To forward which to a good Issue, the Earl immediately made choice of two Dragoons, who, upon promise of Promotion, undertook to go as Spies to the Duke of Arcos, whose Forces lay not far off, on the other Side a large Plain, which the Earl must unavoidably pass, and which would inevitably be attended with almost insuperable Dangers, if there attack’d by a Force so much superior.  Those Spies, according to Instructions, were to discover to the Duke, that they over-heard the Conference between the Earl and Mahoni; and at the same time saw a considerable Number of Pistoles deliver’d into Mahoni’s Hands, large Promises passing at that Instant reciprocally:  But above all, that the Earl had recommended to him the procuring the March of the Duke over the Plain between them.  The Spies went and deliver’d all according to Concert; concluding, before the Duke, that they would ask no Reward, but undergo any Punishment, if Mahoni did not very soon send to the Duke a Request to march over the Plain, in order to put the concerted Plot in execution.  It was not long after this pretended Discovery before Mahoni did send indeed an Officer to the Duke, desiring the March of his Forces over the Plain; but, in reality, to obstruct the Earl’s Passage, which he knew very well must be that and no other way.  However, the Duke being prepossess’d by the Spies, and what those Spanish Officers that at first escap’d had before infus’d, took Things in their Sense; and as soon as Mahoni, who was forc’d to make the best of his way over the Plain before the Earl of Peterborow, arriv’d at his Camp, he was put under Arrest and sent to Madrid.  The Duke having thus imbib’d the Venom, and taken the Alarm, immediately decamp’d in Confusion, and took a different Rout than at first he intended; leaving that once formidable Plain open to the Earl, without an Enemy to obstruct him.  In some little time after he arriv’d at Madrid, Mahoni made his Innocence appear, and was created a General; while the Duke of Arcos was recall’d from his Post of Honour.

The Day after we arriv’d at Valencia, the Gates of which fine City were set open to us with the highest Demonstrations of Joy.  I call’d it a fine City; but sure it richly deserves a brighter Epithet, since it is a common Saying among the Spaniards, that the Pleasures of Valencia would make a Jew forget Jerusalem.  It is most sweetly situated in a very beautiful Plain, and within half a League of the Mediterranean Sea.  It never wants any of the Fragrancies of Nature, and always has something to delight the most curious Eye.  It is famous to a Proverb for fine Women; but as infamous, and only in that so, for the Race of Bravoes, the common Companions of the Ladies of Pleasure in this Country.  These Wretches are so Case-hardened, they will commit a Murder for a Dollar, tho’ they run their Country for it when they have done.  Not that other Parts of this Nation are uninfested with this sort of Animals; but here their Numbers are so great, that if a Catalogue was to be taken of those in other Parts of that Country, perhaps nine in ten would be found by Birth to be of this Province.