a!

In vain the officers remonstrated, the earl was firm. The council
then broke up, and the troops prepared for their march in opposite
directions.

The parting of Peterborough and his officers was very sad, for they
doubted not it was a final one.

"I will yet endeavor," he said, "however our circumstances seem
desperate, to secure the kingdom of Valencia; and since the king has
thought conquest possible in this present case, he cannot complain of my
motions, however rash they might appear. I am resolved, therefore, never
to repass the Ebro without positive orders from him."

Before starting the earl wrote to Charles and explained fully his
intentions. It is evident from the tone of his letter that Peterborough
did not expect to survive this extraordinary expedition. The language
is grave and firm, and, though respectful, full of stronger remonstrance
and more homely advice than often reaches kings. It concluded:

"I have had but little share in your councils. If our advance had
been approved, if your majesty had trusted us... if your majesty had
permitted me to march into the kingdom of Valencia, when I so earnestly
desired it, without making me stay under pretense of the march of
imaginary troops; if your majesty would have believed me on that
occasion, your majesty would have had this time not only a viceroy of
Valencia but the kingdom. With what force I have I am going to march
straight to Valencia. I can take no other measures, leaving the rest to
Providence. The time lost (so much against my inclination) exposes me to
a sacrifice, at least I will perish with honor, and as a man deserving a
better fate."

The earl now again sent orders to one thousand Spanish foot and three
hundred horse, which had before been nominally placed at his disposal,
but had never moved from the town in which they were garrisoned, to
follow him into Valencia; and at the same time he wrote to Colonel Wills
to march immediately with a like number of English horse and foot to his
assistance.

The king, on the receipt of Peterborough's letter, issued positive and
peremptory orders that the Spanish troops were at once to be set in
motion. Colonel Wills wrote in reply that an important action had taken
place at San Esteban de Litera on the 26th and 27th of January, between
General Conyngham with his brigade and the Chevalier d'Asfeldt, in
which, after a bloody contest, the French were driven from the field
with a heavy loss of killed