The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 11
Dryden, John
English literature
"_Malaga, November 12._--Three days since arrived here a small vessel,
which stopped at Tangier, from whence we have letters, which give an
account, that on the 2d instant, Sir Palmes Fairbone, the governor, as
he was riding without the town with a party of horse, to observe what
the Moors were doing, was shot by one of them, and, being mortally
wounded, fell from his horse: That the Moors had intrenched themselves
near the town, whereupon the whole garrison, consisting of 4000 horse
and foot, sallied out upon them, commanded by Colonel Sackville: That
they marched out in the night; but were quickly discovered by the Moors'
sentinels, who immediately gave the alarm: That in the morning there was
a very sharp engagement, which lasted six hours; and then the Moors, who
were above 20,000, fled, and were pursued by the English, who killed
above 1500 of them, took four of their greatest guns, and filled up all
the trenches, and then retired to the town with several prisoners,
having obtained a most signal victory, wherein the Spanish horse behaved
themselves as well as men could do. The day the said vessel came from
Tangier, which was the 7th, they heard much shooting, which makes us
believe there has been a second engagement.
"_Malaga, November 12_, (1680.)--By a vessel arrived from Tangier, we
have advice, that on Wednesday last all the force of that garrison took
the field, and gave battle to about 30,000 Moors. The Spanish horse and
800 seamen marched in the van, the English horse with the main body.
The fight lasted near six hours, with the slaughter of between 1500 and
2000 Moors, and of 150 of the garrison: That the Moors fled; the English
kept the field; took six pieces of cannon, and six colours. Every
soldier that brought in a flag had thirty guineas given to him; and
every one that took a Moor prisoner had him for his encouragement. There
were about twenty taken; and 300 bodies of Moors were dragged together
in one heap, and as many heads in another pile. But the great misfortune
was, that the Saturday before, the governor, as he was walking under the
walls, received a mortal wound, which the Spanish horse so bravely
resented, that immediately, without command, they mounted and charged
the Moors with that courage, that they killed many of them, with the
loss of seven or eight of themselves. Before this action, the Moors were
so near the walls of the town, that with hand-slings they pelted our
soldiers with stones."--_London Gazette_, No. 1567.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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