in the Desire I was bold to present yow with my humble servise, and to aquaint yow with such newse as I then knew, the greate good also that god hath donne both for my inward and outward man in those lines I also notifyed to yow, and as then so now I most heartyly and humbly begge your prayers to the almighty for his assistance against the strength of temptation, in all sorts.

on Monday last beeing the 13th of Apr. our Parliament began. the King with the Parliament and such of his nobility as the vast land-floods would suffer to come to London rid from Whitehall in greate magnificence to Westminster. his Majesty made a longe speech, and drew forth out of his pocket a letter sent by the Scotch Lords to the French King for aide to invade 227Engla. tendering their best servises to that effect. this the King intercepted, and thervpon imprisoned the Commitioners of Scotland in the Towre whose handes were to the letter, amongst which the Lord Lowden was one, reputed a man of extraordinary partes, all which as tis thought will scarsely save his head. they presse soldiers in all partes of England, some say 30000 foote and 7000 horse, others adde to this number few or none substract, the preparations are greate of all sorts of amunition. the Earl of Northumberland is cheife generall, and my Lord Conoway commands the horse, there are in the army very able soldiers from France Spaine and the Netherlands, especially of the Irish who in their last Parliament held some 5 weekes sinse have freely given the King 4 Subsidys, with promise of a farther suply if hee shall have ocation. 8000 foote are levyed there and 2000 horse. in Germany the 2 greate armys are parted without fighting almost, and on both sides forage what they can. the turke makes greate preparations but against whom none knowes. there arived heere lately a Spannish Ambasador in greate state and magnificence with such gorgeous Aparrel as from Spaine would scarsely bee expected. what his businesse is I know not, but it is generally voted that hee comes to intreate the Lady Mary for his Majestys eldest sonne and to offer the Emperors daughter for the Prince. this Spanniard return'd in bills of exchange (as tis sayd) 4000li for gold lase which his foote men wore. The Prince Palatine some reporte is at liberty the certeinty of that newse I know not. sure I am that hee is not in England. in France there is very greate provision against Spaine, and so e contra. their exactions are so greate as the Normans are scarsely yet in quiet both there and in Ireland and heere too so much raine is fallen as a greate dearth is generally feared. this is all the newse I have at this time I shall heere therefore end in all humblenesse begging your prayers for mee, and resting Your servant to the vtmost of my strength