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_.