FLAN OB^ STABEMBKIia 155

VeudAmo, in which ho, with his army, might fall and break his
neek without hope of escape. With this view he put his army
into quarters, access to which was easy everywhere, which
were near each other, and which could assist each other In caso
of need. Ho then placed all his English and Dutch, Stanhope
at their head, in Brighuega, a little fortified town in good con-
dition for defence. It wan at the head of all the quartern of
Staromherg's army, and at the entrance of a plain over which
M. do Vendflmo had to pass to join Bay.

Starmnberg wan on the point of being joined by his army of
Kstremadura, so that in the event of M. de Vendomo attacking
Brighuega, as ho hoped, he had a large number of troops to
depend upon.

Vendomo, meanwhile, net out on his march. Ho wan in-
formed of Staremberg's position, but in a manner just nuch an
Staremberg wished; that IB to nay, he wan led to believe that
Stanhope had made a wrong move in occupying Brighuega,
tlmt. ho was too far removed from Staremberg to receive any
nssistunt'o from him, and that ho could be easily overpowered.
That in how mutters appeared to Vendonie. Ho hastened his
march, therefore, nnulo his dispositions, and on the 8th of
December, after mid-day, approached Brighuega, called upon it
to surrender, and upon its refusal, prepared to attack It.

Immediately afterwards his surprise was great, upon disco-
vering that there were HO many troops in the town, and that
instead of having to do with a mere outpost, he wan engaged
against a place of some consequence. He did not wish to retire,
and perhaps ho could not have clone HO with impunity. Ho net
to, therefore, storming in his usual manner, and did what ho
could to excite his troops to make short work of a conquest
HO different from what ho had imagined, and. so dangerous
to delay.

Neverthele.sH, the weight of his mistake pressed upon him as.
the, hours passed ami ho saw fresh enemies arrive. Two of his-
assaults had failed: ho determined to pluy at double or quits,
and ordered a third assault. While the dispositions were being
made, on the 9th of December ho learnt that Staremborg wan