A Captain of the English Guards (whose Name has slip’d my Memory, tho’ I well knew the Man) marching in order to join the Battalion of the Guards, then under the Command of General Windham, with some of his Soldiers, that had been in the Hospital, took up his Quarters in that little Villa.  But on his marching out of it, next Morning, a Shot in the Back laid that Officer dead upon the Spot:  And as it had been before concerted, the Spaniards of the Place at the same Time fell upon the poor, weak Soldiers, killing several; not even sparing their Wives.  This was but a Prelude to their Barbarity; their savage Cruelty was only whetted, not glutted.  They took the surviving few; hurried and dragg’d them up a Hill, a little without the Villa.  On the Top of this Hill there was a Hole, or Opening, somewhat like the Mouth of one of our Coal-Pits, down this they cast several, who, with hideous Shrieks and Cries, made more hideous by the Ecchoes of the Chasm, there lost their Lives.

This Relation was thus made to the Earl of Peterborow, at his Quarters at Campilio; who immediately gave Orders for to sound to Horse.  At first we were all surpriz’d; but were soon satisfy’d, that it was to revenge, or rather, do Justice, on this barbarous Action.

As soon as we enter’d the Villa we found that most of the Inhabitants, but especially the most Guilty, had withdrawn themselves on our Approach.  We found, however, many of the dead Soldiers Cloaths, which had been convey’d into the Church, and there hid.  And a strong Accusation being laid against a Person belonging to the Church, and full Proof made, that he had been singularly Industrious in the Execution of that horrid Piece of Barbarity on the Hill, his Lordship commanded him to be hang’d up at the Knocker of the Door.

After this piece of military Justice, we were led up to the fatal Pit or Hole, down which many had been cast headlong.  There we found one poor Soldier alive, who, upon his throwing in, had catch’d fast hold of some impending Bushes, and sav’d himself on a little Jutty within the Concavity.  On hearing us talk English he cry’d out; and Ropes being let down, in a little Time he was drawn up; when he gave us an ample Detail of the whole Villany.  Among other Particulars, I remember he told me of a very narrow Escape he had in that obscure Recess.  A poor Woman, one of the Wives of the Soldiers, who were thrown down after him, struggled, and roared so much, that they could not, without all their Force, throw her cleaverly in the Middle; by which means falling near the Side, in her Fall she almost beat him from his Place of Security.

Upon the Conclusion of this tragical Relation of the Soldier thus saved, his Lordship gave immediate Orders for the Firing of the Villa, which was executed with due Severity:  After which his Lordship march’d back to his Quarters at Campilio; from whence, two Days after, we arriv’d at Valencia, Where, the first Thing presented to that noble Lord, was all the Papers taken in the Plunder of his Baggage, which the Duke of Berwick had generously order’d to be return’d him, without waste or opening.