Quadruple Alliance of 1718thereof, viz. Leghorn, Porto Ferraro, Parma, and Placentia, be
taken from among the Swifs Cantons, which Cantons are for
this purpofe to be payed by the three contracting powers, who
have taken upon them the part of mediators. And the faid garri-
fons are therein to be continued till the cafe of the faid fuccef-
fion fhall happen, when they fhall be obliged to deliver the
towns to the faid prince appointed to the fucceffion. Never-
thelefs without any trouble or charge to the prefent poffeffors,
and their fucceffors be males, to whom likewife the faid garri-
fons are to take an oath of fidelity, and are to affume to them-
felves no other authority than only the guard of the cities com-
mitted to their charge.
But whereas this beneficial work may be longer delayed than
is convenient, before an agreement can be made with the Swifs
Cantons about the number, pay, and manner of eftablifhing
fuch a force ; his facred royal Britannick Majefty out of his fin-
gular zeal for the faid work, and the publick tranquillity, and for
the earlier obtaining the end propofed, will not in the mean
time refufe to lend his own forces for the ufe abovementioned,
if the reft of the contrafting powers think good, till the forces to
be raifed in the Swifs Cantons can take upon them the guard
and cuftody of the faid cities.
VI. His Catholick Majefty, to teftify his fincere inclination
for the publick tranquillity, doth confent to all things here-
after mentioned, with regard to what is fettled about the king-
dom of Sicily for the advantage of his Imperial Majefty, and
doth renounce for himfelf, his heirs and fucceffors male and
female, the right of reverfion of that kingdom to the crown of
Spain, which he exprefsly referved to himfelf by the inftru-
ment of ceffion dated the 10th of June 1713. Out of love to the
publick good he moreover departs from the faid act of the
10th of June 1713, as far as is neceffary, as likewife from the
fixth article of the treaty of Utrecht betwixt himfelf and his
royal highnefs the duke of Savoy, as likewife in general from
every thing that may oppofe the retroceffion, difpofition and
permutation of the above-mentioned kingdom of Sicily by
this prefent treaty eftablifhed. On condition neverthelefs that
the right of reverfion of the ifland and kingdom of Sardinia to
the faid crown may be yielded and allowed to him, as here-
after in the fecond article of the conventions between his
facred Imperial Majefty and the king of Sicily is farther
explained.
VII. The emperor and the Catholick King mutually promife
and bind themfelves to a reciprocal defence and guaranty of all
the kingdoms and provinces which they actually poffefs, or the
poffeffion whereof ought to belong to them by virtue of the
prefent treaty.
VIII. His Imperial Majefly and his royal Catholick Majefty
fhall immediately after exchange of the ratifications of thefe
prefent conventions, put in execution all and every the condi-
tions therein comprehended, and that within the fpace of two
months at the fartheft, and the inftruments of the ratifications
of the faid conventions fhall be exchanged at London within the
fpace of two months, to be computed from the day of figning,
or fooner if poffible. Which execution of the conditions being
previoufly performed, their minifters and plenipotentiaries, by
them to be named, fhall in the place of congrefs, which they
fhall agree upon, with all fpeed feverally fettle and determine
the other points of their particular peace, under the mediation
of the three contracting powers.
It is farther agreed, that in the treaty of peace particularly to
be made between the emperor and the king of Spain, a general
amnefty fhall be granted to all perfons of any ftate, dignity,
degree, or fex whatfoever, whether ecclefiaftical or military,
political or civil, who followed the party of the one or the other
prince during the late war ; in virtue whereof all and fingular
the faid perfons fhall be permitted to receive, and they may
receive full poffeffion and ufe of their goods, rights, privileges,
honours, dignities, and immunities, and fhall ufe and enjoy the
fame as freely as they did enjoy them at the beginning of the laft
war, or at the time when they begun to join themfelves to the
one or the other party, all confifcations, arrefts, and fentences
made, paffed, or pronounced, during the war to the contrary
notwithftanding, which fhall be held as null and of no effect. In
virtue moreover of the aforefaid amnefty, it fhall be lawful and
free for all and fingular the faid perfons, who followed one or
the other party, to return to their country, and to enjoy their
goods in the fame manner as if no war had happened ; and a full
licence is given them to take care of the faid effects, either by
themfelves if they fhould be prefent. or by their attornies, if they
fhould choofe rather to abfent themfelves from their country,
and they may either fell, or any other way, according to their
pleafure, difpofe of them entirely after the fame manner they
might have done before the beginning of the war.Conditions of the treaty to be concluded between his
Imperial Majefty and the king of Sicily.
Art.I. Whereas the ceffion of Sicily, by the treaties of Utrecht
to the houfe of Savoy, being folely made for rendering that
peace folid, and not on the account of any right the king of
Sicily had thereto, has been fo far from bringing about the end
propofed, that, as all Europe can witnefs, it has rather proved
the great obftacle which hindered the emperor from acceding to
the faid treaties, inafmuch as the feparation of the kingdoms of
Naples and Sicily, fo long ufed to remain under the fame
dominion and to be called by the name of Both the Sicilies, has
not only been found oppofite to the common interefts and
mutual prefervation of both kingdoms, but likewife to the
repofe of all Italy, being conftantly productive of new commo-
tions, while neither the ancient intercourfe and mutual relation
between the two nations can be deftroyed, nor the interefts of
the different princes can be eafily reconciled : for this reafon it is
that the princes, who firft made the Utrecht treaties, have
thought it lawful for them even without the confent of the par-
ties concerned, to abrogate that one article of thofe treaties
which regards the kingdom of Sicily, and is not any principal
part of the faid treaty, founding themfelves chiefly upon thefe
reafons ; that the prefent treaty will receive its increafe and