204 FROM MANN 2 DECEMBER 1741 NS about the Guards and foretold how they would desert.14 They went away last Monday morning by water; it was proposed to chain them as recruits, but they declared they would not submit to this. They were disarmed, and 'tis well they were, otherwise 'tis the opinion not one officer would have escaped. Two whole boats full went off; many were heard to wish for an hour's action only, or to do their exercises a feu which in that case would be too hot for their leaders. They have been moving for many days all the cannon etc. from the fortresses,15 and everything that might be useful to the Spaniards; I mean only war­ like instruments, for nothing else has been touched nor will be it is hoped. Let who will come, the gens d'armes16 are going away too. All is reduced to the defending Leghorne for which indeed the prepara­ tions are great; the English merchants are frightened out of their senses. There are two opinions totally different: the Florentines (as they wish) firmly believe that the Spaniards are to come; the Lorrains say positively they don't believe it, and yet their actions say the contrary for there is not one of them that has not taken his precautions. The Spanish troops continue to drop in at the ports which are crowded, the transports return to fetch up the rest; when they arrive it will be im­ possible for them to remain at Orbitello etc. Those therefore that believe is not their present aim and that the march to Parma and Placentia would be difficult at this time of the year with artillery etc., believe that these troops are to take their winter quarters in Castro and Ronciglione1'' (an ancient allodial18 of the house of Farnese and pawned to St Peter for eight hundred thousand crowns,19 on which account his present successor is very much embarrassed) and from thence march into Lombardy in the month of March. But why Mon­ temar, who they say is going to Orbitello, should go thence so soon if that be the scheme, I can't guess. The conquest then may not be quite

14. The Lorraine Foot-Guards had been Freiburg, 1886-1933, xiii. 865-74, xiv. 270- sent to Leghorn by water (ante 26 Nov. 1; Codex diplomaticus dominii temporalis 1741 NS) to keep them from deserting. S. Sedis, ed. Theiner, Rome, 1861-2, i. 18). 15. The fortresses at Florence. 18. An allodium was 'an estate held in 16. Ante 1 July 1741 NS, n. 12. absolute ownership without service or ac- 17. The of Castro on the south- knowledgment of any superior' (OED). Cas- west border of Tuscany had belonged to tro and contained the allodials the Popes since 1158, together with the of the Farnese family and feudal lands of County of Ronciglione (near Viterbo) the Church (Lorenzo Grotanelli, Tl ducato which was surrounded by Papal territory. di Castro,' Rassegna nazionale, 1890, lvi. Both had been held in fee, 1537-1649, by 48i_3)- the Dukes of Parma, who until 1731 had 19. About £200,000. The deposits of the been of the Farnese dynasty (Ludwig, Frei- Farnese banks in Rome had been guaran- herr von Pastor, Geschichte der Papste, teed by the Pope out of the revenues of