A. C. 1703. than by a firm and vigorous Union of all Princes 6 6 6 : there thereof, Application was made to them, not on, A. C fly to leave thofe Troops on the Rhine, but to fend 1702. them to the Danube, which their High Mightineffes r 'confented to for the Good of the common Caufe, in hopes that their Example would have a good Ef fect. That their High Mightineffes having concluded a New Treaty with the King of Portugal, the better to obtain the end intended by the Grand Alliance, and being obliged, in Conjunction with Her Majefty of Great Brittain, to fend Forces to the Atiftance of that Prince, and feveral other Charges, they fhall have occafion for their own Troops that are in Germany, whom they had lent for a time, and not for ever. The Deputies alledged farther, that the Forces of the Republick being thus difperfed from the Danube to the Sea, they could not do the Service that was expected from them, and concluded, that the only way left for preferving the Empire, and reducing the Power of France, was, that all the Princes and States of Germany, who make fo powerful a Body, would they but exert their Force, do, for the future, Act with more Vigour and Union than heretofore, and do actually, and in a due time, furnifh the Number of Troops 'they are obliged to; which being perform'd, they 'doubted not, through God's Blefling, to fee this War crown'd with a Glorious Succefs. Their High Mightineffes have fent Directions to their Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of England, to advise with Her Majefty's Minifters on the fame Subject, in order to find out the moft proper Expedients for awakening, if poffible, fome Members of the Empire, who feem'd feiz'd with a fatal Lethargy,)! while the Duke of Wirtemberg, and other Members of the Circles of Suabia and Franconia, or rather the whole Empire, are expofed to the greatest Danger that ever was. 6 6 6 Whether the French King was offended at fome Count Mar Dictatorian Expreflions in Marefchal Villars's Letters fin fint to to his Majefty, or whether the Elector of Bavaria, Command not being able to bear that General's affuming, the French baughty Carriage, follicited that Monarch to recal Forces in him, Couns Marfin was about this time fent to comGermany, and the French Forces in Germany; and was no fooner A. C. fooner arrived there, than he was made Marefchal 703. of France: In which quality he was firft Saluted by the Elector of Bavaria. On the 6th of December (N.-S) that Prince laid Siege to Ausburg, and continued to Batter the Place till the 13th, when a Letter directed to General Bibrack, the Governor, was intercepted. His Electoral Highnefs finding by it, that the Governor was advis'd to take fuch Measures as he should think fit for preferving his Garrison, and the City from being deftroy'd, there being no hopes of Succours, that Prince fent him the Letter by the fame Perfon, who was to carry it; whereupon a Ausburg Capitulation was agreed on the 14th, and the Gartaken by the rifon was allowed to march out with four Pieces of Ele&or of Bavaria. Cannon, and other Marks of Honour, to be conduced to Nordlingen. Count Bibarck infifted very much upon fome Articles relating to the Privileges of the Inhabitants, but the Elector would grant them none of 'em, declaring he was no Tyrant, and therefore they might rely upon him. However, his Garrison confifting of ten Squadrons and fixteen Battalions, moft French, under the Command of Maref chal de Marfin their new General, were no fooner got into the place, than he declared his Intentions to alter the Magistracy, and remove the Proteftants from the fame. The Marefchal de Marfin, on his part, demanded 200000 Florins, for an acknowledgement of the kindness of the Elector, in preferving them from being plunder'd; befides another Sum for railing 12000 Recruits, and maintaining a Garrifon of 100co Men. Dec. 14. But 'twas not the Conjunction of the French and ofth. Hun-Bavarians alone, that distress'd the Emperor's Atgarians. fairs: For the Court of France had, at this time, fo effectually fomented and encouraged the Dilcontents of the opprefs'd and perfecuted Hungarians, that they appeared in open Rebellion; and under their Leader, Prince Ragotzi, gain'd feveral Advantages, poffeffed themfelves of feveral Places, and advanc'd within two Leagues of Presburg, where Count Schlich, the Imperial General, that was fent against them, was obliged to retire. Several Expreffes arriving daily at Vienna with Accounts of the Progrels of that Infurrection; a falfe Rumour was fpread in that City, and the Country round it, that Count Caroli Caroli and Count Berezeni having join'd their Forces, A. C. making near 20000 Men, had march'd by Presburg, 1703. and were advancing to befiege Vienna. This Report, tho' very improbable, put the Country into fuch a Confternation, that towards the beginning of Decem=ber, a vaft Number of Country People with 1500 Waggons, came to the Gates of Vienna, imploring = the Protection of the Emperor, and defiring to be received into the Town. This encreas'd the Alarm of the Inhabitants of the Suburbs, who immediately went about to remove their Effects into the City; whereupon, the Country People were order'd forthwith to return to their Habitations. The Emperor having held feveral Councils upon that Subject, Prince Eugene fet out the 12th of December for Pref burg, to give the neceffary Orders for the Security of that Place, and other Frontiers, and to endeavour to bring the Malecontents to an Accommodation. About the fame time Prince Ragotzi, and his Adherents, publifh'd a Manifefto, Protefting, That they did not intend to withdraw themselves from the Allegiance they ow'd to the Emperor, provi'ded they might have the free Enjoyment of their Religion, Liberties, Eftates and Privileges, and that the Government of Hungary be trufted in the Hands of Natives of that Country: Whatever be the Iffue of this Infurrection, we may here obferve the wrong Politicks of thofe Sovereigns, who think hard Ufage to be the best Means to keep a Nation in Subjection: A Notion moft pernicious, for whenever a People is unjustly opprefs'd, they will embrace every Opportunity of bettering their Condition. One of the motives which induced the King of Portugal to enter into the Grand Alliance, was, that the Archduke of Auftria fhould be declared King of Spain, and come in Perfon into Portugul. The Admirante of Caftile mifdoubting the Hefitations and Slowness of the German Councils, which were for putting off the departure of the Arch Duke till the next Spring, published a Memorial to prove, that the prefence of that Prince was abfolutely neceffary in Portugal, and would admit of no delay. His Reafons were thought fo folid, that a Week after the Arch-Duke was declar'd King of Spain, his Ca A. C. 1703. enna. Sept. 19. N.S. * 08. er 15. 12. ** Catholick Majefty fet out from Vienna in his Journey to Holland, with fuch a Noble Retinue as was to attend him in his Expedition. He lay the firft night at HailK. Charles brone, where he begin the Custom of Caufing the III. fets out Duke of Mansfield, as Prince of Fundi, the Marquis from Vi- del Vafto, the Duke of Cafetta, and the Prince of Lichtenftein, to be cover'd in his Prefence, as Grandees of Spain. The next remarkable place he came to was Hamel, a City belonging to the Elector of Hannover, where he was magnificently entertained by that Court, who were come there for that purpofe. Before Dinner.he receiv'd the Compliments of the Minifters of Pruffia, Zell and Wolfembuttle, and about two Hours after the Elector of Hannover paid his Catholick Majefty a private vifit, which the King return'd a little while after. His next remove was to Duffeldorp, where he was received by the Elector Palatine at the head of the Nobility of the Dutchies of Berg and Juliers, and where he staid for fome time to fee the Diverfions that had been prepared for him, and to wait till every thing was ready in Holland to transport him into Portugal. As foon as the Duke of Marlborough was inform'd of the King of Spain's being arrived at Duffeldorp, his Grace went thither to congratulate his Majefty on his Acceffion to the Spanifh Throne, in the Queen of Great Brittain's Name. The King having had notice of the Duke's coming, put on, that day he expected his Vilit, a fine rich Sword, which he defign'd to prefent his Grace with, which he did in a very genteel manner: For while they were both difcourfing, his Majelty took it from his Side, and giving it into the Duke's Hand, with a graceful Air, My Lord, faid he (in French) I am not ashamed to fay, I am but a poor Prince, Je n'ay que la Cape et l'Epee, I have only my Cloak, and my Sword; the latter may be of use to your Grace, and I hope you will not think it the worse for my wearing it one day. At his departure from Duffeldorp,, his Catholick Majefty made rich Prefents of Jewels to the Court, and receiv'd all the Marks of Honour from the Pruffian and Dutch Garrifons, as he paffed along in his way to Fort Schenk (or Schenken skans) where he was received and complimented by the Commiflioners deputed by the States General of the United Provinces. Between The Duke of Marl borough waits on bim. |