encouragement to make a long defence they presently surrendred both Town and Castle The same fortune also ran Besterans with with the Castle of Rochfort and some other small Forts The Government of Bisanzan was soon after conferred on the Marquis de Villers and a Swiss Garrison placed therein and that of Saliâ—s on Monesiur de Maupean On the eleventh of the same month the Prince of Condy came with his Army before Dole which had been reinforced a little before with an Army of 3 or 4000 Forces of the Militia of the Country and about two dayes after the King in person arrived at the Leaguer from Dijon upon whose coming Two of the half-moons belonging to the Town fell down of themselves and one of their Bastions cleft which somewhat disheartened the defendants who nevertheless refused to returne an answer to the summons sent to them whereupon his Majesty ordered a Battery of thirty Guns to be raised against the Town The Artillery having made a considerable breach in the works on the west side of the Town order was given to assault the Counterscarpe on the 25th of February at eight in the Evening in three places viz. by the Guards Commanded by the Duke de Roquelour by the Regiments of S. Vallier and de la Ferte Commanded by the Count de Guadagne and the Lions Regiment Commanded by the Count de Chamilly who after a stout resistance made themselves masters that night of the Outworks lodging themselves upon the Counterscarpe and gaining some half-moons in one of which the Marquis de Villeroy particularly shewed eminent proofs of his Valour himself siezing one of his Enemies Ensignes In this attaque were slain the Marquis de Fourilles Captain of the Guards with the Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Villeroy and some other inferiour Officers the Count de S. Mesme the Sieur Bonvise and some others hurt The next day his Majesty sent the Marquis de Grammont to invite them again to a surrender and he so effectually prevailed upon them by representing to them thâ— small probability they had of making a long defence the great dangers they might run by their further opposition and the assurance his Majesty gave them for the preservation of their Priviledges upon their surrender that they presently agreed upon Tearms and his Majesty entered the Town the next day causing Te Deum to be sung for their happy success and confirming the Government upon the Count de Guadagne The next day the Army appeared before Gray and within two dayes began to open their Trenches but by the mediation of the Marquis de Yennes formerly Governour of Franche Comte for the Spaniard the City was soon prevailed upon to open the Gates His Majesty conferred the Government of this Place upon the Sieur de Bissy Camp-Master and Commander of a Brigade of Horse About the same time Joux a considerable place of strength upon the borders of Swisserland surrendred to a part of the French Army at the first summons and the Command thereof was given to the Sieur de Chamarante one of his Majesties Bed-Chamber so likewise did the Fort of S. Anne Thi County being thus almost intirely reduced in the short space of one month the King in favour of the Prince of Condy united the same to the Dutchy of Burgundy the Princes Government and Granted two Reversions thereof one to the Duke d' Enguyen his son and the other to the Duke de Bourbon his Grandson He likewise made the Marquis d' Yennes Lieutenant General of his Forces there allowing him the same Pension which formerly he received from Spain and giving the Command of a Regiment of Horse to the Count de S. Amour his Nephew for his good service in winning the said Marquis to a compliance whereby the nimble Conquest of this County was much facilitated This settlement being constituted there the French Forces drew off towards Luxembourg and the King returned to Paris in the latter end of February During the Winter the French and Spanish Forces in Flanders made several excursion in Parties with various success nothing considerable being atchieved by the Former but the reduction of the Castles of Winnedale and Ligny The King of great Brittain and the States of the United Netherlands having entered into a League for an efficacious Mediation of Peace between the two Crowns now in War and obtained from the Most Christian King a promise he would lay down his Arms on a condition the Spaniards would either quit to him all those places already taken by him in the last years Expedition or else transfer to him the Remainder of their right to the Dutchy of Luxembourg or to the County of Burgundy together with Cambray Cambresis Doway Ayre S. Omers Bergue S. Wynox Fuernes and Link with their dependances in which case the French werâ— to restore to the Spaniards all the places already taken In which League it was further agreed between the King of England and those States to employ force to bring the two Crowns to accept of these termes if either of them should refuse the same The French King accepted of the same and in order to an accommodation accordingly proposed a cessation of all Acts of Hostility during the months of March April and May following to which also the Marquis de Castle Rodrigo consented and nominated the Baron of Bergeyck to be sent with sufficient Powers and Instructions to Aix la Chappelle to assist at the Treaty of Peace there Notwithstanding the cessation the French forbore not to make all possible Preparations for War and Monsieur de Bellefons and Duras pretending want of notice of the cessation which they would not take from any besides their General invested Guena and in a few dayes constrained the same to be surrendered But the French King thought not fit to hold a place which had been taken during the Truce and therefore even before the Treaty gave order for the delivering of it back into the hands of the Spaniards But withall he declared that he would take the Field in the beginning of April and unless the Peace were perfectly concluded by the 25th of May next ensuing it should be free for him to pursue his Conquests yet obliging himself in case of Peace by that time to restore back to the Spaniards all such places as he should make himself master of by his Armes Monsieur Colbert was employed by his French Majesty to Aix la Chappel for negotiating the Peace and the Heer Van Beverning by the United Provinces as Sir William Temple Resident at Brussels for his Majesty of Great Brittain was likewise ordered thither for the same effect Signieur Aug. Franciotti Plenipotentiary for the Pope and three Plenipotentiaries more from the three Ecclesiasticall Electors of Germany In the mean time the French King gives command for the demolishing of the Fortifications of most of the considerable Towns which he had taken in Franche Comte and also for the building of a Citadel at Besanzon The former was accordingly executed but in regard the Peace began now to be hopefull it was thought fit to forbare the latter After many doubts concerning the issue of this Treaty at last the Plenipotentiaries signed an agreement on the second of May which being ratified by the French King and the Queen Regent of Spain was proclaimed at Brussels on the 30th of the same moneth and shortly after sworn to by both Kings The substance of this conclusion was 1. That the most Christian King should keep and effectually enjoy all Places Forts c. that he had taken or fortified by Armes during the last years Campagne viz. The fortresses of Charleroy the Towns of Binch and Atthe the the Places of Doway the Fort of Scarpe being comprised Tournay Oudenard Lille Armentieres Courtray Bergues and Fuernes and all their Baliwicks Castlewicks Appurtenances and dependances by what name soever called as far as ever they extend the Catholick King for himself and his Successors renouncing and disclaiming the same for ever 2. That immediately after the Publication of the Peace the French King should withdraw his Forces from the Garrisons of all Places Towns Castles and Forts of the County of Burgundy commonly called la Franche Comte and restore the same to the Catholick King 3. That the Treaty of of the Pyreneans stand good and valid without any prejudice by this present Treaty FINIS Tournay surrendred Bergue taken by Marshall d' Aumont Furnes taken Daway taken The Scarp Fort taken Courtray taken Oudenarde taken Alost taken
twenty Companies of the Kings Regiment Commanded by the Marquis d' Anjau who altogether made eleven Battalions viz. The French Guards four the Swiss four and the other Regiment three The second Brigade was that of Picardy of which was the Regiment called by that name Commanded by the Counte de la Mark the Regiment of Saux Commanded by the Count de Saux de Lesdiguiers the Lyonnois Regiment Commanded by the Marquis de Villeroy the Regiment de Turenne Commanded by the Marquis de Sillery all which Regiments made up two Battalions a piece The third was the Brigade of Champagne composed of the Regiment of Champagne Commanded by the Marquis d' Ambre and of the Regiments of Castelnau Louvigny and Orleans the first Commanded by the Marquis de Castelnau the second by the Marquis de Louvigny the third by the Marquis de Beaufort and each of these Regiments made up two Battalions likewise In the fourth Baigade was the Regiments of Auvergne Commanded by the Duke de Chevreuse the Royal Regiment Commanded by Pierrefit the Regiment of Roussillon or Catalonia Commanded by Caramagne and the Regiment of Alsatia Commanded by the Counte de Nassau which in all made up but seven Battalions Roussillon making but on The Light Horse Commanded by the Duke Coaslin their Camp Master General was divided into twelve Brigades but because it would be tedious to reckon up the several Regiments they were compos'd of I shall content my self only to insert the names of the several Brigadies they served under which were the Barron of Montelar of Fourneaux Beauveze the Marquis de Resnel Bissy and Montauban the Chevallier de Fourilles the Comte de Choiseul Artagnan the Comte de Roye the Marquis de Rochefort and de Villequier There were expected also some Troops from the Duke of Lorraine which consisted of four Regiments of about 1500 Horse and two of Foot of about 900 or 1000 Men. Their Canon they brought from la Fere and Amiens I mean their great peices for at the beginning of the moneth the King had given order to the Commanders of the several Brigades that every Battalion should carry a peice of 4 or 5 pound Ball along with it and money was given out accordingly to buy Horses and other things necessaries for their train S. Hillary Lieutenant of the Ordinance was the person Commanded all the Equipage designed for this Army and Colbert Master of the Request was Comissary And this is the account of our strength by land As to our Forces at Sea I have been told we had twelve or thirteen Gallies in the Mediterranean Sea and that the Duke de Beaufort our Admiral was upon the coast of Brittain and Rochell with about 25 or 30 men of War The King being arrived at Amiens the 20 of May he depaâ—â—ed from thence the 25 having taken his eave of the Queen who instead of being present as was supposed at the Rendevouze at Perrone returnd by Montdidier to Compiegne and and the same day being the twenty fifth with all the Horse his Majesty encampt near d' Encre and the next day at Mont S. Quintin not far from Peronne where he met most of his Army especially his Foot who were drawn up thereabouts from thence he marcht and incampt at Goüy near Catelet from thence to Briatte not far from Chasteau Cambressy from thence to Villerpol near Quesnoy after that to Peronneval near to Binch a small Town in Hainault unfortified and which in the time of the Wars follows alwayes the Master of the Field here it was thought expedient to leave some Forces for our convenience whilst the Army lay at Charleroy where his Majesty design'd to go at his coming from Amiens at the length he came and encamp't at Pieton a Village situate upon a Brook of the same name which after some meanders and Circumflexions falls about a league from the Town into the Sambre This River and Brook where they meet doe make an Angle on the side of their descent which being sufficiently elevated above the waters there was formerly a little Villa called Charnoy This place having appeared of great advantage to Castle Rodrigoe Governour of the Low Countries for the King of Spain in respect the Sambre was not furnisht with any Forts from Landrey which is not far from its Fountaine to Namur where it falls into the Meuse he had resolv'd the year before with the Counsel of the Provinces to raise a strong Fort there which might oppose it self to the Excursions of such Garrisons as the King of France had betwixt the Sambre and the Meuse that is to say Avernes Phillippville and Marienburg Towns that were delivered up to us upon the peace on the Pyreneans and the designe was pursued with that diligence and expence that the place was almost defensible when they had the first newes of the Kings resolution to come in person with a great Army to demand such places as he pretended belonged â—n justice to the Queen This place which was called by Castle Rodrigo Charleroy was fortified with seven Bastions lined with a sort of stone that was very strong and large that they had brought from the Country of Leige The most part of these Bastions and the Courtines were raised to the very top and the outworks also were in so good a condition there was scarce a better to be seen in Flanders In the men time Castel Rodrigo understanding that the King was coming towards him in good earnest and fearing that his works being new and made the most part in the winter were not able to make any long defence if they should be set upon and besides having not Force enough to make good othe places he thought of as much importance he resolved to quit it and having drawn away his Canon and all the Ammunition he had sent thither before he blew it up and demolisht the body of it as well perhaps as ever was any before but the out-works they left intire and they appeared so well to his Majesty when he came thither that he resolved to repair all upon an opinion that this place not being above six Leagues from Namur and about â—s many from Monts and perhaps some 12 or 13 from Brussels might be of great consequence for the design he had upon Brabant and the remainder of Hainault But there were other reasons also made the King take up this resolution for he being come of a sudden out of France and the Spring being very backward by reason the Winter proved so â—ong he found but very little â—orrage besides they were so ill provided with Horses for their Train of Artillery that all they could rap and rend were scarce sufficient to draw eight or ten peices of whole Canon with necessary Ammunition for them their Foot Nor was their accommodation for Victualls in a much better condition most of their Baggage being in a very ill posture to follow the Army which was falling into their Country it may be also
he might have some inclination to attend and see what effect his Manifesto might have upon the spirits of the people the War not being yet so far gon but that if they had given any assurance of satisfaction he could have hearkned to their conditions and have saved those Provinces from all the calamities and devastations hath been since brought upon them by his Army But whatsoever was the reason we spent there fifteen dayes in reparing the ruines as well as we could the whole Army working all the while with all diligence imaginable The War being thus begun and no enemy appearing in the Field there was not much Hostility committed the King keeping his Army in as strict a discipline as if they had been in his own Dominions However they did not forbear the prosecuting the War from the time it marcht from about Chasteau de Cambresy and Pilois Camp-Master to the Horse was Commanded out with 500 Horse to fall into the Country for intelligence and to discover if there were any preparation making against them The most part of the persons of quality offered themselves as Voluntiers in this Expedition but the King would permit but some few of which the most considerable were the Duke d' Enguien the Counte de S. Paul and the Duke de Boüillon but their design proved to little purpose for after they had been abroad four or five dayes they returned to the Camp without opportunity of doing any thing During the stay of the Army at Charleroy the Queen as I have said returned to Compiegne but she came back as far as Avesne to enjoy the presence of the King who was there and to take the advantage of that little time he would spare from the care he would needs take to see the place accommodated himself The day she was to arrive the King went out with a good body of Horse some two or three Leagues to meet her and during the four or five days they were together Monsieur who remained in the Camp gave out all necessary orders Some there are that will say that that which carried the King into this part of the Country was not only the designe upon Charleroy which he knew was demolisht before he set out But having a long time maintained a correspondence in Namur and Luxembourg he had hastned his march to encourage that enterprise but I am not so well informed of the intrigues of Government to know the certainty this I only know they were favourers of the house of Austria that spred the report to make the conduct of the King the more odious to the people In short they put Charleroy into such a condition of defence that they left all the great Guns they had in the Camp there and put the Regiment of la Ferte in Garrison and other Companies drawn out of several battalions which they formed into another called the Dauphins Regiment and gave the Command of it to Phisica somtimes Lieutenant Colonel in the Regiment of Turenne the Government of the Fort was bestowed upon Montal with order to continue the fortifications without intermission They left also 300 Horse about Charleroy for their farther security after which marcht the King up into the Country to make his advantage of the consternation his great Army had brought upon the Provinces On the 15th of June he discamp't and marching towards Brussels he took up his quarters about Nivelle whither having at the entreaty of the inhabitants sent two of his Guards to secure them they were notwithstanding contrary to all honour and equity carried Prisoners to Brussels where they lay above two moneths From Nivelle the Army marcht a little above Mons towards Braine-le-Comte and after some days march they came to At h a little Town situate almost at the head of the River Dendre without any fortification but so capable of it that the King resolved to leave a Garrison there and made des Landes who had formerly served the Prince of Condy the Governour Out of divers Regiments there were some Companies drawn out in all about 400 Foot and 100 Horse which were left on purpose to infest and alarm the Towns thereabouts and particularly Brussels which was but eight leagues distant there being no considerable Rivulets betwixt them All this progress was made without any other impediment then from the badness of the wayes the Enemy not daring to shew themselves any where only a Party of their Cravatts earnest upon plunder fell upon our bagage But Rommecour Lieutenant of the Company of the Gardes de Corps being by accident with a Party of Horse near Enchoit upon a design which was the place where this business began he charged them so home he constrained them to leave their prize though they had slain some of our men not without loss certainly to themselves This I am sureof the Comte de S. Geran who served then as Aide de Camp and the Marquis de Bellefont were both very much wounded The Army staid not so long there as it had done at Charleroy they left the Garrison only some pallisadoes to begin their fortifications withall and the King discampt and marcht to the siedge of Tournay a place of great importance but very ill provided with Souldiers and the inhabitants who were very numerous bearing no great animosity to the French under whose Dominion they had lived long for it is scarce an age since they submitted themselves to the house of Austria Besides the King perceived the taking of this Town would be a considerable acquest in respect of its situation upon the River Sceld betwixt Conde and Oudenarde and might especially perplex that part of Flanders is called the Wallonne Country of which that is a Member as also Hainault and Brabant On the 20th of June they began their march but before that he gave order to Comte de Lillebonne a Prince of the house of Lorrain who Commanded the Troopes the Duke of Lorraine had sent to the King and who being not as yet joyned to the Army was quartered about Arras that he should immediately joyne himself with Artagnan who was thereabouts also and that passing the bridge at Avendin he should march away immediately and block up Tournay on that side next Lille which was executed accordingly and the Bridges for communication being finished the King past the River next day with most of his Army and took his Quarters up at the Town of Foryenne having left on the other side of the water the Marquis Humieres and the Comte de Duras with such Troops as were thought necessary for the beleaguering the Town on that side next to Hainault and Brabant and without giving further time to the beseiged to recollect themselves it was resolved they should that very night begin their approaches The place being surveyed we began our approaches on the side of certaine Windmils which are plac't upon a little eminence not far from the banke of the River as you go into the Town The
the Sceld was much broader and the Tide came up higher they were constrained to leave them that way free for supplyes In the mean time the Marquis of Bellifons advanc't with five brigades of Horse and four Regiments of Foot marcht over the Bridge that was made to possess the other side of the River who finding an inclosed Country they might easily block it up close and put themselves into a condition to prevent any succours going in by Land on that side The King took up his quarters at the Town of Apels aforesaid which was very near the Bridge and lay with the forces he had with him all the space betwixt the Sceld and the Bridge he had now made over the Dendre The Count of Duras with his Squadron and the Count of Lillebonne with his Lorrainers took up all the ground betwixt the Dendre and the Sceld on that side next Brussels and Viluorde their Posts being thus taken every body concluded they would fall on but there were severall considerations altered their resolutions Those who were for the siege pretended the place was weak the fortifications decayed and in an ill condition that there was not above eight or nine hundred men in the Town and those shatter'd and insufficient to resist such an Army as ours especially as it was then animated by the presence of the King that the waters they made such a noise with might be easily diverted by cutting the banks of the Sceld which dam'd up the waters of the Dendre and were made on purpose to carry that River nearer the Town which otherwise would naturally have fallen into the Sceld about a Musquet shot above that place And indeed Truel had already made two cuts in this bank and had begun a third with confidence according to the opinion of the Watermen of Alost and Dendremond that were in our Camp in four or five dayes time to have turn'd the River so as they might in two several places have fallen upon the Town and have easily carried it by reason of the weakness of the defence that was to be made Those who were for the râ—ising of the siege alledged on the other side that that draining or diverting the River was impossible by reason the sluces in the Town were intire and the cutting the banks of the Sceld would but increase the inundation by letting in the waters of the Sea which in that place was twice in four and twenty hours above six foot high In so much as they should never be able to make any works but what would be wet if not overflown twice every day Besides the Sceld being open below the Town and we having besides the Bridge we had made neither Staccads nor Trees nor Chaines nor any thing to hinder them the Enemy might when he pleased break the Bridge for it was obvious that with the least favourable wind and the assistance of the Tide they might come from Anwerp in four hours with many Vessels as they thought fit and beating down what we had raised to resist put what supplyes they thought necessary into the Town and moreover the Town had been reinforc't with men and all other necessaries for a long defence Louvigny a person of great esteem in the Low Countries having had opportunity to put himself in with what Troops he had pleased and lastly that if all things could be managed as was proposed they had no more to doe then to encamp thesmelves at Nienove and in four dayes they would be able to starve our Army bread being already grown scarce in spight of all the care the Commissaries could take that were imployed by order from the Intendant â—olbert This advise was asserted by so many and their arguments appeared so probable the King resolves to quit that Leaguer that was like to be difficult for another no less honourable nor perhaps of less consequence During the two dayes we were before this Town there was scarce any thing considerable past the Enemy shot many great Guns amongst us but with little execution I beleive there was not above 12 or 15 men slain of which the most eminent was one Mr. Villars a voluntier under the Marquis de la Valliere Lieutenant of the Dolphins light Horse There was also a little Rancontre betwixt the Horse on the other side of the Sceld before the Bridge was finisht for the King having sent 50 of his Guards over in one of the Wherries design'd for the bridge under the Command of Lansson one of the Lieutenants of the four Companies the Cavaliers putting their Horses unsadled thorow the water made them swim to the other side where as soon as they had sadled them again they mounted marcht along a Dike all covered with Trees towards Dendremond in a streight way they encountred about 150 of the Enemy whom at first dash they beat back to their reserves who advancing put a stop to our carrier and sent our forlorne back with the same speed but Lansson coming on charges them again however the Enemy received it so well there was but few either kill'd or taken we lost also some few Cavalliers and had some of our Voluntiers wounded and amongst the rest the Marquis of Courcelles Lieutenant of the Artillery and the same Mazel I have mentioned before after which the night approaching they parted and the Bridge being finisht the next morning we heard no more of them Two dayes after the Marquis de Bellefons having past his Troops over the same Bridge again brake it down and the Army discamp't from before the Town Some there were that reported that several of our Army and in particular of those under the Command of the Marquis de Bellefons being stragled for plunder into the Country of the VÃ es came short home for expecting to pass at the Bridge and finding it broke down they could not get over and that above 2000 of them fell into the Enemies hands but this was otherwise for it was certain there was not two hundred lost there in all The Army being thus risen from Dendremond the Marquis of Humieres with four Brigades of Horse had orders to go and invest Lille that they had been a long time bartering for the Marshall d' Aumont ever since and before the siege of Courtray having never lain above two or three Leagues from it ready to attaque them whenever the Enemy should draw away their Troops This was a business of no small importance it was well known there was a very strong Garrison in it especially of Horse all prisoners agreeing there was above 1200 of them and 3000 Foot but whether it was that the Vicomte of Turrenne advised him to 't or that his Majesty was weary of Conquest with ease all could not hinder him but that in four dayes March the whole Army took up their quarters before the Town At his arrival the King quartered at the Village of Esguermes but the next day by reason the Cannon from the Town incommoded his lodging
he removed to the Village of Laos upon the River Deulle with his Troops taking up all betwixt Laos as far as Helesme where the Marquis of Humieres had taken up his Next the Lorrainers took their quarters towards the River of Marque and next them the Marquis of Bellefons with his Troops lay from the Lorrainers to the River Deulle towards the Abby of Marquet And last of all the Count of Duras took his post on the other side of the River whose Camp reacht to the Village of Lambersart and coming â—ack to the River again made a compleat Ring of the Circumvalâ—ation Things being thus disposed the eleventh at night about nine a clock all the Army stood to their armes every Troop having his Tools ready they advanc't 800 paces towards the Town where to secure their Camp against the Sallyes of the Enemy out of the Town which is one of the biggest in the Low Countries and without comparison most populous of any in subjection to the King of Spain for they were reported to be 20000 men bearing arms in the Town besides the Garrison they began to entrench but this was not finisht the first night but within two nights after was so compleat they planted thirteen small Field-peices upon them to secure the line and restrain the besieged from sallying which they had no mind to at all for without any interruption to our work they contented themselves with firing their great Guns into our Camp and especially into the Kings quarters where they saw most people The siege then being of great importance on which side soever it is considered the King to put himself into a condition of compassing his designes and to furnish himself with all manner of provisions before he opened his trenches Commands in all the country about to assist in his Line Severall Convoys are sent to Arras Bethune Tournay and Doway for Canon Powder Bullets and match in short all things were ordered to be had that were necessary in so great a siege About this time it was the King understood the Queens discomposure for his absence and the indisposition of the Dauphin However he concealed the trouble he had for that as well as other misfortunes he had received at the beginning of this siege there it was he heard the Prince of Ligne had fallen upon 300 Horse of the Garrisons of Charleroy and Phillippeville had routed them and taken the Marquis of Vaubrun-nogent who Commanded the party Prisoner with most of his Officers besides what were left upon the place there it was he had notice that the Garrison of Cambray Valencien to give him some diversion had been abroad had Plundred and burnt Riblemont Marle other considerable Houses about Capelle and that then Marsin was marching to Ipre to give him interruption both in his Camp and towards the Sea in both which places he was noâ— provided over well Here it waâ— also he was advertised that thâ— Enemy appeared about Oudenard and it was to be feared they might recover that place with as much ease as we had taken it for which reason Beauveze was Commanded out with a party of Horse to discover who found it nothing and gave the King notice the Enemy had drawn together at Alost but were retired to Dendremond with out leaving any Garrison there Besides all these the King was troubled after four or five dayes with an exceeding pain in his teeth which could by no means be lessened whilst he continued at his lodging at Bioüvac where he lay every night exposed to all the mists and fogs that were constantly occasioned by the extraordinary heat of that season Notwithstanding all which perplexities he must of necessity attend the conservation of what he had gained which nothing but so brave a Person as he could have done to that end he gave all Orders himself daily and without any other regulation of the controversie betwixt the Marshal General of the Camp and the other Marshals of France touching priority of Command he sends away the Marshal d' Aumont with the residue of his Forces to encamp about Tournay His Army was then but small he having drawn out two Regiments of Foot to the Leaguer at Lille that is to say the Regiment of du Plessis and a Regiment of Harcourt in exchange of which he only sent them the Regiment of Alsatia which the Campagne had exceedingly weakned most of the Germans of which it consisted being either sick or run from their colours as most of the new Regiments that come from that Nation into the French service do besides the Comte de Lorges Marshal to that Army of de Aumonts had drawn out a thousand Horse for the visiting of Lille and was not returned the King having Commanded his Troops for the securing of the River Lis as also Varneton Comene and Menene least by that way the enemy should attempt to put relief into the Town insomuch as the Marshall had not above four or five hundred Horse left with him There were four Companies of the French Guards and three Swiss Companies in the Garrison drawn out of Tournay so as the charge of that Town lay upon his Foot besides that he was to have an eye upon At h to secure the passes over the Sceld and the Scarp as also Mortaigne S. Amand and Marchienne whither he was was fain to send several of his Army In short it lay almost wholly upon him to defend all that was at any distance and to look to the security of the Campagnia the Marquis of Crequy not being yet come up with his Troops out of Luxemburg where he had been imployed all this while But to returne to the siege of Lille the King Commanded that all the while betwixt the tenth and the eighteenth should be spent in fortifying their Leaguer both against the Town and without and in furnishing the Camp with all Provisions both of Victuals and Ammunition they should have need of The Marquis of Louvoy a person of great activity had the care of all and in particular of the Artillery in which he took great pains that nothing might be wanting for in this siege the King was resolved to use all his Force as if his reputation all over Europe had been at stake this bout all that he had done hitherto having been an effect rather of the terror of his Armes then any real experiment of his strength Moreover in all Armies but especially where there be many Courtiers as there was alwayes about his Majesty there wants not such as will never approve any Councels of which they have no part themselves and who constantly decry all enterprises that appear doubtfull as this of Lille did to the end that if it miscarried the greatness of their judgments might appear or at least they might for a while lessen the reputation of him that had the charge And of this sort there are many who by the mischief they doe that way redouble the care that is
room in this short Introduction On the other side the Spaniards answer That even setting aside the Renunciation the Daughter can pretend no Title to succeed in the Countries in question so long as there is an Heir-male living 1. Because the Right of Devolution hath nothing to do with the succession of Soveraignâ—â—s as being meerly a municipal Law for private Estates which descend in these Countries in the same manner as they do in all other parts of Christendom wherein the Male by the second Marriage succeeds before the Female by the first and for that there are some express Laws made by several Princes of these Countries which declare That Women shall then only be admitted to the succession of them Masculis non extantibus when there are no Heirs-males living 2. Because no Example can be produc'd in any Age of such an irregular succession in Brabant c. that a Woman hath been preferr'd before a Man in the same degree in the publick Government But on the contrary there are not wanting Examples where the Right of Devolution hath been neglected in the succession of the same Dutchy 3. They alledge that Renunciations are valid though no Portion be paid because the end of them is the preservation of the Grandeur of Families And 4. That by the Contract of Marriage the Infanta was in lieu of all pretences whatsoever to rest satisfi'd with 500000. Crowns of Gold the non-payment whereof doth not invalidate the Renunciation because the Equity of Law corrects such severity and allows another day as also because the Law saith That Filia non per numerationem Dotis sed per conventionem excluditur 5. And lastly That by the Edict of Charles the fifth confirm'd by the Estates of Brabant and the other Provinces of the Netherlands these Countries are declared inseparable from the Crown of Spain To all which perhaps it will not seem superfluous to add here a Letter or two of the French Kings concerning this affair and likewise the Queen of Spains Answer to him together with one of the Marquis de Castel Rodrigo then Governour of the Spanish Provinces The French King's Letter to the States General of the United Provinces MOst dear Friends Allies and Confederates We dispatch this Currier expresly to the Count d' Estrades our Extraordinary Ambassadour with you to order him to let you know from us as being our good and true Friends and Allies the Resolution which after a long and manifest denial of all Justice our Honour and our Interest hath forced us to take for maintenance of the Rights of the Qâ—een our dearest Wife and our dearest Son the Dauphin to this end we command our said Ambassadour to communicate to you a Writing which we caused to be composed and publisht to inform all Christendom of the evidence of our Reasons with a Copy of the Letter which we writ this day to our dearest Sister the Queen of Spain In the former Piece you will see the undisputable grounds of our proceedings and that without desiring the breach of Peace or pretending to or desiring the Estates of another all our thoughts only aim at the delivery of our selves from oppression by the force of our Armes or by a reasonable accommodation to which we shall be alwayes ready to hearken Thus leaving the rest to be delivered to you by our said Ambassadour we pray God to have you in his holy protection and keeping most dear great Friends Allies and Confederates Your good Friend Ally and Confederate LEWIS The French Kings Letter to the Queen of Spain bearing date May 8 1667. MOst High Illustrious and Mighty Princess our most dear and loving Sister The sincere Inclination we have alwayes had for the procuring and maintaining of Peace which was sufficiently testified to the World by the Treaties of Westphalia and the Pyrenaeans induced us about the close of the year 1665. by an obliging Prevention though it was not so taken at Madrid to find out some way of providing that nothing might be able to alter the good Vnderstanding and Amity between us and your Majesty and our Crowns which was so happily establisht by our august Marriage This was the late Queen our Mothers intention when she desired the Marquis De Fuentes to write to your Majesty in her name That having sufficiently informed her self of the Right of the Queen our dearest Wife to several Estates in the Netherlands and finding the Grounds to be solid just and undeniable she earnestly conjured your Majesty by the tender affection you bear to her that she would also inform her self of these Rights and take particular cognisance thereof to the end that viewing the justice of them as she her self had done the equity thereof might induce you to do us reason by a good accommodation which might take away all occasions of misunderstanding between our Monarchies that she sufficiently knew our intentions so as to be able to answer for us that we should be very moderate in the condition of the said accommodation and that finding her self drawing towards her end next to her Salvation she desired nothing more in the world nor with so much zeal as the satisfaction of having a union and amity firmly settled between our two Houses which this Difference might soon disturb All these Particulars cannot but be remembred by your Majesty and the Councels of Spain cannot also forget the Quality of the Answers which they obliged your Majesty to make so little conformable to the Piety and Vtility of the Queen Mothers Instances and so contrary without doubt to the Inclination your Majesty hath for the conservation of the publick Peace This Answer was That your Majesty could not in any manner nor upon any consideration whatsoever enter into the discussion of this Affair nor agree or treat upon those Rights which you knew had no foundation And presently after your Majesty sent Order to the Governour of Flanders to cause the Oath of Fidelity to be administred to all the Estates and People of the Country which till then had been neglected since the decease of the late King our Father-in-law This absolute refusal of doing us Justice and this last Resolution of binding those people by Oath to your Majesty which are truly our Subjects in right of the Queen our Wife having reduced us to the unpleasing and undispensable necessity either to be wanting in that which we owe to our Honour to our Self to the Queen and to the Dauphin our Son or to endeavour by the force of our Armes to obtain that Reason which hath been denied us We have chosen the latter as that which both Justice and Honour obliges us to And by an express Currier which we dispatch to the Arch-bishop of Ambrun our Ambassadour we order him to let your Majesty know our Resolution which we have taken to march in person towards the end of this moneth at the head of our Army to endeavour to put our selves into possession of that which belongs to
enemies After the review which his Majesty made of his Guards at S. Germains towards the end of the month of April it began to be divulged that his Majesty would in good earnest take the Field if the Counsel of Spain did not speedily yeild to the King a good part of those thing which he had demanded of them Soon after Generall Officers were nominated and care was taken for disposing great sums of money for the Artillery and provisions The Commanders of Regiments had notice given them to advertise all persons under their command to see to their Equipages and in a word all such Orders were given out as are usual in the commencing of a War Whilst these things were in preparation the Manifesto setting forth the Queens Right and Title to those Countries was published and about the beginning of May Printed Copies thereof were sent throughout all Europe eâ—pecially into Spain and to Brussels Which being a sufficient and competent Declaration of War the King fitted himself to go and expect an answer to it at the head of his Army Accordingly his Majesty together with the Queen departed from S. Germains on the sixteenth day of the same moneth attended with such a small number of those of his Court as were in readiness to accompany him most of the great Lords and Courtiers staying behind to prepare their Equipages of War But that those who intended to follow might have time to overtake him his Majesty spent four dayes on the way before he arriv'd at Amiens where he arriv'd on the twentieth day of the same moneth of May. At the same time the General Officers set forward in order to the drawing of the Troops together in several places some at La Fere others at S. Quintin Guise Mezieres Peronne Dourlens and Hesdin so that the Forces were extended from the River Meuse to the coast of Calais though in distinct Bodies yet so as that they might joyn together in five or six dayes according as it should seem expedient Marshall D' Aumont Governour of Paris was design'd to command a body of between seven and eight thousand men on the coast of Dunkirk and he had under him for his Lieutenant Generals the Count Du Passage and the Duke of Roanez formerly styl'd Count de la Fuâ—illade for the Marshalls of his Camp the Counts de â—orge and S. Lieu. His Infantry consisted of the Regiments of Navarre Normandie Plessis-Praslin Harcourt Sourches and the Queen's Regiment His Cavalry Commanded by Monsieur la Cardonniere Comissary General was divided into three Brigades at the head of which were the Marquis de Rouvray the Marquis de Gelis and Calvo The Marquis de Crequy newly recall'd to Court from which he had been absent for six years was sent with between three and four thousand men to the Frontrie of Luxembourg and the parts about Alsatia and with him Monsieur Desperce for Marshall of that Camp He had but two Regiments of Foot with him viz. the Regiment of Piedmont and S. Vallier besides 1000 Dragoons His Cavalry was likewise divided into three Brigades under the Command of the Marquisses d'Joyeuse de la Feüillee and de Montaurel who were all under the obedience of Monsieur de Rochepere At the same time the Duke of Noailles was sent to Perpignan whereof he was Governour to the end he might take care of Roussillon whilst the main brunt of the War should be in Flanders This Duke had but few Forces because there was but little to enterprise onely some Regiments of Cavalry were assigned to him and Monsieur Foucaut for his Lieutennant General 'T was easily judg'd that the King had some great design when it was understood that before his departure from S. Germain's he appointed a Counsell to remain with the Queen consisting of the Chanceller of France and the Marshall d'Estree with two Secretaries of state Monsieur Vrilliere and Monsieur Guenegaud After which having declared her Majestie Regent of the Kingdome during his absence he sent for the Parliament and other Soveraign Courts to signifie to them his pleasure that they should acknowledge her for such whilst his Majesty should be absent The Prince of Conde remain'd at his house of Chantilly partly for that he was indispos'd in his health and partly for that as it was seen afterwards the King reserv'd him for other imployments when the War should be begun his Majesty declaring that during the whole course of of this Campagne he would not make use of the Counsell of any but that of mounsieur de Turenne Marshal General of the Camp who by this meanes beheld himself at a higher step of glory then ever he had ascended to before As for the Ministers of State of whom his Majesty serv'd himself namely Monsieur le Tellier Monsieur de Lionne Secretaries of State and Monsieur Colbert they departed not from Paris till six dayes after his Majesty and then they went directly to La Fere there to remain in expectation of further orders The Marquis de Louvois Secretary of State had set forth from Paris two dayes before the King namely on the fourteenth of May in order to give notice to all the world of his Majesties march and the design he had to let the Queen see what Troups he had about Peronne where their Majesties arrived the 26 of May. But before we proceed any further it seems to me not impertinent to give account what Forces were in being when the King began first to think of this enterprise All the Infantry of France were divided into 1200 Companies each of them consisting of fifty men but several young Gentlemen of Quality having since taken the Command of Regiments upon them they are now much more they having for greater Ostentation of their Commands many of them inlarged their Troops and at their own expence raised several Companies much more Numerous then was required Moreover the King had two Regiments of his Guards one of French the other of Swiss besides twenty Companies of new raised Swiss all which Foot amounted upon the Muster Role to 70000 men besides 1000 Dragoones The Horse consssted of 200 Troops each of them of fifty men which made up likewise by the Roles 10000 Horse his Court and Equipage were 3000 Horse if we reckon the Guards de Corps his Musquitires on Horse-back his Gens d' Armes and his light Horse belonging to his person the most ready and best disciplin'd that without doubt have been seen at any time Having furnisht his Garrisons out of these and divided the rest into several Bodies according to the different places he design'd to imploy them as I have related before the Army Royal was judg'd to consist of about 24 or 25000 Foot and 9 or 10000 Horse of which you shall have the particulars The Foot was divided into four Brigades the first and strongest was that of the Guards Compos'd of twenty-eight Companies of the French Guards and nineteen of the Swiss and four
coming back who was then advancing further against his Enemies with design of inlarging his Conquests He conducted her two Leagues himself and having taken his leave and returning to the Camp with Rochefort's Brigade only and some Voluntiers he discerned a great dust and hearing of Guns go off he sent out and understood it was a great body of the Enemy fallen upon the Guards on that side next to Lille with a design to beat them off There was a Squadron of the Kings Gens-d'armes upon the Guard that day Commanded by the Prince de Soubize Captain Lieutenant to that Company he had one of his out-Guards almost surprized by the Enemy who counterfeiting themselves Lorrainers came on crying out Vive Turenne and at the first dash kill'd three or four of the Guards but the rest having discovered the cheat engag'd them very stoutly though they were much inferiour in number The Enemy was reinforc't with four other Troops which advanc't a full trot towards the Squadron of the Guards and they having taken the alarme were marching towards the relief of their own insomuch that there was only a hollow way betwixt the Enemy and us When the Voluntiers that were about the King came in and his Majesty also with his Troops being at hand and making a great dust they perceived it and ran immediatly without order or resistance and were pursued in the very sight of Lille The Duke d' Enguin was one of the first that followed them and made it appear at this as well as at all other times that courage was no less natural to him then to the Prince of Condy his Father they were so close pursued that of 200 Horse Commanded by Maciet a man of great reputation amongst them he had much adoe to bring half off the rest being kill'd or taken The next day being the 28th of July the Army rose from about Tournay and passing the Sceld about half a league above they encampt at Herines and the next day at Luperken a Village not far from Oudenard This town which the Sceld runs thorow was already blockt up on one side by the Comte de Lillebonne and his Lorrainers and on the other by the Forces commanded by Bellefons and Peguilin who had not as yet rejoyned themselves with the body of the Army since they were drawn out from Courtray they would that night have opened their Trenches on both sides but they did it only on Bellefons side for the Lorrain Foot though they were further advanc't were judged not numerous enough nor well enough arm'd to venture upon a place that set so good a countenance upon the business and appeared outwardly so well fortified for within it was no great matter They let them alone therefore till their next day and for that night imployed no other then the Regiments of Campagne and Castelnau who having opened the Trenches by the Fauxbourg that goes towards Courtray they carried the Counterscarp at first and fell a filling the ditch leaving a half moon on their left that the Enemy had deserted The day after about ten a clock the King planted good store of Cannon upon an Eminence about a Musquet shot from the Town that Commanded all the outworks on that side that is towards Brabant which Battery with some of the Field-peices they carry at the head of their Battalions firing continually all day long the Enemy durst not shew themselves but apprehending they should be stormed and carried by force the next night they beat a parley about four in the afternoon and yeilded upon conditions that all the Souldiers should become Prisoners of War there was in the Town about four or five hundred Foot but no Horse This Conquest cost very few men and we took in less then four and twenty hours a place that Strada makes a great noise of in his History of the Low Countries and magnifies the Duke of Parma exceedingly for having conquered it in two moneths There was but one Officer wounded in the Regiments that fell on but very few Souldiers there was also on the Kings side one Voluntier wounded and that with a Faulcon shot in the calf of his legg and two other shots with a Musquet as he was advancing too near the suburbs to survey their works he was called Royecourt and had had considerable employments in the War of Piedmont and Italy in the time of the Regency of Madam Royal the Dutchess of Savoy This Town being taken though attach't by the by the Army marcht the next day being the 12th of August towards Alost The Count of Duras was drawn out that night with five Brigades of Horse and 1500 Musquetiers to possess himself of some post betwixt Brussels and Dendremond so as to be able to give alarme and jealousie to both As he past by he summons Alost and had it surrendred after some few Volleyes there being in the Town not above thirty Horse left rather for intelligence of our motion then defence In this party there marcht so great a number of Voluntiers they made up some distinct Troops and would needs undertake some enterprize by themselves the design was to march up betwixt Brussels and Viluord and to surprise if they could one of the passage Boats that goes daily up and down that Cutt betwixt the two Towns but whether it was that the design was ill laid down at first or whether amongst such a collected medly of people there was not that obedience or discipline that was requisit they had not the success was expected From other places also there were several parties Commanded out and so strangely had the desire of engaging their Enemies seised upon their spirits that one of the Troops commanded by Chazeron Lieutenant of the the Guards de Corps fell foul upon another of our Troops and by a generous refractoriness refusing to tell who they were for fell on and found not they were Friends till Royer Dubreüil Captain of the Colonels Regiment was slain The 13th the Army encamp't at Hochstrate a Village betwixt Alost and Dendremond from whence Truel a person of great understanding in those affairs was dispatcht to discover the situation of Dendremond and to informe whether it might not be blockt up by a line or whether the waters which they kept with their sluces being let loose would not make a great inundation Truel reports they might lodge themselves well enough and on the Fourteenth the King gave order the Wherries that went along to the Artillary should march to make a Bridge over the Sceld and made all the other Boats he found in Alost to be carried down the Dendre to make another over that The next day being the fifteenth the Bridge over the Sceld was finish't at a Villedge called Apels some half a League above Dendremond on that side the way lyes from Gaunt but having imployed all their twenty Wherries about that Bridge and finding no more to make another on the other side towards Anwerp where
under Valseme who were at the head of the Brigade of Choiseul whose forelorne being well received they durst not pass a little Bridge the Enemy had before them but the gross of our Troop comming up this Holstein Regiment though it received the charge very well and rally'd often was at last constrain'd to give Ground and run but not with that confusion as they did on Crequy's side There was 150 Prisoners and amongst them some considerable Officers as Don Antonio de Cordove Lieutenant General of their Horse besides Kettle-drums and Colours On our side also there were some slain and particularly of the two Companies of the Queen and Monsieur who had been in the Van all the while and some Officers wounded as la Salle Cornet to Monsieurs light Horse It was not long they were ingaged before the news arrived at the Camp of which Pradelle advertising his Majesty though it was not five a clock in the morning his Majesty who was then at Deinse was on Horse-back before most of his party understood the occasion And in full Gallop taking his way that lead to the Canal his Troops had some trouble to keep pace when he came near the Bridge he put himself at the head of Rocehforts Brigade and having taken up for a while to give time for his train to come up he made an Alt attending some news from the Vicomte Turenne who having already past with the Regiments of Monclar and Desfourneaux was advanc't as far as the Village where the Lorrainers lay to be always in readiness for the relief of those should have most need of them Monsieur and almost all the persons of quality of the Court were in this party and several Voluntiers with them But because the passage was strait and dangerous by reason of an old Channel over which there was a Bridge of Stone the Vicomte Turenne would not suffer his Troops to pass till he had first had certain news of the Marquis de Crequy so as they continued there till two in the afternoon before they learnt by the Prisoners that were carried by that the Enemy was routed our Troops returning to their Camp which occasioned them all to repair to his Majesty who was then at the Canal who after consultation with the Marshall General resolved to stay where he was till he had news of the Marquis de Bellefons also for whom he was in great trouble he not coming in till night Resolution was then taken to encamp near Gaunt and the King Commands 3000 Foot from the Guards Brigad from Denise having with him no Infantry at all but some select parties drawn out of the Queens Regiments and de Sourches which the Marquis of Crequy had with him to dispose here and there as he saw occasion In the mean time there were some proposed to his Majesty to summon Gaunt alledging that the Town being great and having only a Garrison of 200 men in the Castle and seeing the Troops that were comming to their releif broken and repelled they might in probability enter into a new Treaty under the protection of France which was reported to have been already proposed by some of the principal inhabitants adding moreover that we were to make use of our time not neglect such opportunities which hapned but seldome and that there could be no inconvenience at all in the attempt but the King gave no ear to those propositions but made answer that he was not in a condition to do it at that time notwithstanding this expedient was found out the Comte of Chamilly as of himself should desire to speak with some of his acquaintance in the Town it being impossible but he had gained some in the time of his residence there with the Prince of Condy and under this pretence give them notice of his Majesties intention and sound them what effect the taking of Lille and the routing of Marcin had had upon their spirits But this trade lasted not long for the Governour would not suffer Chamilly to come into the Town nor speak with any particular person so as he went as he came and they thought no more of the Conquest of Gaunt The next morning which was the last of August the King returned with his Army to Deinse from whence he went to Lille the first of September leaving the Camp with the Marshall General with whom he was agreed what course they should steer It was reported a resolution was taken to attempt no more that year but to put their Troops into their Winter quarters the latter end of October and as many as they could in the places newly conquered that they might have some refreshments after the tediousness of the Campania which began earlier then ordinary and was more troublesome by reason their great marches had put them into an ill condition most of them after a seven years peace having been unaccustomed to the incommodities of War The Vicomte Turenne remained at Deinse and the King went from Lille to Arras where the Queen attended him from Arras both their Majesties went on to Peronne and from thence arrived the sixt of September at S. Germans After which the Marshall Geral having news about the ninth or tenth of the same month that the Enemy was returned to Alost and fortifying apace he marcht immediatly and in three days coming before the Town they within refusing to open the Gates he stormed them the same day he arrived without any intrenchments at all the French Guards and the Regiment of Picardy with some select men fell on on two or three several places but found more resistance then they expected They lost several out of Picardy which had thirteen or fourteen Officers wounded and many Souldiers slain of the Guards there was one Ensign kill'd and some Souldiers and Bartillac a Lieutenant was with a Musquet-shot shot into the body However the next morning the Enemy surrendred and marcht out with their Armes according to Articles and presently after we fell a demolishing the works which though at that time could be of no advantage to us would have very much incommoded us had the Enemy had time to have maintained them the Army continued here some time and from thence went and encampt at Likerque where there was a Castle made some show of holding out but not long Here the Army rested some time that is as long as they found any forrage and afterwards they changed their quarters and marcht to Gamerage between At h and Brussels that they might at once keep what they had got and eat up the Enemies Country At length the time being come for drawing into Winter quarters every Officer General that was designed to any Command went to the quarter appointed him The Marquis de Bellefons should have Commanded Lille Orchies Doway Courtray and Armentieres but whether that imployment pleased him not or whether he had other designes on Foot he came to the Court himself and begged of his Majesty he might be permitted to