Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
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 . Our Author having obtain'd, by his long Service, some Knowledge of the
practick Part of an Engineer, and seeing at that critical Time the great
Want of such, readily acted as one, which gave him the greater
Opportunity of being an Eye Witness of his Lordship's Actions; and
consequently made him capable of setting them forth in these his
Memoirs... Continue reading book >>
|
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|