confided in; yet he never imparted this Resolution of his to either of
them; for he was not willing to engage them in a Design so dangerous,
and where there was so little Hope of Success; rather choosing to
reserve them as Persons most capable of giving Advice and Assistance in
the Confusion, great enough already, which yet must have been greater,
if any Accident had happen'd to himself. And I have very good Reason to
believe, that the Motive, which mainly engag'd the Earl of _Peterborow_
in this Enterprize, was to satisfy the Prince of _Hesse_ and the World,
that his Diffidence proceeded from his Concern for the Troops committed
to his Charge, and not for his own Person. On the other Hand, the great
Characters of the two Gentlemen just mention'd are so well known, that
it will easily gain Credit, that the only Way the General could take to
prevent their being of the Party, was to conceal it from them, as he did
from all Mankind, even from the Archduke himself. And certainly there
never was a more universal Surprize than when the firing was heard next
Morning from _Monjouick_.

But I now proceed to give an exact Account of this great Action; of
which no Person, that I have heard of, ever yet took upon him to deliver
to Posterity the glorious Particulars; and yet the Consequences and
Events, by what follows, will appear so great, and so very
extraordinary, that few, if any, had they had it in their Power, would
have deny'd themselves the Pleasure or the World the Satisfaction of
knowing it.

The Troops, which march'd all Night along the Foot of the Mountains,
arriv'd two Hours before Day under the Hill of _Monjouick_, not a
Quarter of a Mile from the outward Works: For this Reason it was taken
for granted, whatever the Design was which the General had propos'd to
himself, that it would be put in Execution before Day-light; but the
Earl of _Peterborow_ was now pleas'd to inform the Officers of the
Reasons why he chose to stay till the Light appear'd. He was of opinion
that any Success would be impossible, unless the Enemy came into the
outward Ditch under the Bastions of the second Enclosure; but that if
they had time allow'd them to come thither, there being no Palisadoes,
our Men, by leaping in upon them, after receipt of their first Fire,
might drive 'em into the upper Works; and following them close, with
some Probability, might force them, under that Confusion, into the
inward Fortifications.

Such were the General's Reasons then and there given; after which,
having promis'd ample Rewards to such as discharg'd their Duty well, a
Lieutenant, with thirty Men, was order'd to advance towards the Bastion
nearest the Town; and a Captain, with fifty Men, to support him. After
the Enemy's Fire they were to leap into the Ditch, and their Orders were
to follow 'em close, if they retir'd into the upper Works: Nevertheless,
not to pursue 'em farther, if they made into the inner Fort; but to
endeavour to cover themselves within the Gorge of the Bastion.

A Lieutenant and a Captain, with the Like Number of Men and the same
Orders, were commanded to a Demi-Bastion at the Extremity of the Fort
towards the West, which was above Musket-Shot from the inward
Fortification. Towards this Place the Wall, which was cut into the Rock,
was not fac'd for about twenty Yards; and here our own Men got up; where
they found three Pieces of Cannon upon a Platform, without many Men to
defend them.

Those appointed to the Bastion towards the Town were sustain'd by two
hundred Men; with which the General and Prince went in Person. The like
Number, under the Directions of Colonel _Southwell_, were to sustain the
Attack towards the West; and about five hundred Men were left under the
Command of a _Dutch_ Colonel, whose Orders were to assist, where, in his
own Judgment, he should think most proper; and these were drawn up
between the two Parties appointed to begin the Assault. My Lot was on
the Side where the Prince and Earl were in Person; and where we
sustain'd the only Loss from the first Fire of the Enemy.

Our men, though quite expos'd, and though the Glacis was all escarp'd
upon the live Rock, went on with an undaunted Courage; and immediately
after the first Fire of the Enemy, all, that were not kill'd or wounded,
leap'd in, _pel-mel_, amongst the Enemy; who, being thus boldly
attack'd, and seeing others pouring in upon 'em, retir'd in great
Confusion; and some one Way, some another, ran into the inward Works.

There was a large Port in the Flank of the principal Bastion, towards
the North-East, and a cover'd Way, through which the General and the
Prince of _Hesse_ follow'd the flying Forces; and by that Means became
possess'd of it. Luckily enough here lay a Number of great Stones in the
Gorge of the Bastion, for the Use of the Fortification; with which we
made a Sort of Breast-Work, before the Enemy recover'd of their Amaze,
or made any considerable Fire upon us from their inward Fort, which
commanded the upper Part of that Bastion.

We were afterwards inform'd, that the Commander of the Citadel,
expecting but one Attack, had call'd off the Men from the most distant
and western Part of the Fort, to that Side which was next the Town; upon
which our Men got into a Demi-Bastion in the most extream Part of the
Fortification. Here they got Possession of three Pieces of Cannon, with
hardly any Opposition; and had Leisure to cast up a little Retrenchment,
and to make use of the Guns they had taken to defend it. Under this
Situation, the Enemy, when drove into the inward Fort, were expos'd to
our Fire from those Places we were possess'd of, in case they offer'd to
make any Sally, or other Attempt against us. Thus we every Moment became
better and better prepar'd against any Effort of the Garrison. And as
they could not pretend to assail us without evident Hazard; so nothing
remain'd for us to do, till we could bring up our Artillery and Mortars.
Now it was that the General sent for the thousand Men under Brigadier
_Stanhope's_ Command, which he had posted at a Convent, halfway between
the Town and _Monjouick_.

There was almost a total Cessation of Fire, the Men on both Sides being
under Cover. The General was in the upper Part of the Bastion; the
Prince of _Hesse_ below, behind a little Work at the Point of the
Bastion, whence he could only see the Heads of the Enemy over the
Parapet of the inward Fort. Soon after an Accident happen'd which cost
that gallant Prince his Life.

The Enemy had Lines of Communication between _Barcelona_ and
_Monjouick_. The Governor of the former, upon hearing the firing from
the latter, immediately sent four hundred Dragoons on Horseback, under
Orders, that two Hundred dismounting should reinforce the Garrison, and
the other two Hundred should return with their Horses back to the Town.

When those two Hundred Dragoons were accordingly got into the inward
Fort, unseen by any of our Men, the _Spaniards_, waving their Hats over
their Heads, repeated over and over, _Viva el Rey, Viva_. This the
Prince of _Hesse_ unfortunately took for a Signal of their Desire to
surrender. Upon which, with too much Warmth and Precipitancy, calling to
the Soldiers following, _They surrender, they surrender_, he advanc'd
with near three Hundred Men (who follow'd him without any Orders from
their General) along the Curtain which led to the Ditch of the inward
Fort. The Enemy suffered them to come into the Ditch, and there
surrounding 'em, took two Hundred of them Prisoners, at the same time
making a Discharge upon the rest, who were running back the Way they
came. This firing brought the Earl of _Peterborow_ down from the upper
Part of the Bastion, to see what was doing below. When he had just
turn'd the Point of the Bastion, he saw the Prince of _Hesse_ retiring,
with the Men that had so rashly advanc'd. The Earl had exchang'd a very
few Words with him, when, from a second Fire, that Prince receiv'd a
Shot in the great Artery of the Thigh, of which he died immediately,
falling down at the General's Feet, who instantly gave Orders to carry
off the Body to the next Convent.

Almost the same Moment an Officer came to acquaint the Earl of
_Peterborow_, that a great Body of Horse and Foot, at least three
Thousand, were on their March from _Barcelona_ towards the Fort. The
Distance is near a Mile, all uneven Ground; so that the Enemy was either
discoverable, or not to be seen, just as they were marching on the Hills
or in the Vallies. However, the General directly got on Horseback, to
take a View of those Forces from the rising Ground without the Fort,
having left all the Posts, which were already taken, well secur'd with
the allotted Numbers of Officers and Soldiers.

But the Event will demonstrate of what Consequence the Absence or
Presence of one Man may prove on great Occasions; No sooner was the Earl
out of the Fort, the Care of which he had left under the Command of the
Lord _Charlemont_ (a Person of known Merit and undoubted Courage, but
somewhat too flexible in his Temper) when a panick Fear (tho' the Earl,
as I have said, was only gone to take a View of the Enemy) seiz'd upon
the Soldiery, which was a little too easily comply'd with by the Lord
_Charlemont_, then commanding Officer. True it is; for I heard an
Officer, ready enough to take such Advantages, urge to him, that none of
all those Posts we were become Masters of, were tenable; that to offer
at it would be no better than wilfully sacrificing human Lives to
Caprice and Humour; and just like a Man's knocking his Head against
Stone Walls, to try which was hardest. Having over-heard this Piece of
Lip-Oratory, and finding by the Answer that it was too likely to
prevail, and that all I was like to say would avail nothing. I slipt
away as fast as I could, to acquaint the General with the Danger
impending.

As I pass'd along, I took notice that the Panick was upon the Increase,
the general Rumor affirming, that we should be all cut off by the Troops
that were come out of _Barcelona_, if we did not immediately gain the
Hills, or the Houses possess'd by the _Miquelets_. Officers and
Soldiers, under this prevailing Terror, quitted their Posts; and in one
united Body (the Lord _Charlemont_ at the Head of them) march'd, or
rather hurry'd out of the Fort; and were come halfway down the Hill
before the Earl of _Peterborow_ came up to them. Though on my
acquainting him with the shameful and surprizing Accident he made no
Stay, but answering, with a good deal of Vehemence, _Good God, is it
possible?_ hastened back as fast as he could.

I never thought my self happier than in this Piece of Service to my
Country. I confess I could not but value it, as having been therein more
than a little instrumental in the glorious Successes which succeeded;
since immediately upon this Notice from me, the Earl gallop'd up the
Hill, and lighting when he came to Lord _Charlemont_, he took his
Half-pike out of his Hand; and turning to the Officers and Soldiers,
told them, if they would not face about and follow him, they should have
the Scandal and eternal Infamy upon them of having deserted their Posts,
and abandon'd their General.

It was surprizing to see with what Alacrity and new Courage they fac'd
about and follow'd the Earl of _Peterborow_. In a Moment they had forgot
their Apprehensions; and, without doubt, had they met with any
Opposition, they would have behav'd themselves with the greatest
Bravery. But as these Motions were unperceiv'd by the Enemy, all the
Posts were regain'd, and anew possess'd in less than half an Hour,
without any Loss: Though, had our Forces march'd half Musket-shot
farther, their Retreat would have been perceiv'd, and all the Success
attendant on this glorious Attempt must have been intirely blasted.

Another Incident which attended this happy Enterprize was this: The two
hundred Men which fell into the Hands of the Enemy, by the unhappy
Mistake of the Prince of _Hesse_, were carry'd directly into the Town.
The Marquis of _Risburg_, a Lieutenant-General, who commanded the three
thousand Men which were marching from the Town to the Relief of the
Fort, examin'd the Prisoners, as they pass'd by; and they all agreeing
that the General and the Prince of _Hesse_ were in Person with the
Troops that made the Attack on _Monjouick_, the Marquis gave immediate
Orders to retire to the Town; taking it for granted, that the main Body
of the Troops attended the Prince and General; and that some Design
therefore was on foot to intercept his Return, in case he should venture
too far. Thus the unfortunate Loss of our two hundred Men turn'd to our
Advantage, in preventing the Advance of the Enemy, which must have put
the Earl of _Peterborow_ to inconceivable Difficulties.

The Body of one Thousand, under Brigadier _Stanhope_, being come up to
_Monjouick_, and no Interruption given us by the Enemy, our Affairs were
put into very good Order on this Side; while the Camp on the other Side
was so fortify'd, that the Enemy, during the Siege, never made one
Effort against it. In the mean time, the Communication between the two
Camps was secure enough; although our Troops were obliged to a tedious
March along the Foot of the Hills, whenever the General thought fit to
relieve those on Duty on the Side of the Attack, from those Regiments
encamp'd on the West Side of _Barcelona_.

The next Day, after the Earl of _Peterborow_ had taken Care to secure
the first Camp to the Eastward of the Town, he gave Orders to the
Officers of the Fleet to land the Artillery and Ammunition behind the
Fortress to the Westward. Immediately upon the Landing whereof, two
Mortars were fix'd; from both which we ply'd the Fort of _Monjouick_
furiously with our Bombs. But the third or fourth Day, one of our Shells
fortunately lighting on their Magazine of Powder, blew it up; and with
it the Governor, and many principal Officers who were at Dinner with
him. The Blast, at the same Instant, threw down a Face of one of the
smaller Bastions; which the vigilant _Miquelets_, ready enough to take
all Advantages, no sooner saw (for they were under the Hill, very near
the Place) but they readily enter'd, while the Enemy were under the
utmost Confusion. If the Earl, no less watchful than they, had not at
the same Moment thrown himself in with some regular Troops, and
appeas'd the general Disorder, in all probability the Garrison had been
put to the Sword. However, the General's Presence not only allay'd the
Fury of the _Miquelets_; but kept his own Troops under strictest
Discipline: So that in a happy Hour for the frighted Garrison, the
General gave Officers and Soldiers Quarters, making them Prisoners of
War.

How critical was that Minute wherein the General met his retreating
Commander? a very few Steps farther had excluded us our own Conquests,
to the utter Loss of all those greater Glories which ensu'd. Nor would
that have been the worst; for besides the Shame attending such an ill
concerted Retreat from our Acquests on _Monjouick_, we must have felt
the accumulative Disgrace of infamously retiring aboard the Ships that
brought us; but Heaven reserv'd for our General amazing Scenes both of
Glory and Mortification.

I cannot here omit one Singularity of Life, which will demonstrate Men's
different Way of Thinking, if not somewhat worse; when many Years after,
to one in Office, who seem'd a little too dead to my Complaints, and by
that Means irritating my human Passions, injustice to my self, as well
as Cause, I urged this Piece of Service, by which I not only preserv'd
the Place, but the Honour of my Country, that _Minister petite_, to
mortify my Expectations and baffle my Plea, with a Grimace as odd as his
Logick, return'd, that, in his Opinion, the Service pretended was a
Disservice to the Nation; since Perseverance had cost the Government
more Money than all our Conquests were worth, could we have kept 'em. So
irregular are the Conceptions of Man, when even great Actions thwart the
Bent of an interested Will!

The Fort of _Monjouick_ being thus surprizingly reduc'd, furnish'd a
strange Vivacity to Mens Expectations, and as extravagantly flatter'd
their Hopes; for as Success never fails to excite weaker Minds to pursue
their good Fortune, though many times to their own Loss; so is it often
too apt to push on more elevated Spirits to renew the Encounter for
atchieving new Conquests, by hazarding too rashly all their former
Glory. Accordingly, every Body now began to make his utmost Efforts; and
look'd upon himself as a Drone, if he was not employ'd in doing
something or other towards pushing forward the Siege of _Barcelona_ it
self, and raising proper Batteries for that Purpose. But, after all, it
must in Justice be acknowledg'd, that notwithstanding this prodigious
Success that attended this bold Enterprize, the Land Forces of
themselves, without the Assistance of the Sailors, could never have
reduc'd the Town. The Commanders and Officers of the Fleet had always
evinc'd themselves Favourers of this Project upon _Barcelona_. A new
Undertaking so late in the Year, as I have said before, was their utter
Aversion, and what they hated to hear of. Elated therefore with a
Beginning so auspicious, they gave a more willing Assistance than could
have been ask'd, or judiciously expected. The Admirals forgot their
Element, and acted as General Officers at Land: They came every Day from
their Ships, with a Body of Men form'd into Companies, and regularly
marshall'd and commanded by Captains and Lieutenants of their own.
Captain _Littleton_ in particular, one of the most advanced Captains in
the whole Fleet, offer'd of himself to take care of the Landing and
Conveyance of the Artillery to the Camp. And answerable to that his
first Zeal was his Vigour all along, for finding it next to an
Impossibility to draw the Cannon and Mortars up such vast Precipices by
Horses, if the Country had afforded them, he caus'd Harnesses to be made
for two hundred Men; and by that Means, after a prodigious Fatigue and
Labour, brought the Cannon and Mortars necessary for the Siege up to the
very Batteries.

In this Manner was the Siege begun; nor was it carry'd on with any less
Application; the Approaches being made by an Army of Besiegers, that
very little, if at all, exceeded the Number of the Besieg'd; not
altogether in a regular Manner, our few Forces would not admit it; but
yet with Regularity enough to secure our two little Camps, and preserve
a Communication between both, not to be interrupted or incommoded by the
Enemy. We had soon erected three several Batteries against the Place,
all on the West Side of the Town, _viz_. one of nine Guns, another of
Twelve, and the last of upwards of Thirty. From all which we ply'd the
Town incessantly, and with all imaginable Fury; and very often in whole
Vollies.

Nevertheless it was thought not only adviseable, but necessary, to erect
another Battery, upon a lower Piece of Ground under a small Hill; which
lying more within Reach, and opposite to those Places where the Walls
were imagin'd weakest, would annoy the Town the more; and being design'd
for six Guns only, might soon be perfected. A _French_ Engeneer had the
Direction; and indeed very quickly perfected it. But when it came to be
consider'd which way to get the Cannon to it, most were of opinion that
it would be absolutely impracticable, by reason of the vast Descent;
tho' I believe they might have added a stronger Reason, and perhaps more
intrinsick, that it was extremely expos'd to the Fire of the Enemy.

Having gain'd some little Reputation in the Attack of _Monjouick_, this
Difficulty was at last to be put upon me; and as some, not my Enemies,
suppos'd, more out of Envy than good Will. However, when I came to the
Place, and had carefully taken a View of it, though I was sensible
enough of the Difficulty, I made my main Objection as to the Time for
accomplishing it; for it was then between Nine and Ten, and the Guns
were to be mounted by Day-light. Neither could I at present see any
other Way to answer their Expectations, than by casting the Cannon down
the Precipice, at all Hazards, to the Place below, where that fourth
Battery was erected.

This wanted not Objections to; and therefore to answer my Purpose, as to
point of Time, sixty Men more were order'd me, as much as possible to
facilitate the Work by Numbers; and accordingly I set about it. Just as
I was setting all Hands to work, and had given Orders to my Men to begin
some Paces back, to make the Descent more gradual, and thereby render
the Task a little more feasible, Major _Collier_, who commanded the
Train, came to me; and perceiving the Difficulties of the Undertaking,
in a Fret told me, I was impos'd upon; and vow'd he would go and find
out Brigadier _Petit_, and let him know the Impossibility, as well as
the Unreasonableness of the Task I was put upon. He had scarce utter'd
those Words, and turn'd himself round to perform his Promise, when an
unlucky Shot with a Musket-Ball wounded him through the Shoulder; upon
which he was carry'd off, and I saw him not till some considerable time
after.

By the painful Diligence, and the additional Compliment of Men, however,
I so well succeeded (such was my great good Fortune) that the Way was
made, and the Guns, by the Help of Fascines, and other lesser
Preparations below, safely let down and mounted; so that that fourth
Battery began to play upon the Town before Break of Day; and with all
the Success that was propos'd.

In short, the Breach in a very few Days after was found wholly
practicable; and all Things were got ready for a general Storm. Which
Don _Valasco_ the Governor being sensible of, immediately beat a Parley;
upon which it was, among other Articles, concluded, that the Town should
be surrender'd in three Days; and the better to ensure it, the Bastion,
which commanded the Port St. _Angelo_, was directly put into our
Possession.

But before the Expiration of the limited three Days, a very unexpected
Accident fell out, which hasten'd the Surrender. Don _Valasco_, during
his Government, had behav'd himself very arbitrarily, and thereby
procur'd, as the Consequence of it, a large Proportion of ill will, not
only among the Townsmen, but among the _Miquelets_, who had, in their
Zeal to King _Charles_, flock'd from all Parts of _Catalonia_ to the
Siege of their Capital; and who, on the Signing of the Articles of
Surrender, had found various Ways, being well acquainted with the most
private Avenues, to get by Night into the Town: So that early in the
Morning they began to plunder all that they knew Enemies to King
_Charles_, or thought Friends to the Prince his Competitor.

Their main Design was upon _Valasco_ the Governor, whom, if they could
have got into their Hands, it was not to be question'd, but as far as
his Life and Limbs would have serv'd, they would have sufficiently
satiated their Vengeance upon. He expected no less; and therefore
concealed himself, till the Earl of _Peterborow_ could give Orders for
his more safe and private Conveyance by Sea to _Alicant_.

Nevertheless, in the Town all was in the utmost Confusion; which the
Earl of _Peterborow_, at the very first hearing, hastened to appease;
with his usual Alacrity he rid all alone to Port St. _Angelo_, where at
that time my self happen'd to be; and demanding to be admitted, the
Officer of the Guard, under Fear and Surprise, open'd the Wicket,
through which the Earl enter'd, and I after him.

Scarce had we gone a hundred Paces, when we saw a Lady of apparent
Quality, and indisputable Beauty, in a strange, but most affecting
Agony, flying from the apprehended Fury of the _Miquelets_; her lovely
Hair was all flowing about her Shoulders, which, and the Consternation
she was in, rather added to, than any thing diminish'd from the Charms
of an Excess of Beauty. She, as is very natural to People in Distress,
made up directly to the Earl, her Eyes satisfying her he was a Person
likely to give her all the Protection she wanted. And as soon as ever
she came near enough, in a Manner that declar'd her Quality before she
spoke, she crav'd that Protection, telling him, the better to secure it,
who it was that ask'd it. But the generous Earl presently convinc'd her,
he wanted no Intreaties, having, before he knew her to be the Dutchess
of _Popoli_, taken her by the Hand, in order to convey her through the
Wicket which he enter'd at, to a Place of Safety without the Town.

I stay'd behind, while the Earl convey'd the distress'd Dutchess to her
requested _Asylum_; and I believe it was much the longest Part of an
Hour before he return'd. But as soon as ever he came back, he, and my
self, at his Command, repair'd to the Place of most Confusion, which the
extraordinary Noise full readily directed us to; and which happened to
be on the Parade before the Palace. There it was that the _Miquelets_
were making their utmost Efforts to get into their Hands the almost sole
Occasion of the Tumult, and the Object of their raging Fury, the Person
of Don _Valasco_, the late Governor.

It was here that the Earl preserv'd that Governor from the violent, but
perhaps too just Resentments of the _Miquelets_; and, as I said before,
convey'd him by Sea to _Alicant_. And, indeed, I could little doubt the
Effect, or be any thing surpriz'd at the Easiness of the Task, when I
saw, that wherever he appear'd the popular Fury was in a Moment allay'd,
and that every Dictate of that General was assented to with the utmost
Chearfulness and Deference. _Valasco_, before his Embarkment, had given
Orders, in Gratitude to his Preserver, for all the Gates to be deliver'd
up, tho' short of the stipulated Term; and they were accordingly so
delivered, and our Troops took Possession so soon as ever that Governor
was aboard the Ship that was to convey him to _Alicant_.

During the Siege of _Barcelona_, Brigadier _Stanhope_ order'd a Tent to
be pitch'd as near the Trenches as possibly could be with Safety; where
he not only entertain'd the chief Officers who were upon Duty, but
likewise the _Catalonian_ Gentlemen who brought _Miquelets_ to our
Assistance. I remember I saw an old Cavalier, having his only Son with
him, who appear'd a fine young Gentleman, about twenty Years of Age, go
into the Tent, in order to dine with the Brigadier. But whilst they were
at Dinner, an unfortunate Shot came from the Bastion of St. _Antonio_,
and intirely struck off the Head of the Son. The father immediately rose
up, first looking down upon his headless Child, and then lifting up his
Eyes to Heaven, whilst the Tears ran down his Cheeks, he cross'd
himself, and only said, _Fiat voluntas tua_, and bore it with a
wonderful Patience. 'Twas a sad Spectacle, and truly it affects me now
whilst I am writing.

The Earl of _Peterborow_, tho' for some time after the Revolution he had
been employ'd in civil Affairs, return'd to the military Life with great
Satisfaction, which was ever his Inclination. Brigadier _Stanhope_, who
was justly afterwards created an Earl, did well deserve this Motto, _Tam
Marte quam Mercurio_; for truly he behav'd, all the time he continu'd in
_Spain_, as if he had been inspir'd with Conduct; for the Victory at
_Almanar_ was intirely owing to him; and likewise at the Battle of
_Saragosa_ he distinguish'd himself with great Bravery. That he had not
Success at _Bruhega_ was not his Fault; for no Man can resist Fate; for
'twas decreed by Heaven that _Philip_ should remain King of _Spain_, and
_Charles_ to be Emperor of _Germany_. Yet each of these Monarchs have
been ungrateful to the Instruments which the Almighty made use of to
preserve them upon their Thrones; for one had not been King of _Spain_
but for _France_; and the other had not been Emperor but for _England_.

_Barcelona_, the chief Place in _Catalonia_, being thus in our Hands, as
soon as the Garrison, little inferior to our Army, had march'd out with
Drums beating, Colours flying, _&c_. according to the Articles,
_Charles_ the Third made his publick Entry, and was proclaim'd King, and
receiv'd with the general Acclamations, and all other Demonstrations of
Joy suitable to that great Occasion.

Some Days after which, the Citizens, far from being satiated with their
former Demonstrations of their Duty, sent a Petition to the King, by
proper Deputies for that Purpose appointed, desiring Leave to give more
ample Instances of their Affections in a public _Cavalcade_. The King
granted their Request, and the Citizens, pursuant thereto, made their
Preparations.

On the Day appointed, the King, plac'd in a Balcony belonging to the
House of the Earl of _Peterborow_, appear'd ready to honour the Show.
The Ceremonial, to speak nothing figuratively, was very fine and grand:
Those of the first Rank made their Appearance in decent Order, and upon
fine Horses; and others under Arms, and in Companies, march'd with
native Gravity and Grandeur, all saluting his Majesty as they pass'd by,
after the _Spanish_ Manner, which that Prince return'd with the Movement
of his Hand to his Mouth; for the Kings of _Spain_ are not allow'd to
salute, or return a Salute, by any Motion to, or of, the Hat.

After these follow'd several Pageants; the first of which was drawn by
Mules, set off to the Height with stateliest Feathers, and adorn'd with
little Bells. Upon the Top of this Pageant appear'd a Man dress'd all in
Green; but in the Likeness of a Dragon. The Pageant making a Stop just
over-against the Balcony where the King sate, the Dragonical
Representative diverted him with great Variety of Dancings, the Earl of
_Peterborow_ all the time throwing out Dollars by Handfuls among the
Populace, which they as constantly receiv'd with the loud Acclamation
and repeated Cries of _Viva, Viva, Carlos Terceros, Viva la Casa
d'Austria_.

When that had play'd its Part, another Pageant, drawn as before, made a
like full Stop before the same Balcony. On this was plac'd a very large
Cage, or Aviary, the Cover of which, by Springs contriv'd for that
Purpose, immediately flew open, and out of it a surprizing Flight of
Birds of various Colours. These, all amaz'd at their sudden Liberty,
which I took to be the Emblem intended, hover'd a considerable space of
time over and about their Place of Freedom, chirping, singing, and
otherwise testifying their mighty Joy for their so unexpected
Enlargement.

There were many other Pageants; but having little in them very
remarkable, I have forgot the Particulars. Nevertheless, every one of
them was dismiss'd with the like Acclamations of _Viva, Viva_; the
Whole concluding with Bonfires and Illuminations common on all such
Occasions.

I cannot here omit one very remarkable Instance of the Catholick Zeal of
that Prince, which I was soon after an Eye-witness of. I was at that
time in the Fruit-Market, when the King passing by in his Coach, the
Host (whether by Accident or Contrivance I cannot say) was brought, at
that very Juncture, out of the great Church, in order, as I after
understood, to a poor sick Woman's receiving the Sacrament. On Sight of
the Host the King came out of his Coach, kneel'd down in the Street,
which at that time prov'd to be very dirty, till the Host pass'd by;
then rose up, and taking the lighted Flambeau from him who bore it, he
follow'd the Priest up a streight nasty Alley, and there up a dark
ordinary Pair of Stairs, where the poor sick Woman lay. There he stay'd
till the whole Ceremony was over, when, returning to the Door of the
Church, he very faithfully restor'd the lighted Flambeau to the Fellow
he had taken it from, the People all the while crying out _Viva, Viva_;
an Acclamation, we may imagine, intended to his Zeal, as well as his
Person.

Another remarkable Accident, of a much more moral Nature, I must,
injustice to the Temperance of that, in this truly inimitable People,
recite. I was one Day walking in one of the most populous Streets of
that City, where I found an uncommon Concourse of People, of all Sorts,
got together; and imagining so great a Croud could not be assembled on a
small Occasion, I prest in among the rest; and after a good deal of
Struggling and Difficulty, reach'd into the Ring and Centre of that
mix'd Multitude. But how did I blush? with what Confusion did I appear?
when I found one of my own Countrymen, a drunken Granadier, the
attractive Loadstone of all that high and low Mob, and the Butt of all
their Merriment? It will be easily imagin'd to be a Thing not a little
surprizing to one of our Country, to find that a drunken Man should be
such a wonderful Sight; However, the witty Sarcasms that were then by
high and low thrown upon that senseless Creature, and as I interpreted
Matters, me in him, were so pungent, that if I did not curse my
Curiosity, I thought it best to withdraw my self as fast as Legs could
carry me away.

_BARCELONA_ being now under King _Charles_, the Towns of _Gironne,
Tarragona, Tortosa_, and _Lerida_, immediately declar'd for him. To
every one of which Engeneers being order'd, it was my Lot to be sent to
_Tortosa_. This Town is situated on the Side of the River _Ebro_, over
which there is a fair and famous Bridge of Boats. The Waters of this
River are always of a dirty red Colour, somewhat fouler than our Moorish
Waters; yet is it the only Water the Inhabitants drink, or covet to
drink; and every House providing for its own Convenience Cisterns to
preserve it in, by a few Hours standing it becomes as clear as the
clearest Rock-water, but as soft as Milk. In short, for Softness,
Brightness, and Pleasantness of Taste, the Natives prefer it to all the
Waters in the World. And I must declare in favour of their Opinion, that
none ever pleas'd me like it.

This Town was of the greater Moment to our Army, as opening a Passage
into the Kingdom of _Valencia_ on one Side, and the Kingdom of _Arragon_
on the other: And being of it self tolerably defensible, in human
Appearance might probably repay a little Care and Charge in its Repair
and Improvement. Upon this Employ was I appointed, and thus was I
busy'd, till the Arrival of the Earl of _Peterborow_ with his little
Army, in order to march to _Valencia_, the Capital of that Province.
Here he left in Garrison Colonel _Hans Hamilton_'s Regiment; the Place,
nevertheless, was under the Command of a _Spanish_ Governor, appointed
by King _Charles_.

While the Earl stay'd a few Days at this Place, under Expectation of the
promis'd Succours from _Barcelona_, he receiv'd _a Proprio_ (or Express)
from the King of _Spain_, full of Excuses, instead of Forces. And yet
the very same Letter, in a paradoxical Manner, commanded him, at all
Events, to attempt the Relief of _Santo Mattheo_, where Colonel _Jones_
commanded, and which was then under Siege by the _Conde de los Torres_
(as was the Report) with upwards of three thousand Men. The Earl of
_Peterborow_ could not muster above one thousand Foot, and about two
hundred Horse; a small Force to make an Attempt of that Nature upon such
a superior Power: Yet the Earl's Vivacity (as will be occasionally
further observ'd in the Course of these Memoirs) never much regarded
Numbers, so there was but room, by any Stratagem, to hope for Success.
True it is, for his greater Encouragement and Consolation, the same
Letter intimated, that a great Concourse of the Country People being up
in Arms, to the Number of many Thousands, in Favour of King _Charles_,
and wanting only Officers, the Enterprize would be easy and unattended
with much Danger. But upon mature Enquiry, the Earl found that great
Body of Men all _in nubibus_; and that the _Conde_, in the plain Truth
of the Matter, was much stronger than the Letter at first represented.

_Santo Mattheo_ was a Place of known Importance; and that from its
Situation, which cut off all Communication between _Catalonia_ and
_Valencia_; and, consequently, should it fall into the Hands of the
Enemy, the Earl's Design upon the latter must inevitably have been
postpon'd. It must be granted, the Commands for attempting the Relief of
it were pressing and peremptory; nevertheless, the Earl was very
conscious to himself, that as the promis'd Reinforcements were
suspended, his Officers would not approve of the Attempt upon the Foot
of such vast Inequalities; and their own declar'd Sentiments soon
confirm'd the Dictates of the Earl's Reason. He therefore addresses
himself to those Officers in a different Manner: He told 'em he only
desir'd they would be passive, and leave it to him to work his own Way.
Accordingly, the Earl found out and hired two _Spanish_ Spies, for whose
Fidelity (as his great Precaution always led him to do) he took
sufficient Security; and dispatch'd 'em with a Letter to Colonel
_Jones_, Governor of the Place, intimating his Readiness, as well as
Ability, to relieve him; and, above all, exhorting him to have the
_Miquelets_ in the Town ready, on Sight of his Troops, to issue out,
pursue, and plunder; since that would be all they would have to do, and
all he would expect at their Hands. The Spies were dispatch'd
accordingly; and, pursuant to Instructions, one betray'd and discover'd
the other who had the Letter in charge to deliver to Colonel _Jones_.
The Earl, to carry on the Feint, having in the mean time, by dividing
his Troops, and marching secretly over the Mountains, drawn his Men
together, so as to make their Appearance on the Height of a neighbouring
Mountain, little more than Cannot-shot from the Enemy's Camp. The Tale
of the Spies was fully confirm'd, and the _Conde_ (though an able
General) march'd off with some Precipitation with his Army; and by that
Means the Earl's smaller Number of twelve Hundred had Liberty to march
into the Town without Interruption. I must not let slip an Action of
Colonel _Jones_'s just before the Earl's Delivery of them: The _Conde_,
for want of Artillery, had set his Miners to work; and the Colonel,
finding they had made some dangerous Advances, turned the Course of a
Rivulet, that ran through the Middle of the Town, in upon them, and made
them quit a Work they thought was brought to Perfection.

_SANTO Mattheo_ being reliev'd, as I have said, the Earl, though he had
so far gain'd his Ends, left not the flying Enemy without a Feint of
Pursuit; with such Caution, nevertheless, that in case they should
happen to be better inform'd of his Weakness, he might have a Resource
either back again to _Santo Mattheo_, or to _Vinaros_ on the Sea-side;
or some other Place, as occasion might require. But having just before
receiv'd fresh Advice, that the Reinforcements he expected were anew
countermanded; and that the Duke of _Anjou_ had increas'd his Troops to
twelve thousand Men; the Officers, not enough elated with the last
Success to adventure upon new Experiments, resolv'd, in a Council of
War, to advise the Earl, who had just before receiv'd a discretionary
Commission in lieu of Troops, so to post the Forces under him, as not to
be cut off from being able to assist the King in Person; or to march to
the Defence of _Catalonia_, in case of Necessity.

Pursuant to this Resolution of the Council of War, the Earl of
_Peterborow_, tho' still intent upon his Expedition into _Valencia_
(which had been afresh commanded, even while his Supplies were
countermanded) orders his Foot, in a truly bad Condition, by tedious
Marches Day and Night over the Mountains, to _Vinaros_; and with his two
hundred Horse, set out to prosecute his pretended Design of pursuing the
flying Enemy; resolv'd, if possible, notwithstanding all seemingly
desperate Circumstances, to perfect the Security of that Capital.

To that Purpose, the Earl, with his small Body of Patrolers, went on
frightning the Enemy, till they came under the Walls of _Nules_, a Town
fortify'd with the best Walls, regular Towers, and in the best Repair of
any in that Kingdom. But even here, upon the Appearance of the Earl's
Forlorn (if they might not properly at that time all have pass'd under
that Character) under the same Panick they left that sensible Town,
with only one Thousand of the Town's People, well arm'd, for the Defence
of it. Yet was it scarce to be imagin'd, that the Earl, with his small
Body of two hundred Horse, should be able to gain Admission; or, indeed,
under such Circumstances, to attempt it. But bold as the Undertaking
was, his good Genius went along with him; and so good a Genius was it,
that it rarely left him without a good Effect. He had been told the Day
before, that the Enemy, on leaving _Nules_, had got Possession of _Villa
Real_, where they put all to the Sword. What would have furnish'd
another with Terror, inspir'd his Lordship with a Thought as fortunate
as it was successful. The Earl rides up to the very Gates of the Town,
at the Head of his Party, and peremptorily demands the chief Magistrate,
or a Priest, immediately to be sent out to him; and that under Penalty
of being all put to the Sword, and us'd as the Enemy had us'd those at
_Villa-Real_ the Day or two before. The Troops, that had so lately left
the Place, had left behind 'em more Terror than Men; which, together
with the peremptory Demand of the Earl, soon produc'd some Priests to
wait upon the General. By their Readiness to obey, the Earl very justly
imagin'd Fear to be the Motive; wherefore, to improve their Terror, he
only allow'd them six Minutes time to resolve upon a Surrender, telling
them, that otherwise, so soon as his Artillery was come up, he would lay
them under the utmost Extremities. The Priests return'd with this
melancholy Message into the Place; and in a very short time after the
Gates were thrown open. Upon the Earl's Entrance he found two hundred
Horse, which were the Original of his Lordship's forming that Body of
Horse, which afterwards prov'd the saving of _Valencia_.

The News of the taking of _Nules_ soon overtook the flying Enemy; and so
increas'd the Apprehensions of their Danger, that they renew'd their
March, the same Day; though what they had taken before would have
satisfy'd them much better without it. On the other hand, the Earl was
so well pleas'd with his Success, that leaving the Enemy to fly before
their Fears, he made a short Turn towards _Castillon de la Plana_, a
considerable, but open Town, where his Lordship furnish'd himself with
four hundred Horses more; and all this under the Assurance that his
Troops were driving the Enemy before them out of the Kingdom. Hence he
sent Orders to Colonel _Pierce's_ Regiment at _Vinaros_ to meet him at
_Oropesa_, a Place at no great Distance; where, when they came, they
were very pleasingly surpriz'd at their being well mounted, and
furnish'd with all Accoutrements necessary. After which, leaving 'em
canton'd in wall'd Towns, where they could not be disturb'd without
Artillery, that indefatigable General, leaving them full Orders, went on
his way towards _Tortosa_.

At _Vinaros_ the Earl met with Advice, that the _Spanish_ Militia of the
Kingdom of _Valencia_ were assembled, and had already advanc'd a Day's
March at least into that Country. Upon which, collecting, as fast as he
could, the whole Corps together, the Earl resolv'd to penetrate into
_Valencia_ directly; notwithstanding this whole collected Body would
amount to no more than six hundred Horse and two thousand Foot.

But there was a strong Pass over a River, just under the Walls of
_Molviedro_, which must be first disputed and taken. This Brigadier
_Mahoni_, by the Orders of the Duke of _Arcos_, who commanded the Troops
of the Duke of _Anjou_ in the Kingdom of _Valencia_, had taken care to
secure. _Molviedro_, though not very strong, is a wall'd Town, very
populous of it self; and had in it, besides a Garrison of eight hundred
Men, most of _Mahoni_'s Dragoons. It lies at the very Bottom of a high
Hill; on the upper Part whereof they shew the Ruins of the once famous
SAGUNTUM; famous sure to Eternity, if Letters shall last so long, for an
inviolable Fidelity to a negligent Confederate, against an implacable
Enemy. Here yet appear the visible _Vestigia_ of awful Antiquity, in
half standing Arches, and the yet unlevell'd Walls and Towers of that
once celebrated City. I could not but look upon all these with the Eyes
of Despight, in regard to their Enemy _Hannibal_; with those of Disdain,
in respect to the uncommon and unaccountable Supineness of its
Confederates, the _Romans_; but with those of Veneration, as to the
Memory of a glorious People, who rather than stand reproach'd with a
Breach of Faith, or the Brand of Cowardice, chose to sacrifice
themselves, their Wives, Children, and all that was dear to them, in the
Flames of their expiring City.

In _Molviedro_, as I said before, _Mahoni_ commanded, with eight
hundred Men, besides Inhabitants; which, together with our having but
little Artillery, induc'd the Officers under the Earl of _Peterborow_
reasonably enough to imagine and declare, that there could be no visible
Appearance of surmounting such Difficulties. The Earl, nevertheless,
instead of indulging such Despondencies, gave them Hope, that what
Strength serv'd not to accomplish, Art might possibly obtain. To that
Purpose he proposed an Interview between himself and _Mahoni_; and
accordingly sent an Officer with a Trumpet to intimate his Desire. The
Motion was agreed to; and the Earl having previously station'd his
Troops to advantage, and his little Artillery at a convenient Distance,
with Orders they should appear on a slow March on the Side of a rising
Hill, during the time of Conference, went to the Place appointed; only,
as had been stipulated, attended with a small Party of Horse. When they
were met, the Earl first offer'd all he could to engage _Mahoni_ to the
Interest of King _Charles_; proposing some Things extravagant enough (as
_Mahoni_ himself some time after told me) to stagger the Faith of a
Catholick; but all to little Purpose: _Mahoni_ was inflexible, which
oblig'd the Earl to new Measures.

Whereupon the Earl frankly told him, that he could not however but
esteem the Confidence he had put in him; and therefore, to make some
Retaliation, he was ready to put it in his Power to avoid the
Barbarities lately executed at _Villa-Real_.

"My Relation to you," continued the General, "inclines me to spare a
Town under your Command. You see how near my Forces are; and can hardly
doubt our soon being Masters of the Place: What I would therefore offer
you, said the Earl, is a Capitulation, that my Inclination may be held
in Countenance by my Honour. Barbarities, however justified by Example,
are my utter Aversion, and against my Nature; and to testify so much,
together with my good Will to your Person, was the main Intent of this
Interview."

This Frankness so far prevail'd on _Mahoni_, that he agreed to return an
Answer in half an Hour. Accordingly, an Answer was returned by a
_Spanish_ Officer, and a Capitulation agreed upon; the Earl at the same
time endeavouring to bring over that Officer to King _Charles_, on much
the same Topicks he us'd with _Mahoni_. But finding this equally
fruitless, whether it was that he tacitly reproach'd the Officer with a
Want of Consideration in neglecting to follow the Example of his
Commander, or what else, he created in that Officer such a Jealousy of
_Mahoni_, that was afterward very serviceable to him in his further
Design.

To forward which to a good Issue, the Earl immediately made choice of
two Dragoons, who, upon promise of Promotion, undertook to go as Spies
to the Duke of _Arcos_, whose Forces lay not far off, on the other Side
a large Plain, which the Earl must unavoidably pass, and which would
inevitably be attended with almost insuperable Dangers, if there
attack'd by a Force so much superior. Those Spies, according to
Instructions, were to discover to the Duke, that they over-heard the
Conference between the Earl and _Mahoni_; and at the same time saw a
considerable Number of Pistoles deliver'd into _Mahoni_'s Hands, large
Promises passing at that Instant reciprocally: But above all, that the
Earl had recommended to him the procuring the March of the Duke over the
Plain between them. The Spies went and deliver'd all according to
Concert; concluding, before the Duke, that they would ask no Reward, but
undergo any Punishment, if _Mahoni_ did not very soon send to the Duke a
Request to march over the Plain, in order to put the concerted Plot in
execution. It was not long after this pretended Discovery before
_Mahoni_ did send indeed an Officer to the Duke, desiring the March of
his Forces over the Plain; but, in reality, to obstruct the Earl's
Passage, which he knew very well must be that and no other way. However,
the Duke being prepossess'd by the Spies, and what those _Spanish_
Officers that at first escap'd had before infus'd, took Things in their
Sense; and as soon as _Mahoni_, who was forc'd to make the best of his
way over the Plain before the Earl of _Peterborow_, arriv'd at his Camp,
he was put under Arrest and sent to _Madrid_. The Duke having thus
imbib'd the Venom, and taken the Alarm, immediately decamp'd in
Confusion, and took a different Rout than at first he intended; leaving
that once formidable Plain open to the Earl, without an Enemy to
obstruct him. In some little time after he arriv'd at _Madrid_, _Mahoni_
made his Innocence appear, and was created a General; while the Duke of
_Arcos_ was recall'd from his Post of Honour.

The Day after we arriv'd at _Valencia_, the Gates of which fine City
were set open to us with the highest Demonstrations of Joy. I call'd it
a fine City; but sure it richly deserves a brighter Epithet, since it is
a common Saying among the _Spaniards_, that the Pleasures of _Valencia_
would make a _Jew_ forget _Jerusalem_. It is most sweetly situated in a
very beautiful Plain, and within half a League of the _Mediterranean_
Sea. It never wants any of the Fragrancies of Nature, and always has
something to delight the most curious Eye. It is famous to a Proverb for
fine Women; but as infamous, and only in that so, for the Race of
Bravoes, the common Companions of the Ladies of Pleasure in this
Country. These Wretches are so Case-hardened, they will commit a Murder
for a Dollar, tho' they run their Country for it when they have done.
Not that other Parts of this Nation are uninfested with this sort of
Animals; but here their Numbers are so great, that if a Catalogue was to
be taken of those in other Parts of that Country, perhaps nine in ten
would be found by Birth to be of this Province.

But to proceed, tho' the Citizens, and all Sorts of People, were
redundant in their various Expressions of Joy, for an Entry so
surprizing, and utterly lost to their Expedition, whatever it was to
their Wishes, the Earl had a secret Concern for the Publick, which lay
gnawing at his Heart, and which yet he was forced to conceal. He knew
that he had not four thousand Soldiers in the Place, and not Powder or
Ammunition for those; nor any Provisions lay'd in for any thing like a
Siege. On the other Hand, the Enemy without were upwards of seven
Thousand, with a Body of four Thousand more, not fifteen Leagues off, on
their March to join them. Add to this, the Marechal de _Thesse_ was no
farther off than _Madrid_, a very few Days' March from _Valencia_; a
short Way indeed for the Earl (who, as was said before, was wholly
unprovided for a Siege, which was reported to be the sole End of the
Mareschal's moving that Way.) But the Earl's never-failing Genius
resolv'd again to attempt that by Art, which the Strength of his Forces
utterly disallow'd him. And in the first Place, his Intelligence telling
him that sixteen twenty-four Pounders, with Stores and Ammunition
answerable for a Siege, were ship'd off for the Enemy's Service at
_Alicant_, the Earl forthwith lays a Design, and with his usual Success
intercepts 'em all, supplying that way his own Necessities at the
Expence of the Enemy.

The four thousand Men ready to reinforce the Troops nearer _Valencia_,
were the next Point to be undertaken; but _hic labor, hoc opus;_ since
the greater Body under the Conde _de las Torres_ (who, with _Mahoni_,
was now reinstated in his Post) lay between the Earl and those Troops
intended to be dispers'd. And what inhaunc'd the Difficulty, the River
_Xucar_ must be passed in almost the Face of the Enemy. Great
Disadvantages as these were, they did not discourage the Earl. He
detach'd by Night four hundred Horse and eight hundred Foot, who march'd
with such hasty Silence, that they surpriz'd that great Body, routed
'em, and brought into _Valencia_ six hundred Prisoners very safely,
notwithstanding they were oblig'd, under the same Night-Covert, to pass
very near a Body of three Thousand of the Enemy's Horse. Such a
prodigious Victory would hardly have gain'd Credit in that City, if the
Prisoners brought in had not been living Witnesses of the Action as well
as the Triumph. The Conde _de las Torres_, upon these two military
Rebuffs, drew off to a more convenient Distance, and left the Earl a
little more at ease in his new Quarters.

Here the Earl of _Peterborow_ made his Residence for some time. He was
extreamly well belov'd, his affable Behaviour exacted as much from all;
and he preserv'd such a good Correspondence with the Priests and the
Ladies, that he never fail'd of the most early and best Intelligence, a
thing by no means to be slighted in the common Course of Life; but much
more commendable and necessary in a General, with so small an Army, at
open War, and in the Heart of his Enemy's Country.

The Earl, by this Means, some small time after, receiving early
Intelligence that King _Philip_ was actually on his March to
_Barcelona_, with an Army of upwards of twenty five thousand Men, under
the Command of a Mareschal of _France_, began his March towards
_Catalonia_, with all the Troops that he could gather together, leaving
in _Valencia_ a small Body of Foot, such as in that Exigence could best
be spar'd. The whole Body thus collected made very little more than two
thousand Foot and six hundred Horse; yet resolutely with these he sets
out for _Barcelona_: In the Neighbourhood of which, as soon as he
arriv'd, he took care to post himself and his diminutive Army in the
Mountains which inviron that City; where he not only secur'd 'em against
the Enemy; but found himself in a Capacity of putting him under
perpetual Alarms. Nor was the Mareschal, with his great Army, capable of
returning the Earl's Compliment of Disturbance; since he himself, every
six or eight Hours, put his Troops into such a varying Situation, that
always when most arduously fought, he was farthest off from being found.
In this Manner the General bitterly harrass'd the Troops of the Enemy;
and by these Means struck a perpetual Terror into the Besiegers. Nor did
he only this way annoy the Enemy; the Precautions he had us'd, and the
Measures he had taken in other Places, with a View to prevent their
Return to _Madrid_, though the Invidious endeavour'd to bury them in
Oblivion, having equally contributed to the driving of the Mareschal of
_France_, and his Catholick King, out of the _Spanish_ Dominions.

But to go on with the Siege: The Breaches in the Walls of that City,
during its Siege by the Earl, had been put into tolerable Repair; but
those of _Monjouick_, on the contrary, had been as much neglected.
However, the Garrison made shift to hold out a Battery of twenty-three
Days, with no less than fifty Pieces of Cannon; when, after a Loss of
the Enemy of upwards of three thousand Men (a Moiety of the Army
employ'd against it when the Earl took it) they were forc'd to surrender
at Discretion. And this cannot but merit our Observation, that a Place,
which the _English_ General took in little more than an Hour, and with
inconsiderable Loss, afforded the Mareschal of _France_ a Resistance of
twenty-three Days.

Upon the taking of Fort _Monjouick_, the Mareschal _de Thess_ gave
immediate Orders for Batteries to be rais'd against the Town. Those
Orders were put in Execution with all Expedition; and at the same time
his Army fortify'd themselves with such Entrenchments, as would have
ruin'd the Earl's former little Army to have rais'd, or his present much
lesser Army to have attempted the forcing them. However, they
sufficiently demonstrated their Apprehensions of that watchful General,
who lay hovering over their Heads upon the Mountains. Their main Effort
was to make a Breach between Port St. _Antonio_ and that Breach which
our Forces had made the Year before; to effect which they took care to
ply them very diligently both from Cannon and Mortars; and in some few
Days their Application was answer'd with a practicable Breach for a
Storm. Which however was prudently deferr'd for some time, and that
thro' fear of the Earl's falling on the Back of them whenever they
should attempt it; which, consequently, they were sensible might put
them into some dangerous Disorder.

And now it was that the Earl of _Peterborow_ resolv'd to put in practice
the Resolution he had some time before concerted within himself. About
nine or ten Days before the Raising of the Siege, he had receiv'd an
Express from Brigadier _Stanhope_ (who was aboard Sir _John Leake's_
Fleet appointed for the Relief of the Place, with the Reinforcements
from _England_) acquainting the Earl, that he had us'd all possible
Endeavours to prevail on the Admiral to make the best of his way to
_Barcelona_. But that the Admiral, however, persisted in a positive
Resolution not to attempt the _French_ Fleet before that Place under the
Count _de Thoulouse_, till the Ships were join'd him which were expected
from _Ireland_, under the Command of Sir _George Bing_. True it was, the
Fleet under Admiral _Leake_ was of equal Strength with that under the
_French_ Admiral; but jealous of the Informations he had receiv'd, and
too ready to conclude that People in Distress were apt to make
Representations too much in their own Favour; he held himself, in point
of Discretion, oblig'd not to hazard the Queen's Ships, when a
Reinforcement of both cleaner and larger were under daily Expectation.

This unhappy Circumstance (notwithstanding all former glorious
Deliverances) had almost brought the Earl to the Brink of Despair; and
to increase it, the Earl every Day receiv'd such Commands from the King
within the Place, as must have sacrificed his few Forces, without the
least Probability of succeeding. Those all tended to his forcing his Way
into the Town; when, in all human Appearance, not one Man of all that
should make the Attempt could have done it, with any Hope or Prospect of
surviving. The _French_ were strongly encamp'd at the Foot of the
Mountains, distant two Miles from _Barcelona_; towards the Bottom of
those Hills, the Avenues into the Plain were possess'd and fortify'd by
great Detachments from the Enemy's Army. From all which it will be
evident, that no Attempt could be made without giving the Enemy time to
draw together what Body of Foot they pleas'd. Or supposing it feasible,
under all these difficult Circumstances, for some of them to have forc'd
their Passage, the Remainder, that should have been so lucky to have
escap'd their Foot, would have found themselves expos'd in open Field to
a Pursuit of four thousand Horse and Dragoons; and that for two Miles
together; when in case of their inclosing them, the bravest Troops in
the World, under such a Situation, would have found it their best way to
have surrender'd themselves Prisoners of War.

Nevertheless, when Brigadier _Stanhope_ sent that Express to the Earl,
which I just now mention'd, he assur'd him in the same, that he would
use his utmost Diligence, both by Sea and Land, to let him have timely
Notice of the Conjunction of the Fleets, which was now all they had to
depend upon. Adding withal, that if the Earl should at any time receive
a Letter, or Paper, though directed to no Body, and with nothing in it,
but a half Sheet of Paper cut in the Middle, he, the Earl, might
certainly depend upon it, that the two Fleets were join'd, and making
the best of their Way for _Barcelona_. It will easily be imagin'd the
Express was to be well paid; and being made sensible that he ran little
or no Hazard in carrying a Piece of blank Paper, he undertook it, and as
fortunately arriv'd with it to the Earl, at a Moment when Chagrin and
Despair might have hurry'd him to some Resolution that might have prov'd
fatal. The Messenger himself, however, knew nothing of the Joining of
the Fleets, or the Meaning of his Message.

As soon as the Earl of _Peterborow_ receiv'd this welcome Message from
Brigadier _Stanhope_, he march'd the very same Night, with his whole
little Body of Forces, to a Town on the Sea-Shore, call'd _Sigeth_. No
Person guess'd the Reason of his March, or knew any thing of what the
Intent of it was. The Officers, as formerly, obey'd without Enquiry; for
they were led to it by so many unaccountable Varieties of Success, that
Affiance became a second Nature, both in Officer and Soldier.

The Town of _Sigeth_ was about seven Leagues to the Westward of
_Barcelona_; where, as soon as the Earl with his Forces arriv'd, he took
care to secure all the small Fishing-Boats, _Feluccas_, and _Sattées_;
nay, in a Word, every Machine in which he could transport any of his
Men: So that in two Days' time he had got together a Number sufficient
for the Conveyance of all his Foot.

But a Day or two before the Arrival of the _English_ Fleet off _Sigeth_,
The Officers of his Troops were under a strange Consternation at a
Resolution their General had taken. Impatient of Delay, and fearful of
the Fleets passing by without his Knowledge, the Earl summon'd them
together a little before Night, at which time he discover'd to the whole
Assembly, that he himself was oblig'd to endeavour to get aboard the
_English_ Fleet; and that, if possible, before the _French_ Scouts
should be able to make any Discovery of their Strength: That finding
himself of no further Use on Shore, having already taken the necessary
Precautions for their Transportation and Security, they had nothing to
do but to pursue his Orders, and make the best of their Way to
_Barcelona_, in the Vessels which he had provided for them: That they
might do this in perfect Security when they saw the _English_ Fleet pass
by; or if they should pass by in the Night, an Engagement with the
_French_, which would give them sufficient Notice what they had to do
further.

This Declaration, instead of satisfying, made the Officers ten times
more curious: But when they saw their General going with a Resolution to
lie out all Night at Sea, in an open Boat, attended with only one
Officer; and understood that he intended to row out in his _Felucca_
five or six Leagues distance from the Shore, it is hardly to be
express'd what Amazement and Concern surpriz'd them all. Mr. _Crow_, the
Queen's Minister, and others, express'd a particular Dislike and
Uneasiness; but all to no purpose, the Earl had resolv'd upon it.
Accordingly, at Night he put out to Sea in his open _Felucca_, all which
he spent five Leagues from Shore, with no other Company than one Captain
and his Rowers.

In the Morning, to the great Satisfaction of all, Officers and others,
the Earl came again to Land; and immediately began to put his Men into
the several Vessels which lay ready in Port for that Purpose. But at
Night their Amaze was renew'd, when they found their General ready to
put in execution his old Resolution, in the same Equipage, and with the
same Attendance. Accordingly, he again _felucca'd_ himself; and they saw
him no more till they were landed on the Mole in _Barcelona_.

When the Earl of _Peterborow_ first engag'd himself in the Expedition to
_Spain_, he propos'd to the Queen and her Ministry, that Admiral
_Shovel_ might be join'd in Commission with him in the Command of the
Fleet. But this Year, when the Fleet came through the Straites, under
Vice-Admiral _Leake_, the Queen had sent a Commission to the Earl of
_Peterborow_ for the full Command, whenever he thought fit to come
aboard in Person. This it was that made the General endeavour, at all
Hazards, to get aboard the Fleet by Night; for he was apprehensive, and
the Sequel prov'd his Apprehensions too well grounded, that _Admiral
Leake_ would make his Appearance with the whole Body of the Fleet, which
made near twice the Number of the Ships of the Enemy; in which Case it
was natural to suppose, that the Count _de Tholouse_, as soon as ever
the _French_ Scouts should give Notice of our Strength, would cut his
Cables and put out to Sea, to avoid an Engagement. On the other hand,
the Earl was very sensible, that if a Part of his Ships had kept
a-stern, that the Superiority might have appear'd on the _French_ Side,
or rather if they had bore away in the Night towards the Coast of
_Africa_, and fallen to the Eastward of _Barcelona_ the next Day, a
Battle had been inevitable, and a Victory equally certain; since the
Enemy by this Means had been tempted into an Engagement, and their
Retreat being cut off, and their whole Fleet surrounded with almost
double their Number, there had hardly been left for any of them a
Probability of Escaping.

Therefore, when the Earl of _Peterborow_ put to Sea again the second
Evening, fearful of loosing such a glorious Opportunity, and impatient
to be aboard to give the necessary Orders, he order'd his Rowers to
obtain the same Station, in order to discover the _English_ Fleet. And
according to his Wishes he did fall in with it; but unfortunately the
Night was so far advanc'd, that it was impossible for him then to put
his Project into practice. Captain _Price_, a Gentleman of _Wales_, who
commanded a Third Rate, was the Person he first came aboard of; but how
amaz'd was he to find, in an open Boat at open Sea, the Person who had
Commission to command the Fleet? So soon as he was enter'd the Ship,
the Earl sent the Ship's Pinnace with Letters to Admiral _Leake_, to
acquaint him with his Orders and Intentions; and to Brigadier _Stanhope_
with a Notification of his safe Arrival; but the Darkness of the Night
prov'd so great an Obstacle, that it was a long time before the Pinnace
could reach the Admiral. When Day appear'd, it was astonishing to the
whole Fleet to see the _Union_ Flag waving at the Main-top-mast Head. No
body could trust his own Eyes, or guess at the Meaning, till better
certify'd by the Account of an Event so singular and extraordinary.

When we were about six Leagues Distance from _Barcelona_, the Port we
aim'd at, one of the _French_ Scouts gave the Alarm, who making the
Signal to another, he communicated it to a Third, and so on, as we
afterward sorrowfully found, and as the Earl had before apprehended: The
_French_ Admiral being thus made acquainted with the Force of our Fleet,
hoisted sail, and made the best of his Way from us, either pursuant to
Orders, or under the plausible Excuse of a Retreat.

This favourable Opportunity thus lost, there remain'd nothing to do but
to land the Troops with all Expedition; which was executed accordingly:
The Regiments, which the Earl of _Peterborow_ embark'd the Night before,
being the first that got into the Town. Let the Reader imagine how
pleasing such a Sight must be to those in _Barcelona_, reduc'd as they
were to the last Extremity. In this Condition, to see an Enemy's Fleet
give way to another with Reinforcements from _England_, the Sea at the
same Instant cover'd with little Vessels crouded with greater Succours;
what was there wanting to compleat the glorious Scene, but what the
General had projected, a Fight at Sea, under the very Walls of the
invested City, and the Ships of the Enemy sinking, or tow'd in by the
victorious _English_? But Night, and a few Hours, defeated the latter
Part of that well intended Landskip.

King _Philip_, and the Mareschal of _France_, had not fail'd to push on
the Siege with all imaginable Vigour; but this Retreat of the Count _de
Tholouse_, and the News of those Reinforcements, soon chang'd the Scene.
Their Courage without was abated proportionably, as theirs within was
elated. In these Circumstances, a Council of War being call'd, it was
unanimously resolv'd to raise the Siege. Accordingly, next Morning, the
first of _May_, 1706, while the Sun was under a total Eclypse, in a
suitable Hurry and Confusion, they broke up, leaving behind them most of
their Cannon and Mortars, together with vast Quantities of all sorts of
Ammunition and Provisions, scarce stopping to look back till they had
left all but the very Verge of the disputed Dominion behind them.

King _Charles_ look'd with new Pleasure upon this lucky Effort of his
old Deliverers. Captivity is a State no way desirable to Persons however
brave, of the most private Station in Life; but for a King, within two
Days of falling into the Hands of his Rival, to receive so seasonable
and unexpected a Deliverance, must be supposed, as it really did, to
open a Scene to universal Rejoicing among us, too high for any Words to
express, or any Thoughts to imagine, to those that were not present and
Partakers of it. He forthwith gave Orders for a Medal to be struck
suitable to the Occasion; one of which, set round with Diamonds, he
presented to Sir _John Leake_, the _English_ Admiral. The next Orders
were for re-casting all the damag'd brass Cannon which the Enemy had
left; upon every one of which was, by order, a Sun eclyps'd, with this
Motto under it: _Magna parvis obscurantur_.

I have often wonder'd that I never heard any Body curious enough to
enquire what could be the Motives to the King of _Spain's_ quitting his
Dominions upon the raising of this Siege; very certain it is that he had
a fine Army, under the Command of a Mareschal of _France_, not very
considerably decreas'd, either by Action or Desertion: But all this
would rather increase the Curiosity than abate it. In my Opinion then,
though Men might have Curiosity enough, the Question was purposely
evaded, under an Apprehension that an honest Answer must inevitably give
a higher Idea of the General than their Inclinations led them to. At
first View this may carry the Face of a Paradox; yet if the Reader will
consider, that in every Age Virtue has had its Shaders or Maligners, he
will himself easily solve it, at the same time that he finds himself
compell'd to allow, that those, who found themselves unable to prevent
his great Services, were willing, in a more subtil Manner, to endeavour
at the annulling of them by Silence and Concealment.

This will appear more than bare Supposition, if we compare the present
Situation, as to Strength, of the two contending Powers: The _French_,
at the Birth of the Siege, consisted of five thousand Horse and
Dragoons, and twenty-five thousand Foot, effective Men. Now grant, that
their kill'd and wounded, together with their Sick in the Hospitals,
might amount to five Thousand; yet as their Body of Horse was entire,
and in the best Condition, the Remaining will appear to be an Army of
twenty-five Thousand at least. On the other Side, all the Forces in
_Barcelona_, even with their Reinforcements, amounted to no more than
seven thousand Foot and four hundred Horse. Why then, when they rais'd
their Siege, did not they march back into the Heart of _Spain_, with
their so much superior Army? or, at least, towards their Capital? The
Answer can be this, and this only; Because the Earl of _Peterborow_ had
taken such provident Care to render all secure, that it was thereby
render'd next to an Impossibility for them so to do. That General was
satisfy'd, that the Capital of _Catalonia_ must, in course, fall into
the Hands of the Enemy, unless a superior Fleet remov'd the Count _de
Tholouse_, and threw in timely Succours into the Town: And as that could
not depend upon him, but others, he made it his chief Care and assiduous
Employment to provide against those Strokes of Fortune to which he found
himself again likely to be expos'd, as he often had been; and therefore
had he Resource to that Vigilance and Precaution which had often
retriev'd him, when to others his Circumstances seem'd to be most
desperate.

The Generality of Mankind, and the _French_ in particular, were of
opinion that the taking _Barcelona_ would prove a decisive Stroke, and
put a Period to the War in _Spain_; and yet at that very Instant I was
inclin'd to believe, that the General flatter'd himself it would be in
his Power to give the Enemy sufficient Mortification, even though the
Town should be oblig'd to submit to King _Philip_. The wise Measures
taken induc'd me so to believe, and the Sequel approv'd it; for the Earl
had so well expended his Caution, that the Enemy, on the Disappointment,
found himself under a Necessity of quitting _Spain_; and the same would
have put him under equal Difficulties had he carry'd the Place. The
_French_ could never have undertaken that Siege without depending on
their Fleet, for their Artillery, Ammunition, and Provisions; since
they must be inevitably forc'd to leave behind them the strong Towns of
_Tortosa_, _Lerida_, and _Taragona_. The Earl, therefore, whose
perpetual Difficulties seem'd rather to render him more sprightly and
vigorous, took care himself to examine the whole Country between the
_Ebro_ and _Barcelona_; and, upon his doing so, was pleasingly, as well
as sensibly satisfy'd, that it was practicable to render their Return
into the Heart of _Spain_ impossible, whether they did or did not
succeed in the Siege they were so intent to undertake.

There were but three Ways they could attempt it: The first of which was
by the Sea-side, from _Taragona_ towards _Tortosa_; the most barren, and
consequently the most improper Country in the Universe to sustain an
Army; and yet to the natural, the Earl had added such artificial
Difficulties, as render'd it absolutely impossible for an Army to
subsist or march that Way.

The middle Way lay through a better Country indeed, yet only practicable
by the Care which had been taken to make the Road so. And even here
there was a Necessity of marching along the Side of a Mountain, where by
vast Labour and Industry, a high Way had been cut for two Miles at least
out of the main Rock. The Earl therefore, by somewhat of the same
Labour, soon made it impassable. He employ'd to that End many Thousands
of the Country People, under a few of his own Officers and Troops, who
cutting up twenty several Places, made so many Precipices, perpendicular
almost as a Wall, which render'd it neither safe, or even to be
attempted by any single Man in his Wits, much less by an Army. Besides,
a very few Men, from the higher Cliffs of the Mountain, might have
destroy'd an Army with the Arms of Nature only, by rolling down large
Stones and Pieces of the Rock upon the Enemy passing below.

The last and uppermost Way, lay thro' the hilly Part of _Catalonia_, and
led to _Lerida_, towards the Head of the _Ebro_, the strongest Place we
had in all _Spain_, and which was as well furnish'd with a very good
Garrison. Along this Road there lay many old Castles and little Towns in
the Mountains, naturally strong; all which would not only have afforded
Opposition, but at the same time had entertain'd an Enemy with variety
of Difficulties; and especially as the Earl had given Orders and taken
Care that all Cattle, and every Thing necessary to sustain an Army,
should be convey'd into Places of Security, either in the Mountains or
thereabouts. These three Ways thus precautiously secur'd, what had the
Earl to apprehend but the Safety of the Arch-Duke; which yet was through
no Default of his, if in any Danger from the Siege?

For I well remember, on Receipt of an Express from the Duke of _Savoy_
(as he frequenly sent such to enquire after the Proceedings in _Spain_)
I was shew'd a Letter, wrote about this time by the Earl of _Peterborow_
to that Prince, which rais'd my Spirits, though then at a very low Ebb.
It was too remarkable to be forgot; and the Substance of it was, That
his Highness might depend upon it, that he (the Earl) was in much better
Circumstances than he was thought to be: That the _French_ Officers,
knowing nothing of the Situation of the Country, would find themselves
extreamly disappointed, since in case the Siege was rais'd, their Army
should be oblig'd to abandon _Spain_: Or in case the Town was taken,
they should find themselves shut up in that Corner of _Catalonia_, and
under an Impossibility of forcing their Way back, either through
_Aragon_ or _Valencia_: That by this Means all _Spain_, to the _Ebro_,
would be open to the Lord _Galoway_, who might march to _Madrid_, or any
where else, without Opposition. That he had no other Uneasiness or
Concern upon him, but for the Person of the Arch-Duke, whom he had
nevertheless earnestly solicited not to remain in the Town on the very
first Appearance of the intended Siege.

_BARCELONA_ being thus reliev'd, and King _Philip_ forc'd out of
_Spain_, by these cautious Steps taken by the Earl of _Peterborow_,
before we bring him to _Valencia_, it will be necessary to intimate,
that as it always was the Custom of that General to settle, by a Council
of War, all the Measures to be taken, whenever he was oblig'd for the
Service to leave the Arch-Duke; a Council of War was now accordingly
held, where all the General Officers, and those in greatest Employments
at Court assisted. Here every thing was in the most solemn Manner
concerted and resolv'd upon; here Garrisons were settled for all the
strong Places, and Governors appointed: But the main Article then agreed
upon was, that King _Charles_ should immediately begin his Journey to
_Madrid_, and that by the Way of _Valencia_. The Reason assign'd for it
was, because that Kingdom being in his Possession, no Difficulties could
arise which might occasion Delay, if his Majesty took that Rout. It was
likewise agreed in the same Council, that the Earl of _Peterborow_
should embark all the Foot, not in Garrisons, for their more speedy, as
well as more easy Conveyance to _Valencia_. The same Council of War
agreed, that all the Horse in that Kingdom should be drawn together, the
better to insure the Measures to be taken for the opening and
facilitating his Majesty's Progress to _Madrid_.

Accordingly, after these Resolutions were taken, the Earl of
_Peterborow_ embarks his Forces and sails for _Valencia_, where he was
doubly welcom'd by all Sorts of People upon Account of his safe Arrival,
and the News he brought along with it. By the Joy they express'd, one
would have imagin'd that the General had escap'd the same Danger with
the King; and, in truth, had their King arriv'd with him in Person, the
most loyal and zealous would have found themselves at a loss how to have
express'd their Satisfaction in a more sensible Manner.

Soon after his Landing, with his customary Vivacity, he apply'd himself
to put in execution the Resolutions taken in the Councils of War at
_Barcelona_; and a little to improve upon them, he rais'd an intire
Regiment of Dragoons, bought them Horses, provided them Cloaths, Arms,
and Acoutrements; and in six Weeks time had them ready to take the
Field; a thing though hardly to be parallell'd, is yet scarce worthy to
be mentioned among so many nobler Actions of his; yet in regard to
another General it may merit Notice, since while he had _Madrid_ in
Possession near four Months, he neither augmented his Troops, nor lay'd
up any Magazines; neither sent he all that time any one Express to
concert any Measures with the Earl of _Peterborow_, but lay under a
perfect Inactivity, or which was worse, negotiating that unfortunate
Project of carrying King _Charles_ to _Madrid_ by the roundabout and
ill-concerted Way of _Aragon_; a Project not only contrary to the solemn
Resolutions of the Council of War; but which in reality was the Root of
all our succeeding Misfortunes; and that only for the wretched Vanity of
appearing to have had some Share in bringing the King to his Capital;
but how minute a Share it was will be manifest, if it be consider'd
that another General had first made the Way easy, by driving the Enemy
out of _Spain_; and that the French General only stay'd at _Madrid_ till
the Return of those Troops which were in a manner driven out of _Spain_.

And yet that Transaction, doughty as it was, took up four most precious
Months, which most certainly might have been much better employ'd in
rendering it impossible for the Enemy to re-enter _Spain_; nor had there
been any Great Difficulty in so doing, but the contrary, if the General
at _Madrid_ had thought convenient to have join'd the Troops under the
Earl of _Peterhorow_, and then to have march'd directly towards
_Pampelona_, or the Frontiers of _France_. To this the Earl of
_Peterborow_ solicited the King, and those about him; he advis'd,
desir'd, and intreated him to lose no time, but to put in Execution
those Measures resolv'd on at _Barcelona_. A Council of War in
_Valencia_ renew'd the same Application; but all to no Purpose, his Rout
was order'd him, and that to meet his Majesty on the Frontiers of
_Arragon_. There, indeed, the Earl did meet the King; and the _French_
General an Army, which, by Virtue of a decrepid Intelligence, he never
saw or heard of till he fled from it to his Camp at _Guadalira_.
Inexpressible with the Confusion in this fatal Camp: The King from
_Arragon_, The Earl of _Peterborow_ from _Valencia_ arriving in it the
same Day, almost the same Hour that the Earl of _Galoway_ enter'd under
a hasty Retreat before the _French_ Army.

But to return to Order, which a Zeal of Justice has made me somewhat
anticipate; the Earl had not been long at _Valencia_ before he gave
Orders to Major-General _Windham_ to march with all the Forces he had,
which were not above two thousand Men, and lay Siege to _Requina_, a
Town ten Leagues distant from _Valencia_, and in the Way to _Madrid_.
The Town was not very strong, nor very large; but sure the odliest
fortify'd that ever was. The Houses in a Circle conneftively compos'd
the Wall; and the People, who defended the Town, instead of firing from
Hornworks, Counterscarps, and Bastions, fir'd out of the Windows of
their Houses.

Notwithstanding all which, General _Windham_ found much greater
Opposition than he at first imagin'd; and therefore finding he should
want Ammunition, he sent to the Earl of _Peterborow_ for a Supply; at
the same time assigning, as a Reason for it, the unexpected Obstinacy of
the Town. So soon as the Earl receiv'd the Letter he sent for me; and
told me I must repair to _Requifia_, where they would want an Engineer;
and that I must be ready next Morning, when he should order a
Lieutenant, with thirty Soldiers and two Matrosses, to guard some Powder
for that Service. Accordingly, the next Morning we set out, the
Lieutenant, who was a _Dutchman_, and Commander of the Convoy, being of
my Acquaintance.

We had reach'd Saint _Jago_, a small Village about midway between
_Valencia_ and _Requina_, when the Officer, just as he was got without
the Town, resolving to take up his Quarters on the Spot, order'd the
Mules to be unloaded. The Powder, which consisted of forty-five Barrels,
was pil'd up in a Circle, and cover'd with Oil-cloth, to preserve it
from the Weather; and though we had agreed to sup together at my
Quarters within the Village, yet being weary and fatigu'd, he order'd
his Field-Bed to be put up near the Powder, and so lay down to take a
short Nap. I had scarce been at my Quarters an Hour, when a sudden Shock
attack'd the House so violently, that it threw down Tiles, Windows,
Chimneys and all. It presently came into my Head what was the Occasion;
and as my Fears suggested so it prov'd: For running to the Door I saw a
Cloud ascending from the Spot I left the Powder pitch'd upon. In haste
making up to which, nothing was to be seen but the bare Circle upon
which it had stood. The Bed was blown quite away, and the poor
Lieutenant all to pieces, several of his Limbs being found separate, and
at a vast Distance each from the other; and particularly an Arm, with a
Ring on one of the Fingers. The Matrosses were, if possible, in a yet
worse Condition, that is, as to Manglement and Laceration. All the
Soldiers who were standing, and any thing near, were struck dead. Only
such as lay sleeping on the Ground escap'd, and of those one assur'd me,
that the Blast remov'd him several Foot from his Place of Repose. In
short, enquiring into this deplorable Disaster, I had this Account: That
a Pig running out of the Town, the Soldiers endeavour'd to intercept its
Return; but driving it upon the Matrosses, one of them, who was jealous
of its getting back into the Hands of the Soldiers, drew his Pistol to
shoot it, which was the Source of this miserable Catastrophe. The
Lieutenant carry'd along with him a Bag of Dollars to pay the Soldiers'
Quarters, of which the People, and the Soldiers that were say'd, found
many; but blown to an inconceivable Distance.

With those few Soldiers that remain'd alive, I proceeded, according to
my Order, to _Requina_; where, when I arriv'd, I gave General _Windham_
an Account of the Disaster at St. _Jago_. As such it troubled him, and
not a little on account of the Disappointment. However, to make the best
of a bad Market, he gave Orders for the forming of a Mine under an old
Castle, which was part of the Wall. As it was order'd, so it was begun,
more _in Terrorem_, than with any Expectation of Success from it as a
Mine. Nevertheless, I had scarce began to frame the Oven of the Mine,
when those within the Town desir'd to capitulate. This being all we
could aim at, under the Miscarriage of our Powder at St. _Jago_ (none
being yet arriv'd to supply that Defect) Articles were readily granted
them; pursuant to which, that Part of the Garrison, which was compos'd
of _Castilian_ Gentry, had Liberty to go wherever they thought best, and
the rest were made Prisoners of War. _Requina_ being thus reduc'd to the
Obedience of _Charles_ III a new rais'd Regiment of _Spaniards_ was left
in Garrison, the Colonel of which was appointed Governor; and our Supply
of Powder having at last got safe to us, General _Windham_ march'd his
little Army to _Cuenca_.

_CUENCA_ is a considerable City and a Bishoprick; therefore to pretend
to sit down before it with such a Company of Forragers, rather than an
Army, must be plac'd among the hardy Influences of the Earl of
_Peterborow_'s auspicious Administration. On the out Part of _Cuenca_
there stood an old Castle, from which, upon our Approach, they play'd
upon us furiously: But as soon as we could bring two Pieces of our
Cannon to bear, we answered their Fire with so good Success, that we
soon oblig'd them to retire into the Town. We had rais'd a Battery of
twelve Guns against the City, on their Rejection of the Summons sent
them to come under the Obedience of King _Charles_; going to which from
the old Castle last reduc'd, I receiv'd a Shot on the Toe of one of my
Shoes, which carry'd that Part of the Shoe intirely away, without any
further Damage.

When I came to that Battery we ply'd them warmly (as well as from three
Mortars) for the Space of three Days, their Nights included; but
observing, that in one particular House, they were remarkably busy;
People thronging in and out below; and those above firing perpetually
out of the Windows, I was resolv'd to have one Shot at that Window, and
made those Officers about me take Notice of it. True it was, the
Distance would hardly allow me to hope for Success; yet as the
Experiment could only be attended with the Expence of a single Ball, I
made it. So soon as the Smoak of my own Cannon would permit it, we could
see Clouds of Dust issuing from out of the Window, which, together with
the People's crouding out of Doors, convinc'd the Officers, whom I had
desir'd to take Notice of it, that I had been no bad Marksman.

Upon this, two Priests were sent out of the Place with Proposals; but
they were so triflingly extravagant, that as soon as ever the General
heard them, he order'd their Answer in a fresh Renewal of the Fire of
both Cannon and Mortars. And it happen'd to be with so much Havock and
Execution, that they were soon taught Reason; and sent back their
Divines, with much more moderate Demands. After the General had a little
modell'd these last, they were accepted; and according to the Articles
of Capitulation, the City was that very Day surrender'd into our
Possession. The Earl of _Duncannon's_ Regiment took Guard of all the
Gates; and King _Charles_ was proclaim'd in due Form.

The Earl of _Peterborow_, during this Expedition, had left _Valencia_,
and was arriv'd at my Lord _Galway's_ Camp at _Guadalaxara_; who for the
Confederates, and King _Charles_ in particular, unfortunately was
order'd from _Portugal_, to take the Command from a General, who had all
along been almost miraculously successful, and by his own great Actions
pay'd the Way for a safe Passage to that his Supplanter.

Yet even in this fatal Place the Earl of _Peterborow_ made some
Proposals, which, had they been embrac'd, might, in all Probability,
have secur'd _Madrid_ from falling into the Hands of the Enemy; But, in
opposition thereto, the Lord _Galway_, and all his _Portugueze_
Officers, were for forcing the next Day the Enemy to Battle. The almost
only Person against it was the Earl of _Peterborow_; who then and there
took the Liberty to evince the Impossibility of coming to an Engagement.
This the next Morning too evidently made apparent, when upon the first
Motion of our Troops towards the River, which they pretended to pass,
and must pass, before they could engage, they were so warmly saluted
from the Batteries of the Enemy, and their small Shot, that our
Regiments were forc'd to retire in Confusion to their Camp. By which
Rebuff all heroical Imaginations were at present laid aside, to consider
how they might make their Retreat to _Valencia_.

The Retreat being at last resolv'd on, and a Multiplicity of Generals
rendering our bad Circumstances much worse, the Earl of _Peterborow_ met
with a fortunate Reprieve, by Solicitations from the Queen, and Desires
tantamount to Orders, that he would go with the Troops left in
_Catalonia_ to the Relief of the Duke of _Savoy_. It is hardly to be
doubted that that General was glad to withdraw from those Scenes of
Confusion, which were but too visible to Eyes even less discerning than
his. However, he forebore to prepare himself to put her Majesty's
Desires in execution, as they were not peremptory, till it had been
resolv'd by the unanimous Consent of a Council of War, where the King,
all the Generals and Ministers were present. That it was expedient for
the Service that the Earl of _Peterborow_, during the Winter Season,
should comply with her Majesty's Desires, and go for _Italy_; since he
might return before the opening of the Campaign, if it should be
necessary. And return indeed he did, before the Campaign open'd, and
brought along with him one hundred thousand Pounds from _Genoa_, to the
great Comfort and Support of our Troops, which had neither Money nor
Credit. But on his Return, that noble Earl found the Lord _Galway_ had
been near as successful against him, as he had been unsuccessful against
the Enemy. Thence was the Earl of _Peterborow_ recall'd to make room for
an unfortunate General, who the next Year suffer'd himself to be decoy'd
into that fatal Battle of _Almanza_.

The Earl of _Peterborow_, on his leaving _Valencia_, had order'd his
Baggage to follow him to the Camp at _Guadalaxara_; and it arriv'd in
our little Camp, so far safe in its way to the greater at _Guadalaxara_.
I think it consisted of seven loaded Waggons; and General _Windham_ gave
Orders for a small Guard to escorte it; under which they proceeded on
their Journey: But about eight Leagues from _Cuenca_, at a pretty Town
call'd _Huette_, a Party from the Duke of _Berwick's_ Army, with Boughs
in their Hats, the better to appear what they were not (for the Bough in
the Hat is the Badge of the _English_, as white Paper is the Badge of
the _French_) came into the Town, crying all the way, _Viva Carlos
Tercero, Viva_. With these Acclamations in their Mouths, they advanc'd
up to the very Waggons; when attacking the Guards, who had too much
deluded themselves with Appearances, they routed 'em, and immediately
plunder'd the Waggons of all that was valuable, and then march'd off.

The Noise of this soon reach'd the Ears of the Earl of _Peterborow_ at
_Guadalaxara_. When leaving my Lord _Galways_ Camp, pursuant to the
Resolutions of the Council of War, with a Party only of fourscore of
_Killigrew's_ Dragoons, he met General _Windham's_ little Army within a
League of _Huette_, the Place where his Baggage had been plunder'd. The
Earl had strong Motives of Suspicion, that the Inhabitants had given
Intelligence to the Enemy; and, as is very natural, giving way to the
first Dictates of Resentment, he resolv'd to have lay'd the Town in
Ashes: But when he came near it, the Clergy and Magistrates upon their
Knees, disavowing the Charge, and asserting their Innocence, prevail'd
on the good Nature of that generous Earl, without any great Difficulty,
to spare the Town, at least not to burn it.

We march'd however into the Town, and that Night took up our Quarters
there; and the Magistrates, under the Dread of our avenging our selves,
on their part took Care that we were well supplied. But when they were
made sensible of the Value of the Loss, which the Earl had sustain'd;
and that on a moderate Computation it amounted to at least eight
thousand Pistoles; they voluntarily presented themselves next Morning,
and of their own accord offer'd to make his Lordship full Satisfaction,
and that, in their own Phrase, _de Contado, in Ready Money_. The Earl
was not displeas'd at their Offer; but generously made Answer, That he
was just come from my Lord _Galway's_ Camp at _Chincon_, where he found
they were in a likelihood of wanting Bread; and as he imagin'd it might
be easier to them to raise the Value in Corn, than in ready Money; if
they would send to that Value in Corn to the Lord _Galway's_ Camp, he
would be satisfy'd. This they with Joy embrac'd, and immediately
complied with.

I am apt to think the last Century (and I very much fear the Current
will be as deficient) can hardly produce a parallel Instance of
Generosity and true public Spiritedness; And the World will be of my
Opinion, when I have corroborated this with another Passage some Years
after. The Commissioners for Stating the Debts due to the Army, meeting
daily for that Purpose at their House in _Darby_ Court in _Channel Row_,
I there mentioned to Mr. _Read_, Gentleman to his Lordship, this very
just and honourable Claim upon the Government, as Monies advanced for
the Use of the Army. Who told me in a little Time after, that he had
mention'd it to his Lordship, but with no other Effect than to have it
rejected with a generous Disdain.

While we stayed at _Huette_ there was a little Incident in Life, which
gave me great Diversion. The Earl, who had always maintain'd a good
Correspondence with the fair Sex, hearing from one of the Priests of the
Place, That on the Alarm of burning the Town, one of the finest Ladies
in all _Spain_ had taken Refuge in the Nunnery, was desirous to speak
with her.

The Nunnery stood upon a small rising Hill within the Town; and to
obtain the View, the Earl had presently in his Head this Stratagem; he
sends for me, as Engineer, to have my Advice, how to raise a proper
Fortification upon that Hill out of the Nunnery. I waited upon his
Lordship to the Place, where declaring the Intent of our coming, and
giving plausible Reasons for it, the Train took, and immediately the
Lady Abbess, and the fair Lady, came out to make Intercession, That his
Lordship would be pleas'd to lay aside that Design. The divine Oratory
of one, and the beautiful Charms of the other, prevail'd; so his
Lordship left the Fortification to be the Work of some future
Generation.

From _Huette_ the Earl of _Peterborow_ march'd forwards for _Valencia_,
with only those fourscore Dragoons, which came with him from _Chincon_,
leaving General _Windham_ pursuing his own Orders to join his Forces to
the Army then under the Command of the Lord _Galway_. But stopping at
_Campilio_, a little Town in our Way, his Lordship had Information of a
most barbarous Fact committed that very Morning by the _Spaniards_, at a
small _Villa_, about a League distant, upon some _English_ Soldiers.

A Captain of the _English_ Guards (whose Name has slip'd my Memory, tho'
I well knew the Man) marching in order to join the Battalion of the
Guards, then under the Command of General _Windham_, with some of his
Soldiers, that had been in the Hospital, took up his Quarters in that
little _Villa_. But on his marching out of it, next Morning, a Shot in
the Back laid that Officer dead upon the Spot: And as it had been before
concerted, the _Spaniards_ of the Place at the same Time fell upon the
poor, weak Soldiers, killing several; not even sparing their Wives. This
was but a Prelude to their Barbarity; their savage Cruelty was only
whetted, not glutted. They took the surviving few; hurried and dragg'd
them up a Hill, a little without the _Villa_. On the Top of this Hill
there was a Hole, or Opening, somewhat like the Mouth of one of our
Coal-Pits, down this they cast several, who, with hideous Shrieks and
Cries, made more hideous by the Ecchoes of the Chasm, there lost their
Lives.

This Relation was thus made to the Earl of _Peterborow_, at his Quarters
at _Campilio_; who immediately gave Orders for to sound to Horse. At
first we were all surpriz'd; but were soon satisfy'd, that it was to
revenge, or rather, do Justice, on this barbarous Action.

As soon as we enter'd the _Villa_ we found that most of the Inhabitants,
but especially the most Guilty, had withdrawn themselves on our
Approach. We found, however, many of the dead Soldiers Cloaths, which
had been convey'd into the Church, and there hid. And a strong
Accusation being laid against a Person belonging to the Church, and full
Proof made, that he had been singularly Industrious in the Execution of
that horrid Piece of Barbarity on the Hill, his Lordship commanded him
to be hang'd up at the Knocker of the Door.

After this piece of military Justice, we were led up to the fatal Pit or
Hole, down which many had been cast headlong. There we found one poor
Soldier alive, who, upon his throwing in, had catch'd fast hold of some
impending Bushes, and sav'd himself on a little Jutty within the
Concavity. On hearing us talk _English_ he cry'd out; and Ropes being
let down, in a little Time he was drawn up; when he gave us an ample
Detail of the whole Villany. Among other Particulars, I remember he told
me of a very narrow Escape he had in that obscure Recess. A poor Woman,
one of the Wives of the Soldiers, who were thrown down after him,
struggled, and roared so much, that they could not, without all their
Force, throw her cleaverly in the Middle; by which means falling near
the Side, in her Fall she almost beat him from his Place of Security.

Upon the Conclusion of this tragical Relation of the Soldier thus saved,
his Lordship gave immediate Orders for the Firing of the _Villa_, which
was executed with due Severity: After which his Lordship march'd back to
his Quarters at _Campilio_; from whence, two Days after, we arriv'd at
_Valencia_, Where, the first Thing presented to that noble Lord, was all
the Papers taken in the Plunder of his Baggage, which the Duke of
_Berwick_ had generously order'd to be return'd him, without waste or
opening.

It was too manifest, after the Earl's arrival at this City, that the
Alteration in the Command of the _English_ Forces, which before was only
receiv'd as a Rumour, had deeper Grounds for Belief, than many of his
Friends in that City could have wish'd. His Lordship had gain'd the Love
of all by a Thousand engaging Condescensions; even his Gallantries being
no way prejudicial, were not offensive; and though his Lordships did his
utmost to conceal his Chagrin, the Sympathy of those around him made
such Discoveries upon him, as would have disappointed a double Portion
of his Caution. They had seen him un-elated under Successes, that were
so near being unaccountable, that in a Country of less Superstition than
_Spain_, they might almost have pass'd for miraculous; they knew full
well, that nothing, but that Series of Successes had pav'd a Passage for
the General that was to supersede him; those only having removed all the
Difficulties of his March from _Portugal_ to _Madrid_; they knew him the
older General; and therefore not knowing, that in the Court he came
from, Intrigue was too often the Soul of Merit, they could not but be
amazed at a Change, which his Lordship was unwilling any body should
perceive by himself.

It was upon this Account, that, as formerly, he treated the Ladies with
Balls, and to pursue the Dons in their own Humour, order'd a _Tawridore_
or _Bull-Feast_. In _Spain_ no sort of public Diversions are esteemed
equal with this. But the Bulls provided at _Valencia_, not being of the
right Breed, nor ever initiated in the Mysteries, did not acquit
themselves at all masterly; and consequently, did not give the
Diversion, or Satisfaction expected. For which Reason I shall omit
giving a Description of this Bull-Feast; and desire my Reader to suspend
his Curiosity till I come to some, which, in the _Spanish_ Sense, were
much more entertaining; that is, attended with much greater Hazards and
Danger.

But though I have said, the Gallantries of the General were mostly
political at least very inoffensive; yet there happen'd about this Time,
and in this Place, a piece of Gallantry, that gave the Earl a vast deal
of Offence and Vexation; as a Matter, that in its Consequences might
have been fatal to the Interest of King _Charles_, if not to the
_English_ Nation in general; and which I the rather relate, in that it
may be of use to young Officers, and others; pointing out to them the
Danger, not to say Folly, of inadvertent and precipitate Engagements,
under unruly Passions.

I have said before, that _Valencia_ is famous for fine Women. It indeed
abounds in them; and among those, are great Numbers of Courtezans not
inferior in Beauty to any. Nevertheless, two of our _English_ Officers,
not caring for the common Road, however safe, resolv'd to launch into
the deeper Seas, though attended with much greater Danger. Amours, the
common Failing of that fair City, was the Occasion of this Accident, and
two Nuns the Objects. It is customary in that Country for young People
in an Evening to resort to the Grates of the Nunneries, there to divert
themselves, and the Nuns, with a little pleasant and inoffensive
Chit-chat. For though I have heard some relate a World of nauseous
Passages at such Conversations, I must declare, that I never saw, or
heard any Thing unseemly; and therefore whenever I have heard any such
from such Fabulists, I never so much wrong'd my Judgment as to afford
them Credit.

Our two Officers were very assiduous at the Grates of a Nunnery in this
Place; and having there pitch'd upon two Nuns, prosecuted their Amours
with such Vigour, that, in a little time, they had made a very great
Progress in their Affections, without in the least considering the
Dangers that must attend themselves and the Fair; they had exchang'd
Vows, and prevail'd upon the weaker Vessels to endeavour to get out to
their Lovers. To effect which, soon after, a Plot was lay'd; the Means,
the Hour, and every thing agreed upon.

It is the Custom of that Nunnery, as of many others, for the Nuns to
take their weekly Courses in keeping the Keys of all the Doors. The two
Love-sick Ladies giving Notice to their Lovers at the Grate, that one of
their Turns was come, the Night and Hour was appointed, which the
Officers punctually observing, carry'd off their Prey without either
Difficulty or Interruption.

But next Morning, when the Nuns were missing, what an Uproar was there
over all the City? The Ladies were both of Quality; and therefore the
Tidings were first carry'd to their Relations. They receiv'd the News
with Vows of utmost Vengeance; and, as is usual in that Country, put
themselves in Arms for that Purpose. There needed no great canvassing
for discovering who were the Aggressors: The Officers had been too
frequent, and too publick, in their Addresses, to leave any room for
question. Accordingly, they were complain'd of and sought for, but
sensible at last of their past Temerity, they endeavour'd, and with a
great deal of Difficulty perfected their Escape.

Less fortunate were the two fair Nuns; their Lovers, in their utmost
Exigence, had forsaken them; and they, poor Creatures, knew not where to
fly. Under this sad Dilemma they were taken; and, as in like Offences,
condemn'd directly to the Punishment of _immuring_. And what greater
Punishment is there on Earth than to be confin'd between four narrow
Walls, only open at the Top; and thence to be half supported with Bread
and Water, till the Offenders gradually starve to Death?

The Earl of _Peterborow_, though highly exasperated at the Proceedings
of his Officers, in compassion to the unhappy Fair, resolv'd to
interpose by all the moderate Means possible. He knew very well, that no
one Thing could so much prejudice the _Spaniard_ against him, as the
countenancing such an Action; wherefore he inveigh'd against the
Officers, at the same time that he endeavour'd to mitigate in favour of
the Ladies: But all was in vain; it was urg'd against those charitable
Intercessions, that they had broke their Vows; and in that had broke in
upon the Laws of the Nunnery and Religion; the Consequence of all which
could be nothing less than the Punishment appointed to be inflicted. And
which was the hardest of all, the nearest of their Relations most
oppos'd all his generous Mediations; and those, who according to the
common Course of Nature should have thank'd him for his Endeavours to be
instrumental in rescuing them from the impending Danger, grew more and
more enrag'd, because he oppos'd them in their Design of a cruel
Revenge.

Notwithstanding all which the Earl persever'd; and after a deal of
Labour, first got the Penalty suspended; and, soon after, by the Dint of
a very considerable Sum of Money (a most powerful Argument, which
prevails in every Country) sav'd the poor Nuns from immuring; and at
last, though with great Reluctance, he got them receiv'd again into the
Nunnery. As to the Warlike Lovers, one of them was the Year after slain
at the Battle of _Almanza_; the other is yet living, being a Brigadier
in the Army.

While the Earl of _Peterborow_ was here with his little Army of great
Hereticks, neither Priests nor People were so open in their
superstitious Fopperies, as I at other times found them. For which
Reason I will make bold, and by an Antichronism in this Place, a little
anticipate some Observations that I made some time after the Earl left
it. And as I have not often committed such a Transgression, I hope it
may be the more excusable now, and no way blemish my Memoirs, that I
break in upon the Series of my Journal.

_VALENCIA_ is a handsome City, and a Bishoprick; and is considerable not
only for the Pleasantness of its Situation and beautiful Ladies; but
(which at some certain Times, and on some Occasions, to them is more
valuable than both those put together) for being the Birth-place of
Saint _Vincent_, the Patron of the Place; and next for its being the
Place where _Santo Domingo_, the first Institutor of the _Dominican_
Order had his Education. Here, in honour of the last, is a spacious and
very splendid Convent of the _Dominicans_. Walking by which, I one Day
observ'd over the Gate, a Figure of a man in stone; and near it a Dog
with a lighted Torch in his Mouth. The Image I rightly enough took to
intend that of the Saint; but inquiring of one of the Order, at the
Gate, the Meaning of the Figures near it, he very courteously ask'd me
to walk in, and then entertain'd me with the following Relation:

When the Mother of _Santo Domingo_, said that Religious, was with Child
of that future Saint, she had a Dream which very much afflicted her. She
dreamt that she heard a Dog bark in her Belly; and inquiring (at what
Oracle is not said) the Meaning of her Dream, she was told, _That that
Child should bark out the Gospel_ (excuse the Bareness of the
Expression, it may run better in _Spanish_; tho', if I remember right,
_Erasmus_ gives it in _Latin_ much the same Turn) _which should thence
shine out like that lighted Torch_. And this is the Reason, that
wherever you see the Image of that Saint, a Dog and a lighted Torch is
in the Group.

He told me at the same time, that there had been more Popes and
Cardinals of that Order than of any, if not all the other. To confirm
which, he led me into a large Gallery, on each Side whereof he shew'd me
the Pictures of all the Popes and Cardinals that had been of that Order;
among which, I particularly took Notice of that of Cardinal _Howard_,
great Uncle to the present Duke of _Norfolk_. But after many _Encomiums_
of their Society, with which he interspers'd his Discourse, he added one
that I least valu'd it for; That the sole Care and Conduct of the
Inquisition was intrusted with them.

Finding me attentive, or not so contradictory as the _English_ Humour
generally is, he next brought me into a fair and large Cloister, round
which I took several Turns with him; and, indeed, The Place was too
delicious to tire, under a Conversation less pertinent or courteous than
that he entertain'd me with. In the Middle of the Cloister was a small
but pretty and sweet Grove of Orange and Lemon-trees; these bore Fruit
ripe and green, and Flowers, all together on one Tree; and their Fruit
was so very large and beautiful, and their Flowers so transcendently
odoriferous, that all I had ever seen of the like Kind in _England_
could comparatively pass only for Beauty in Epitome, or Nature imitated
in Wax-work. Many Flocks also of pretty little Birds, with their
chearful Notes, added not a little to my Delight. In short, in Life I
never knew or found three of my Senses at once so exquisitely gratify'd.

Not far from this, Saint _Vincent_, the Patron, as I said before, of
this City, has a Chapel dedicated to him. Once a Year they do him Honour
in a sumptuous Procession. Then are their Streets all strow'd with
Flowers, and their Houses set off with their richest Tapestries, every
one strives to excel his Neighbour in distinguishing himself by the
Honour he pays to that Saint; and he is the best Catholick, as well as
the best Citizen, in the Eye of the _religious_, who most exerts himself
on this Occasion.

The Procession begins with a Cavalcade of all the Friars of all the
Convents in and about the City. These walk two and two with folded Arms,
and Eyes cast down to the very Ground, and with the greatest outward
Appearance of Humility imaginable; nor, though the Temptation from the
fine Women that fill'd their Windows, or the rich Tapestries that
adorn'd the Balconies might be allow'd sufficient to attract, could I
observe that any one of them all ever mov'd them upwards.

After the Friars is borne, upon the Shoulders of twenty Men at least, an
Imagine of that Saint of solid Silver, large as the Life; It is plac'd
in a great Chair of Silver likewise; the Staves that bear him up, and
upon which they bear him, being of the same Metal. The whole is a most
costly and curious Piece of Workmanship, such as my Eyes never before or
since beheld.

The Magistrates follow the Image and its Supporters, dress'd in their
richest Apparel, which is always on this Day, and on this Occasion,
particularly sumptuous and distinguishing. Thus is the Image, in the
greatest Splendor, borne and accompany'd round that fine City; and at
last convey'd to the Place from whence it came: And so concludes that
annual Ceremony.

The _Valencians_, as to the Exteriors of Religion, are the most devout
of any in _Spain_, though in common Life you find them amorous, gallant,
and gay, like other People; yet on solemn Occasions there shines
out-right such a Spirit as proves them the very Bigots of Bigotry: As a
Proof of which Assertion, I will now give some Account of such
Observations, as I had time to make upon them, during two _Lent_
Seasons, while I resided there.

The Week before the _Lent_ commences, commonly known by the Name of
_Carnaval Time_, the whole City appears a perfect _Bartholomew_ Fair;
the Streets are crouded, and the Houses empty; nor is it possible to
pass along without some Gambol or Jack-pudding Trick offer'd to you;
Ink, Water, and sometimes Ordure, are sure to be hurl'd at your Face or
Cloaths; and if you appear concern'd or angry, they rejoyce at it,
pleas'd the more, the more they displease; for all other Resentment is
at that time out of Season, though at other times few in the World are
fuller of Resentment or more captious.

The younger Gentry, or Dons, to express their Gallantry, carry about
them Egg-shells, fill'd with Orange or other sweet Water, which they
cast at Ladies in their Coaches, or such other of the fair Sex as they
happen to meet in the Streets.

But after all, if you would think them extravagant to Day, as much
transgressing the Rules of common Civility, and neither regarding
Decency to one another, nor the Duty they owe to Almighty God; yet when
_Ash-Wednesday_ comes you will imagine them more unaccountable in their
Conduct, being then as much too excessive in all outwards Indications of
Humility and Repentance. Here you shall meet one, bare-footed, with a
Cross on his Shoulder, a Burden rather fit for somewhat with four Feet,
and which his poor Two are ready to sink under, yet the vain Wretch
bears and sweats, and sweats and bears, in hope of finding Merit in an
Ass's Labour.

Others you shall see naked to their Wastes, whipping themselves with
Scourges made for the Purpose, till the Blood follows every Stroke; and
no Man need be at a Loss to follow them by the very Tracks of Gore they
shed in this frentick Perambulation. Some, who from the Thickness of
their Hides, or other Impediments, have not Power by their Scourgings to
fetch Blood of themselves, are follow'd by Surgeons with their Lancets,
who at every Turn, make use of them, to evince the Extent of their
Patience and Zeal by the Smart of their Folly. While others, mingling
Amour with Devotion, take particular Care to present themselves all
macerated before the Windows of their Mistresses; and even in that
Condition, not satisfy'd with what they have barbarously done to
themselves, they have their Operators at hand, to evince their Love by
the Number of their Gashes and Wounds; imagining the more Blood they
lose, the more Love they shew, and the more they shall gain. These are
generally Devoto's of Quality; though the Tenet is universal, that he
that is most bloody is most devout.

After these Street-Exercises, these ostentatious Castigations are over,
these Self-sacrificers repair to the great Church, the bloodier the
better; there they throw themselves, in a Condition too vile for the Eye
of a Female, before the Image of the Virgin _Mary_; though I defy all
their Race of Fathers, and their infallible holy Father into the
Bargain, to produce any Authority to fit it for Belief, that she ever
delighted in such sanguinary Holocausts.

During the whole Time of _Lent_, you will see in every Street some
Priest or Frier, upon some Stall or Stool, preaching up Repentance to
the People; and with violent Blows on his Breast crying aloud, _Mia
Culpa, mia maxima Culpa_, till he extract reciprocal Returns from the
Hands of his Auditors on their own Breasts.

When _Good Friday_ is come they entertain it with the most profound Show
of Reverence and Religion, both in their Streets and in their Churches.
In the last, particularly, they have contriv'd about twelve a-Clock
suddenly to darken them, so as to render them quite gloomy. This they do
to intimate the Eclipse of the Sun, which at that time happen'd. And to
signify the Rending of the Vail of the Temple, you are struck with a
strange artificial Noise at the very same Instant.

But when _Easter_ Day appears, you find it in all Respects with them a
Day of Rejoicing; for though Abstinence from Flesh with them, who at no
time eat much, is not so great a Mortification as with those of the same
Persuasion in other Countries, who eat much more, yet there is a visible
Satisfaction darts out at their Eyes, which demonstrates their inward
Pleasure in being set free from the Confinement of Mind to the
Dissatisfaction of the Body. Every Person you now meet greets you with a
_Resurrexit Jesus_; a good Imitation of the primitive Christians, were
it the real Effect of Devotion. And all Sorts of the best Musick (which
here indeed is the best in all _Spain_) proclaim an auspicious
Valediction to the departed Season of superficial Sorrow and stupid
Superstition. But enough of this: I proceed to weightier Matters.

While we lay at _Valencia_, under the Vigilance and Care of the
indefatigable Earl, News was brought that _Alicant_ was besieg'd by
General _Gorge_ by Land, while a Squadron of Men of War batter'd it from
the Sea; from both which the Besiegers play'd their Parts so well, and
so warmly ply'd them with their Cannon, that an indifferent practicable
Breach was made in a little time.

_Mahoni_ commanded in the Place, being again receiv'd into Favour; and
clear'd as he was of those political Insinuations before intimated, he
now seem'd resolv'd to confirm his Innocence by a resolute Defence.
However, perceiving that all Preparations tended towards a Storm, and
knowing full well the Weakness of the Town, he withdrew his Garrison
into the Castle, leaving the Town to the Defence of its own Inhabitants.

Just as that was doing, the Sailors, not much skill'd in Sieges, nor at
all times capable of the coolest Consideration, with a Resolution
natural to them, storm'd the Walls to the Side of the Sea; where not
meeting with much Opposition (for the People of the Town apprehended the
least Danger there) they soon got into the Place; and, as soon as got
in, began to Plunder. This oblig'd the People, for the better Security
of themselves, to open their Gates, and seek a Refuge under one Enemy,
in opposition to the Rage of another.

General _Gorge_, as soon as he enter'd the Town, with a good deal of
seeming Lenity, put a stop to the Ravages of the Sailors; and ordered
Proclamation to be made throughout the Place, that all the Inhabitants
should immediately bring in their best Effects into the great Church for
their better Security. This was by the mistaken Populace, as readily
comply'd with; and neither Friend nor Foe at all disputing the Command,
or questioning the Integrity of the Intention; the Church was presently
crouded with Riches of all sorts and sizes. Yet after some time
remaining there, they were all taken out, and disposed of by those, that
had as little Property in 'em, as the Sailors, they were pretended to be
preserv'd from.

The Earl of _Peterborow_ upon the very first News of the Siege had left
_Valencia_, and taken Shipping for _Alicant_; where he arrived soon
after the Surrender of the Town, and that Outcry of the Goods of the
Townsmen. Upon his Arrival, _Mahoni_, who was block'd up in the Castle,
and had experienced his indefatigable Diligence, being in want of
Provisions, and without much hope of Relief, desired to capitulate. The
Earl granted him honourable Conditions, upon which he delivered up the
Castle, and _Gorge_ was made Governor.

Upon his Lordship's taking Ship at _Valencia_, I had an Opportunity of
marching with those Dragoons, which escorted him from _Castile_, who had
received Orders to march into _Murcia_. We quarter'd the first Night at
_Alcira_, a Town that the River _Segra_ almost surrounds, which renders
it capable of being made a Place of vast Strength, though now of small
Importance.

The next Night we lay at _Xativa_, a Place famous for its steadiness to
King _Charles_. General _Basset_, a _Spaniard_, being Governor; it was
besieg'd by the Forces of King _Philip_; but after a noble Resistance,
the Enemy were beat off, and the Siege raised; for which Effort, it is
supposed, that on the Retirement of King _Charles_ out of this Country,
it was depriv'd of its old Name _Xativa_, and is now called _San
Felippo_; though to this day the People thereabouts much dissallow by
their Practice, that novel Denomination.

We march'd next Morning by _Monteza_; which gives Name to the famous
Title of Knights of _Monteza_. It was at the Time that Colonel _O
Guaza_, an _Irish-man_, was Governor, besieg'd by the People of the
Country, in favour of King _Charles_; but very ineffectually, so it
never chang'd its Sovereign. That Night we quarter'd at _Fonte dalas
Figuras_, within one League of _Almanza_; where that fatal and
unfortunate Battle, which I shall give an Account of in its Place, was
fought the Year after, under the Lord _Galway_.

On our fourth days March we were oblig'd to pass _Villena_, where the
Enemy had a Garrison. A Party of _Mahoni's_ Dragoons made a part of that
Garrison, and they were commanded by Major _O. Rairk_ an _Irish_
Officer, who always carried the Reputation of a good Soldier, and a
brave Gentleman.

I had all along made it my Observation, that Captain _Matthews_, who
commanded those Dragoons, that I march'd with, was a Person of much more
Courage than Conduct; and he us'd as little Precaution here, though just
marching under the Eye of the Enemy, as he had done at other Times. As
I was become intimately acquainted with him, I rode up to him, and told
him the Danger, which, in my Opinion, attended our present March. I
pointed out to him just before _Villena_ a jutting Hill, under which we
must unavoidably pass; at the turning whereof, I was apprehensive the
Enemy might he, and either by Ambuscade or otherwise, surprize us; I
therefore intreated we might either wait the coming of our Rear Guard;
or at least march with a little more leisure and caution. But he taking
little notice of all I said, kept on his round March; seeing which, I
press'd forward my Mule, which was a very good one, and rid as fast as
her Legs could carry her, till I had got on the top of the Hill. When I
came there, I found both my Expectation, and my Apprehensions answered:
For I could very plainly discern three Squadrons of the Enemy ready
drawn up, and waiting for Us at the very winding of the Hill.

Hereupon I hastened back to the Captain with the like Speed, and told
him the Discovery I had made; who nevertheless kept on his March, and it
was with a good deal of Difficulty, that I at last prevail'd on him to
halt, till our Rear Guard of twenty Men had got up to us. But those
joining us, and a new Troop of _Spanish_ Dragoons, who had march'd
towards us that Morning, appearing in Sight; our Captain, as if he was
afraid of their rivalling him in his Glory, at the very turn of the
Hill, rode in a full Gallop, with Sword in Hand, up to the Enemy. They
stood their Ground, till we were advanc'd within two hundred Yards of
them, and then in Confusion endeavoured to retire into the Town.

They were obliged to pass over a small Bridge, too small to admit of
such a Company in so much haste; their crouding upon which obstructed
their Retreat, and left all that could not get over, to the Mercy of our
Swords, which spar'd none. However narrow as the Bridge was, Captain
_Matthews_ was resolved to venture over after the Enemy; on doing which,
the Enemy made a halt, till the People of the Town, and the very Priests
came out to their Relief with fire Arms. On so large an Appearance,
Captain _Matthews_ thought it not adviseable to make any further
Advances; so driving a very great flock of Sheep from under the Walls,
he continued his March towards _Elda_. In this Action we lost Captain
_Topham_, and three Dragoons.

I remember we were not marched very far from the Place, where this
Rencounter happen'd; when an _Irish_ Dragoon overtook the Captain, with
a civil Message from Major _O Rairk_, desiring that he would not
entertain a mean Opinion of him for the Defence that was made; since
could he have got the _Spaniards_ to have stood their Ground, he should
have given him good Reason for a better. The Captain return'd a
complimental Answer, and so march'd on. This Major _O Rairk_, or _O
Roork_, was the next Year killed at _Alkay_, being much lamented, for he
was esteemed both for his Courage and Conduct, one of the best of the
_Irish_ Officers in the _Spanish_ Service. I was likewise informed that
he was descended from one of the ancient Kings of _Ireland_; the Mother
of the honourable Colonel _Paget_, one of the Grooms of the Bedchamber
to his present Majesty, was nearly related to this Gallant Gentleman.

One remarkable Thing I saw in that Action, which affected and surprised
me; A _Scotch_ Dragoon, of but a moderate Size, with his large
basket-hilted Sword, struck off a _Spaniard's_ Head at one stroke, with
the same ease, in appearance, as a Man would do that of a Poppy.

When we came to _Elda_ (a Town much in the Interest of King _Charles_,
and famous for its fine Situation, and the largest Grapes in _Spain_)
the Inhabitants received us in a manner as handsome as it was peculiar;
all standing at their Doors with lighted Torches; which considering the
Time we enter'd was far from an unwelcome or disagreeable Sight.

The next Day several requested to be the Messengers of the Action at
_Villena_ to the Earl of _Peterborow_ at _Alicant_; but the Captain
return'd this Answer to all, that in consideration of the Share that I
might justly claim in that Day's Transactions, he could not think of
letting any other Person be the Bearer. So giving me his Letters to the
Earl, I the next Day deliver'd them to him at _Alicant_. At the
Delivery, Colonel _Killigrew_ (whose Dragoons they were) being present,
he expressed a deal of Satisfaction at the Account, and his Lordship was
pleased at the same time to appoint me sole Engineer of the Castle of
_Alicant_.

Soon after which, that successful General embark'd for _Genoa_,
according to the Resolutions of the Council of War at _Guadalaxara_, on
a particular Commission from the Queen of _England_, another from
_Charles_ King of _Spain_, and charged at the same time with a Request
of the Marquiss _das Minas_, General of the _Portugueze_ Forces, to
negotiate Bills for one hundred thousand Pounds for the use of his
Troops. In all which, tho' he was (as ever) successful; yet may it be
said without a figure, that his Departure, in a good measure, determin'd
the Success of the confederate Forces in that Kingdom. True it is, the
General return'd again with the fortunate, Fruits of those Negotiations;
but never to act in his old auspicious Sphere: And therefore, as I am
now to take leave of this fortunate General, let me do it with Justice,
in an Appeal to the World, of the not to be parallel'd Usage (in these
latter Ages, at least) that he met with for all his Services; such a
vast variety of Enterprizes, all successful, and which had set all
_Europe_ in amaze; Services that had given occasion to such solemn and
public Thanksgivings in our Churches, and which had received such very
remarkable Approbations, both of Sovereign and Parliament; and which had
been represented in so lively a Manner, in a Letter wrote by the King
_of Spain_, under his own Hand, to the Queen of _England_, and
communicated to both Houses in the Terms following:

Madam, my Sister,

I should not have been so long e'er I did my self the Honour to repeat
the Assurances of my sincere Respects to you, had I not waited for the
good Occasion which I now acquaint you with, that the City of
_Barcelona_ is surrendered to me by Capitulation. I doubt not but you