Soon after my Charge, as to the Fortifications, was pretty well over, I obtain’d Leave of the Governor to be absent for a Fortnight, upon some Affairs of my own at Valencia.  On my Return from whence, at a Town call’d Venissa, I met two Officers of an English Regiment, going to the Place from whence I last came.  They told me, after common Congratulations, that they had left Major Boyd, at a little Place call’d Capel, hiring another Mule, that he rode on thither having tir’d and fail’d him; desiring withal, that if I met him, I would let him know that they would stay for him at that Place.  I had another Gentleman in my Company, and we had travell’d on not above a League further, whence, at a little Distance, we were both surpriz’d with a Sight that seem’d to have set all Art at defiance, and was too odd for any thing in Nature.  It appear’d all in red, and to move; but so very slowly, that if we had not made more way to that than it did to us, we should have made it a Day’s Journey before we met it.  My Companion could as little tell what to make of it as I; and, indeed, the nearer it came the more monstrous it seem’d, having nothing of the Tokens of Man, either Walking, Riding, or in any Posture whatever.  At last, coming up with this strange Figure of a Creature (for now we found it was certainly such) what, or rather who, should it prove to be, but Major Boyd?  He was a Person of himself far from one of the least Proportion, and mounted on a poor little Ass, with all his warlike Accoutrements upon it, you will allow must make a Figure almost as odd as one of the old Centaurs.  The Morocco Saddle that cover’d the Ass was of Burden enough for the Beast without its Master; and the additional Holsters and Pistols made it much more weighty.  Nevertheless, a Curb Bridle of the largest Size cover’d his little Head, and a long red Cloak, hanging down to the Ground, cover’d Jackboots, Ass, Master and all.  In short, my Companion and I, after we could specifically declare it to be a Man, agreed we never saw a Figure so comical in all our Lives.  When we had merrily greeted our Major (for a Cynick could not have forborn Laughter) He excus’d all as well as he could, by saying he could get no other Beast.  After which, delivering our Message, and condoling with him for his present Mounting, and wishing him better at his next Quarters, he settled into his old Pace, and we into ours, and parted.

We lay that Night at Altea, famous for its Bay for Ships to water at.  It stands on a high Hill; and is adorn’d, not defended, with an old Fort.

Thence we came to Alicant, where having now been a whole Year, and having effected what was held necessary, I once more prevail’d upon the Governor to permit me to take another Journey.  The Lord Galway lay at Tarraga, while Lerida lay under the Siege of the Duke of Orleans; and having some Grounds of Expectation given me, while he was at Alicant, I resolv’d at least to demonstrate I was still living.  The Governor favour’d me with Letters, not at all to my Disadvantage; so taking Ship for Barcelona, just at our putting into the Harbour, we met with the English Fleet, on its Return from the Expedition to Toulon under Sir Cloudsly Shovel.