about 150 Horfe. On the Portugueze fide, the Con- A. C. de de St. Vincento was kill'd, Colonel Macheda dange 1706. roufly wounded, and about 30 Troopers kill'd or wounded. After this Action the Troops enter'd Brocas and because there had fallen a great deal of Rain, the Soldiers kindled Fires in feveral Places in order to dry themfelves, which occafion'd the burning of fome Houfes, and the Deftruction of a great deal of Corn and Meal. The Confederate Army having refted the 8th at Brocas, and put a Garrifon of 400 Men in the Caftle, march'd the 9th towards Alcantara. The Duke of Berwick had, three Days before, thrown feven Battalions into that Place, which, with the three that were there already, made a Garrifon, at leaft, 5000 Men ftrong, and provided with Abundance of Artillery.

The roth. in the Morning the English Regiments of Blood and Wade very briskly attack'd the Convent of St. Francis under the Fire of the Place; drove the Enemy from thence, taking about 20 Prifoners, and lodg'd and maintain'd themfelves in that Poft, tho' with the Lofs of about 50 Men kill'd and wounded and among the latter Colonel Wade himfelf, and Lieutenant Colonel de Harcourt. After this, the Generals and Ingeniers went to view the Place; upon which Occafion the Conde d'Atteleja, Governor of Minho, was mortally wounded. The Alcantara Conde de la Corfona having that Day join'd the Army beficg'd. with the Artillery, Baggage and Provifions, and the reft of the Infantry, it was refolv'd to open the Trenches, and erect Batteries that very Evening: The Direction of the Siege being committed to Colonel Carles. Five Battalions and 200 Horfe, under the command of the Marquis de Montandre fuftain'd 800 Workmen, who in the Night made a Line deep enough to cover the Troops; and, at the fame time, they began to erect a Battery of 13 Pieces of Cannon. The Enemy made, during the whole Night, a great Fire with their Muskets, tho' without any confiderable Execution. The 11th. about Noon, they made a vigorous Sally to recover the Convent of St. Francis, and obliged one of the two Portugueze Battalions that guarded that Poft, to abandon the fame, but the Regiment of Don Francis de Mello de-` fended themfelves very refolutely, and gave time to

1706. the English, who ran from the Camp to their AfliftA. C, ance, to drive the Enemy back into the Place. The

3

Night between the 12th and 13th. the Conde de Sormany reliev'd the Trenches, and the Battery of 13 Pieces was put in a condition to fire the next Day; when it did great Execution, as well as that of Mortars. The English Battery, under the Command of Colonel Borgard, near the Convent of St. Francis, which batter'd the Enemies Works in Reverfe, was alfo perfected. The fame Day 13th) the Marquis de Fronteira pafs'd the Tagus, with the Troops of Abeira, over a Bridge of Boats, which was foon made up, notwithstanding the great Difficulties of the Ground: But the Activity of the Marquis, and of the Conde de Soura, animated the Soldiers to fuch a degree,that they finish'd that Bridge and another over the Alagon, fooner than was expected; carried fome Pieces of Cannon over it, and took Poft with 6 Battalions and fome Horfe, on the other fide of the Town of Alcantara. Thus the Garrison faw themselves pent up, through their own Fault,for they might have interrupted the laying of the Bridges over the two Rivers; and afterwards have eafily withdrawn the Garrifon, before the Confederate Troops had poffefs'd themfelves of the Heights that command the Bridge of Alcantare. The Villages of Villa del Rey, Arroyo del Puerco, las Ventas, la Matta, la Matilla, Villas, and others, fubmitted very willingly to the Allies, and furnish'd them with fome Provifions. The Marquis de Fronteira fent a Detachment to Tetouin, which Place, having refused to declare for the Confederates was immediately plunder'd. The Night between the 13th. and 14th. Major General Lloyd mounted the Trenches with four Battalions, English and Dutch. The Enemy feeing the Execution of the Batteries demanded to capitulate; whereupon Hoftages were exchang'd, but as they infifted upon honourable and advantageous Conditions, they were told, that they ought to expect no other, than to be made Prifoners of War; tho' with this Advantage, That all thofe who fhould be willing to enter themfelves in King Charles the third's Service, fhould be entertain'd on the fame Foot, and in the fame Employments they had under the Duke of Anjou. Upon their Refufal of thefe Terms,

the

the Batteries began to play again. The Bombs did a A. C. great deal of Mischief, and the Allies erected another 1706. Battery, on the other fide the River, from whence they fired into the Streets, and Places of the City. The Breach growing wider and wider, the Confederate Generals thought fit to fummon the Garrifon.before they gave the Affault. The Conde de Taroca, who was fent into the Town for that purpose, declared to the Governor, that the Breach being practicable, and no Relief to be expected, he could not, according to the Rules of War, hope for Quarters if he ftood a Storm, but that if the Garrifon furrendred Prifoners of War, they fhould have all the kind Treatment and Favour fhewn them, that could in Reafon, be granted to brave Men, whom the Allies expected fhortly to be their Friends. After fome Difputes among themselves, they agreed to furrender upon thofe Terms; whereupon the Conde de Taroca, who was empowered to treat, figned the following Articles.

The Capitulation which the Conde de Taroca General of Battalia in the Army of his Portugueze Majefty, made by Order of the most excellent Marquis dasMinas,' General of the faid Army,which Don Miguel de Guafco, Marshal de Camp of the Armies of Caftile, and Governor of Alcantara, for the Surrender of the faid Place. April 14. 1706.

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Capitulati on for the I. THE faid Marshal de Camp with all his Surrender Garrifon, Officers and Soldiers, with of Alcan 'their Arms, Baggage, Cloaths, Colours flying, and tara. all other ufual Honours, fhall march out of the Breach, and then lay down their Arms, the Officers 'from Captains upwards excepted, and be all made Prifoners of War: But at the end of 6 Months from the Date of the Capitulation, the faid Marshal de Camp and Officers from Captains inclufive upwards, fhall have Liberty to return to their Army: And whereas theOfficers of the Battalion of Spanish Guards are at leaft of equal Rank with Captains, they fhall have the like Liberty: As fhall likewife the Officers of the State Major of the Place, viz. the King's Lieutenant, the Serjeant Major, the chief Ingenier, the Adjutant Major, two inferior

T4

Adju

A. C. Adjutants, two Commiffaries of Artillery, and the 1706. Commander thereof.

2. All the Officers and Soldiers that remain Prifo'ners fhall have their Apparel and Baggage, and fhall have Officers appointed to infpect that they be not 'infulted or injur'd.

3 'No Soldier fhall have any Violence offer'd him' to compel him to lift himfelf

4. The Sick and Wounded, the Officers of the Hofpital, and the Commiffary of War, fhall have Liberty to go, neceffary Waggons being furnish'd them, to the firft Place in the Jurifdiction of Caftile with 15 Horfe to guard them leaving the Commiffary of War as Hoftage till the Return of the faid Horfe, and all the Furniture of the Hospital fhall go free...

5. The Officers from the Degree of Captains upwards, to whatever Place they be fent, fhall carry 'with them their Servants; who fhall have their Liberty, at the fame time, with their Maf

ters.

6. The Chaplains and Surgeons of the Regiments,fhall have Paffports given them immediately to go to Caftile, with their Goods and Baggage.

7. All Provifions and Ammunition of what Quantity foever, which fhall be in the Place at the Hour of this Capitulation, including the Soldiers Cloaths that are not on their Backs, fhall belong to the King of Portugal, and if any of the Provifions or Ammunition be not deliver'd the Capitulation to be void: But whilft the Garrifon stays in the Place they fhall have neceffary Subfiftence out of those 'Provifions.

8.This Capitulation is made upon Condition, that there fhall be found in the Place fufficientStores ' of Provifions and Ammunition to defend it 8 Days, regulating 30 Charges for each Cannon and Musket: Otherwife to be void.

9. All the cropt Horfes, and Arms, which fhall "be found in the Place, fhall belong to his Portugucze Majelty.

10, The Prior, Sub-Prior, and all the Religious of the Convent of St. Bento, fhall have two 'Months Time to refolve whether they will go, or ftay. Thofe that do ftay, fhall enjoy the fame Pri

'vileges

vileges as hitherto, and they that will depart fhall A C. have Paffports given them, within the faid time, 1706. to go where they pleafe, with all their Goods and Effects, whether of facred or common Ufe, and be allowed neceffary Waggons, and a neceffary 'Guard, they leaving requifite Hoftages: And, until their Departure, a Guard fhall be fet over them, to fecure them and their Convent.

11. All the Inhabitants of the Place, of what "Quality or Degree foever, may, in the fpace of 15 Days, retire where they pleafe; for which end neceffary Paffports fhall be given them for their Security; and they that will ftay, fhall enjoy their Priviledges as hitherto, without being moleft• ed.

12. Thofe of the Inhabitants who fhall depart the Place in the aforefaid time of 15 Days, may carry along with them all their Effects, Moveables, "Houfhold Goods and Money, what they carry a long being firft regiftred and thofe that will enjoy their Lands, may do it, provided they retire into the Dominions of Portugal; and for the Tranfportation of their Goods, the neceffary Waggons fhall 'be furnifh'd them, they paying for the fame: Or they may fell or otherwife difpofe of their Goods 'freely.

13. The Cattle of the Inhabitants, and of the Hofpitals which are in the Place, may be carried away by their prefent Owners.

14. The Soldiers and Officers which are made Prifoners on this Occafion, fhall not be fent out of "Portugal, unless hereafter any Portugueze Prifoners 'fhall be fent out of Caftile or Spain.

Thefe Articles were perform'd with all the Punctuality imaginable, and that Day about 2 in the Afternoon Major General O-Farel, who commanded in the Trenches, caufed Poffeffion to be taken of one of the Gates, and of the Breach,

The 16th the Garrifon went out at the Breach, according to the Capitulation: It confifted of one Battalion of Spanish Guards, commanded by the Marquis d'Altona, and making 376 Men; and nine Spanish Terza's or Regiments, viz. that of the Armada, 188 Men; Palomino, 328; Borafchero, 304; Don Pedro de Caftro, 196; Balthafar Prado, 184; Maldanado,