4 2dly, That a Treaty was on Foot for restoring that Dutchy to the Duke of Guastalla. So that the Marshal's Intentions were to preserve only what they had acquir'd in Italy. But not long after, a more substantial Reason appear'd for declining that Enterprize. The Imperia lifts were increased to near near 40,000 in the Mantuan, and the first Column of their Troops from Germany were arriv'd at Verona. Then, the Spaniards disappointed them. The King of Sardinia and Marshal Villars were both of Opinion, the latter ought to join the Allies, and secure the Conquest of Italy, before they went on the Expedition of Naples; alledging, that in such Cafe, Naples must fall of Course. The Spaniards thought otherwise. The Truth on't is, they had receiv'd fo large Invitations from the Neapolitan Nobility, they could not well, in Honour, defer their Progress into that Kingdom. We shall take this Occasion to speak of his Royal Highness's Expedition thither. His Royal Highness, after about three Weeks Stay at the Court of Florence, being resolved to put hintself at the Head of the Spanish Troops, set out the 26th of February, for Arezzo, (to which Place the Camp was then removed from Sienna) and accordingly began his March for the Kingdom of Naples about the Beginning of March. The Prince took the Way of Perugia, and came the 15th, to Monte Rotundo, not above three Leagues from Rome. Here the Nobility of Rome, both Secular and Ecclefiafticks, came in great Numbers, to pay their Compliments to his Highness, who was pleased to fignify his earnest Defire to go to Rome, and have the Papal Benediction upon his Enterprize. But a Difficulty occurring about the Ceremonial, the Visit was deferr'd 'till his Return. The Pope offered to receive his Highness with the fame Honours given to the Grand Duke of Tufcany; the Spaniards would not be content therewith, and requir'd an Acknowledgment, which the Court of Rome could not in Prudence make at that Juncture. The Serene Infante stay'd with the Count de Montemar, at Monte Rotundo, 'till the rest of the Spanish Troops, that were marching through the Ecclefiaftical Territories in fmall Numbers to ease the People, came up to his Army. On the 25th of March, his Highness, march'd from Monte Rotundo, and join'd his Forces at Frofinone, an open small Town in the Ecclefiaftical State, on the Frontiers of Naples; where he was met by the Deputies of several small Towns, that were fent to make their Submiffions, and 1 ، and defire his Protection. After which, the Prince enter'd the Kingdom, and caus'd the following Decree to be publish'd in the several Places that fubmitted to him. The DECREE publish'd and affixed by Order of the Infante Don Carlos, upon the Frontiers of the Kingdom of Naples. : 4 D The King, my most dear and honoured Father, in his C Dear and well-beloved Son, Y 2 OUR Interests, infeparable from the Dignity of my Crown, and those of my faithful Allies, have < determined me to fend Troops into Lombardy, in order to execute, in Concert with their Armies, the just • Enterprizes for which they are design'd. But forafmuch as the Cries of the People of Naples and Sicily, who have so many Years groaned under the violent Oppression and Tyranny of a German Government, have, fince the Commencement of the present War, pierced our Royal Heart; and as I have always had a paternal Love for those People, well remembring their Demon'strations of Joy, and their unanimous Acclamations, 6 when they formerly receiv'd me at Naples, and consented to admit my Troops into Sicily. Moved with so natural a Compassion, I preferred to all other Expe ditions, that of delivering those oppressed People from their infupportable Miseries, by generously employing the Forces it has pleased God to entrust me with, for their speedy Relief; the rather, because I confider'd, that before their Inclinations were in fome Degree captivated, their Zeal answer'd up entirely to my Defires; and that it was not 'till after they were seduced, either by fallacious Infinuations, or by chymerical Hopes, or for fear of terrible Threats, that they were all constrained to diffemble their real Inclinations, by falling into Measures quite contrary to their Fidelity. In this Perfuafion, I have always look'd with Scorn on what they did, either in general, or in particular, as 6 2 ८ * involuntary : 'involuntary and forced Acts, since they were incited thereto by my Enemies; and I have bury'd them in Oblivion, as if nothing of that Sort had ever been tranf' acted; not doubting, but when they fee themselves in ، ८ 6 a Capacity to act freely according to their Desires, they ' will give me the fame Proofs of their perfect Devotion, Loyalty, and Zeal, as they formerly gave me. Ani'mated with fuch just Motives, I have taken the Refo'lution to send you thither in Person, and in Quality of Generaliffimo of my Armies, to recover those Kingdoms, notwithstanding the Risque to which your pre'cious Health may be exposed in so long a March, that by your Royal and amiable Prefence, you may confirm in my Name, the general and particular Pardon and Amnesty, which my paternal Love engages me to grant to every one, of what Nation foever, and to give to all, at the fame Time, the most authentick Security. You will moreover, not only confirm, extend, ' and enlarge the Privileges which those People at pre'sent enjoy, but you will likewise discharge them from 'all Sorts of Imposts, and particularly from those which owe their Invention and Establishment to the infatiable Avarice of the German Government. And all this, ' that the World may be convinced, that my just and only Aim is to retrieve two illustrious Kingdoms, which have deserved so well of the Monarchy, and to * restore to them the Enjoyment of their ancient Felicity, Reputation, and Dignity; and that they may not think that it is for any other Interest that I have undertaken the Recovery of those Kingdoms. And 'that the Contents of these Presents may be made known unto all, I order you to make them publick and manifeft, in any Form you shall judge proper. God pre* serve you, my dear and well-beloved Son, as long as I ' defire. ८ I the KING. Don Joseph Patinho. By Virtue of the Power which his Majesty, out of his paternal Love, has been pleased to delegate to me, and to the End that the above mentioned Subjects of the two Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, those People so cherished by the King my Father, and whom his Majefty always remembers with so much Esteem and Affection, may be duly and amply inform'd thereof; I do declare to them, and affure them all and every one, that the Indulto, Indulto, and general and particular Pardon, which his Majefty orders me to grant, and which I do grant upon the Affurance of his Sacred and Sovereign Name, comprehends all Manner of Crimes, Motives, or DemonItrations, without any Restriction; the Whole remain. ing bury'd in an eternal Oblivion: That the Confirmation of their Privileges comprehends, and is extended to the Laws and Customs, as well Civil as Criminal, and even Ecclefiaftical; so that it shall not be lawful to erect any new Tribunal, or Court of Justice there: That the laudable and juft Method of conferring Benefices and Penfions shall be continu'd in the Form it now is; and that all the Impositions and Offices erected by the tyrannical Government of the Germans, shall be abolished from this Time forward; which Graces are agreeable to his Majesty's kind and beneficent Spirit. And to the End that this may be made known, I have order'd these Presents to be drawn up in the Spanish and Italian Tongues, fign'd with our Hand, sealed with our Royal Seal, and countersigned by our Secretary of State; and that it be fixed up in the ufual Places. Done at Civita-Castellana, the 14th of March, 1734Don Joseph Joachin de Montealegre. The 27th, his Royal Highness arriv'd at Montcassin, a famous Abby of Benedictines, and was complimented by the Abbot, on his happy Arrival into that Kingdom, who offer'd him 1000 Men, Horse and Foot, to accompany him to Naples, and ferve as Guide to his Forces but the Infante would not accept this Offer, and return'd his hearty Thanks to the Abbot in a most gracious Manner. He continu'd his March without any Opposition to Aversa, a Place exactly three Leagues off of the Capital City of Naples. The Pofition of the Imperialists at this Time, appears by the following Advices from Naples, April 1, N. S. Ο N the 24th paft, arriv'd here three Battalions and some Huffars, being fent from Sicily by the Viceroy Count de Saftago, in Pursuance of an Order from the Emperor. The Regiment of Horse of the Prince de Belmonte Pignatelli came the fame Day from the Province of Bari, where they had been quarter'd. The next Day, the Viceroy of Naples having receiv'd Information, that a Spanish a Spanish Ship was come very near the Shore, and could not get out to Sea again for Want of a Wind, he gave Orders to M. Palavicini, General of the Galleys, to go and cannonade her, and at the fame Time fome GalJeys were fent to attack two Felucca's of the fame Nation which lay near the Shore also; but the Ship took the Opportunity of a Gale of Wind that sprung up, to sheer off, after having fired several Broad Sides at Castle del Uovo, and at a Galley, which she sunk; and the Felucca's got away, before the Galleys could come up with them. A Courier dispatch'd by the Commander of the Camp of San Germano, brought Advice the fame Day, of the Arrival of Part of the Spanish Troops in the Neighbourhood of Agnani; and the Viceroy having held a great Council of War upon that Occafion, fent back the Courier to San Germano, to order the Troops encamped there, to march with all Speed to Capua. The Viceroy has augmented the Garrisons of the Castles of this City with 1000 Men, and the three Battalions lately arrived from Sicily, are fent to Gaeta. The Collateral Council met the 27th, when it was refolved, that the Imperial Troops in this Kingdom, who do not exceed 10,500 Men, including the Succours sent by the Count de Saftago, not being sufficient to maintain the Field against the King of Spain's Army, they should consent themselves with defending the Fortresses of Gaeta and Capua, in each of which they should put 3000 Men, and the Caftles of this City, wherein they have left Garrifons to the Number of 1500 Men; and that the remaining 3000, which are with the Viceroy, should be employ'd in escorting him in his Retreat, The Count de Cerbellon, who was nominated to succeed him, arriv'd the 29th; but judging his Prefence of no Use here in the present Conjuncture, he would not take Poffeffion of the Viceroyalty, but is preparing to follow the Viceroy, who is to set out the Day after Tomorrow for Barletta, to embarque on their Return to Vienna. Naples, April 13. N.S. Upon Advice that the Infante Don Carlos arriv'd the 9th at Aversa, three Leagues off, the City in a Body, and Deputies of all the Tribunals, went thither the same Day, to compliment his Royal Highness, present him the Keys of the City, and take an Oath of Fidelity. The Infante receiv'd them very graciously, and folemnly promised that the King his Father would maintain the Inhabitants of this Kingdom in their Privileges ; that his Catholick Majesty would fupprefs : |