Historia de Barcelona

Etiqueta: Mínimo de Maunder

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nu6kTFN-ssY/U-jvRW_Z30I/AAAAAAABbuU/dPSHEpXxWV8/s144/ssn_yearly.jpg////El mínimo de Maunder////NASA////http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SunspotCycle.shtml

  • Peterborough toma Montjuic; muere su compañero, Jorge de Darmstadt, un nuevo Cristo

    The English and Dutch generals serving under him were all of opinion that the attempt amounted to madness; but he persisted; and, throwing off all the trammels of routine and military pedantry, he carried on the siege in a way that confirmed all the old generals in their notion that the man was mad. They said that it was impossible such wild and irregular plans could succeed; but they succeeded nevertheless.

    It was, for example, against all rule and precedent to attack the castle before taking the town; but Peterborough saw that, if he could only take the strong castle of Montjuich, which commanded the town, first, the town itself must soon fall: he perceived at once that the arduous part of the undertaking was the capture of the castle; and, therefore, he resolved to begin with it while his men were fresh and vigorous, and free from those casualties and miseries which inevitably attend protracted sieges.

    Accordingly, he took a near view of the castle in person, discovered enough to convince him that the garrison in it was neither strong nor vigilant; and then, pretending to give up his enterprise, he reembarked some of his troops, in order to make the Spaniards believe he was on the point of sailing away. Communicating his real design to none but the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, Peterborough, on the night of the 3d of September, suddenly put about 1400 men under arms, and sent them by two different byroads to fall upon the castle.

    The first body, consisting of 800 men he led in person, having the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt with him, who had volunteered to partake in the hazard. «The second body,» says Burnet, «were led by General Stanhope, from whom I had this account.»

    About daybreak Peterborough fell upon the defenses of the castle, and, with no artillery with him except a few small field-pieces and mortars, he established himself on the outworks; but the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt received a shot in his body, fell, and, expired soon after; Stanhope, owing to some of his men mistaking their way, did not come up for some time; and the Spanish governor made a fierce sally from the body of the castle, hoping to sweep the assailants down the hill before him. But Peterborough and his brave men kept their ground: the Spaniard, thinking them more numerous than they were, wheeled round without coming to blows, and ran back within the castle.

    Then Stanhope’s men came up, and Peterborough threw a few bombs into the castle. One of these bombs fell into the powder magazine, blew it up, and caused the death of the governor and some of the best officers, and thereupon the rest surrendered without delay.

  • Peterborough toma Barcelona para Carlos y rescata a una guapa de la multitud

    Then Peterborough directed his attention to the town below, reached the walls, and induced the governor, Velasco, to agree to surrender within four days, if not relieved. Relief was out of the question; and within the town the Austrian partisans were numerous and daring: bands of Miquelets, a sort of lawless association of Catalans, threatened to throw open the gates, and subject the whole city to fire, sword, and plunder; so that even before the time mentioned, Velasco was forced to capitulate, and to entreat the enemy to enter, and secure him and the respectable inhabitants from the fury of the Miquelets and the rabble of the town. Peterborough, like a preux chevalier, rode into Barcelona instantly with only a few attendants, and rescued from the rabble a beautiful lady, who proved to be the Duchess of Popoli, the wife of a grandee of Spain, who derived his title from a town in the Abruzzi. and who possessed, or, rather, had possessed, immense estates in the Neapolitan kingdom. He restored the fair lady to her lord: and, riding through a loose, mad fire of guns and pistols, and making use of persuasions and of the flat of his sword, he at last succeeded in reducing that rabble rout to order, and saved the lives of the governor and his officers.1 «The Spaniards,» says Voltaire, «were confounded at the sight of so much magnanimity in the English, whom the populace had taken for pitiless barbarians, because they were heretics.» Immediately after this remarkable achievement, the whole of Catalonia and every fortified place in it, with the exception of Rosas, submitted to Charles. But Peterborough was not the man to sleep under his laurels ; he flew in search of fresh exploits, and led his troops over the ground as fast as Spanish cabinet couriers traveled.

    1 » The Earl of Peterborough, with Stanhope and other officers, rode about the streets to stop this fury, and to prevail with the people to maintain their articles of capitulation religiously; and in doing this, Stanhope said to me, they ran a greater hazard, from the shooting and fire that was flying about in that disorder, than they had done during the whole siege.»—Burnet.

  • Es proclamado rey de España el archiduque Carlos de Austria en Barcelona

    Llegó el dia 7. de Noviembre, dia de la solemnissima, y deseada entrada del Rey en Barcelona: el universal jubilo de sus fieles vasallos, no cabe en mi corta ponderacion: Juró su Magestad como es costumbre, en el Llano de San Francisco por las Islas, esto es la union, é inseparabilidad de las Islas, y condados de Ruisellon, y Cerdaña, del Condado de Barcelona, y Reynos, y algunos Privilegios de Barcelona, y en la Cathedral por la Iglesia.

  • Villancicos para el archiduque Carlos en la catedral

    El 8 de Octubre de 1705 los aliados toman Barcelona y el 9 de Octubre, Carlos III establece en ella su Corte. Un mes después, el 9 de Noviembre, Barcelona organiza celebraciones religiosas en acción de gracias por la estancia en ella del rey Carlos III. Así, en la Catedral se cantan unos villancicos en los que se dice:

    Es de Carlos Soberano
    Monarca tan glorioso, de Espiritu tan fuerte y animoso,
    tan benigno y humano
    …
    Es de ingenio tan claro
    prudente y entendido
    que sobre lo nacido
    a su juicio raro
    no se halla abilidad, arte ni ciencia
    que facil no aya sido a su Experiencia…

    [y]

    Ya que esta Esfera mejoro de Sol
    cuyos rayos benévolos están
    influyendo piadosos otro ser
    al Cuerpo siempre Fiel de esta Ciudad…

    [y]

    Que es esto Barcelona
    que nueva tan feliz tu voz pregona?
    …
    Ayer entre pesares y solloços;
    y Oy entre alegrias y alboroços?
    Ayer metida en penas y tormentos
    y Oy triunfando en gozos y contentos?
    …

    [y]

    Solo en Carlos
    hallo Oraculo, Solaz
    Libertad, Rey, Conde, Amparo
    ….
    y otras Señales, tan claro
    dizen, como el Padre Nuestro
    el que viene a libertarnos.
    Las cosas que han sucedido son un continuo milagro
    ….
    Son a Maria estos Cultos
    por nuestro Rey consagrados:
    porque esta Reyna es patrona
    del Austriaco cuydado:
    Y porque aquesta Conquista
    se deve al favor Mariano
    …. (Villancicos, 1705)

    Como vemos, en estos villancicos -y en actos posteriores- se dará la réplica a la imagen elaborada de Felipe: si éste es fuerte, valiente “animoso” –como se le llamó-, también lo es Carlos quien, al igual que Felipe, lucha valientemente en las batallas; si es inteligente, también lo es el segundo; si es joven, sano, bello y, por tanto, con un futuro de prometedora descendencia, también lo es Carlos; si es religioso y favorecedor de la religión, también lo es Carlos, insistiendo en este aspecto para tratar de eliminar el perjudicial efecto propagandístico del carácter protestante de parte de sus aliados, efecto muy explotado en el lado felipista. Al contrario, entre los seguidores de Carlos, se presenta a Felipe como miembro de una monarquía que ha abandonado las exigencias religiosas y que es esencialmente impía. Además, Carlos, en Aragón, Cataluña y Baleares, por la promesa de respetar sus fueros, es presentado como libertador de quien los oprimía, Felipe, cuyo abuelo, Luis XIV era causante de la guerra y de las pretendidas particiones entre los reyes europeos de los reinos que conformaban la corona española hasta estos momentos.

  • El archiduque Carlos de Austria abre cortes

    El archiduque Cárlos de Austria abre córtes en el salon de san Jorge en el palacio de la diputacion.

  • Los burgueses y catalanes se preparan para defender la ciudad, los ingleses y holandeses el castillo de Montjuic

    Some Paris letters advise from Spain, that the French and Spaniards have past the river Segar, in order to form the seige of Barcelona, tho with great losse.

    The Dutch letters by way of Italy say they were twice repulsed, and that the allies did not doubt but to hinder their passing it till recruits came.

    That the English and Dutch in Barcelona have undertaken to defend Fort Monjoui, and the burghers and Catalans the town.

    That the priests and monks there are the feircest enemy the French have, and daily mount the guards.

    That engineer Lapara, who is to command that seige, promises to reduce it in 12 dayes after the opening the trenches.

    Letters from the Hague mention that monsieur Alegree, a French prisoner there, had produced letters of credence from monsieur Torcy, the French secretary, to make overtures for a peace; but he was told they would see this campagne first over, before they would hearken to any such proposalls.

  • Felipe V llega por sorpresa y pone sitio a Barcelona y Montjuic

    Le roi d’Espagne étoit parti à la fin de février dans le dessein de réduire le royaume de Valence ; mais sur les ordres du roi, pour ne différer pas le siège de Barcelone, il changea sa marche et arriva le 3 devant Barcelone, où il trouva Legal arrivé de la veille avec toutes les troupes françaises, et tous nos bâtiments qui débarquoient tout ce qu’il falloit pour le siège ; d’autres bâtiments portèrent toute la garnison de Girone dans Barcelone avec toutes sortes de rafraîchissements, où plus de dix mille hommes animés de la présence de l’archiduc prirent les armes et se joignirent à la garnison. La tranchée fut ouverte la nuit du 5 au 6, par le marquis d’Ayetone, mais le canon ne tira que le 12, encore fort faiblement. Le duc de Noailles, qui devoit y servir de maréchal de camp, tomba malade de la petite vérole qui fut très heureuse, et qui acheva de le guérir de tous ses maux. Laparat, ingénieur principal, et le chef des autres depuis l’élévation de Vauban au bâton, étoit chargé de ce siège, et y fut tué le 15 avril en allant reconnoître des ouvrages qu’il vouloit faire attaquer.

    On prétendit qu’on fit une grande faute d’avoir attaqué par le mont Joui ; que cette fortification séparée de celle de la ville seroit tombée avec la ville, au lieu que sa prise n’influoit point sur celle de la place. Quoi qu’il en soit, ce mont Joui dura le double de ce qu’on avoit cru, consuma beaucoup de nos munitions et coûta bien d’honnêtes gens, et Laparat même, qui y fut tué et qui fut mal remplacé. Les troupes qui faisoient le siège étoient peu nombreuses ; leur fatigue étoit continuelle ; il n’y avoit de repos que de trois nuits l’une, et fort souvent beaucoup moins. Les petits combats y étoient continuels avec les miquelets qui troubloient les convois, et qui assiégeoient tellement les assiégeants qu’il n’y avoit pas de sûreté à cent pas du camp, qui étoit exposé à des alarmes continuelles. Nuls rafraîchissements de France ni d’Espagne, tout à l’étroit pour tout. Les sorties étoient très fortes. Les habitants y secondoient la garnison, les moines étoient armés, et combattoient comme contre des Turcs et des hérétiques. Pendant ces sorties, le camp étoit attaqué par dehors, et c’étoit tout ce que les assiégeants pouvoient faire que de soutenir ces doubles attaques à la fois, par la vigueur des assiégés et le nombre et l’importunité des miquelets.

  • Asesinado el conceller en cap en el campanario de la catedral por querer impedir un asalto popular contra los sitiadores borbónicos; el papel de las mujeres aquel día

    En est dia, á lo que debian ser tocadas las 7 del matí, alguns fills de perdició e instigats del sperit maligne, continuant son depravat obrar, y procurant commourer lo poble, y abent trobat lo Excm. senyor Conceller VI en la riera de sant Juan, lo feren seguir en la present Casa fent que prengués lo Estandart ó Pendó de santa Eularia, y quel pujás á Monjuich, com en efecte, per evitar tots disturbis, dit senyor Conseller prengué dit Estandart, lo qual per dita gent alterada se li entregá, y habentse feta la mateixa acció en la Casa de la Diputació, feren seguir un Consistorial ab lo Estandart ó Pendó dit de sant Jordi, y los conduhiren á Monjuich, y arribats allí, quedantse dit Pendó de sant Jordi, se quedá al mitx del camí de las líneas de comunicació, y lo de santa Eularia fonch enarbolat y posat en la muralla de la fortaleza ahont estigué fins á la tarde, que com millor se pogué se escondí ab lo pretext de serse troncada la asta de aquell, y amagadament sen baixá dit senyor Conceller junt ab dit Estandart, tornant aquella en la present Casa, habent precehit que estant dit Estandart enarbolat en dita fortaleza, se doná per los naturals que anaben ab dit Estandart, se envestí á cos descubert al enemich, en la qual envestida foren moris y nafrats molts de una y altre part.

    E aprés de haber succehit axó, á lo que debian ser cerca de las 9 se ohí tocar á rebato en la Catedral y altres parts, lo que ohit per lo Excm. Consistorí, desitjant y procurant la major quietut, se resolgué lo fer cessar lo tocar ditas Campanas, se feren varias y diferents diligencias, y ohint que no obstant aquellas, la Campana de las horas y lo Thomas continuaban en tocar, lo Excm. senyor Conceller en Cap, associat de 4 Caballers y Ciutadans, sen aná de la present Casa á la Catedral, y puja en lo campanar, ahont se tocan las campanas, y al que fonch al cap de munt de la escala ó caragol, trobá alguns minyons que tocaban dit Thomas, y habentlos ne fet deixar, aparegueren alguns fills de perdició, qui instigats del esperit maligno, ab grans crits digueren que la Campana habia de tocar, y replicant dit senyor Conceller en Cap dient, no habia de tocar tant per ser orde de S. M. com per convenir á la quietut pública, no duptá un de dits fills de perdició poch tement á Deu, tirar y disparar un tir de pistola á dit Conceller en Cap, del qual restá ferit en lo bras dret passantli á la mamella, de la cual ferida en breu temps morí, cujus anima requiescat in pace. Amen. (Dietario de la ciudad).

  • Cae Montjuic a los borbónicos, muriendo su ingeniero en jefe

    Tessé envoya son fils porter la nouvelle que les ennemis avoient le 25 avril abandonné le mont Joui, lequel en fut fait maréchal de camp. La garnison sortit ensemble en plein jour, et entra dans Barcelone sans presque aucune perte.

  • Las tropas aliadas entran en la ciudad, supuestamente desembarcando en barcas de pescadores

    Le soir même du jour que le roi avoit appris à son réveil la cruelle nouvelle de la bataille de Ramillies, M. le comte de Toulouse arriva à Versailles, et fut trouver le roi chez Mme de Maintenon, où il demeura fort longtemps avec lui, ayant laissé le maréchal de Cœuvres pour quelques jours encore à Toulon. Il s’étoit tenu mouillé devant Barcelone jusqu’au 8 mai. Les frégates d’avis qu’il avoit envoyées aux nouvelles de la flotte ennemie lui rapportèrent qu’elle approchoit, forte au moins de quarante-cinq vaisseaux de guerre. Notre amiral, grâce aux bons soins de Pontchartrain, n’en avoit pas une bastante pour les attendre. Lui et le maréchal de Coeuvres eurent, avant partir, une longue conférence avec le maréchal de Tessé et Puységur, et tout au soir levèrent les ancres. Ils rentrèrent le 11 mai à Toulon.

    Le départ de notre flotte et l’arrivée de celle des ennemis à Barcelone y changea fort la face de toutes les choses. Les assiégés reprirent une vigueur nouvelle, les assiégeants rencontrèrent toutes sortes de nouveaux obstacles. Tessé, voyant l’impossibilité de continuer le siège et toute la difficulté de la retraite en le levant, persuada au roi d’Espagne de faire entrer le duc de Noailles dans toutes les délibérations qu’il avoit à prendre là-dessus. Noailles étoit tout nouveau maréchal de camp. Il n’avoit jamais fait quatre campagnes ; sa longue maladie l’avoit retenu les étés à la cour, et la petite vérole dont il avoit été attaqué en arrivant devant Barcelone, et de laquelle il ne faisoit que sortir, l’avoit empêché de servir de maréchal de camp à ce siège, et assez longtemps même de savoir ce qu’il s’y passoit, mais il étoit neveu de Mme de Maintenon, et comme tel bon garant pour Tessé. Tous les embarras où l’on étoit furent donc discutés en sa présence. Il se trouva que les ingénieurs étoient si lents et si ignorants, qu’il n’y avoit aucun fond à faire sur eux, et que par la vénalité que le roi avoit mise dans l’artillerie depuis quelque temps, comme je l’ai dit en son lieu, non seulement ces officiers vénaux n’y entendoient rien du tout, mais avoient perdu sans cesse en ce siège, et perdoient encore tout leur temps à remuer inutilement leur artillerie, et à placer mal leurs batteries, pour se mettre dans la nécessité de les changer, parce que de ces mouvements de canon résultoit un droit pécuniaire qu’ils étoient bien aises de multiplier. L’armée assiégée par dehors, et depuis longtemps uniquement nourrie par la mer, n’avoit plus cette ressource depuis la retraite de notre flotte et l’arrivée de celle des Anglois, et nulle autre d’ailleurs pour la subsistance journalière. Toutes ces raisons persuadèrent enfin le roi d’Espagne de la nécessité de lever le siège, quelque résistance qu’il y eût apportée jusqu’alors.

  • El comandante de las tropas austriacas es atacado por un asesino y luego por su propio ayudante de campo

    This days Holland post advises, from Genoa, that general Staremberg the first night he lay in Barcelona, hearing an assassine under his bed, called out, and his gentleman entring sword in hand took his master for the villain, and wounded him in his hand and body; but more servants comeing, the rogue was taken: this hind’red him not from setting out for Terragona, where the allies are incamp’t: and that the Dutch general, Noyelles, died of a quinsy, the 21st of April, at Barcelona.

  • La ópera italiana llega a la Lonja para divertir al pretendiente Carlos

    Primera representacion de una ópera italiana en una sala de la lonja. La dispuso el consejo para divertir al archiduque Cárlos de Austria competidor de Felipe V en el trono de España.

  • Ahorcado y descuartizado un espía del duque de Orleans

    Yesterday’s Dutch post advises, from Genoa, that the duke de Telesa’s secretary was lately hanged and quartered at Barcelona, for corresponding with the duke of Orleans, who gave him a daily pension of 25 pistolls.

    That general Stanhope was sail’d from Barcelona, with 2 men of war, for Port Mahone, to conferr with admiral Bing, and giving directions for strengthening the the fortifications of that town and harbour.

  • Los ingleses dejan de ayudar a los austriacistas para perseguir a los piratas berberiscos

    Saturday night came in a Dutch post, and yesterday another, which advise, from Barcelona, of the 2d past, that the troops of the allies in Catalonia will be soon in motion, and king Charles resolved to go in person into the feild, the reinforcements he expects, with those he has already, will make his army about 36,000 strong; and, ‘tis said, will open the campagne with the seige of Tortosa.

    And that the rovers of Algiers having lately seized an English ship, the British men of war which were at Barcelona, are sail’d towards the coast of Barbary to demand satisfaction, and if denyed will then bombard their citty.

  • Luis XV de Francia y los franceses están en Cataluña

    This days Dutch post sayes, duke de Noailles invested Gironne the 16th, and had sent a detachment towards Barcelona and the Segra.

    From the Hague, that they were in great fear for Catalonia, there being little or no garison in Barcelona, and but a small one in fort Montjuich; that the duke of Anjou intends to offer that city an amnesty, and all privileges they can reasonably desire, in order to march with all his forces against Portugal.

  • La defensa de Barcelona

    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.

  • Los ingleses pierden un buque de guerra frente a la costa

    Saturday, 3 March.

    […]

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.