ernment, resolved to pursue the mediation, and sent a new commission
to Lillienroot for that purpose. The ceremonials being regulated
with the consent of all parties, the plenipotentiaries of the emperor
delivered their master's demands to the mediator on the twenty-second
day of May, and several German ministers gave in the pretensions the
respective princes whom they represented.

{WILLIAM, 1688--1701.}

THE FRENCH TAKE BARCELONA.

Meanwhile the French king, in the hope of procuring more favourable
terms, resolved to make his last effort against the Spaniards in
Catalonia and in the Netherlands, and to elevate the prince of Conti
to the throne of Poland; an event which would have greatly improved
the interest of France in Europe. Louis had got the start of the
confederates in Flanders, and sent thither a very numerous army
commanded by Catinat, Villeroy, and Boufflers. The campaign was opened
with the siege of Aeth, which was no sooner invested than king William,
having recovered of an indisposition, took the field, and had an
interview with the duke of Bavaria, who commanded a separate body. He
did not think proper to interrupt the enemy in their operations before
Aeth, which surrendered in a few days after the trenches were opened;
but contented himself with taking possession of an advantageous camp,
where he covered Brussels, which Villeroy and Boufflers had determined
to besiege. In Catalonia the duke of Vendome invested Barcelona, in
which there was a garrison of ten thousand regular soldiers, besides
five thousand burghers who had voluntarily taken arms on this occasion.
The governor of the place was the prince of Hesse d Armstadt, who had
served in Ireland; and been vested with the command of the Imperial
troops which were sent into Spain. The French general being reinforced
from Provence and Languedoc, carried on his approaches with surprising
impetuosity; and was repulsed in several attacks by the valour of the
defendants. At length the enemy surprised and routed the viceroy of
Catalonia; and flushed with this victory, stormed the outworks, which
had been long battered with their cannon. The dispute was very bloody
and obstinate; but the French, by dint of numbers, made themselves
masters of the covered-way and two bastions. There they erected
batteries of cannon and mortars, and fired furiously on the town, which
however the prince of Hesse resolved to defend to the last extremity.
The court of Madr