Verifying herein that noble Maxim, _That Victory to generous Minds is only an Inducement to Moderation_. The Day after this fatal Battle (which gave occasion to a _Spanish_ piece of Wit, _that the English General had routed the French_) the Duke of _Orleans_ did arrive indeed in the Camp, but with an Army of only fourteen Attendants. The fatal Effects of this Battle were soon made visible, and to none more than those in _Alicant_. The Enemy grew every Day more and more troublesome; visiting us in Parties more boldly than before: and often hovering about us so very near, that with our Cannon we could hardly teach 'em to keep a proper Distance. _Gorge_ the Governor of _Alicant_ being recall'd into _England_, Major General _Richards_ was by King _Charles_ appointed Governor in his Place. He was a Roman Catholick, and very much belov'd by the Natives on that Account; tho' to give him his due, he behaved himself extremely well in all other Respects. It was in his Time, that a Design was laid of surprising _Guardamere_, a small Sea-port Town, in _Murcia_: But the military Bishop (for he was in a literal Sense excellent _tam Marte, quam Mercurio_, among his many others Exploits), by a timely Expedition, prevented that. Governor _Richards_, my Post being always in the Castle, had sent to desire me to give notice whenever I saw any Parties of the Enemy moving. Pursuant to this Order, discovering one Morning a considerable body of Horse towards _Elsha_, I went down into the Town, and told the Governor what I had seen; and without any delay he gave his Orders, that a Captain with threescore Men should attend me to an old House about a Mile distance. As soon as we had got into it, I set about barricading all the open Places, and Avenues, and put my Men in a Posture ready to receive an Enemy, as soon as he should appear; upon which the Captain, as a feint, ordered a few of his men to shew themselves on a rising Ground just before the House. But we had like to have caught a Tartar: For tho' the Enemy took the Train I had laid, and on sight of our small Body on the Hill, sent a Party from their greater Body to intercept them, before they could reach the Town; yet the Sequel prov'd, we had mistaken their Number and it soon appeared to be much greater than we at first imagin'd. However our Out-scouts, as I may call 'em, got safe into the House; and on the Appearance of the Party, we let fly a full Volly, which laid dead on the Spot three Men and one Horse. Hereupon the whole Body made up to the House, but stood a-loof upon the Hill without reach of our Shot. We soon saw our Danger from the number of the Enemy: And well for us it was, that the watchful Governor had taken notice of it, as well as we in the House. For observing us surrounded with the Enemy, and by a Power so much superior, he marched himself with a good part of the Garrison to our Relief. The Enemy stood a little time as if they