Yesterdays Dutch post says, that before the duke of Marlborough left the Hague, it had been resolved in a conference there, that all the troops ready in England and Ireland (about 7000) should forthwith sail for Portugal, and that 3000 German foot and 2000 horse be shipt off from Italy for Barcelona, to enable king Charles to act defensively till more reinforcements can be sent him.
Etiqueta: Ana de Gran Bretaña
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8uNSwcsm78A/UzqXFLtk79I/AAAAAAABavM/8jr6R23ZKjg/s144/RP-P-OB-83.061.jpg////La reina Ana despluma al gallo francés. Consecuencias del eclipse del sol francés, oscurecido por la luna británica y los planetas asociados (Koninklijke Almanach van 1706 / ‘t Lusthof van Momus)////Rijksmuseum////http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.470458
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Los ingleses pierden un buque de guerra frente a la costa
Saturday, 3 March.
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Last night came in 3 Dutch mails, which advise, from Leghorn of the 16th ult., that admiral Norris had met with a violent storm, and lost near the coast of Barcelona a ship of 72 guns; after which sail’d for Roses to form a design against that place.
That count Staremberg with his army, being 10,000 men, came to Barcelona the 8th of January.
Some French letters say, that we lost in that storm a man of war of 70 guns, 2 of 60, and 16 shallops, with men on board.
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La campaña británica, arruinada por falta de dinero
The queen had conferred the command of her forces in Spain upon the duke of Argyle, who was recalled from the service in Flanders for that purpose. He had long been at variance with the duke of Marlborough; a circumstance which recommended him the more strongly to the ministry. He landed at Barcelona on the 29th of May, and found the British troops in the utmost distress for want of subsistence. The treasurer had promised to supply him liberally; the commons had granted 1,500,000l. for that service. All their hopes of success were fixed on the campaign in that kingdom; and indeed the army commanded by the duke de Vendome was in such a wretched condition, that if Staremberg had been properly supported by the allies, he might have obtained signal advantages. The duke of Argyle, having waited in vain for the promised remittances, was obliged to borrow money on his own credit, before the British troops could take the field. At length, Staremberg advanced towards the enemy, who attacked him at the pass of Prato del Rey, where they were repulsed with considerable damage. After this action the duke of Argyle was siezed with a violent fever, and conveyed back to Barcelona. Vendome invested the castle of Cardona, which was vigorously defended till the end of December, when a detachment being sent to the relief of the place, defeated the besiegers, killed two thousand on the spot, and took all their artillery, ammunition, and baggage. Staremberg was unable to follow the blow: the duke of Argyle wrote pressing letters to the ministry, and loudly complained that he was altogether unsupported; but all his remonstrances were ineffectual: no remittances arrived; and he returned to England without having been able to attempt any thing of importance.
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La tropa quiere rendirse, la administración negociar, la gente luchar
All the dispositions being made, Marshal Berwick opened the trenches on the night between the twelfth and thirteenth of July, on the east side, where the besieged did not expect to be attacked. The trenches were mounted by a Lieutenant-general, a Marshal de Camp, and two Brigadeers; ten battalions, and five hundred horse, besides two thousand five hundred pioneers to work in the night; and much the same disposition was made during the whole siege. The trenches were advanced within three hundred and eighty fathoms of the counterscarp: about two of the clock in the afternoon the besieged made a sally, being headed by their brave Matadors, several of whom were killed upon the spot, or were taken prisoners and hanged.
On the same day, the deputation sent a trumpet with dispatches for Mr. Bellefontaine, who
refused to receive them. The Marquis of Villaroël sent another, with a letter directed to the Marquis of Guerchy. The latter carried it unopened to Marshal Berwick, who returned it to the trumpet, and threatened to cause him to be hanged, if he returned any more to the camp; adding, that the rebels must only have recourse to the mercy of the King. A few hours after, some ladies from the town came to the camp, and presented themselves at the door of the General’s tent, in order to intreat him to grant them an asylum: but the Marshal would neither see nor hear them, and immediately sent them back to the town saying, that when he should be there, he would hear them. A Marshal de Camp, a Brigadeer, a Colonel, and five Captains, escaped from the town on the same day, and surrendered at discretion. They brought an account that the regular troops were disposed to surrender, but that the people were more obstinate than ever; that they were employed in throwing up a multitude of retrenchments, and declared that they would rather be buried in the ruins of their houses, than submit. -
Misa y gran bombardeo para celebrar el cumpleaños de Berwick
All the time till the twenty fourth, was employed in carrying on the works to the covered way. On the twenty fifth, being the Marshal of Berwick‘s birth day, after having caused the mass to be said by the Vicar-general of the army, and the artillery to be blessed, he ordered a royal battery of seventy four pieces of cannon, and twenty four mortars to fire upon a long courtain, extending from the bastion of the new port to that of Santa Clara; at the same time that sixteen other cannons fired from two batteries upon a redoubt nigh the sea. So great a fire had the effect which might well be expected from it; the bullets did a great deal of mischief in the town, and frightned the inhabitants.
This occasioned a general assembly, wherein they resolved to persist in their revolt. Pinos, a gentleman, and one of the most obstinate of the rebels, spoke in that assembly in such a haughty manner, as intimidated those who were inclined to submit. The ravings of Basset, Grand-vicar of Cardinal Sala, Bishop of Barcelona, which he vented under the name of revelation’s, seduced others. They made a decree, which they distributed by their emissaries, who in the night easily went out, and returned on the sea-side. In this writing they gave notice to the rebels in the country of the condition to which the town was reduced, and of the danger with which it was threatened; they commanded all the inhabitants of towns and villages, who were above fourteen years of age, to take arms for the defence of their liberties, upon pain of being treated as enemies to their country. The Marquis del Poël, and the Chevalier Armengol, went throughout the whole country, to put this decree in execution. The Captains of the Miquelets had the insolence to accompany this writing with an order from them, expressed in such terms as the most famous and renowned Generals would have hardly used: they commanded all the inhabitants of the cities, towns, and villages of Catalonia, who were fourteen years of age, to take arms, and repair to them, under pain of being burnt in their habitations.
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Importantes perdidas entre los defensores de Barcelona
On the thirtieth in the evening the Marshal of Berwick went into the trenches. They were mounted by Lieutenant-general Dillon, Mr. Vicintillo, Marshal de Camp, and the Brigadeers Courten and Desmarets. Every thing was in readiness, and the signal was given: whereupon, four companies of grenadeers on the right, and as many on the left, attacked the covered way, which runs from the bastion of the new gate, to that of Santa Clara; and without firing rushed in, and put to sword all those who were in it. The pioneers followed at a very little distance, and presently made a lodgment, being favoured by the fire of the troops in the trenches, who supported this attack.
The besieged came in great numbers to recover the counterscarp; but our grenadeers were so fresh, that the former were repulsed with great loss. This attack was made with so much valour on the side of the besiegers, and was so weakly defended on that of the besieged, that the former lost but a few men. The batteries continued to fire in breach upon the two bastions and the courtain; and the miners were set to work under them.