Military Memoirs of Capt. George CarletonDefoe, Daniel
History
Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton
Defoe, Daniel
Adventure stories; Great Britain -- History, Military -- Fiction; Soldiers -- Fiction
same _Alberoni_ (though afterwards created Cardinal, and for some Time
King _Philip's_ Prime Minion) soon saw that Ingratitude of his rewarded
in his own Disgrace, at the very same Court.
I remember, when at _la Mancha_, Don _Felix Pachero_, in a Conversation
there, maintain'd, that three Women, at that Time, rul'd the World,
_viz._ Queen Anne, Madam _Mantenon_, and this Princess _Ursini_.
Father _Fahy's_ Civilities, when last at _Madrid_, exacting of me some
suitable Acknowledgment, I went to pay him a Visit; as to render him due
Thanks for the past, so to give him a further Account of his Countryman
_Brennan_; but I soon found he did not much incline to hear any Thing
more of _Murtough_, not expecting to hear any Good of him; for which
Reason, as soon as I well could, I changed the Conversation to another
Topick. In which some Word dropping of the Count _de Montery_, I told
him, that I heard he had taken Orders, and officiated at Mass: He made
answer, it was all very true. And upon my intimating, that I had the
Honour to serve under him in _Flanders_, on my first entring into
Service, and when he commanded the _Spanish_ Forces at the famous Battle
of _Seneff_; and adding, that I could not but be surprized, that he, who
was then one of the brightest _Cavalieroes_ of the Age, should now be in
Orders; and that I should look upon it as a mighty Favour barely to
have, if it might be, a View of him; he very obligingly told me, that he
was very well acquainted with him, and that if I would come the next
Day, he would not fail to accompany me to the Count's House.
Punctually at the Time appointed, I waited on Father _Fahy_, who, as he
promised, carry'd me to the Count's House: He was stepping into his
Coach just as we got there; but seeing Father _Fahy_, he advanced
towards us. The Father deliver'd my Desire in as handsom a Manner as
could be, and concluding with the Reason of it, from my having been in
that Service under him; he seem'd very well pleas'd, but added, that
there were not many beside my self living, who had been in that Service
with him. After some other Conversation, he call'd his Gentleman to him,
and gave him particular Orders to give us a _Frescari_, or in _English_,
an Entertainment; so taking leave, he went into his Coach, and we to our
_Frescari_.
Coming from which, Father _Fahi_ made me observe, in the open Street, a
Stone, on which was a visible great Stain of somewhat reddish and like
Blood.
"This," said he, "was occasion'd by the Death of a Countryman of mine,
who had the Misfortune to overset a Child, coming out of that House
(pointing to one opposite to us) the Child frighted, though not hurt, as
is natural, made a terrible Outcry; upon which its Father coming out in
a violent Rage (notwithstanding my Countryman beg'd Pardon, and pleaded
Sorrow as being only an Accident) stabb'd him to the Heart, and down he
fell upon that Stone, which to this Day retains the Mark of innocent
Blood, so rashly shed".
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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