It will easily be admitted, that the Earl, under his present Exigencies, did not decline to listen.  And a very considerable Sum being offer’d, by way of Advance, the Method common in like Cases was pursu’d, and the Sum propos’d accepted; by which Means the Earl of Peterborow found himself put into the happy Capacity of proceeding upon his first concerted Project.  The Name of the Jew, who sign’d the Contract, was Curtisos; and he and his Friends, with great Punctuality, advanc’d the expected Sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling, or very near it; which was immediately order’d into the Hands of the Pay-master of the Forces.  For though the Earl took Money of the Jews, it was not for his own, but public Use.  According to Agreement, Bills were drawn for the Value from Lisbon, upon the Lord Godolphin (then Lord Treasurer) all which were, on that Occasion, punctually comply’d with.

The Earl of Peterborow having thus fortunately found Means to supply himself with Money, and by that with some Horse, after he had obtain’d Leave of the Lord Galoway to make an Exchange of two Regiments of Foot, receiv’d the Arch-Duke, and all those who would follow him, aboard the Fleet; and, at his own Expense, transported him and his whole Retinue to Barcelona:  For all which prodigious Charge, as I have been very lately inform’d, from very good Hands, that noble Earl never to this Day receiv’d any Consideration from the Government, or any Person whatsoever.

We sail’d from Lisbon, in order to join the Squadron under Sir Cloudsley Shovel: Meeting with which at the appointed Station off Tangier, the Men of War and Transports thus united, made the best of their Way for Gibraltar.  There we stay’d no longer than to take aboard two Regiments out of that Garrison, in lieu of two out of our Fleet.  Here we found the Prince of Hesse, who immediately took a Resolution to follow the Arch-Duke in this Expedition.  He was a Person of great Gallantry; and having been Vice-Roy of Catalonia, was receiv’d on board the Fleet with the utmost Satisfaction, as being a Person capable of doing great Service in a Country where he was well known, and as well belov’d.

Speaking Latin then pretty fluently, it gave me frequent Opportunies of conversing with the two Father Confessors of the Duke of Austria; and upon that Account I found my self honour’d with some Share in the Favour of the Arch-Duke himself.  I mention this, not to gratify any vain Humour, but as a corroborating Circumstance, that my Opportunities of Information, in Matters of Consequence, could not thereby be suppos’d to be lessen’d; but that I might more reasonably be imagin’d to arrive at Intelligence, that not very often, or at least not so soon, came to the Knowledge of others.