_April_ 15. In the Year 1707, being _Easter Monday_, we had in the Morning a flying Report in _Alicant_, that there had been the Day before a Battle at _Almanza_, between the Army under the Command of the Duke of _Berwick_, and that of the _English_, under Lord _Galway_, in which the latter had suffer'd an entire Defeat. We at first gave no great Credit to it: But, alas, we were too soon woefully convinced of the Truth of it, by Numbers that came flying to us from the conquering Enemy. Then indeed we were satisfied of Truths, too difficult before to be credited. But as I was not present in that calamitous Battle, I shall relate it, as I received it from an Officer then in the Duke's Army. To bring the Lord _Galway_ to a Battle, in a Place most commodious for his purpose, the Duke made use of this Stratagem: He ordered two _Irishmen_, both Officers, to make their way over to the Enemy as Deserters; putting this Story in their Mouths, that the Duke of _Orleans_ was in a full March to join the Duke of _Berwick_ with twelve thousand Men; that this would be done in two Days, and that then they would find out the Lord _Galway_, and force him to Fight, where-ever they found him. Lord _Galway_, who at this Time lay before _Villena_, receiving this Intelligence from those well instructed Deserters, immediately rais'd the Siege; with a Resolution, by a hasty March, to force the Enemy to Battle, before the Duke of _Orleans_ should be able to join the Duke of _Berwick_. To effect this, after a hard March of three long _Spanish_ Leagues in the heat of the Day; he appears a little after Noon in the face of the Enemy with his fatigu'd Forces. Glad and rejoyc'd at the Sight, for he found his Plot had taken; _Berwick_, the better to receive him, draws up his Army in a half Moon, placing at a pretty good Advance three Regiments to make up the Centre, with express Order, nevertheless, to retreat 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.