GENERAL STANHOPE AND MADAME DE MUCl. 333 



" The faithful Castilians now gave proofs of their courage, loyalty, and 

 devotion to the person of their sovereign, which are beyond all praise. They 

 vied with one another in pressing forwards to offer their lives and properties, to 

 keep the crown on the head of Philip V., their legitimate King. 



"Whilst the defeated monarch was gathering a fresh army amongst his 

 faithful Castilian subjects, the victorious troops of the Arch-Duke reached the 

 borders of New Castile. Here Starenberg called a grand council of war, to 

 determine 



" Whether to march promptly against King Philip, and drive him into France, 

 before he could collect his army ; or 



" To go straight to Madrid, there crown the Arch-Duke, and thence push on 

 to take Cadiz, the key of Spain, and of the wealth of the New World. 



" Starenberg and the Germans were for the first proposal ; but the English 

 and the Dutch, flattered "by the hope of taking Cadiz, and thus seizing the trade 

 with South America, were so urgent for the latter, that they prevailed upon 

 Starenberg to march on Madrid, which proved the salvation of the King 

 of Spain. 



" Stanhope had the most influential share in this decision. His talents and 

 position easily induced air the English and Dutch to support his views. To 

 speak the truth, I am convinced his mistress had no small share in drawing him 

 to Madrid, and you will see this opinion confirmed in the sequel. However, 

 this resolution having been taken, the Arch-Duke reached Madrid, by forced 

 marches, and took possession of the city without any resistance. What were 

 the public events during his stay, public documents will tell you ; it is enough 

 for me to say that, in this capital, he was looked upon as a mere stranger, and 

 that not one free Spaniard would acknowledge him for King. Not a child 

 could be induced to cry ' Long live the Arch-Duke !' Five or six days after his 

 arrival, he sent an officer to the old Duchess of Aveiro, to beg her to come to 

 his palace, and take the oath of allegiance ; but she utterly refused, saying to 

 the envoy ' Sir, you may tell the Arch-Duke I respect him as one of the 

 greatest princes in the world, but for my king I will never acknowledge him. 

 I am not a woman who can kneel before two sovereigns. Philip V. is my 

 legitimate king. I have lived seventy-five years without an action which will 

 leave a stain upon my memory, nor will I dishonour the few days of life yet 

 remaining to me, by a treachery of which I can see no examples in my family. 

 You may say, that the Duchess of Aveiro will die sooner than acknowledge 

 your master to be king of Spain.' " 



All the details of Stanhope's residence with Madame de Muci, in 

 Madrid, we here pass over, as of no historical interest, and resume our 

 translation with the retreat of the Arch-Duke's army, after occupying 

 the capital (according to these memoirs) about six weeks. 



" Meanwhile the King of Spain, during this respite allowed him by his 

 enemies, gathered a new army, and marched at its head towards Madrid, to 

 drive out the Arch-Duke. The King of France had sent to his aid the Duke of 

 Vendome, whose presence gave such a countenance to the royal army, that the 

 Arch-Duke, not daring to defend Madrid, retreated towards Arragon, because of 

 the hatred the Castilians bore him. 



" Madame de Muci had little inclination to follow the fortunes of this 

 retreat ; but Stanhope, whose love for her was at its highest, carried her with 

 him, half willingly, half by force. Hardly had the Arch-Duke left Madrid 

 before the King was received there, with joy and acclamations which cannot be 

 described. Men, women, priests, friars, rich and poor, all wept with joy at 

 seeing their King once more. Never, on any occasion, was a day like this seen 

 in Madrid. 



" I have before said that my mistress went with Stanhope, half by force and 

 unwillingly, for the return of the King had renewed her hopes of seeing the 

 Count de 1* Albert again ; and these hopes were confirmed, by her just now 

 receiving a letter from him, saying " that the misfortunes of King Philip had 



