154 MEMOIKS OF THE DUKE OF SAINT-SIMON.

"by his own countrymen."* Staremberg did not make a long-
stay at Toledo, but in quitting the town, burnt the superb
palace in the Moorish style that Charles Quint had built there,
and that was called the Alcazar. This was an irreparable
damage, which he made believe happened accidentally.

As nothing now hindered the King of Spain from going to
see his faithful subjects at Madrid, he entered that city on the
2nd of December, in the midst of an infinite crowd and incredi-
ble acclamations. He descended at the church of Notre Dame
dAtocha, and was three hours in arriving at the palace, so pro-
digious was the crowd. The city made a present to him of
twenty thousand pistoles. On the fourth day after his arrival
at Madrid, the King left, in order to join M. de Yend6me and
his army.

But a little while before, this monarch was a fugitive wan-
derer, almost entirely destroyed, without troops, without
money, and without subsistence. Now he found himself at the
head of ten or fifteen thousand men well armed, well clad,
well paid, with provisions, money, and ammunition in abun-
dance; and this magical change was brought about by the
sudden universal conspiracy of the unshakable fidelity and
attachment without example, of all the orders of his subjects;
by their efforts and their industry, as prodigious the one as the
other.

VendSme, in the utmost surprise at a change so little to be
hoped for, wished to profit by it by joining the army under
Bay, which was too weak itself to appear before Staremberg.
Yend6me accordingly set about making this junction, which
Staremberg thought only how to hinder. He knew well the
Due de Yend6me. In Savoy he had gained many a march upon
him; had passed five rivers in front of him; and in spite of
him had led his troops to M. de Savoie. Staremberg thought
only therefore in what manner he could lay a trap for M. de

* It would "be unjust not to notice here, accepting Saint-Simon's state-
ment of facts, that the French always indignantly point out the gathering
of art-booty by English and other generals; but can find nothing save
words of praise for the immense spoliations of this kind which they have
themselves committed.