One grand object, which Lord Galway had in view, was to undo the effect upon Spaniards of King Charles’s carelessness, by persuading the Emperor to make a decisive demonstration of earnestness to secure Spain for his brother. He was willing that both the English and the Dutch should play a secondary part; for he remembered the medal bearing the name of King Charles, and styling him “King, by favour of the heretics.” Prince Eugene of Savoy, if sent from Vienna as commander-in-chief in Spain, would, independently of his military genius and immense experience, be a living testimony that the orthodox brothers really cared for the throne of Spain. All Lord Galway’s feelings and views were ably expressed in a letter to the Earl of Godolphin:—
“Valencia, December 15 26, 1706.
“I have had the honour to write twice to your lordship concerning Prince Eugene’s coming to command in Spain, which I think not only necessary to prevent the confusion that the jealousy of some generals will occasion here, but is the only means to establish the Spanish monarchy and prevent its ruin; for his Catholic Majesty is in such very ill hands, who possess his ear, that though we should have all the success we can desire, the conduct of the court will be such that the king will never remain six months quiet on his throne after the foreign forces are embarked. The Spaniards will never bear to be governed by a set of foreigners of neither worth nor rank, who think of nothing but plunder and rapine, and keep all persons from the king that are not of their own stamp. They will infallibly call the French in again, and carry themselves to the utmost extremities. All the Spaniards that are here are under a general disgust, and see what they are to expect when those now about the king get the power of all into their own hands.
“There is another point of no small consequence that I must inform your lordship fully of. Count Noyelles expected upon his coming over, to have had the chief command of all, but finding it impracticable (as matters stand) with the Portuguese, has persuaded the king, who has no kindness for that nation, to form an army apart from them in Arragon. Count Noyelles has already sent some of the Dutch troops that way, notwithstanding the Marquis das Minas’s representation that they belong to the Portuguese army; and, if he is not prevented, he will draw the rest of the troops from that body. But what I dread most is, that he will be able to prevail with my Lord Rivers to join his troops with the army the King intends to command in person, who is already much soured against the Portuguese. If this should be done, I look upon us as entirely destroyed. The enemy is as strong as both these armies together, and will not fail to beat us both, one after the other, especially (as your lordship may imagine) as there will be little harmony in our councils and operations.
“I hope your lordship will take this into your serious consideration, and that her Majesty’s positive orders may prevent the dividing of her troops at this juncture; and in order to make my Lord Rivers the easier to serve with the Portuguese, I renew on this occasion my instances to her Majesty that I may have leave to retire, that my Lord Rivers may take upon him the command of the whole.
“I must again repeat to your lordship, that nothing can effectually save our affairs and even the Spanish monarchy, as the Emperor’s sending Prince Eugene hither, whose rank and character will not only prevent all the confusion we are falling into, but he will be able to remove from the king those persons who now possess him so much, and establish the Spanish affairs upon a right foot. I hope this will come in time to your lordship’s hands, not only to prevent the dividing the English troops but also the Dutch. The Portuguese are already much dissatisfied; and we may fear that more ill-treatment will induce them to accept of such advantageous terms, as the French will not fail to propose them on such an occasion. We have agreed with the Duke of Berwick to enter upon a treaty for the exchange of prisoners at Novelda. . . . I am, &c.,
“Gallway.”[1]
“Since I have signed this letter, I have discoursed the King very fully upon his design of dividing the troops, and going himself into Arragon or Catalonia. I took the liberty to be very plain with his Majesty, and I hope I have put that design out of his head. But this will bring no alteration with the conduct of the Court, which is as I have represented to your lordship, which makes me always suspicious of alterations so that I can depend on nothing.”
Secretary the Earl of Sunderland replied in December to Lord Galway’s earnest entreaties to be recalled. The following is a portion of his letter:—
- ↑ “The Marchmont Papers,” vol. iii., p. 457.
