THE Sieur du Queſne, General of the Maritine Forces of France with the Duke de Mortemar Lieutenant General, and Commander of the Galleys, and the Marqueſs Seignelay Superintendent of the Maritine Affairs, with a Fleet conſiſting of 20 Galleys, 10 Galliots, carrying each 2 Mortar-pieces for Bombes, 14 Men of War, 6 Fly-Boats, 18 Tartanes, 20 Chaloups, and 40 great Fiſher-boats caſt Anker on the 16th of May 1684. in the Port of Vade near Savona, depending on the Republick of Genova, and ſituated between Savona, and Final, the Fort of Savona ſaluted the French Fleet in the uſual manner, and ſhe anſwered accordingly. The ſame day being the 16th the Marqueſs de Seignelay ſent order to the French Conſul at Genova, for him to come on board, which he did, and next day being the 17th, he returned to Genova, with Orders not to demand of the Republick, the Admiſſion of the French Navy into the Port; but to ſignifie to them they muſt clear the two Moles, to the end the Fleet might Anker there on the 18th, and this Meſſage was, performed with ſo much Authority and Haughtineſs, as if Monſieur de Seignelay had commanded in the Port of Marſeilles, where doubtleſs he would have ſpared; treating a Governour, that depends on the King his Maſter ſo rudely. The Republick made the moſt modeſt anſwer that could be, giving at the ſame time the reaſons, that hindred them from admitting that Fleet into their Ports, becauſe of the threats the moſt Chriſtian King had ſent them by the Engliſh Ambaſſador, at ſuch time as he uſed all good office in their behalf, with him by His Majeſty of Great Brittains order, and becauſe of the advice they had received, that that Fleet had not come out of the Ports of France upon any other deſign, but to brave that State, but however that ſhould not hinder them from giving them all the aſſiſtance they could in refreſhments, and any thing elſe they ſhould ſtand in need of: and the republick foreſeeing what the effects of their reſolution might be, ſent immediatly to haſten the March of a Spaniſh Regiment of Foot, which a little before, they had deſired of the Count de Melgar Governour of the State of Milan, to the end it ſhould be ready upon the Fronteers in caſe they ſhould ſtand in need of it. The ſaid Regiments uſed ſuch diligence in their March, that they Travelled 10 Leagues without reſting, and entred the Town of the 18th, at the ſame time that the French Fleet begun to appear, and draw up in Battel array, about a League and a half from Genova. The Town ſaluted the Fleet as the cuſtom is, as much in regard of the number of Veſſels and Galleys, as of the Generals, who alſo anſwered as has been always uſed; and becauſe the Deputies that uſe to go to compliment the Generals, ſtaid ſomewhat long, the Marqueſs de Seignelay ſent to complain to the Republick, ſaying, he wondered they ſtayed ſo long, and immediatly Six Gentlemen Deputies went out to make him the ſaid compliment, and offer him the refreſhment which is uſually ſent; but inſtead of correſponding to the civility of the Republick, the Marqueſs de Seignelay began to exaggerate the diſreſpect, that had been uſed towards the King his Maſter, adding a Thouſand impertinencies, and in concluſion gave them a Paper compoſed of ſo much haughtineſs, and ſo many extravagancies, that it ſeemed to have been dictated by the great Turk, the principal points whereof were, that the Republick ſhould yield up to the King their four new Galleys, and one of the others perfectly rigged and fitted for ſervice; ſhould ſend ſix of their principal Senators, to beg his pardon for their proceedings, and not having obeyed his Orders, to aſſure him they repent, and ſhall amend for the future: promiſing to obey and follow the Orders and Will of his moſt Chriſtian Majeſty in all things, and ſo doing, they might perhaps find grace and pardon for their faults.

The Deputies anſwered, they would make their report to the Republick, but this they could ſay they were moſt aſſured, they had done nothing that they ought to ask pardon for of His Majeſty, and knew the reſpect was due to his Royal Perſon; that the Republick never had fewer Galleys, and they well knew the Government loſt them, by the frequent prizes the Turkiſh Pyrats took of their proviſions, and they were now reſolved to oppoſe it and encreaſe the number of their Galleys, by four new ones, without the leaſt deſign of offending any body, but to ſend them to joyn with the Pope's againſt the Turks, and thought in ſo doing, they had not failed of their reſpect towards His Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty.

The Marqueſs de Seignelay made anſwer, that if neither five hours time he had not a ſatisfactory anſwer to what the writing, he had given them contained, he would execute the Orders he had from the King his Maſter.

The Deputies being returned to the City, and having made their report to the Republick, who conſidering how the Marqueſs treated them in a minute by the full conſent of all reſolved to defend their liberty; and having to this effect given Don Carlo Taſſo, a Perſon of great underſtanding and capacity the neceſſary orders, and choſe him Camp Maſter General, and Governour of their Armes, the Republick in a very little time diſpoſed all things for a vigorous defence, giving the poſts that were moſt expoſed to the Spaniards, and the term of five hours being elapſed, without their coming to any reſolution to the Marqueſs de Seignelay's liking; the Enemies being buried in coming nearer the City, Don Carlo Taſſo gave the ſign with a ſmoke to make ready to fire; but whereas at the ſame time the enemies came nearer and deſiſted not at the ſecond ſign they began to diſcharge the Artillery on both ſides, and play upon each other vigorouſly, and the French to caſt their Bombes and Granadoes, by which the Palace of the Duke or Doge took fire the third day. The People began to take the fright, the confuſion growing the greater by the burning of two convents of Nuns, which were burnt to the ground, and are thoſe of St. Andrew, and St. Sebaſtian, whence the Nuns being retired in the night to ſecure themſelves, all the religious of the other Convents and Monaſteries did the ſame: in the mean time the People enraged againſt the French began to plunder all their houſes, and going yet farther, in a little time did the ſame to the other inhabitants houſes, but the General Don Carlo Taſſo ſpeedily remedied it with the aſſiſtance of the Spaniſh and Neapolitan Troops, the latter having come in the 20th day in the morning; the general took and executed ſeveral of theſe Robbers, ſo that we may ſay Genova owes its preſervation to the arrival of the Spaniſh Regiments that came in ſo luckily. In Fine, the rabble of the City and that which had flocked in from the Country, was capable with the French to deſtroy the City, but God preſerved it. The Count de Melgor ſent alſo a detachment of the Country foot, and the reſt of the Army of Millain advanced to the Frontier of this State.

The Count de Melgar General and Captain General being come to Tortona on the 21 of this month, to be nearer at hand for whatever ſhould happen, being advertiſed of the conſternation there began to be here many of the people and even of the Majeſtrates having left all with the fright of the fire and Bombes to ſave themſelves the Count advanced in perſon till this place, to calme the affrighted ſpirits with his preſents, and encourage them to their defence and preſervation, and in effect it happened: inſomuch that from the time he came into the City, every body took courage, and in a moment all order was reſtored to the great ſatisfact, and conſent of the City and its inhabitants.

The French continued caſting Bombes and Granadoes four days and three nights, and the 22th about noon they ceaſed and Monſteur de Seignelay ſent an Officer a ſhore with a Folucca who demanded to ſpeak with the Duke, but it was not granted, and he was forced to ſtay on board the Admiral Galley of the Republick in the Port, a Secretary was ſent to him from the Senate to know his meſſage who ſaid Monſieur de Seignelay much reſented the damage was done to the City, and if they reſolved to ſend Deputies, and were diſpoſed to give the King his Maſter ſatisfaction according as he demanded, abandoning the protection of Spain, mercy ſhould ſtill be uſed; but if they obſtinatly perſiſt in the ſtate they are, he can let them know he had already ſpent 6000 Bombes againſt the City, but had ſtill 10000 left him, with which he would ruine the ſaid City, and gave a farther declaration of his intention in a paper. A Counſel was held in haſt, and the juncto of the Government anſwered that the Duke not being able to take any reſolution alone, he would aſſemble the Senate to give a poſitive anſwer: this was done to gain time and prolong this little truce, during which time the treaſure of St. George could be ſaved and paſt into a place of ſecurity, as was done that night, when part of it was removed to a ſafer place, choſe for that purpoſe. After which the French taking for a full anſwer that the Town was more fully reſolved than ever to defend it ſelf, they began on the 23d to play their canon upon the City, and endamage it with their Bombes and granadoes, though with leſs violence then before, and being they could not reach farther than they had, the people began to caſt of their fear, and remain firm againſt the threats of the French. The batteries of the City continued firing upon the Fleet, but without much damage to them, becauſe they kept out of the reach of Canon and the Gallies that carry the Bombes are proof againſt our Artillery.

The 24th in the Morning the Enemies attempted two deſcents, one on the ſide of Biſagno, and the other on the ſide of St. Peter d' Arena, they were loaded with Bombes, Granadoes, Petards, Faggots, Scaling ladders and other warlike inſtruments, but thoſe two places being guarded by good Troops drawn out of the Spaniſh, and Neapolitan Regiments they fought ſtoutly, and the French were quite driven from their poſts. On the ſide of Biſagno were taken 30 priſoners, moſt Officers, and Knights of Malta; among the deal was found the Sieur de la Motthe Captain of a man of War, much lamented among his People. At St. Peter de Arena there alſo remained many dead upon the place, Captain Don Antonio de Luna a Neapolitan Signalireh himſelf extremely, for having broke into the midſt of his Enemies with his Sword in his hand, he killed ſeveral, and among the reſt a French Captain, and received a wound in his throat by a Musket ſhot; the French betook themſelves to a diſorderly Flight, leaving behind them Pick-axes, Mattocks, and other Inſtruments they had brought to fortifie themſelves.