through a great croud of people) in the Duke of Orleans his Coach, who was brought to the Dukes Palace, where he now lodgeth, having been visited by the Cardinall of Raets and many others. He gives out that he hath no other design but the procuring of the generall peace: A Princely juggle. It is thought that the Prince of Condi, will command his army and march himself to Estempes. They have crossed the river of Marne at Lagny, and have given the allarm at Mellun, where the King is in person, having surprized and plundered the Suburbs, whilest the King with his forces was in the town, and they set severall houses on fire. Since which the said army of Lorrains hath got over the river of Sein at the port of A L' Anglois.
The Duke of Orleans hath sent a Message to the King of the arrival of the said Duke of Lorrain, and of his forces which he advertiseth are comming for the destruction of the enemies of the peace and welfare of this State. We have advice from Estamps, that the Kings forces having taken a Half moone belonging to the Outworks of that place, those of the town had forced them out with great loss on both sides, but the next day it was taken again for the King by the Marshal Thurenne, and again retaken by the Princes forces, and again taken and retaken since that, with the losse of a great many men on both sides, but it is still kept by the Princes forces, the Count of Quince, the Count De la Londe, Mounsieur de St. Amore, Mounsieur de Kategret, Lieutenant of the Guards, and several others of the Kings party, being some slain, others taken, and many sorely wounded; at last that work being make untenable by the Canon shot from both sides, was quit.
[Page 6] The Marshall of Thurenne hath raised his batteries, and doth play hard upon De Estamps, being resolved to storm them by a general assault, and those within are desperately resolved to oppose them, so that probably there will be a great slaughter. The Count of Harcourt hath sent some of his Horse thither, to re-inforce the Kings army there.
The plague is very rife in the Spanish army before Barselona, and the French forces in great want there. Orders have been sent to Challons to bake bread for 4000 men, whom the Marshal de la Ferte doth bring from Champagne to the King. The Arch Duke Leopold hath for certain sent 3000 of his horse to joyn with the Princes, under the command of the Duke of Wittemburgh: The Regiment of Person going towards Dunkirk, for the re-inforcing that Garison, have been routed and destroyed by the Arch Dukes forces.
We have advertisements from Bourdeaux, that 24 Members of that Parliament being suspected of malignancy, are put out of the Parliament, and the rest setled, and secured, to administer the Justice as formerly. The Citizens are about subscribing the Union, but will not suffer this Parliament to enter into it with them, suspecting many of them to be disaffected, and not to be trusted in the business. The Princes party is very strong in the City, and carry a great influence at present.
There hath been lately a fight between the forces of the Count of Harcourt, and a party of the Princes men: the Princes forces were worsted at first, but by the comming in of Mounsieur de Balthazer, they were relieved, and got the victory, many of Harcourts men being slain and divers taken prisoners, and the whole party routed. The Count of Moore marching with a party of fourscore [Page 7] Horse, was fallen upon, and himself slain, not far from Libburney. But his men carried away many prisoners of the Count Harcourts forces, many of which also were slain.
Paris 5 June, stil. nov.
A Letter from CONAVGHT in IRELAND.
SInce the Rendition of Galloway, all that County and Mayo have both submitted to Contribution. The whole force of the Enemy is marching into the county of Sligo, on the borders of Ulster, and Clanrickard with them, where they intend a conjunction with the Ulster Forces, and if they can keep their men together, will attempt something upon Ulster. I have a considerable body of Horse attending them; and next week the Commissary-General and my self resolve to march directly after them; so that probably you will hear speedily they are dissipated or engaged, who are the most considerable Body in this Nation: and if the Lord give us success, the work here will be at an end.
[Page 8] The States of Holland hath likewise sent a Letter to the King, assuring him of their readinesse, or the effecting of a perfect union to the end, that they may be in a condition to assist each other in an offensive or defensive war, against any nation whatsoever that should oppose them; indeed it is high time for them to begin to look to their game; for the English (if provoked) will play their cards home, without much shuffling; and the Spaniard is very active for re inforcing his passage into the united Provinces, which causeth them to make great preparations forwar; and to fortifie and strengthen their frontier towns; their old Regiments formerly discarded, are ordered to appear at a general randezvouz about the 10th: of this instant, and Count William of Nassaw, hath received directions therein. Vantrump talks high, and is very active in re-inforcing of his shipping; they abound much, and say they are forthwith to put our again to sea; upon the same score, which if they do, the English Navy is ready to receive them, and have kept several days of humiliation to implore a blessing.