L.c.2125: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1692/1693 January 12

L.c.2125

London 12^th Ianuary 1692

Paris the 9^th Ianuary Tuesday last an Express arrived att Versailles with Advice that his Maiesties fforces made a very ill beginning of the new year to be baffled before Rhienfelden and obliged to raise that seige more Like a fflight then a Retreat Leaving 2 Cannon and A mortar in the Trenches & a Large Can non in the wood of Biberlett to the end to be Less Embarassed [???] he the greater haste which very much mistifies the king for that it had a further prospect of obli ging the Grand Seignior not to hearken to the proposicions of peace upon the promise that his Most Christian Maiestie would make such a powerfull diversion in the Empire as to oblige the Emperor to draw his forces out of Hungary to sustain his own estates but tis ffeared this misfortune will have that contrary Effect to prevent which his Maiestie declares he will Suddenly go in person to form the seige of Magenie in hopes to haue better Luck then at Rheinfelden the [censuness] fulness of which his Maiestie Charges to Monsieur Ballard who pushed him on the design assuring him that it would not Continue a siege of 6 dayes but we make the publick believe that we had but 800 men killed and 600 wounded though the particular Letters say 3000 and among them 60 officers and the king fearing that It might preiudice

should Issue out writts for Assembling the same and it is to be read a 2d time on Munday the Commons spent most part of their time in reading a 3d time the Engrossed Supply Bill and a Clause was added and made part of the Bill that whereas a Tenant had agreed with the [Lanle] to pay all Taxes and he not taking the Oaths the Tenant shall not pay 8^s but the Moyety and The other shall be paid by

his Interest at Adrianople has sent an Express to acquaint the port of the Last Re Solutions in his Councell to fall upon the Empire and to Signify that his fforces have taken 2 Important Towns in fflanders of Dixmuy den and ffurness and that the enemy by opening the Sluices of Newport Incommoded their - own people more then in Cutting off the Commu nication between Dixmuyden and ffurness.

The Letters add that there is Advice from pigneroll that the Marquess de Leganez had brought 2 famous Doctors with him to Consult the Dukes Malady and to press his Royall Highness to Consent to the Seige of Dixmuyden and Furness Casall

The Letters add that there is Advice from pigneroll that the Marquess de Le gamez had brought 2 famous Doctors with him to Consult the Dukes Malady and to press his Royall Highness to Consent to the Seige of Casall promising that upon the taking of that place the King of Spain would relinquish the Sovereig nty of the Town and Adjacent Territories and to be Contented with onely the Castle and the Emperor the Cittadell

we hear from Scottland that a ffrench privatier of 14 guns was come ashoar by the violence of the weather and the men all saved

=The Duke of Richmond was some days ago Marryed to the young Lady Beclasis widdow of that deceased Lord having a very considerable fortune

that would Accend to England if either Newport or Ostend should fall into the hands of the ffrench and therefore they were upon the Advising the king to desire the Spaniards to put them Into our hands as Cautionary Towns but came to no resolution In that Affaire - the Earl of Shrewsbury brought in a Bill which was read the ffirst time for an Annuall Parliament and in Case of Failure the Lord Chancelor or Commissioners

And the Lords of the Admiralty had yesterday an account that 150 shipps ~ being the dutch streights ffleet with the Convoy were seen in the back of the Goodwiccs coming from Holland to Ioin our Turkey ffleet and Sail all together for those parts their Convoy being about 200 men of Warr

The Danish Resident hath delivered the king a memoriall relating to the shipps of that Countrey which were Lately brought in being upwards of 40 sail carrying Contraband goods to ffrance desi= ring that they may be discharged

The Grand supply Bill will be was this day read a 3d time and passed & sent up to the Lords for theire Concurrence and ready for the Royall Assent by saturday -

Monsieur: Asfielt employed by the French king at the Court of Denmark Is refused by that Court to haue any Converse with them as being concerned for In the Complement for taking away king Williams Life in Flanders

Last Tuesday 7 waggons were robbed by some of Whitneys Gang on Finchly Common coming from Bedford and those parts

Yesterday the House of Commons was setting upon the report [.adefrom] tion grand Committee upon the Matter of Advice and the ffirst head being a Resolucion to appoint such persons to execute the office of Lord High Admirall as were skilled in Maritime Affairs & that all orders

pass through them which point the house debated 3 hours and the Question being putt whither they should agree with the report of the Committee It was Carried in the Negative Noes 125 - yeas 112 but they agreed with the Committee to advise the king that no Order should pass but by & through them whereby they must become Answerable for the same - this day the House of peers were upon the point of Advice to the king and debated the danger

the LandLord and the house ordered that the Attorney Generall do Carry it up to the Lords to morrow

- the West India ffleets are sailed for the ~ plantacions - our sessions begin. next week at the old Bayly when we shall know the Fate of Whitney & the rest of the high-way men.

12 Ianuary. 92/3

To The honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate Baronet at Arbury near Coventry 4