etreat at the very first Charge. All which was punctually observ'd,
and had its desired Effect; For the three Regiments, at the first Attack
gave way, and seemingly fled towards their Camp; the _English_, after
their customary Manner, pursuing them with Shouts and Hollowings. As
soon as the Duke of _Berwick_ perceiv'd his Trap had taken, he order'd
his right and left Wings to close; by which Means, he at once cut off
from the rest of their Army all those who had so eagerly pursu'd the
imaginary Runaways. In short, the Rout was total, and the most fatal
Blow that ever the _English_ receiv'd during the whole War with _Spain_.
Nor, as it is thought, with a great probability of Reason, had those
Troops that made their Retreat to the Top of the Hills, under Major
General _Shrimpton_, met with any better Fate than those on the Plain,
had the _Spaniards_ had any other General in the Command than the Duke
of _Berwick_; whose native Sympathy gave a check to the Ardour of a
victorious Enemy. And this was the sense of the _Spaniards_ themselves
after the Battle. Verifying herein that noble Maxim, _That Victory to
generous Minds is only an Inducement to Moderation_.

The Day after this fatal Battle (which gave occasion to a _Spanish_
piece of Wit, _that the English General had routed the French_) the Duke
of _Orleans_ did arrive indeed in the Camp, but with an Army of only
fourteen Attendants.

The fatal Effects of this Battle were soon made visible, and to none
more than those in _Alicant_. The Enemy grew every Day more and more
troublesome; visiting us in Parties more boldly than before: and often
hovering about us so very near, that with our Cannon we could hardly
teach 'em to keep a proper Distance. _Gorge_ the Governor of _Alicant_
being recall'd into _England_, Major General _Richards_ was by King
_Charles_ appointed Governor in his Place. He was a Roman Catholick, and
very much belov'd by the Natives on that Account; tho' to give him his
due, he behaved himself extremely well in all other Respects. It was in
his Time, that a Design was laid of surprising _Guardamere_, a small
Sea-port Town, in _Murcia_: But the military Bishop (for he was in a
literal Sense excellent _tam Marte, quam Mercurio_, among his many
others Exploits), by a timely Expedition, prevented that.

Governor _Richards_, my Post being always in the Castle, had sent to
desire me to give notice whenever I saw any Parties of the Enemy moving.
Pursuant to this