all escort of horse." The earl had
everything prepared along the road for the passage of the king; but
although he wrote over and over again urging him not to delay, Charles
refused to stir, and told General Stanhope (who backed Peterborough's
entreaties) that he had "no becoming equipment with which to enter his
capital."

"Sire," the English general exclaimed in indignant astonishment, "our
William the Third entered London in a hackney, with a cloak bag behind
it, and was made king not many weeks after."

A month after the date originally settled Charles set out and proceeded
to Taragona, but then, to the astonishment of the English general and
envoy, they learned he had altered his mind and taken the route to
Saragossa. When he heard the news, Peterborough sent couriers day after
day with urgent letters to the king. He prevailed upon a deputation of
the Valencian nobility to follow with the same purpose, and transmitted
the opinion of a council of war, which was unanimous in entreating
the king to stay his steps. The king again hesitated, and was about to
follow Peterborough's advice, when a French officer in the Portuguese
service arrived from Galway and Das Minas, again urging him to move by
the route which they had suggested.

Charles again hesitated, the Count of Cifuentes (who was with him) gave
his advice in favor of the Saragossa route, and the king decided on that
line.

On the 26th of July the earl summoned a council of war, including the
Governor of Valencia, two Spanish generals, and his own officers. They
agreed unanimously that Peterborough should march his army to Madrid or
join the army in Portugal, as circumstances might require. Just before
they started letters came in from the king desiring that Peterborough
should send the forces under his command either to relieve the Duke of
Savoy or to capture the Balearic Isles.

The earl declined to follow this ungrateful suggestion, which was
manifestly intended by Charles and his advisers, English, Portuguese,
and German, to send away from his kingdom the man who had won it for
him. Being fortunately independent of orders, Peterborough marched for
Castile, as he and the council of war had previously determined.

Charles was not long in regretting that he had not followed Lord
Peterborough's advice. Instead of the triumphant procession from
Saragossa to Madrid, which he had been promised, he was met with the
most determined opposition.

Every town an