Page:The deplorable history of the Catalans, from their first engaging in the war, to the time of their reduction. (1714).djvu/49

 Hereupon followed the fatal Battle of AlmanzaAlmansa [sic], which reduced King Charle's Affairs to a desperate Condition. Requena, Valencia, and SaragossaZaragoza [sic] Revolted; Xativa was taken and burnt; AlcyraAlzira [sic], Mequinenza, and other Places were taken, and the Frontier of Catalonia laid open again; yet the Catalans retained their Spirit, and stood firm to their Engagements. It will be almost unnecessary to mention any more the Result of the War of Catalonia; the People behaved themselves with great Duty to their Sovereign King Charles, and with a grateful respect to the English. I have shew'd how they were drawn in and engaged in the War; and I am next to shew, how they were left and abandoned to shift for themselves. Those who will see the Transactions in Spain throughout the War, must have recourse to History.

A Peace was entered upon, in which Great-Britain had the chief MannagementManagement [sic]: Her Majesty’s SenceSense [sic] in all Her Speeches of that time, as well as of Her former Parliaments, were all forgot, and we, rather than the Enemy, were necessitated to make Peace; the M-yMinistery [sic]. who were without Credit to carry on the War longer, built their own Salvation upon desperate Measures, and precipitated themselves into such Term, as were inconsistent with the Good of their Country; and notwithstanding, I believe some of them knew their Error, yet they were too far engaged to recede: And no doubt but our Enemies knew this, and therefore took the opportunity to make an Advantage of it.

What the Peace was in general, I need not mention; every body, by this time, is convinced we were trick'dtricked [sic] into it, and who ought, if Justice werewas [sic]