led him; and I to make the
best of my Way to _Bilboa_.

Entring into _Biscay_, soon after I left _Victoria_, I was at a Loss
almost to imagine, what Country I was got into. By my long Stay in
_Spain_, I thought my self a tolerable Master of the Tongue; yet here I
found my self at the utmost Loss to understand Landlord, Landlady, or
any of the Family. I was told by my Muletier, that they pretend their
Language, as they call it, has continued uncorrupted from the very
Confusion of _Babel_; though if I might freely give my Opinion in the
Matter, I should rather take it to be the very Corruption of all that
Confusion. Another _Rhodomontado_ they have, (for in this they are
perfect _Spaniards_) that neither _Romans, Carthaginians, Vandals,
Goths_, or _Moors_, ever totally subdued them. And yet any Man that has
ever seen their Country, might cut this Knot without a Hatchet, by
saying truly, that neither _Roman, Carthaginian_, nor any victorious
People, thought it worth while to make a Conquest of a Country, so
mountainous and so barren.

However, _Bilboa_ must be allowed, tho' not very large, to be a pretty,
clean and neat Town. Here, as in _Amsterdam_, they allow neither Cart,
nor Coach, to enter; but every Thing of Merchandize is drawn, and
carried upon Sledges: And yet it is a Place of no small Account, as to
Trade; and especially for Iron and Wooll. Here I hop'd to have met with
an opportunity of Embarking for _England_; but to my Sorrow I found my
self disappointed, and under that Disappointment, obliged to make the
best of my Way to _Bayonne_.

Setting out for which Place, the first Town of Note that I came to, was
_Saint Sebastian_. A very clean Town, and neatly pay'd; which is no
little Rarity in _Spain_. It has a very good Wall about it, and a pretty
Citadel. At this Place I met with two _English_ Officers, who were under
the same state with my self; one of them being a Prisoner of War with me
at _Denia_. They were going to _Bayonne_ to embark for _England_ as well
as my self; so we agreed to set out together for _Port Passage_. The
Road from St. _Sebastian_ is all over a well pav'd Stone Causeway;
almost at the end whereof, there accosted us a great number of young
Lasses. They were all prettily dress'd, their long Hair flowing in a
decent manner over their Shoulders, and here and there decorated with
Ribbons of various Colours, which wantonly play'd on their Backs with
the Wind. The Sight surpriz'd my Fellow Tra