yf Traveh through 'iht 



obligerl to do; and therefore we proceeded onwavds. We 

 marched that whole day, and even half the night, without 

 finding any nourifhment either for naen or horfes. At day- 

 break we were ftill above a league from the town, which we 

 could already diftinguifh. Whichever way we turned our 

 ey6s, wt faw men in great numbers, both of our own and of 

 the hoftile army. Our troops were meditating an attack, 

 when they were anticipated by tiie enemy; who, pouring down 

 the mountain which runs before the town^ fuddenly ruflii^d 

 i^pon us, and the fight began with the utmoft fury. Having 

 to contend on all fides, we (liould certainly have been lofl, 

 had not the Moors h^eroically prefled forwards and made 

 thcmfeh^s mafters of the town. Being within it, they im- *" 

 mediately difpatched a deputy to the king with tidiugs of 

 tlv^ir fuccefs. We therefore inftantiy received orders to pack 

 lip and follow the king into the town. Thefe we joyfuHy 

 obeyed, in hopes of getting ^ plentiful fupp'ly of food for both 

 men and cattle; but we found ourfelves deceived, as there 

 was not the ieaft thing left: for both what the fug^itive in- 

 habitants ha-d not been able to carry off, and what fuch as 

 f^aid behind had ftill poffefled, was all confnmed by thofe of 

 our army vvho had forced their way into the place, and had 

 likewife fet fire to the town on the north fide. The king's 

 firii; orders were to fextins^uifh the flames; after wliich he 

 ton ful ted with his officers how lye were now to proceed. 

 I had"my quarters in what was lately the habitation 6f an 

 pfHter; where, though I found convenient lodging, yet 'I 

 could find no fupply for my ftomach. To thofe who had got 

 i:!othing in the general pillage, a fmalh portion of meal was 

 indeed -diftvibuted ; but this was no more than fufficient to 

 appeafe the appetite for a few hours. The next day was a day 

 of reft to -the Ufjiole army, except to the king, who was em- 

 ployed |n niaking tjie proper regulations. I was ordered to 

 Sittend him thrrtLt'gh the town, to fee whether any provifions 

 were to be picked up ; vvp met with nothing, however, but 

 the greattil diftrefe jn ajl parts. Mothers with thcjr children 

 came and threw themfdves at the feet of the king, calling tq 

 him ;' \)ui he heafd them not : telling them, that if they did 

 jiot go awav and d-efift from hindering his paflage, they fliould 

 ' bo 



