The last and uppermost Way, lay thro' the hilly Part of _Catalonia_, and led to _Lerida_, towards the Head of the _Ebro_, the strongest Place we had in all _Spain_, and which was as well furnish'd with a very good Garrison. Along this Road there lay many old Castles and little Towns in the Mountains, naturally strong; all which would not only have afforded Opposition, but at the same time had entertain'd an Enemy with variety of Difficulties; and especially as the Earl had given Orders and taken Care that all Cattle, and every Thing necessary to sustain an Army, should be convey'd into Places of Security, either in the Mountains or thereabouts. These three Ways thus precautiously secur'd, what had the Earl to apprehend but the Safety of the Arch-Duke; which yet was through no Default of his, if in any Danger from the Siege? For I well remember, on Receipt of an Express from the Duke of _Savoy_ (as he frequenly sent such to enquire after the Proceedings in _Spain_) I was shew'd a Letter, wrote about this time by the Earl of _Peterborow_ to that Prince, which rais'd my Spirits, though then at a very low Ebb. It was too remarkable to be forgot; and the Substance of it was, That his Highness might depend upon it, that he (the Earl) was in much better Circumstances than he was thought to be: That the _French_ Officers, knowing nothing of the Situation of the Country, would find themselves extreamly disappointed, since in case the Siege was rais'd, their Army should be oblig'd to abandon _Spain_: Or in case the Town was taken, they should find themselves shut up in that Corner of _Catalonia_, and under an Impossibility of forcing their Way back, either through _Aragon_ or _Valencia_: That by this Means all _Spain_, to the _Ebro_, would be open to the Lord _Galoway_, who might march to _Madrid_, or any where else, without Opposition. That he had no other Uneasiness or Concern upon him, but for the Person of the Arch-Duke, whom he had nevertheless earnestly solicited not to remain in the Town on the very first Appearance of the intended Siege.