A RELATION OF THE Great Success THE KING OF PORTUGAL'S Army had upon the Spaniards, the 29th of May (Engl. stile) 1663. By Authority. LONDON, Printed by Alice Warren, for William Garret, 1663. A Copy of a LETTER Which the Conde de Ville Flor General of the Portuguese Army wrote to his Majesty of Portugal, giving him an account of the Success in the Battle, immediately after the gaining it. BY a Letter of this instant, I gave account no your Majesty how the Enemy risen from their Camp, retiring themselves, and I endeavoured to follow them, with an intent to give them Battle, putting myself before them: I directed my march to Estremos, where I overtook them the 8th current; the Enemy had possessed a much higher Post, which is called the Canal, a League from the Town: I resolved to set upon them, gaining the Post which they possessed; and disposing myself to this, I gave the command of the Vanguard to Alphonso Turtoda de Mendoza, who was also assisted by the General of the Artillery, Dn. Luis de Meses, and the second line to the Conde de la Torre; in the right wing of which, he was assisted by the General of the Horse, Denis de Mello de Castro, accompanied with the Maestro de campo General, Pedro Jaques de Megellanez; and the Lieutenant Generals, Dn. Juan de Silua, Dn. Manoel de Atayde, and Luis de Acosta, and the Commissaries General Juan de Ocrato, Mattias de Acunia, and Duarte Fernandez Lobo. In the left wing of the Horse, the General of it, Ma●●el Freire de Andrada, with his Lieutenant General, Dn. Martin de Ribera, and the Commissaries General Gomes Freire, and Dn Antonio Maldonado. And drawing from the first line of the Vanguard the Regiment of the Maestro de Camp Juan Turtado de Mendosa, and a Regiment of English (who in the whole occasion did wonders) supported by some squadrons of Horse, I commanded to attaque the Posts of the Enemy, keeping the men in the same order of Battle. The Enemy easily extended their Posts, and resolved to possess others higher and harder to come to; and because when the first were taken, it was very hot, and the men much wearied with their March, it appeared convenient not to go forward, without taking some rest, so I made a halt; and seeing that the Enemy began to retire at the same time, I resolved that the Generals of the Horse Denis de melo, and Manoel Freire should set upon the Rearguard, which was in a plain, and that the lines of the Army should march in favour of the Horse, and do that which the occasion should suggest to them. The General of Horse Denis de melo ordered the attaque with all the Horse, leaving only on the left wing five Squadrons to the disposition of the Commissary General Matitas de Acunia, the Ground being very rough, and the Enemy's Horse making a stand on the other side. Marching so towards the Enemy▪ there began a fight of much dispute, receiving and giving of each side very hot charges. Our Word was Our Lady of the Conception, who assisted us in all parts; for at the same time that the Generals of the Horse assaulted the Enemy by the left wing, Alphonso Tuntado de Mendosa with the first line of the Vanguard, accompanied with the General of the Artillery Dn Luis de Mendeses, got up by the most difficult part of the Mountain, to assault the Regiments of Foot that were upon it, and with obstinate charges, drove them off from both the heights. After which came forward the Conde de la Torre with the five Battaillons; that were under the Commissary Mattias de Acunia, and all of them driving at the dislodging the Enemy, did, (as was to be hoped of such persons) The Superior and Inferior Officers doing wonders never seen before; and in the same manner the Soldiers, who with admirable constancy persevered in the uttermost danger, till they had got the better. In all that the Foot did, the Maestro de Campo General, the Conte de Shomberg did assist with great application and care, disposing of what was necessaire with the Sergeant Major di Battaglia Juan de Silva de Sosa, and with the Lieutenaut Generals Ant. Tavares de Pina, Pedro Cravero de Campos, and Fernand Martin's de Saicas (who died upon the place) applying present remedies to all that was necessary. Our small number of Horse fought obstinately with great numbers of the Enemies, which the General Denis de melo endeavoured to break with much valour & address, under the protection, of a Reserve which was commanded by the Lieutenant General Dn. Manoel de Atoide, who with the Commissary Juan de Acrato did wonders, by the firmness with which he stood, with a great loss of men on both sides, as could not but be in so hot an occasion. In fine, after many hours of continued fight, the Lines advancing, and now there being no more Foot to help them, but the Regiment of the Maestro de Camp Bernardo de Miranda Henriques, whom I kept for the last remedy, our Horse being in great danger, and much shattered by the many wounded, after so many hours fight, and some Soldiers having retired themselves weary of it, I sent to secure them by the said Regiment, who with the Sergeant Major De Battaglia, Diego Gomes de Figuiredo, whom I had kept by me to apply the succour where there was most need of it; so that arriving and beginning to give the charge, the Enemy quickly began to be undeceived, after to retire themselves, and presently to fly, extending themselves by that part of the Campagne (as I had done in the rest) which they had possessed with their Foot and Artillery, with which the Victory presently declared itself on your Majesty's side, our Officers and Soldiers having performed in this occasion most valiant actions, and never seen before. Here came off hurt on our side, the General Manoel Freire de Andrada, after he had killed many Castilians, the Mrs. de Campo Simon de Sosa, Manoel de Sosa de Castro, Diego de Suares de Almeira was killed. All the Soldiers, and some Officers which were made Prisoners at the Surrender of Euora, and which the Enemy was carrying away in their Army, got their liberty. The loss of the Enemy is such, as your Majesty may see by the list of the Prisoners of greatest account, which goes along with this. The number is incredible, which for the brevity of this time, I cannot yet know; and besides the loss of their Men and Horse, there were gained also 3000. Carts, 8000. Beasts loaden with Munition, 12 pieces of Canon, and 2 other Pieces, 16000 Oxen, 13 Coaches, many Ovens of Bread; Dn Juan's Standard, his Secretaria, and all the Furniture of his Chamber, so that he, and the D. de. Sn German, hardly escaped with their persons. Your Majesty ought to command that thanks be given to all the Officers of the Army, for their valour showed in this occasion, which was greater than can be represented to your Majesty, or that ordinarily happens; and let not your Majesty think this expression an hyperbole, for it is a pure truth, for having overcome an Army, with its total rout, disposed into Posts, which were every one a Fortification. Of which Victory I give your Majesty the Parabien, at whose feet I hope to see quickly the Monarchy of Castille surrendered up. El Conde de Villa Flor. The List of the Prisoners of Note which have hitherto been discovered. THe Marquis de Eliche Conde Duque de St. Lucar. The Maestre de Campo Dn. Juan Henriques. The Maestre de Campo Conde Fiasco. The Maestre de Campe Dn. Angelo de Gusman, Son to the Duke de Medina de las Torres. The Colonel Conde de Bull. The Maestre de Campo Don Estevan de Angulo. The Maestre de Campo Conde de Escalante. The Colonel Conde de Ferezit. Phelippe de Laguet, Captain of Horse. The General Gaspe● Martin's. The Conde Ludovico Trosqui, Captain of the Guards. Don Antonio Montenegro, Commissary General of the Horse. Don Juan de Novales, Commissary General of the Forces of Milan. The Commissary General Valador. Don Garcia Sarmiento, Captain of Horse, and Secretary to the Duke de St. German. The Sergeant Major Don Felippe Roxe Don Alvero de Guinones. Don Francisco de Escovar, Captain of the Regiment of Portugal Don Thomas Puccino. Don Angelo Carafa. Don Ascanio Dodino. Don Gustaccio Gramaccio. Don Alvero Montilo. Don Algelo Cosinano. 13. Captains of Foot. 9 More reform. 15. Engines. 8. More Reform. 20. Sergeants. 7. Quartermasters. 3000. Common Soldiers. 2500. More, hurt. And there are many more, but for the hast with which the Courior parts, they cannot be specified; and of the other particulars, there will be a more ample Relation. FINIS.