of the earl--his honor and his life.

The next day the earl entered the city of Valencia in triumph. The whole
population crowded into the streets. The houses were decorated with
flags and hangings. The church bells pealed out their welcome, and amid
the shouts of the people below and the waving of handkerchiefs from the
ladies at the balconies, he rode through the streets to the town hall,
where all the principal personages were assembled, followed by the
little army with which he had performed what appeared to have been an
impossible undertaking.

After their incessant labors during the past two months, the rest at
Valencia was most grateful to the troops. The city is celebrated as
being one of the gayest and most delightful in all Spain. Its situation
is lovely, standing within a mile and a half of the sea, in a rich plain
covered with vines, olives, and other fruit trees, while beyond the
plains rise the mountains, range after range, with the higher summits
covered with snow. The people, at all times pleasure loving, gave
themselves up to fetes and rejoicings for some time after the entrance
of the army that had saved them from such imminent danger, and all vied
in hospitality to the earl and his officers.

King Charles, astonished and delighted at Peterborough's success,
appointed him captain general of all his forces, and gave him the power
of appointing and removing all governors and other public servants, as
he might consider necessary for the good of the cause, while from London
the earl received a dispatch appointing him plenipotentiary at the court
of King Charles.

Here as at Barcelona the earl entered with almost boyish animation into
the gayety of which he was the center. With the priests and ladies he
was an especial favorite, having won the former by the outward respect
which he paid to their religion, and by the deference he exhibited
toward themselves.

Valencia prided itself on being one of the holiest cities in Spain, and
no other town could boast of the connection of so many saints or
the possession of so many relics. The priesthood were numerous and
influential. Religious processions were constantly passing through
the streets, and in the churches the services were conducted with the
greatest pomp and magnificence.

Peterborough, knowing the value of the alliance and assistance of
the priests, spared no pains to stand well with the Church, revenging
himself for the outward deference he paid