Part 7 (1/2)

But when _Easter_ Day appears, you find it in all Respects with theh Abstinence froreat 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 de set free from the Confinement of Mind to the Dissatisfaction of the Body Every Person you now ood 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, Neas brought that _Alicant_ was besieg'd by General _Gorge_ by Land, while a Squadron of Men of War batter'd it froers 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 tiain 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 Stor 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 es, nor at all times capable of the coolest Consideration, with a Resolution natural to the 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 thee under one Enee_, as soon as he enter'd the Toith a good deal of seees of the Sailors; and ordered Proclahout the Place, that all the Inhabitants should ireat Church for their better Security This was by the mistaken Populace, as readily co the Cority of the Intention; the Church was presently crouded with Riches of all sorts and sizes Yet after so 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 shi+pping 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_, as block'd up in the Castle, and had experienced his indefatigable Diligence, being in want of Provisions, and without ranted him honourable Conditions, upon which he delivered up the Castle, and _Gorge_ wasshi+p at _Valencia_, I had an Opportunity of oons, which escorted him from _Castile_, who had received Orders to ht at _Alcira_, a Town that the River _Segra_ al h now of sht we lay at _Xativa_, a Place fa _Charles_ General _Basset_, a _Spaniard_, being Governor; it was besieg'd by the Forces of King _Philip_; but after a noble Resistance, the Enee raised; for which Effort, it is supposed, that on the Retire _Charles_ out of this Country, it was depriv'd of its old Nah to this day the People thereabouts much dissallow by their Practice, that novel Denoives Nahts of _Monteza_ It was at the Time that Colonel _O Guaza_, an _Irish-'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 ere oblig'd to pass _Villena_, where the Eneoons 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 Gentle made it my Observation, that Captain _Mattheho cooons, that I e than Conduct; and he us'd as little Precaution here, though justunder the Eye of the Enemy, as he had done at other Times As I was become intimately acquainted with hier, which, in my Opinion, attended our present March I pointed out to hi Hill, under which wewhereof, I was apprehensive the Eneht he, and either by Ambuscade or otherwise, surprize us; I therefore intreated weof our Rear Guard; or at leastlittle notice of all I said, kept on his round March; seeing which, I press'd forward s 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 Ene of the Hill

Hereupon I hastened back to the Captain with the like Speed, and told him the Discovery I had ood deal of Difficulty, that I at last prevail'd on hiot up to us But those joining us, and a new Troop of _Spanish_ Dragoons, who had ht; 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 ere 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 se, too small to ad 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 _Mattheas resolved to venture over after the Ene which, the Enemy made a halt, till the People of the Town, and the very Priests cae an Appearance, Captain _Matthews_ thought it not adviseable to reat flock of Sheep from under the Walls, he continued his March towards _Elda_ In this Action we lost Captain _Tophaoons

I remember ere not marched very far from the Place, where this Rencounter happen'd; when an _Irish_ Dragoon overtook the Captain, with a civil Message fro that he would not entertain a mean Opinion of hiot the _Spaniards_ to have stood their Ground, he should have given hiood 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 e and Conduct, one of the best of the _Irish_ Officers in the _Spanish_ Service I was likewise infors 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 Gentle I saw in that Action, which affected and surprised e 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 ca _Charles_, and faest Grapes in _Spain_) the Inhabitants received us in aat their Doors with lighted Torches; which considering the Tiht

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 ht justly clai any other Person be the Bearer So giving me his Letters to the Earl, I the next Day deliver'd therehose Dragoons they were) being present, he expressed a deal of Satisfaction at the Account, and his Lordshi+p was pleased at the saineer of the Castle of _Alicant_

Soon after which, that successful General e to the Resolutions of the Council of War at _Guadalaxara_, on a particular Coland_, another froed 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 ood measure, deterdoain 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 aiven occasion to such soles in our Churches, and which had received such very ren 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 co:

Mada e'er I did my self the Honour to repeat the assurances of ood Occasion which I now acquaint you with, that the City of _Barcelona_ is surrendered to reat Neith intire Satisfaction, as well, because this happy Success is the Effect of your Arlorious, as from the pure Motives of that Bounty andwhich may contribute to the Advancement of my Interest

I must do this Justice to all the Officers and common Soldiers, and particularly to my Lord _Peterborow_, that he has shown in this whole Expedition, a Constancy, Bravery, and Conduct, worthy of the Choice that your Majesty has ive reat Zeal and Application, which he has equally testified for my Interest, and for the Service of adier _Stanhope_, for his great Zeal, Vigilance, and very wise Conduct, which he has given Proofs of upon all Occasions: As also to all your Officers of the Fleet, particularly to your worthy Ad your Majesty, that he has assisted me in this Expedition, with an inconceivable Readiness and Application, and that no Adreater Satisfaction, than he has done During the Siege of _Barcelona_, some of your Majesty's shi+ps, with the assistance of the Troops of the Country, have reduc'd the Town of _Tarragona_, and the officers are made Prisoners of War The Town of _Girone_ has been taken at the same time by Surprize, by the Troops of the Country The Town of _Lerida_ has submitted, as also that of _Tortosa_ upon the _Ebro_; so that we have taken all the Places of _Catalonia_, except _Roses_ Soosa_ have declared for me, and the Garrison of the Castle of _Denia_ in _Valencia_ have maintained their Post, and repulsed the Enemy; 400 of the Enereat number of their Infantry have deserted

This, Madam, is the State that your Arms, and the Inclination of the People have put my Affairs in It is unnecessary to tell you what stops the Course of these Conquests, it is not the Season of the Year, nor the Ene more than to act under the Conduct that your Majesty has appointed the of Barcelona, with so small a Number of Troops, is very ree is alht thousand Men of your Troops, and two hundred Miquelets, we should surround and invest a Place, that thirty thousand _French_ could not block up

After a March of thirteen Hours, the Troops climb'd up the Rocks and Precipices, to attack a Fortification stronger than the Place, which the Earl of _Peterborow_ has sent you a Plan of; two Generals, with the Grenadiers, attack'd it Sword in Hand In which Action the Prince of _Hesse_ died gloriously, after so many brave Actions: I hope his Brother and his Faht hundred Men they forc'd the cover'd Way, and all the Intrenchments and Works, one after another, till they caainst five hundred Men of regular Troops which defended the Place, and a Reinforcement they had receiv'd; and three Days afterwards we became Masters of the Place We afterwards attack'd the Town on the Side of the Castle We landed again our Cannon, and the other Artillery, with inconceivable Trouble, and forainst a Garrison almost as nuth of ours The first Camp was so well intrench'd, that 'twas defended by two thousand Men and the Dragoons; whilst we attack'd the Toith the rest of our Troops The Breach being eneral assault with all the Aruish this Action, perhaps, from all others

Here has happen'd an unforeseen Accident The Cruelty of the pretended Viceroy, and the Report spread abroad, that he would take away the Prisoners, contrary to the Capitulation, provok'd the Burghers, and soainst the Garrison, whilst they were busy in packing up their Baggage, which was to be sent away the next Day; so that every thing tended to Slaughter: But your Majesty's Troops, entering into Toith the Earl of _Peterborow_, instead of seeking Pillage, a Practice common upon such Occasions, appeas'd the Tumult, and have say'd the Town, and even the Lives of their Enemies, with a Discipline and Generosity without Example

What re so great a Fleet, and such good and valiant Troops to ht it proper, according to the Sentiments of your Generals and Admirals, to support, by my Presence, the Conquests that we have made; and to shew my Subjects, so affectionate to my Person, that I cannot abandon theenerous Nation, that I am loaded with your Bounties; and am not a little concern'd to think that the Support of reat an Expence But, Madam, I sacrifice my Person, and my Subjects in Catalonia expose also their Lives and Fortunes, upon the assurances they have of your Majesty's generous Protection Your Majesty and your Council knows better than we do, what is necessary for our Conservation We shall then expect your Majesty's Succours, with an entire Confidence in your Bounty and Wisdoive no small Diversion to _France_, and without doubt they will ainst me as soon as possible; but I am satisfy'd, that the same Efforts will be made by my Allies to defend me Your Goodness, Madam, inclines you, and your Power enables you, to support those that the Tyranny of France would oppress All that I can insinuate to your Wisdom, and that of your Allies, is, that the Forces employ'd in this Country will not be unprofitable to the public Good, but will be under an Obligation and Necessity to act with the utainst the Enemy I am,

With an inviolable Affection, Respect, and ment, Madam, my Sister, Your most affectionate Brother, CHARLES

And yet, after all, was this noble General not only recall'd, the Coiven to nment of Cause; but all Manner of Falsities were industriously spread abroad, not only to di hiine it necessary here to take Notice, that afterward he disprov'd all those idle Calumnies and ill-invented Rumours; or to mention what Compliments he receiv'd, in the most solemn Manner, froh canvassing of his Actions in the House of Lords But this is too notorious to be o from _Spain_ were purposely intercepted in their Way to _London_, and craftily exa to lessen his Character: And when any Officers had asserted the Falsity of those Inventions (as they all did, except a military Sweetner or two) and that there was no Possibility of laying any thing ae of that General--they were told, that they ought to be careful however, not to speak advantagiously of that Lord's Conduct, unless they illing to fall Martyrs in his Cause--A Thing scarce to be credited even in a popish Country But _Scipio_ was accus'd--tho' (as my Author finely observes) by Wretches only known to Posterity by that stupid Accusation