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«Because I am sensible that the Queen, my Mistress, besides the Engagements of Treaties, and the Motives of publick Interest, has a most particular and tender Friendship for the King of Spain; therefore, as I think it Expedient to pay him the utmost Respect, in complying as far as possible with his Desires, in any Attempt, wherein there is the least hopes of Success, after having, as in Duty bound, with all Sincerity and Plainness represented to him the Difficulties and Hazards, to which he exposes his Interest, and the Troops of the Queen and her Allies.
»Because that his Majesty persisting with so much firmness in his Opinion about Barcelona, upon a belief the Town would surrender if a Breach was made: This may create some Dispute in the World, what might have been the Event, which nothing but Experience can demonstrate, whatever Reasons some may have to judge the contrary, and it may be thought by some our Duty to have tried the Experiment, tho’ at the greatest hazard.
»Lastly, because no other Reason, but plain disobedience to her Majesty's Orders should have hindred me from complying with any Commands, that came from his Catholick Majesty. But the Queen has repeatedly commanded me, in all my Instructions, to be guided in Councils of War by a Majority, even in express Words, in those Cases, where the Kings of Spain and Portugal, or their Ministers, should offer any thing in Writing to me; which Orders I communicated to his Catholick Majesty, as all my other Instructions, and I had often opportunity of repeating them before
