[208] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.
No. 33.
ESTRADES TO LEWIS THE FOURTEENTH.
Good dispositions of the Duke of Mantua, and of the Garrison of Casale.
Venice, August 20, 1678.
Sire,
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
The Count Matthioli arrived here the day before yesterday, and he goes away this evening to Mantua. He only came here to assure me, that he would set off infallibly in the first week of next month, to go to your Majesty, as he has done himself the honour of sending you word himself; that the Duke of Mantua is always firm in his design of putting himself under the protection of your Majesty; that all those who have any command in Casale, are devoted to the will of that Prince, and inclined to the French; and that there is so exact a guard kept in that place, that nothing can enter or go out of it, except by the order of the Commandants. I exhorted him not to defer his departure beyond the time he had stated, and I told him that he would be as well received by your Majesty, as he could possibly wish. ∗ ∗ ∗
The Abbé d’Estrades.[209]
[209] From the Archives of the Office for Foreign Affairs, at Paris.