But to return to the General; forc’d, as he was, to take this extraordinary Resolution, he concluded, the readiest Way to surprize his Enemies was to elude his Friends.  He therefore call’d a Council of War a-shore, of the Land Officers; and aboard, of the Admirals and Sea Officers:  In both which it was resolv’d, that in case the Siege of Barcelona was judg’d impracticable, and that the Troops should be re-imbark’d by a Day appointed, an Effort should be made upon the Kingdom of Naples.  Accordingly, the Day affix’d being come, the heavy Artillery landed for the Siege was return’d aboard the Ships, and every thing in appearance prepar’d for a Re-imbarkment.  During which, the General was oblig’d to undergo all the Reproaches of a dissatisfy’d Court; and what was more uneasy to him, the Murmurings of the Sea Officers, who, not so competent Judges in what related to Sieges, were one and all inclin’d to a Design upon Barcelona; and the rather, because as the Season was so far spent, it was thought altogether improper to engage the Fleet in any new Undertaking.  However, all Things were so well disguis’d by our seeming Preparations for a Retreat, that the very Night our Troops were in March towards the Attack of Monjouick, there were publick Entertainments and Rejoicings in the Town for the raising of the Siege.

The Prince of Hesse had taken large Liberties in complaining against all the Proceedings in the Camp before Barcelona; even to Insinuations, that though the Earl gave his Opinion for some Effort in public, yet us’d he not sufficient Authority over the other General Officers to incline them to comply; throwing out withal some Hints, that the General from the Beginning had declar’d himself in favour of other Operations, and against coming to Catalonia; the latter Part whereof was nothing but Fact.  On the other Side, the Earl of Peterborow complain’d, that the boasted Assistance was no way made good; and that in failure thereof, his Troops were to be sacrificed to the Humours of a Stranger; one who had no Command; and whose Conduct might bear a Question whether equal to his Courage.  These Reproaches of one another had bred so much ill Blood between those two great Men, that for above a Fortnight they had no Correspondence, nor ever exchang’d one Word.

The Earl, however, having made his proper Dispositions, and deliver’d out his Orders, began his March in the Evening with twelve Hundred Foot and two Hundred Horse, which of necessity were to pass by the Quarters of the Prince of Hesse.  That Prince, on their Appearance, was told that the General was come to speak with him; and being brought into his Apartment, the Earl acquainted him, that he had at last resolv’d upon an Attempt against the Enemy; adding, that now, if he pleas’d, he might be a Judge of their Behaviour, and see whether his Officers and Soldiers had deserv’d that Character which he had so liberally given ’em.  The Prince made answer, that he had always been ready to take his Share; but could hardly believe, that Troops marching that way could make any Attempt against the Enemy to satisfaction.  However, without further Discourse he call’d for his Horse.