A. C. 170

The Parli

ament Pro

rogued.

ing of this Parliament) must be applied to make good the Deficiencies of the current Year, as has been done in former Governments. But I hope our next Meeting will give you an Opportunity of providing for it; and that the Succefs of Her Majefty's Arms in the mean time, may put you into fuch Circumftances, as may render it eafie to you.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

As I will, upon all Occafions, faithfully reprefent to the Queen the true State of this Kingdom and in the most effectual manner recommend it to Her Majefty for the Continuance of Her Grace and Favour; fo I must earnestly recommend to you, that on your Parts, and in your feveral Countries, you take fuch Care of the Publick Peace, and the Execution of the good Laws already made, that we may all reap the Benefit of Her Majesty's most hap .py Government.

And then his Grace Prorogued the Parliament to the Third of October next.

Upon the Duke of Savoy's declaring for the Grand Alliance, Count Staremberg, who commanded the Imperial Forces in Italy, fent a Detachment of 1500 Horfe, under the Conduct of Count Visconti to his Royal Highness's Afliftance. This handful of Men were attack'd in their March by the Enemy, but having bravely fought their Way through, moft of them got fafe into Piedmont. However, this being too flender a Supply to fecure the Duke of Savoy from being intirely opprefs'd by the_French and Spaniards, exprefs Orders were fent from Vienna to Count Staremberg to join, at any Rate, his Royal Highness's Forces with the beft Part of the Imperial Army. Accordingly, that wife and valiant General having made a Motion toward the Mincio, to amuse the Duke of Vendofme, and make him believe he defign'd to go into Germany, turn'd on a fudden, pafs'd the Secchia on the 26th of December (N. S.) and diCount Sta- rected his March through the Countries of Parma and remberg's Placentia, having divided his Forces, which amounMemorable ted to near 16000 Men, into three Bodies, the first March. of which was Commanded by the young Prince of

Vaudes

Vaudemont, the fecond by General Vaubonne, and the A. C. third which form'd the Rear Guard, by General 170. Staremburgh in Perfon. On the 2d of January the Imperialifts defeated a Detachment of 400 Horse, and so Granadiers of the Forces of Milan, and with the like fuccefs attack'd the next Day 200 French Horse near Brono; and 200 Spanish Foot, and fome Militia commanded by French Officers, and entrench'd at Stradella. The 4th the Germans pafs'd the Stradella, and continued their march, leaving 130 Dragoons in thefe Intrenchments, to make the French believe they defign'd to reft in that Place, and in their way to Brono routed 500 French Troopers. In the mean time the Duke of Vendofme, who follow'd the Imperialists with gooo Foot, and 1500 Hofe, arriv'd the 3d at Sarmata, and hearing of the Action happen'd that Day at Stradella, he haften'd thither, and drove the German Dragoons from thefe Intrenchments: The whole Imperial Army being join'd, they march'd towards the Parma, and finding Tome Troops pofted on the other fide to oppose their Paffage, whilft Monfieur de Vendofme march'd to attack them in the Rear; General Vaubonne fwam over with fome choice Squadrons, and beat the Enemy from that advantageous Poft. The Germans then laid a Bridge on that River, over which most of the Army paft; but that Bridge being made in hafte, of old rotten Boats, it unfortunately broke down, before the Rear commanded by the Prince of Lichtenftein, and Count Solari, could all get over. Thereupon the French, who by this time were come up, attack'd thofe Troops left on the other fide, which occafion'd a fharp Difpute, wherein thofe two brave Generals were kill'd; but the Imperial Horfe fwiming once more over the River, rescued the Foot, and the Bridge being repair'd, the whole Army pals'd, and on the 13th join'd the Duke of Savoy, having not loft above 400 Men in that prodigious and me. He joins the morable March. His Royal Highnels having dif. Duke of Savoy. pos'd his new Guefts into Quarters of Refreshment, and view'd the Fortifications of Verrue, Verceil, and other Posts, return'd the 25th of January (N. S.) to Turin, where he gave Audience to the Envoy Extra ordinary of England and Holland.

A. C.

18. N. S.

After feveral Paper Skirmishes between the Mar170. quifs de Puifieux, and Monfieur de Mellarede, the Minifters of France and Savoy, in Swifferland, the firft Diet of the defired a Meeting of the Deputies of the Cantons at Cantons of Soleurre. The fame being granted, and the AflemSwiffer bly open'd on the 18th of February, (N. S.) the land, Feb. French Ambaffador made a long Speech to them, the Sum of which was no more than to offer to them, 1. The Guard of that part of Savoy which boarders upon the Lake of Geneva, and is called the Country of Chablais and Eauffigny: 2. That his Majesty's Troops fhould have free Paffage through them to and from Italy. 3. That the Duke of Savoy fhould not be allow'd the like Paffage for his Troops: And 4. That the Swifs, in confideration of his Majesty's extraordinary Complaifance, fhould grant him a new Levy of a certain number of Men. The Biet having debated this Offer, made a Deputation to the Ambaffador, to let him know, That, befides many Inconveniencies which would enfue from their Ac ceptance of that Propofal, they did not think the Guard of thofe Places a fufficient Security for the Helvetick Body, who were refolv'd not to let themfelves be furrounded by any one Prince. The Ambaffador made many Proteftations of the great Confideration his Mafter had for the Cantons, and that he had no Defign to furround them; but this not proving Satisfactory, he feemed to give fome hopes of his Mafter's confenting that the Fortrefs of Montmeillan might be put into the Hands of the Cantons, but not the Country round it; And this not fatisfying the Diet, which perfifted to demand the Neutrality for all Savoy, the Affembly broke up, with mutual Diffatisfaction between them, and the Ambaffador, who at † parting deliver'd them the following Memorial.

Feb. 22..

N. S.

2% French Magnificent Lords,

Ambaffa-Am concerned to fee that the more Complaisance the dor's Speech King, my Master, has for your Defires, the more you to them. affect to make him irregular Demands; for it feems you make no account of the new Mark of his Confideration, which his Majefty has fo lately given you, in granting you the Favour, which you had defired of him, in relation to the Countries fituate along the Rhine, and the Lake of Con

A. C.

Conftance. Nothwithstanding all the King has done to
remove the Apprehenfion you have of being Jurrounded by 170
one Powerful Prince, you are yet earnest in asking a Neu
trality for all Savoy. I am forry that I should be ob-
liged to tell you I cannot give you any Affurances upon your
Demands: Whenever you make any that fhall not Preju-
dice the King's Intereft, I fhall readily use my utmost good
Offices for your Satisfaction: But while you perfift in en-
deavouring to obtain Things which may expofe part of his
Majefty's Dominions to the Mercy of his Enemies, and
when you will exact that he should give up his Advanta-
ges in their Favour, all I can do is to give the King an
Account of your Demands, but without accompanying them
with any Inftances on my part, unless I were refolved to
difpleafe his Majesty. It is enough for me, that I have
ufed all poffible and reasonable Means to undeceive you in
the Fears you appear to have of being furrounded. I can
do no more, at prefent, but muft expect the Orders his
Majefty will pleafe to give me.

The next Day, the Diet made a new Deputation to this Ambaffador, to fignifie to him their Wonder and Surprize at the Expreffions he made ufe, of in his Memorial, particularly the word Favour; and to reprefent to him, that all the Cantons had demanded of his Majefty for the Security of the Frontiers of Switzerland, was their inconteftable Right, ftipulated in their Alliances with him, and founded on the Rights of Nations. The Deputies having acquitted themfelves of this Commiflion, the Affembly broke up, after they had agreed to wait a few Days for the King of France's Refolution touching the Neutrality of all Savoy; and that in the mean time every Canton fhould confult what further Meafures to take as occafion may require.

The Lords all this while, with great Zeal, and unwearied Application, examin'd into the particu. lars of the Confpiracies: And watching at the fame. time for the Safety of the Kingdom, they thought fit to prefent an Addrefs to her Majefty, importing,

The Lords
Addrf to
The Succes

T Hat they were informed by a Committee of their own Body, to whom they referred the Confi-concerning deration of leveral Papers delivered into this Houle the Navy, ⚫ from March 3,

R 2

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170

from the Admiralty Office, relating to the prefent Condition of the Navy, That they had defired His Royal Highnefs, Prince George of Denmark, Lord High Admiral of England, to caufe to be Laid be'for their Lordships an Account in Writing, what Number of Ships fit for Home Service, might be Got ready and Mann'd within 20 Days: To which the 'faid Committee received in answer a Paper, entituled, A Lift of Such Ships of her Majefty's as are now at Home in Sea pay; with an Account which of them are defigned on Foreign Service, and what Number of Men they want to make up their Allow'd Complements, according to the loft Mufters. Whereby it appear'd, 'that Sixty-two Ships, from the Second to the Sixth Rate, were now defign'd for the Home-Service, which wanted the Number of 3149 Men, to make ' up their allow'd Complements; and that One and thirty Ships, from the Second to the Sixth Rate, defigned on Foreign Service, wanted the Number of 2332 Men, to make up their allow'd Complements, to which was added in the Clofe of the 'faid Paper, that by the foregoing Lift it would ap 'pear, that feveral of the Ships were in want of Confiderable Numbers of Men to make up their Complements; That their Captains had PrefsWarrants with Strict Orders to Endeavour to get what Men they could, but it was very uncertain by what Time they would be Able to get fuch a Number as would put them into a Condition to 'Proceed to Sea, and for that Reafon it was impoffi'ble to Inform the faid Committee how many of 'them could be Got ready and Mann'd for HomeService in Twenty Days.

Which they having taken into their Serious Conderation, and Judging it highly Neceffary, tho' at prefent by reafon of the great Want of Men, the allow'd Complements for the whole Number of Ships could not be depended on; Yet that there fhould be a Strength at Sea for the Defence of the King'dom in this Conjuncture, did think it an Indifpen'Gible Duty incumbent on them to make this Hum'ble Application to her Majefty, defiring that fhe 'would be pleafed to give Speedy and Effectual Orders, that fuch a Number of Ships proper for the Home Service might be forthwith got ready and ! Mann'd,

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