An Extract of a Letter written from Lisbon,
June 26. S. N.
Since my last wherein I acquainted you of the taking of
the fort called St. Christopher before Badaiox, we have Intelligence
that our Army was past over the River Guadiana,
where they found that the Enemy had built another of a very
considerable strength, which our General perceiving did presently
intend to assault it, which he accordingly performed
upon the 22 with six Regiments of foot, ordering the General
of the horse with some foot to get between the said Fort
and the City, to demolish the lines they had made: the Spaniard
had left behinde him two Companies of horse and two
of foot, which were put to the sword, except two men that
were taken prisoners. In the fort was an Irish Commander
400 men wel armed, who behaved themselves with great
courage; in the mean time the Enemy came forth of the
Town with all his force to hinder our design, and three hundred
that were appointed to set upon our right Wing were
every man killed upon the place, the same hapned to them
that were likewise commanded to fall upon the left: thus
they continued for three houres; after which they were totally
defeated and beaten back to the City, leaving 1200 upon
the place; whereupon the fort was surrendred at our mercy,
we permitting only the Irish to come forth with their
swords, but all the Spaniards came without Armes. In this
assault our Soldiers shewed as great constancy as ever was seen;
and in the fight among those that acted bravely was the Lord
High Chamberlaine, who was extraordinary Ambassador in
England, killing with his own hand a great number of the
Enemy. Our loss was of no consequence; only some Commanders
were wounded, and amongst them the Duke of Cadaval.
The Duke of Ossuna, General of the Spanish horse,
did escape a second time after that he was taken prisoner, not
being known by the Soldiers. This victory was crowned
with the Enemies forsaking another great fort which they
had made upon the River, leaving behinde them all that was
in it, which we presently took, and both in that, and in the