of the Misfortune of Breuhiga, and finding himself thereby frustrated of those expected Succours to support him, he made a handsome Retreat to Barcelona, which in common Calculation is about one hundred Leagues, without any Disturbance of an Enemy that seem’d glad to be rid of him.  Nevertheless his Baggage having fallen into the Hands of the Enemy, at the Beginning of the Fight, King Philip and the Duke of Vendome generously returned it unopen’d, and untouched, in acknowledgement of his brave Behaviour.

I had like to have omitted one material Passage, which I was very credibly informed of; That General Carpenter offered to have gone, and have join’d General Staremberg with the Horse, which was refus’d him.  This was certainly an Oversight of the highest Nature; since his going would have strengthen’d Staremberg almost to the Assurance of an intire Victory; whereas his Stay was of no manner of Service, but quite the contrary:  For, as I said before, the Enemy, by re-mounting the English Horse (which perhaps were the compleatest of any Regiment in the World) turn’d, if I may be allowed the Expression, the Strength of our Artillery upon our Allies.

Upon this Retreat of Staremberg, and the Surprize at Breuhiga, there were great Rejoicings at Madrid, and everywhere else, where King Philip’s Interest prevailed.  And indeed it might be said, from that Day the Interest of King Charles look’d with a very lowering Aspect.  I was still a Prisoner at la Mancha, when this News arriv’d; and very sensibly affected at that strange Turn of Fortune.  I was in bed, when the Express pass’d through the Town, in order to convey it farther; and in the Middle of the Night I heard a certain Spanish Don, with whom, a little before, I had had some little Variance, thundering at my Door, endeavouring to burst it open, with, as I had Reason to suppose, no very favourable Design upon me.  But my Landlady, who hitherto had always been kind and careful, calling Don Felix, and some others of my Friends together, sav’d me from the Fury of his Designs, whatever they were.

Among other Expressions of the general Joy upon this Occasion, there was a Bull-Feast at la Mancha; which being much beyond what I saw at Valencia, I shall here give a Description of.  These Bull-Feasts are not so common now in Spain as formerly, King Philip not taking much Delight in them.  Nevertheless, as soon as it was publish’d here, that there was to be one, no other Discourse was heard; and in the Talk of the Bulls, and the great Preparations for the Feast, Men seem’d to have lost, or to have lay’d aside, all Thoughts of the very Occasion.  A Week’s time was allow’d for the Building of Stalls for the Beasts, and Scaffolds for the Spectators; and other necessary Preparations for the setting off their Joy with the most suitable Splendour.