Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton   By: Daniel Defoe (1661?-1731)

OF

Capt. George Carleton

FROM THE DUTCH WAR, 1672. In which he Serv'd, to the

Conclusion of the Peace at UTRECHT, 1713.

Illustrating

Some of the most Remarkable TRANSACTIONS, both by Sea and Land, during the Reigns of King Charles and King James II . hitherto unobserved by all the Writers of those times.

Together with

An exact Series of the War in Spain ; and a particular Description of the several Places of the Author's Residence in many Cities, Towns, and Countries; their Customs, Manners, &c . Also Observations on the Genius of the Spaniards (among whom he continued some Years a Prisoner) their Monasteries and Nunneries (especially that fine one at Montserat ) and on their publick Diversions; more particularly their famous BULL FEASTS.

LONDON , Printed for E. SYMON, over against the Royal Exchange, Cornhill , MDCCXXVIII.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

Spencer Lord Wilmington ,

Knight of the Bath, and one of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council .

'Twas my fortune, my Lord, in my juvenile Years, Musas cum Marte commutare , and truly I have Reason to blush, when I consider the small Advantage I have reap'd from that Change. But lest it should be imputed to my Want of Merit, I have wrote these Memoirs, and leave the World to judge of my Deserts. They are not set forth by any fictitious Stories, nor imbelished with rhetorical Flourishes; plain Truth is certainly most becoming the Character of an old Soldier. Yet let them be never so meritorious, if not protected by some noble Patron, some Persons may think them to be of no Value.

To you therefore, my Lord, I present them; to you, who have so eminently distinguished your self, and whose Wisdom has been so conspicuous to the late Representatives of Great Britain , that each revolving Age will speak in your Praise; and if you vouchsafe to be the Mecoenas of these Memoirs, your Name will give them sufficient Sanction.

An old Soldier I may truly call my self, and my Family allows me the Title of a Gentleman; yet I have seen many Favourites of Fortune, without being able to discern why they should be so happy, and my self so unfortunate; but let not that discourage your Lordship from receiving these my Memoirs into your Patronage; for the Unhappy cannot expect Favour but from those who are endued with generous Souls.

Give me Leave, my Lord, to congratulate this good Fortune, that neither Whig nor Tory (in this complaining Age) have found fault with your Conduct. Your Family has produced Heroes, in defence of injured Kings; and you, when 'twas necessary, have as nobly adher'd to the Cause of Liberty.

My LORD, Your Lordship's Most obedient And most devoted Humble Servant , G. CARLETON.

TO THE READER

The Author of these Memoirs began early to distinguish himself in martial Affairs, otherwise he could not have seen such Variety of Actions both by Sea and Land. After the last Dutch War he went into Flanders, where he not only serv'd under the Command of his Highness the Prince of Orange, whilst he was Generalissimo of the Dutch Forces, but likewise all the time he reign'd King of Great Britain. Most of the considerable Passages and Events, which happened during that time, are contained in the former Part of this Book .

In the Year 1705, the Regiment in which he serv'd as Captain was order'd to embark for the West Indies; and he, having no Inclination to go thither, chang'd with an half pay Captain; and being recommended to the Earl of Peterborow by the late Lord Cutts, went with him upon that noble Expedition into Spain .

When the Forces under his Lordship's Command were landed near Barcelona, the Siege of that Place was thought by several impracticable, not only for want of experienc'd Engineers, but that the Besieged were as numerous as the Besiegers; yet the Courage of that brave Earl surmounted those Difficulties, and the Siege was resolv'd upon .