that he could not, however, but esteem the confidence he had put in him; and therefore, to make some retaliation, he was ready to put it in his power to avoid the barbarities lately executed at Villa Real. My relation to you," continued the Ge

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neral, inclines me to spare a town under your command. You see how near my forces are; and can hardly doubt our soon being masters of the place: What I would therefore offer you," said the Earl, “is a capitulation, that my inclination may be held in countenance by my honour. Barbarities, however justified by example, are my utter aversion, and against my nature; and to testify so much, together with my good will to your person, was the main intent of this interview."

This frankness so far prevailed on Mahoni, that he agreed to return an answer in half an hour. Accordingly, an answer was returned by a Spanish officer, and a capitulation agreed upon; the Earl at the same time endeavouring to bring over that offi

cer to King Charles, on much the same topics he used with Mahoni. But finding this equally fruitless, whether it was that he tacitly reproached the officer with a want of consideration in neglecting to follow the example of his commander, or what else, he created in that officer such a jealousy of Mahoni, that was afterward very serviceable to him in his further design.

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 attacked by a force so much superior. Those spies, according to instructions, were to discover to the Duke, that they overheard the conference between the Earl and Mahoni ; and at the same time saw a considerable number of pistoles delivered 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 delivered 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 prepossessed by the spies, and what those Spanish officers that at first escaped had before infused, took things in their sense; and as soon as Mahoni, who was forced to make the best of his way over the plain before the Earl of Peterborow, arrived at his camp, he was

M

The Earl's entry into

Valencia.

put under arrest, and sent to Madrid. The Duke having thus imbibed the venom, and taken the alarm, immediately decamped in confusion, and took a different route 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 arrived at Madrid, Mahoni made his innocence appear, and was created a general; while the Duke of Arcos was recalled from his post of honour.

The day after, we arrived at Valencia; the city of the gates of which fine city were set open to us with the highest demonstrations of joy. I called 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, though 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.

But to proceed: though the citizens, and all sorts of people, were redundant in their various expressions of joy, for an entry so surprising, and utterly lost to their expectation, whatever it was to their wishes, the Earl had a secret concern for the public, which lay gnawing at his heart, and which yet he was forced to conceal. He knew, that he had not four thousand soldiers in the place, and not powder or ammunition