through the town of Borriol and hastened on to Villa Real, a town
strongly favorable to King Charles. It opened its gates, however, on
the solemn promise of Las Torres to respect the life and property of the
inhabitants; but no sooner had his troops entered than he gave the order
for a general massacre and the sack of the town. This ferocious order
was executed, and very few of the inhabitants escaped with their lives.

The following day, on the news coming in from various points in his rear
that the enemy were pressing after him, he marched his dispirited army
to Nules, where the inhabitants were well affected. In answer to his
appeal a thousand of the citizens enrolled themselves and undertook
to defend the town till the last against the English. Having assured
himself of their earnestness Las Torres inspected the muster, and,
having viewed all the dispositions for defense, continued his
flight. Nules was fortified by strong walls flanked with towers, the
fortifications were in an excellent state of defense, and the town could
have resisted a siege by a considerable army.

On arriving at Villa Real the British were horrified at the hideous
massacre which had taken place. They went from house to house and found
everywhere the bodies of the slaughtered inhabitants, and the ardor of
the dragoons was, if possible, heightened by the sight. They made but a
short stay here and then galloped on to Nules. As they neared the town
a fire of musketry was opened from the walls, but, wholly disregarding
this, the earl at the head of his men dashed up to the gates and
demanded, in an imperious tone, that the principal inhabitants should
assemble and hold parley with him.

The boldness of the earl's manner and the imperative tone in which he
spoke so astonished the citizens on the walls that they ceased firing,
and sent for their magistrates and priests. When these assembled on the
wall Peterborough told them in an angry tone that he gave them only
six minutes for deliberation, and that if they offered the slightest
resistance he would repeat at Nules the massacre which Las Torres
had carried out at Villa Real. He added that, unless they instantly
surrendered, he would blow down their walls the moment his artillery and
engineers arrived. The terror stricken magistrates at once summoned the
town council, and, upon their repeating Peterborough's terrible threats,
it was resolved at once to surrender, and the six minutes had scarcely