Nicholas Haddock[a] to his Father Sir Richard Haddock.
Sᵗ George in Barcelona Road, this 1ˢᵗ of May, 1706, O.S.
Honᵈ Sʳ,
This comes to you by the Faulcon pink, which is sent home express wᵗʰ the good news of our releiving Barcelona in the greatest extremity. The French had made preparations for a generall assault that very day we came; and it must have been infallibly taken, had we not had the luckiest passage imaginable (being but five days from Lisbon to Cape Martin, where we joynd Sʳ Jno. Leake).
Saturday last in the morning, when were about 5 leagues to the wᵗward of Barcelona, my Lord Peterborow came of to the fleet wᵗʰ twelve hundᵈ soldiers embarqued in felucas and boats, and in the afternoon got in and landed them, wᵗʰ all the soldiers out of the transports and most of the marines of the fleet. We have now about nine thousand soldiers in the towne. The French army consisted at first of twenty thousand; four of wᶜʰ, horse under the command of the Duke of Anjou.[] 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, wᶜʰ was at twelve aclock last night. They have left 50 peices of brass cannon mounted and 15 mortars, and are now bound to Roussilion. They will find great difficultys on their march. The Miquelets,[c] 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. The French squadron before this place consisted of 26 saile, line of battle ships. They sailed the night before we came, having intelligence of us by their scouts. They were all the supply the army had for provisions, for the Catalans have not given them the least; nor could a man of ’em stirr from his tent a musquet shot out of the Camp but they killed him. We are now sending four ships with 6 hundred soldiers for Girone, to reinforce that garrison, lest the French should make any attempt on it, it lying in their way.
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. The lucky turn Providence has given to our affairs in these parts I suppose will be joyfull news in England; and this being the first certain accᵗ you’l have, this long letter wont seem tedious.
I can expect no letters from you till Sʳ Clowdsly joyne us, and then do hope shall hear of your welfare and some good news in return of all this, which, with my duty to yʳ self and mother and love to all friends, is from,
Honᵈ Sir,
Yʳ dutifull Son,
Nˢ Haddock.