ge Byng declared that the
Spaniards should not quit the island while the war continued, as he
foresaw that these troops would be employed against France or England.
He agreed however with count Merci, in proposing that if the marquis
would surrender Palermo and retire into the middle part of the island,
they would consent to an armistice for six weeks, until the sentiments
of their different courts should be known. The marquis offered to
surrender Palermo, in consideration of a suspension of arms for three
months; but, while this negotiation was depending, he received advice
from Madrid that a general peace was concluded. Nevertheless, he broke
off the treaty in obedience to a secret order for that purpose. The king
of Spain hoped to obtain the restitution of St. Sebastian's, Fontarabia,
and other places taken in the course of the war, in exchange for the
evacuation of Sicily, Hostilities were continued until the admiral
received advice from the earl of Stair, at Paris, that the Spanish
ambassador at the Hague had signed the quadruple alliance. By the same
courier packets were delivered to the count de Merci and the marquis
de Lede, which last gave the admiral and Imperial general to understand
that he looked upon the peace as a thing concluded, and was ready to
treat for a cessation of hostilities. They insisted on his delivering
up Palermo; on the other hand he urged, that, as their masters were in
treaty for settling the terms of evacuating Sicily and Sardinia, he
did not think himself authorised to agree to a cessation, except on
condition that each party should remain on the ground they occupied, and
expect further orders from their principals. After a fruitless interview
between the three chiefs at the Cassine de Rossignola, the Imperial
general resolved to undertake the siege of Palermo; with this view he
decamped from Alcamo on the eighteenth day of April, and followed the
marquis de Lede, who retreated before him and took possession of the
advantageous posts that commanded the passes into the plain of Palermo;
but count Merci, with indefatigable diligence, marched over the
mountains, while the admiral coasted along shore, attending the motions
of the army. The Spanish general perceiving the Germans advancing into
the plain, retired under the cannon of Palermo, and fortified his camp
with strong entrenchments. On the second day of May the Germans took one
of the enemy's redoubts by surprise, and the marquis de Led