rage they gain'd by fubduing this Sea Port Town, A. C. and that of Cork; for thereby a ftop was put to all 1690. Supplies from France, (at least on this fide of Ireland) and the Irish were almoft confin'd to the Province of Ulfter, where they had much ado to fubfift. The Earl of Marlborough having perform'd The Earl of this Glorious Expedition, in as little time as, con- Marlbofidering the Seafon of the Year, feem'd neceflary rough refor his Sea Voyage, Embark'd again for England, turns to and arriv'd at Kensington the 28th of October, where England, he receiv'd that favourable Welcome from their Majefties, which his great Services had deferv'd. How his Lordship came a Year after to lay down his Employments is ftill a Secret; but 'tis certain that King William was at a great lofs to fill up his Vacancy; and that He ever retain'd an Esteem for the Earl's Political and Military Abilities, which His Majesty fufficiently expreft, as foon as Time and better Information had diffipated the Prejudices which had been whisper'd him against that Peer. Before we leave Ireland we must take notice, that upon the News of the English Fleet Sailing towards that Kingdom, Count Lauzun fearing being Befieg'd at Galloway, went off from thence with the Duke of Tyrconnel, Monfieur Boiffeleau, and the miferable Remains of his French Troops,leaving the General Command of the Irish Forces to the Duke of Berwick, which was afterwards given to Monfieur St. Ruth. Having thus brought the Campaign in Ireland to Affairs on a Period, we have now time to confider the State the Contiof Affairs on the Continent. How great foever the nent, and weight of the Confederacy feem'd already to be, it first in was this Year confiderably increas'd by the addition Italy. of the Duke of Savoy, whofe Country is fo Situated as to make both Parties Court him with utmost Application, though in a different manner, and with different Succefs. His Highness, fince the kindling of the War, had profeft a Neutrality, with which the French appear'd firft the leaft fatisfied. though they feem'd to have most reafon to be fo; for though the Duke had been fo Complaifant to the King of France as to Imprifon, Exile, and at laft to destroy by the Sword his own Proteftant Subjects, the miferable Vaudois, A. C. Vaudois, yet nothing was able to continue him in ready France. ready to Attack him, and the Spaniards from the A. C. Milanefe not in a condition to Succour him; He 1690. therefore wifely made ufe of all the Artifice imagi- ; nable to fpin out a little more time, which produced thefe new Propofals from France, viz. That the King was willing to refer his Concerns to the Pope and the Republick of Venice, upon condition the Duke would confign Verceil, Carmagnole and Suza into the Pope's Hands till the end of the War. The Duke being preft fo far, and confidering it was to no purpofe to conceal a thing that was already but too much fufpected, and muft neceffarily be known, boldly declar'd, That he was engaged with the Emperor, and could not go from his Word; However in re. The Duke gard the Alliance he had made with his Imperial Ma- of Savoy jefly tended no farther than to oppofe the unjuft Defigns enters into of France, if his meft Chriftian Majefty would put deracy athe Confe Cazal and Pignerol into the Hands of the Republick int of Venice, till the end of the War, he would lay down bis Arms, and for the fame put into the Pope's Hands one of his own Towns, as a Pledge for the obfervation of a Neutrality. Every one will eafily imagine how France relifh'd this Anfwer, which, at beft, was but a Civil Declaration of War; the Confequence of which was the immediate Liberty and Recalling of the Vaudois, and Incouragement given them to arm themfelves against France; And the publick avowing of the Duke's Treaties, firft with the Emperor, and then with the King of Spain, whereby they refpectively engag'd themfelves to join their Forces against France, and never to make a feparate Treaty with that Crown, without their joint confent. Moreover, by the firft Article of the Treaty June 3. with Spain, his Catholick Majefty promis'd to caufe his Royal Highnefs of Savoy to be comprehended in the Alliance with his Imperial Majefty, his Britannick Majefty King William, the States General, and all his other Allies Catinat being by this time at the Head of his Army, in the Duke's Territories, his Highnefs gather'd what Force he could to drive him out, and joining himself with the Troops of the Milaneze, eagerly fought an occafion of fignalizing hisYouthful Courage, A. C. Courage; But the Count de Lovigniez, who Cor 1690. manded the Spanish Troops, did continually repre fent to him, that Monfieur Catinat could not receiv Supplies but with great difficulty, and that his A my wafted every Day by Defertion or Difeafes, where as the Duke's Forces had plenty of all, and encreas'd daily with new Reinforcements, and therefore the he ought to expect Victory rather from Time, the from the Succefs of a Battle, which he could not try without difadvantage; the French being not only Superior in Number, but alfo better Difcipline Thefe Reafons prevail'd, for fome time, with the Duke of Savoy, fo as to make him be contented The Battle with obferving the Enemy; but being flefh'd with of Saluf the Succefs of fome of his Troops (who repuls'd fes, Aug.the French from before Carignan, and beat them out 18. N. S. of the Vallies and Town of Lucern) his Royal Highness advanc'd towards Catinat (who made a fhew of Attacking Saluffes) and offer'd him Battle. The French General gladly accepted the Challenge, and having obferv'd that the Enemies Left Wing was cover'd by a Morafs, he caus'd the fame to be founded, and finding it had a good firm Bottom, order'd his Men to begin the Attack that way. The Duke's Left Wing was fo furpris'd at this unexpected Charge,that they made no long Resistance, but the Right Wing ftood firm for above three Hours, till being over-power'd, they betook themfelves to Flight. The Duke himself retir'd with his broken Remains to Carignan, and Monfieur Catinat pursuing his Victory, the very next Day made himfelf Mafter of Saluffes, and not long after of Savillana, Villa Franca, and feveral other Places, and then march'd his Army towards Carignan. The Duke not finding himfelf in a ftate to abide his coming, left a ftrong Garrifon both in that Place and in Carmagnola, and retreated to Moncalier to recruit his Army, and to wait for the Germans that were coming to his Affiftance. With this Reinforcement, befides fome Milaneze Troops being near 20000 ftrong he decamp'd from Moncalier Sept.18. and march'd towards Monfieur Catinat, who having likewife been strengthen'd with fome Regiments N. S. from from France, had form'd a Defign upon Suza, a A. C. Town Confiderable for its Situation, as being the 1690, Key of the Dauphiné into Piedmont. To fecure this Place the Duke fent the Count of Lovigniez with Six Battallions of Foot and fome Horfe; of which Catinat having receiv'd Information, he left the Common Road, and march'd his Men with wonderful Celerity for fix Days together over the Mountains. Upon this Motion of Catinat, the Duke of Savoy imagin'd, that the Siege of Suza was only a Feint, and the true defign of the French was to give him Battle; and therefore fent Orders to Lovignicz to leave Suza, and forthwith to join him with all his Forces. This was no fooner done but the French immediately Invefted the Town, where there was only 6 or 700 Men in Garrifon, who not thinking themselves able to defend fuch a weak Post, against a numerous Army, furrendred upon honourable Suza ta Terms. With this Action the Campaign ended in ken by the Piedmont, for Catinat divided his Army thereupon, out the French a fending part of it into Provence, and the other into middle of Savoy, which Dukedom (the Town of Montmelian Novem excepted) Monfieur St. Ruth had not long before ber. reduc'd to his Mafters Obedience. The Duke of Savoy finding how little he ought to depend either on the Emperor or King of Spain for the Recovery of his Dominions, his Royal Highnefs wifely bethought himself of making Application to the States General of Holland, and principally to his Britannick Majefty, the Head and Support of the Grand Alliance, by the Count de la Tour, Prefident of his Finances,one of his Privy Council,and a Man of great Parts. That Envoy Extraordinary having dispatch'd his Bufinefs at the Hague, came immediately over into England, and at his first Publick Audience, delivered himfelf to the King in the following Terms. SIR, "HIS Royal Highness, my Mafter, does by me The Court Congratulate Your Sacred Majesty's glori- de La 66 ous Acceffion to the Crown: It was due to Your Tour's "Birth, and deferv'd by Your Virtue, and is main- Speech to "tain'd by Your Valour: Providence had defign'd King Wil liam. |