to be returned him, without waste or opening.

It was too manifest, after the Earl's arrival at this city, that the alteration in the command of the English forces, which before was only received as a rumour, had deeper grounds for belief than many of his friends in that city could have wished. His Lordship had gained the love of all by a thousand engaging condescensions; even his gallantries, being no way prejudicial, were not offensive; and though his Lordship did his utmost to conceal his chagrin, the sympathy of those around him made such discoveries upon him, as would have disappointed a double portion of his caution. They had seen him unelated under successes, that were so near being unac countable, that in a country of less superstition than Spain, they might almost have passed for miraculous; they knew full well, that nothing but that series of successes had paved a passage for the General that was to supersede him; those only having

removed all the difficulties of his march from Portugal to Madrid; they knew him the older General; and therefore, not knowing, that, in the court he came from, intrigue was too often the soul of merit, they could not but be amazed at a change, which his Lordship was unwilling any body should perceive by himself.

It was upon this account, that, as formerly, he treated the ladies with balls, and, to pursue the Dons in their own humour, ordered a Tawridore, or Bull-feast. In Spain, no sort of public diversions are esteemed equal with this. But the bulls provided at Valencia, not being of the right breed, nor ever initiated in the mysteries, did not acquit themselves at all masterly; and consequently, did not give the diversion or satisfaction expected. For which reason I shall omit giving a description of this bullfeast; and desire my reader to suspend his curiosity till I come to some, which, in the Spanish sense, were much more entertain

ing; that is, attended with much greater hazards and danger.

very

But though I have said the gallantries of the General were mostly political, at least inoffensive; yet there happened about this time, and in this place, a piece of gallantry, that gave the Earl a vast deal of offence and vexation; as a matter, that in its consequences might have been fatal to the interest of King Charles, if not to the English nation in general; and which I the rather relate, in that it may be of use to young officers and others; pointing out to them the danger, not to say folly, of inadvertent and precipitate engagements, under unruly passions.

I have said before, that Valencia is famous for fine women. It indeed abounds in them; and among those, are great numbers of courtezans, not inferior in beauty to any. Nevertheless, two of our English officers, not caring for the common road, however safe, resolved to launch into the deeper scas, though attended with much

greater danger. Amours, the common failing of that fair city, was the occasion of this accident, and two nuns the objects. It is customary in that country for young people in an evening to resort to the grates of the nunneries, there to divert themselves, and the nuns, with a little pleasant and inoffensive chit-chat. For, though I have heard some relate a world of nauseous passages at such conversations, I must declare, that I never saw, or heard any thing unseemly; and therefore, whenever I have heard any such from such fabulists, I never so much wronged my judgment as to afford them credit.

Our two officers were very assiduous at the grates of a nunnery in this place; and having there pitched upon two nuns, prosecuted their amours with such vigour, that, in a little time, they had made a very great progress in their affections, without in the least considering the dangers that must attend themselves and the fair; they had exchanged vows, and prevailed upon the weak

er vessels to endeavour to get out to their lovers. To effect which, soon after, a plot was laid; the means, the hour, and every thing agreed upon.

It is the custom of that nunnery, as of many others, for the nuns to take their weekly courses in keeping the keys of all the doors. The two love-sick ladies giving notice to their lovers at the grate, that one of their turns was come, the night and hour was appointed, which the officers punctually observing, carried off their prey without either difficulty or interruption.

But next morning when the nuns were missing, what an uproar was there over all the city! The ladies were both of quality; and therefore the tidings were first carried to their relations. They received the news with vows of utmost vengeance; and, as is usual in that country, put themselves in arms for that purpose. There needed no great canvassing for discovering who were the aggressors: the officers had been too frequent and too public in their addresses,