From Gibraltar we sail’d to the Bay of Altea, not far distant from the City of Valencia, in the Road of which we continu’d for some Days.  While we were there, as I was very credibly inform’d, the Earl of Peterborow met with some fresh Disappointment; but what it was, neither I nor any Body else, as far as I could perceive, could ever dive into:  Neither did it appear by any outward Tokens, in that noble General, that it lay so much at his Heart, as those about him seem’d to assure me it did.

However, while we lay in Altea Bay, two Bomb-Vessels, and a small Squadron, were order’d against Denia, which had a small Castle; but rather fine than strong.  And accordingly, upon our Offer to bring to bear with our Cannon, and preparing to fix our Bomb-Vessels, in order to bombard the Place, it surrender’d; and acknowledg’d the Arch-Duke as lawful King of Spain, and so proclaim’d him.  From this time, therefore, speaking of that Prince, it shall be under that Title.  General Ramos was left Commander here; a Person who afterwards acted a very extraordinary Part in the War carry’d on in the Kingdom of Valencia.

But notwithstanding no positive Resolutions had been taken for the Operations of the Campaign, before the Arch Duke’s Departure from Lisbon, the Earl of Peterborow, ever solicitous of the Honour of his Country, had premeditated another Enterprize, which, had it been embrac’d, would in all Probability, have brought that War to a much more speedy Conclusion; and at the same time have obviated all those Difficulties, which were but too apparent in the Siege of Barcelona.  He had justly and judiciously weigh’d, that there were no Forces in the Middle Parts of Spain, all their Troops being in the extream Parts of the Kingdom, either on the Frontiers of Portugal, or in the City of Barcelona; that with King Philip, and the royal Family at Madrid, there were only some few Horse, and those in a bad Condition, and which only serv’d for Guards:  if therefore, as he rightly projected within himself, by the taking of Valencia, or any Sea-Port Town, that might have secur’d his Landing, he had march’d directly for Madrid; what could have oppos’d him?  But I shall have occasion to dilate more upon this Head a few Pages hence; and therefore shall here only say, that though that Project of his might have brought about a speedy and wonderful Revolution, what he was by his Orders afterwards oblig’d to, against his Inclinations, to pursue, contributed much more to his great Reputation, as it put him under a frequent Necessity of overcoming Difficulties, which, to any other General, would have appear’d unsurmountable.