but the Safety of the Arch-Duke; which yet was through
no Default of his, if in any Danger from the Siege?

For I well remember, on Receipt of an Express from the Duke of _Savoy_
(as he frequenly sent such to enquire after the Proceedings in _Spain_)
I was shew'd a Letter, wrote about this time by the Earl of _Peterborow_
to that Prince, which rais'd my Spirits, though then at a very low Ebb.
It was too remarkable to be forgot; and the Substance of it was, That
his Highness might depend upon it, that he (the Earl) was in much better
Circumstances than he was thought to be: That the _French_ Officers,
knowing nothing of the Situation of the Country, would find themselves
extreamly disappointed, since in case the Siege was rais'd, their Army
should be oblig'd to abandon _Spain_: Or in case the Town was taken,
they should find themselves shut up in that Corner of _Catalonia_, and
under an Impossibility of forcing their Way back, either through
_Aragon_ or _Valencia_: That by this Means all _Spain_, to the _Ebro_,
would be open to the Lord _Galoway_, who might march to _Madrid_, or any
where else, without Opposition. That he had no other Uneasiness or
Concern upon him, but for the Person of the Arch-Duke, whom he had
nevertheless earnestly solicited not to remain in the Town on the very
first Appearance of the intended Siege.

_BARCELONA_ being thus reliev'd, and King _Philip_ forc'd out of
_Spain_, by these cautious Steps taken by the Earl of _Peterborow_,
before we bring him to _Valencia_, it will be necessary to intimate,
that as it always was the Custom of that General to settle, by a Council
of War, all the Measures to be taken, whenever he was oblig'd for the
Service to leave the Arch-Duke; a Council of War was now accordingly
held, where all the General Officers, and those in greatest Employments
at Court assisted. Here every thing was in the most solemn Manner
concerted and resolv'd upon; here Garrisons were settled for all the
strong Places, and Governors appointed: But the main Article then agreed
upon was, that King _Charles_ should immediately begin his Journey to
_Madrid_, and that by the Way of _Valencia_. The Reason assign'd for it
was, because that Kingdom being in his Possession, no Difficulties could
arise which might occasion Delay, if his Majesty took that Rout. It was
likewise agreed in the same Council, that the Earl of _Peterborow_
should embark all the Foot, not in Garrisons, for their more speedy, a