would
never abandon himself. The emperor had neglected Italy that he might act
with more vigour against Ragotzki and the Hungarian malcontents,
over whom he obtained several advantages; notwithstanding which they
continued formidable, from their number, bravery, and resolution. The
ministers of the allies pressed Leopold to enter into a negotiation for
a peace with those rebels, and conferences were opened; but he was
not sincerely disposed to an accommodation, and Ragotzki aimed at the
principality of Transylvania, which the court of Vienna would not easily
relinquish. The emperor was not a little alarmed by a revolution at the
Ottoman porte, until the new sultan despatched a chiaus to Vienna, with
an assurance that he would give no assistance to the malcontents of
Hungary. In Poland, the diet being assembled by the cardinal-primate,
Stanislaus Lezinski, palatine of Posnania, was elected and proclaimed
king, and recognised by Charles of Sweden, who still maintained his army
by contributions in that country, more intent upon the ruin of Augustus
than upon the preservation of his own dominions; for he paid no regard
to the progress of the Muscovites, who had ravaged Livonia, reduced
Narva, and made incursions into Sweden. Augustus retreated into his
Saxon dominions, which he impoverished in order to raise a great army
with which he might return to Poland; the pope espoused the interest of
this new convert, so far as to cite the cardinal-primate to appear at
Rome, and give an account of the share he had in the Polish troubles.
The protestants of the Cevennois, deriving courage from despair, became
so troublesome to the government of France, that Louis was obliged to
treat them with lenity: he sent mareschal Villars against them with
a fresh reinforcement, but at the same time furnished him with
instructions to treat for an accommodation. This officer immediately
commenced a negotiation with Cavalier, the chief of the revolters; and a
formal treaty was concluded, by which they were indulged with liberty
of conscience: but these articles were very ill observed by the French
ministry.

CAMPAIGN IN PORTUGAL.

In Portugal, the interest of king Charles wore a very melancholy aspect.
When he arrived at Lisbon, he found no preparations made for opening
the campaign. The Portuguese ministry favoured the French in secret; the
people were averse to heretics; the duke of Schom-berg was on ill terms
with Fagel, the Dutch gene