Page:The deplorable history of the Catalans, from their first engaging in the war, to the time of their reduction. (1714).djvu/43

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by their King, who shewed all the firmness possible; of which I shall transcribe a short Passage from the Journal of an English Officer, present in that Memorable Siege.

«King Charles has been every day on Horseback, sometimes at Montjuich, sometimes found the City Ramparts, and is, indeed, the Life and Soul of the People, who seem not the least dismayed; the Shops are daily open, every Trade goes forward; the Women Laugh, and the Boys Sing; and all Sleep at Night without dreaming of Sieges; not but that we stand upon our Guard, which is reckoned a Diversion, not a Hardship; so hearty are they on this Occasion.

Of the Arrival of the Fleet, and the Relieving the Town, we shall say no more than what is contained in Sir John Leakes Letter to the Prince's Secretary, Dated 1 May, O. S. 1706.

SIR,

ON the 13th, at Two in the Morning, I sail'd out of Gibraltar Bay, with the Wind at west North-West, sending the Pembroke, Tyger, Leopard, and a Dutch Man of War, with Orders to proceed before me to Altea, or Denia, to gain Intelligence of the Strength of the Enemy before Barcelona: The 15th, a Dutch Merchant-Man in six Days from Lisbon came into the Fleet, and acquainted Us, that the Convoy with the Irish Forces sail'd from Lisbon the Day before him. The 18th in the Morning we got the length of Altea, and in the Afternoon were join'd with the Four aforemention’d Ships, who brought me no other Advice

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