A. C. 1709 Accordingly, his Imperial Majefty commands all 'the Towns, Burroughs, Communities, Vaffals and Subjects of the Places yielded to his faid Royal "Highnefs, to acknowledge him for their Lawful Lord and Sovereign, in the fame Manner as they formerly did the Kings of Spain, and in Confequence to take the ufual Oath of Fidelity to him His Imperial Majefty having most exprefly com'miffion'd his Highness Prince Eugene of Savoy to 'make known his Intentions and Commands to the faid Towns, Provinces, Corporations, Vaffals, Subjects and Inhabitants, to the end they may pay ready Obedience thereto, His Majefty's Will and Intention is, that all this be put in Execution in due Form; and that immediately after, Commif 'fioners on both fides fhall treat, and fettle whatever is juft and reasonable, for maintaining the Rights and Prerogatives of both Parties, and thofe that 'fhall remain to this State. Done at Milan the 23d of February, 1707. Eugène of Savoy. To conclude the Account of the Affairs of Italy, the Victory of Turin was fo great in it felf, and fo well improv'd, That thereby France loft a vaft Country, the Invading and keeping whereof, had coft him vaft Sums of Money, and the Blood of near 200000 Men: So that this Signal Revolution cannot but be admired by all future Ages, to the Immortal Honour of Prince Eugene. The Affairs of the Allies in Spain were the ReThe Earl of Galway's verfe of thofe in Italy; for a Profperous Beginning of Campaign the Campaign, was attended with a Dubious End. in Spain. The Declaration of the People in Catalonia and Valencia in favour of King Charles III. having given better Hopes of the Houfe of Auftria's Intereft than were entertain'd before, it was refolv'd both in England and Portugal, to make the utmoft Efforts, not only to fupport the Provinces that had already declar'd themselves, but likewife to put the whole Kingdom of Spain into the Hands of its Lawful Sovereign. On the other Hand, the French having fucceeded in their Attempt of Relieving Badajox, march'd all the Troops of their own Nation, except Two Regiments of Horfe, from the Frontier of Per Portugal, towards Arragon and Catalonia; and with A. C. the Reinforcements they receiv'd from Italy and 1706. Germany, were foon in a Condition, not only to check the Inclinations of the People to the Auftrian Family, but alfo to ftop the Progrefs of the Confederate Forces, who, till then, met with little or no Oppofition. The Duke of Anjou, and Marefchal de Teff, were to undertake the Siege of Barcelona; The Conde de las Torres had a Body of Forces in Valencia to ftop, at least, to retard the Progrefs of the Earl of Peterborough, who, like a Torrent carried all before Him; and the Duke of Berwick was to command the Army with which the Enemy thought to baffle the Efforts of the Portugueze, and their Allies. On the other Hand, the Earl of Gal way, and the English Ambaffador in Portugal, rightly judging, by the Enemy's Preparations, that they defign'd to undertake the Siege of Barcelona, both by Sea and Land, bent all their Thoughts and Appli cation to put all Things in a Readiness, both to make a powerful Diverfion in Portugal, and for the Fleet to be early in the Mediterranean. It can hardly be exprefs'd with what care and diligence Sir John Leake and Admiral Waffenaer fitted out their refpective Squadrons; and, to do the Portuguege Juftice, it must be own'd, that they fupplied them with their Stores, and affifted them as much as lay in their Power; being wonderfully fpirited by the Declaration of the Catalans, and the Diverfion they gave to the Enemies Forces. The Portugueze and Confederate Troops, had but little Refreshment after the Siege of Badajox, being canton'd on the Frontiers, from whence, in the very beginning of February, 1706, they made feveral Excurfions into the Enemies Country; but it was impoffible for them to take the Field in a form'd Body, till the Month of March. Several Schemes had been laid, which all tended to penetrate as deep as poffible into Caftile, even as far as Madrid, thereby to divert the Enemy from Purfuing their Designs against Catalonia, with fo much Earneftnefs and Application as they feem'd refolv'd to do, and oblige them to come back to defend the Capital City of Spain. The first Project was to reduce Badajox, which would deprive the Enemy of their principal T Place Several ftile. A. C. Place of Arms; remove them a great way from the 1706. Frontiers of Portugal, and afford an eafy Entrance i into a moft fruitful Country: But this Enterprize could not but be attended with great Difficulties, for the Place was well fortified, and provided with propofed to a Garrifon of 13 Battalions; and it was no eafie enter Ca. Matter to ftreighten it, fo as to hinder its being reliev'd. Nor were thefe Obftacles unforeseen the Autumn before; but then the Earl of Galway's principal Aim in Befieging Badajox was, either to force the Enemy to a decifive Action, if they attempted to relieve the Place; or, at leaft, to keep all their Forces in Play on the Frontiers of Portugal, during King Charles's, and the Earl of Peterborough's Expediton in Catalonia. The fecond Project was, to begin the Campaign with the Taking of Alcantara, which was not indeed a very strong place, but whose Approaches were extreamly difficult. Nor did it open an Entrance into Caftile through a Coun try abounding with Corn, but then it was the fhorteft Cut to Madrid; and it was pretty eafy to maintain, that way, a Communication with Portugal, for the Conveniency of the Convoys; not to mention that it was one of the principal Paffes over the Tagus. The third Scheme, was to reduce CiudadRodrigo, which done, they might march through a very fine open Country, abounding with Corn and Cattle, and full of good Villages as far as the pafs of Guadarama, within Twelve Leagues of Madrid. But the Army had a long difficult way to march to Ciudad-Rodrige, and no great Preparations had been made on that fide. The venturing to enter Caftile without being Mafters of one of thofe three places, would have expofed the Army to almost inevitable Ruin, for it had been eafy for the Enemy to get behind the Allies, and cut off their Communication with Portugal, with 50 Squadrons, and 25 Battalions of regular Troops. The Portugueze inclined for the Siege of Badajox, which being the most confiderable Place on that Frontier, and which keeps them moft in Awe, they were ever fond of the Thoughts of Reducing it. Their Magazines on that fide were well ftor'd, and their Train of Artillery in good Order; but the foreign Minifters and Generals reprefented, in A. C. 1706, a lively manner, to the Court, that many Men, and much Time would be loft before that Place, which was the Thing the Enemy wifh'd for, in this critical Juncture; fo that this Siege would be no Diverfion in favour of King Charles, who without Doubt, would be very much freighten'd: Upon The Siege of which Remonftrances the King of Portugal, gave Alcantará his decifive. Orders for the Siege of Alcantara; and refelv'd on for the Army's Marching, afterwards, into Caftile, as far as Madrid. Accordingly, as foon as 'twas judg'd that there was fufficient Forrage on the Ground for the Subfiftence of the Horfe, the Troops left their Garrifons in order to form the Army. The greatest Body, which was encamped near Elves, be tween Caya and Cayola, march'd on the laft Day ol March, N. S. to St. Salvador; the 2d of April to Mayorga; and the 3d to St. Vincento, between Albuquerque and Valença d'Alcantara, where the feveral Bodies join'd, to the Number of 26 Portugueze Battalions, 5 English, 4 Dutch; 36 Portugueze Squadrons, 2 English, and 4Dutch; being provided with 24 Pieces of heavy Cannon for Battery; 18 Field Pieces; Provifions for. 24 Days, and Waggons and Carriages in proportion. The 4th of April, N. S. the Army advanc'd to Menbrillo, and encamp'd near the River Selor, which is extreamly difficult, by reafon its Banks, and the Parts adjacent, are full of Rocks and Precipices, befides which the Enemy, had ruin'd the StoneBridge that was on that River. In the Night between the 5th and 6th, Don Juan Manuel Marefchal de Camp, was detach'd to make himself Mafter of the Fords and Paffages, and cover the Workmen that levell'd the Roads. The 6th all the Horfe of the Army, and the Infantry of the firit Line pafs'd the River. The Conde de la Corfana, staid behind with the Foot of the fecond Line, to cover the Artillery and Baggage, and caufe the whole to pafs, which was done in two Days, tho' with extream Difficulty, and indefatigable Labour. The 7th it was refolv'd to advance and attack the Duke of Berwick, who was encamped at Brucas, which was executed very early in the Morning; the Marquis das Minas leading the Right, and my Lord Galwar the Left. Sixteen Battalions that made up the firft Line of Foot. follow'd the Horfe with great Dili 1708. A. C. gence, but because they march'd in Order of Battle, and that Care was taken to form the Troops after the palling of the Defilees, a great deal of time was (unavoidably) loft; and it was 4 in the Afternoon, before they were in a Pofture to attack the Enemy. The Inhabitants of Brocas, who came to fubmit themfelves, affured the Confederate Generals, that the Enemy retreated affoon as their Advanc'd Guards came in view of the Enemies Rear, which was partly cover'd by a Wood, that facilitated and conceal'd their Retreat. The Duke of Berwick thought he could eafily retire thro' a Country, which he took to be all open, but meeting with unexpected Defilees, feveral of the Towns-men that withdrew their beft Effects, and his own Baggage, made a Stop that retarded his March; and if the Confederate Generals had been better acquainted with the Nature of the Ground, he had run the Hazard of being entirely defeated. The Duke of Berwick's Rear de feated. Affoon as the foremost Portugueze Squadrons perceiv'd the Enemy, they moved with great Precipitation, to charge them Sword in Hand; but being onligd to march thro' fome Fields full of Trees, they broke their Squadrons, and came up with the Enemy in Disorder. The Conded' Aguilar, who commanded the Enemies Rear, which confifted of their beft Troops, caufed feveral of his Squadrons to face about, and by their Firing added to the Confufion of the most forward of the Portugueze. But those who were to fupport the latter, coming up in time, and the Left-wing, which march'd clofe together, and in order of Battle, gaining upon the Enemies Flank, whilft fome Musketeers, whom the Conde de Scura had thrown into the Wood, galled them, they had no other Thoughts than to retreat. Their hindmoft Troops were overthrown and defeated; and all the reft of their Cavalry march'd with great Precipitation and Diforder, near five Leagues'; for they did not stop or face about till they came to Arrojo del Puerco, where the Duke of Berwick encamp'd, but many of his Men fled a great way further. The Enemy left behind them about 50 Men kill'd, and as many Prifoners, among whom Were Don Diego Mourey, Marefchal de Camp (or Major-General) and the Conde de Canilleros; befides about |