<P_49>

<heading:edcomment:NICHOLAS_TO_HIS_FATHER_SIR_RICHARD_HADDOCK>_ @

St George in Barcelona Road , (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.3)

this lst of May , , O. S. (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.4)

Hon=d= S=r= , This comes to you by the Faulcon pink , which is sent
home express w=th= the good news of our releiving Barcelona in the
greatest extremity . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.5)

The French had made preparations fur a generall assault that very day
we came ; (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.6)

and it must have been infallibly taken , had we not had the luckiest
passage imaginable <paren> being but five days from Lisbon to Cape
Martin , where we joynd S=r= Jno. Leake </paren> .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.7)

Saturday last in the morning , when were about 5 leagues to the
w=t=ward of Barcelona , my Lord Peterborow came of to the fleet w=th=
twleve hund=d= soldiers embarqued in felucas and boats ,
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.8)

and in the afternoon got in (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.9)

and landed them , w=th= all the soldiers out of the transports and most
of the marines of the fleet . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.10)

We have now about nine thousand soldiers in the towne .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.11)

The French army consisted at first of twenty thousand ; four of w=ch= ,
horse under the command of the Duke of Anjou . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.12)

Their loss during this seige is computed to be five $thousand including
a thousand sick and wounded they have left behind , when they raised
the seige , w=ch= was at twelve aclock last night .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.13)

They have left peices of brass cannon mounted and 15 mortars ,
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.14)

and are now bound to Roussilion . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.15)

They will find great difficultys on their march .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.16)

The Miquelets , being very numerous and all in arms , will destroy a
great many of 'em before they get out of Catalonia , it being a close
country . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.17)

The French squadron before this place consisted of 26 saile , line of
battle ships . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.18)

They sailed the night before we came , having intelligence of us by
their scouts . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.19)

They were all the supply the army had for provisions ,
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.20)

for the Catalans have not given them the least ;
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.21)

nor could a man of 'em stirr from his tent a musquet shot out of the
Camp but they killed him . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,49.22)

We are now sending four ships with <P_50> 6 hundred soldiers for Girone
, to reinforce that garrison , lest the French should make any attempt
on it , it lying in their way . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.23)

I hear there is an express come to Barcelona from my Lord Gallaway ,
giving an account of his being got to Toledo and on his march for
Madrid . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.24)

The lucky turn Providence has given to our affairs in these parts I
suppose will be joyfull news in England ; (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.25)

and this being the first certain acc=t= $you $'ll {TEXT:you'l} have ,
this long letter $wo $nt {COM:wont} seem tedious .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.26)

I can expect no letters from you till S=r= Clowdsly joyne us ,
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.27)

and then do hope shall hear of your welfare and some good news in
return of all this , which , with my duty to y=r= self and mother and
love to all friends , is from , Hon=d= Sir , Y=r= dutifull Son , N=s=
Haddock . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.28)

P.S. - We have had an eclipse of the sun to-day ;
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.29)

lasted above two hours , (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.30)

and for a quarter $'t $was {TEXT:'twas} total and as dark as night .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.31)

W=t= it may portend , I leave to the learned . (NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.32)

Our fleet consists of saile in the line : 13 of w=ch= , Dutch .
(NHADD-1700-E3-P1,50.33)