Page:The deplorable history of the Catalans, from their first engaging in the war, to the time of their reduction. (1714).djvu/59

 the August House of Austria, her Hereditary Countries, the Empire, and Europe. This Danger is more apparent, because the Malice of your Enemies, will not fail to employ all Manner of Artifices to diminish the Reputation of your Arms, of your Power, and of your Catholick Majesty's August Person, (should you be oblig'd to abandon a Monarchy to which you was called by your faithful Subjects who have acknowledged you for their Lawful Sovereign; into which you entred with signal Successes; and of which your Majesty has maintained Possession, by exposing your self to the greatest Dangers, and even to those of a most perillous Siege which was turned into Triumph. And certainly, it would be a very deplorable Fatality, if so many faithful Subjects of these Kingdoms should be sacrificed to the Hatred of their Irreconcileable Enemies, and of this Province in particular, which first invited your Majesty, and voluntarily acknowledged you, should be exposed to Slavery. The States of the Generality of Catalonia believe, that the magnanimous Resolution which your Catholick Majesty has taken to continue the War, is founded upon the Motives abovementioned, and on the Tenderness which your Catholick Majesty preserves for your People. We return you most humble Thanks for it, and take the Liberty to reprefent to you, that the most effectual Way to recover your Monarchy, would be for your Majesty to be pleased to return in Person to the Continent of Spain, where your Royal Person would be a great Encouragement to your Subjects, who are always ready to renew their Efforts, and to sacrifice themselves for your Service. In the meantime, we are infinitely obliged to your Majesty's