against Spain: The French were indeed for a War, but they were forry to make it against a Prince who was born among them, and for whofe Establishment they had expended fo many Millions, and fo much Blood. The Regent was even at a Lofs to find any one to command the Army, because several had excus'd themfelves. Only the Marshal de Berwic, the Natural Son of James II. King of England, prefer'd the Service of the Regency to the old Obligations he had to the King of Spain. His Catholic Majefty, whofe Forces this Duke had commanded, had heap'd Favours upon him; he had not only made him and his Son Grandees of Spain, but had moreover granted to both of 'em the Golden Fleece, and the Duchy of Liria for his Son and his Pofterity. Neverthelefs, he accepted of the Command with Pleasure, and fet out for Spain.

The Regent having engag'd the Prince of Conti to take upon him the Command of the Cavalry, order'd him 100,000 Crowns for his Equipage, and granted him 60,000 Livres a Month to keep an open Table; befides which, his Horfes were to be kept at the King's Expence. When his Royal Highness had appointed thefe Two Generals, he was not very much at a Lofs for fubaltern Officers: To encourage them to ferve with the more Zeal, there was a great Promotion, confifting of 6 LieutenantGenerals, 72 Major-Generals, and 196 Brigadiers. The Regent alfo gave Penfions to above Threefcore Officers, who repair'd to the Marshal de Berwic in Navarre, where the Campaign was open'd by the Siege of Fontarabia. At the fame Time the Regent caus'd a Manifefto to be publifh'd, which was couch'd in Terms full of Regard to the King of Spain, Cardinal Alberoni C 2 being

being reproach'd for every Thing that was blameworthy in that Prince's Conduct; and accus'd of being the Author of the War between the Two Crowns, and of having hinder'd the King his Master from accepting the Treaty of the Quadruple Alliance, a Treaty which had not been concluded, faid the Regent, but for the Welfare of Europe, and particularly of France and Spain. His Royal Highness protested, that the War was only made to induce the King of Spain to a Peace; and affirm'd, That France did not mean to make any Conqueft upon his Dominions; and that if fhe was compell❜d to do it, fhe fhould be always ready to restore fuch Conquefts at the Peace.

Cardinal Alberoni difpers'd feveral Pieces in the Name of his Mafter, by which he invited the French Soldiers to take the Part of his Catholic Majefty; and to fucceed the better in this Defign, he engag'd the King of Spain to head his Army; hoping, that upon his very firft Appearance, one Half of the Army of France would defert to his Standard. The Cardinal being full of Notions fo chimerical and fo injurious to Officers and Troops, as incapable of Cowardice as of Treachery; he oblig'd the Chevalier de Swho had been a Colonel in France, but by Miffortunes was forc'd to go to Spain, to write to fome of the chief Commanders, and folicit them to come over with their Regiments to the Spanish Service. The Chevalier, who built Hopes of a confiderable Fortune upon the Succefs of this Project, wrote to the. Lieutenant-Colonel of Normandy, and fent the Letter to him by an Officer, who was indeed a Gentleman, but at that Time committed an Action unworthy of that Character. This Officer came to the French Army, and gave the Letter to the Perfon it was directed

directed to, who carrying it to the Marthal de Berwic, he caus'd the unfortunate Courier to be arrefted, and hang'd up in Two Hours after. The Cardinal was very much mortify'd by having mifcarry'd in this Attempt, not confidering that the fame was impracticable, by reafon the Fidelity of the French Officers was never to be corrupted; but it was not fo at that Time with the Soldiers, of whom a great Number deferted to the Spanish Army. Perfons of Credit, who at that Time faw Cardinal Alberoni in private, affur'd me, that Minifter was fo fully perfuaded that whole Regiments at a Time would come over to the Spanish Service; that when he was told 50 or 100 Deferters, more or lefs, were newly come, What fignifies that, faid he? His Majefty wants to fee Colours and Standards arrive, and not a Handful of Men. The Cardinal had a

great many Fortune - hunters about him, who were continually telling him, that intire Battalions were juft coming over; and by the Favour of fuch Predictions, which never came to any Thing, they got out of him what they wanted, for no other Confideration but a forry improbable Scheme, and which tended even fometimes to deceive the Minifter and betray him. One may guefs at the Character of thofe Gentlemen by one F who had been a Reformado-Colonel in France, but being prefs'd hard by mercilefs Creditors, could find no other Means to escape from their ill Humour, than by taking Shelter under Cardinal Alberoni. This F was a terrible Rattle, and could rodomontade better than any body. The Minister made him a Brigadier, and withal gave him a Gratuity of 100 Pistoles; but our Spark not thinking this fufficient, wanted forfooth to be a Major-General, and teiz'd the C 3 Cardinal

Cardinal for it to fuch a Degree, that to get rid of fuch an importunate Solicitor, his Eminency was obliged to promife him, that it fhould not be long before he should be prefer'd. My Gen

tleman had no Time to wait, and renew'd his Solicitations ; but being put off, he was quite out of Patience, and at laft declar'd, that he would ferve no longer if he was not made a Major-General. His Eminence grew angry, fo that F- thought it was proper to fubmit, or at least to affume a fubmiffive Air. Mean while he ftudy'd Revenge, and imagin'd the only way to make his Fortune in France would be, to feize the Cardinal, and run away with him to the Regent. The Thing that remain'd to be confider'd was, what Methods he fhould take to fucceed; and 'tis even faid, that he had laid his Plot fo well, that had it not been for the Treachery of one of the Confpirators who difcover'd the whole Mystery, the fame would have fucceeded. The Cardinal caus'd F to be arrested, and fent Prifoner to Pampeluna, and from thence to the Caftle of Segovia, where he was try'd, and would infallibly have been beheaded, but Cardinal Alberoni happen'd to be difgrac'd at the fame Time, as I fhall have the Honour to tell you anon.

While thefe Trifles pafs'd in the Spanish Army, the French went on furiously to Action, Fontarabia was clofely befieg'd, upon which the King and Queen made as if they would relieve it; but while they were confulting about it, the Marthal de Berwic oblig'd it to capitulate. This Conqueft, tho' to the Advantage of France, did not abate one Jot of that Averfion which the French had to the War. The People contributed to it not without Reluctance; nevertheless it was

the

the Regent's Intereft to continue it; and as he perceiv'd they were already fo over-burden'd with Taxes, that 'twas in vain to think of creating new ones, he contriv'd new Methods to fill the Treasury. He obtain'd an Arret of Council for making a confiderable Number of Bank Bills, those which had been made before having been foon fnatch'd up. Then the Council pafs'd another Arret, for diminifhing the Value of the Species. The Buftle this Arret occafion'd at Paris is not to be imagin'd; every body was glad to part with their Cafh, upon which they apprehended there would be a Lofs, and they hurry'd to receive Paper in Exchange, upon the Promife which the Council had made, that the Value of the Bills fhould be fix'd, fo as never to rife nor fall. Nevertheless, it was not long before the People seriously reflected upon the Invalidity of the Matter, into which their Gold and Silver was transform'd, and the Hurry to the Bank abated. But the Regent foon contriv'd a way to bring in the little Cafh that remain'd in private Hands; for he caus'd an Arret of Council to pafs, which forbad any one's having more than 500 Livres about him, upon the Penalty of a great Fine. In Purfuance of this Arret, People began again to change their Species for Bank Bills, which were in Truth more commodious than Cash, because People might then carry the Value of feveral Millions about them, without fweating under the Load. This was a rare way to thrive, when a Man carry'd his whole Eftate thus in his Pocket!

By this Means did the Duke Regent provide for the immenfe Charges of the War with Spain, which was carry'd on with Vigour; and foon after the taking of Fontarabia, the French Army

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laid