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
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
returned without some prize Lamezan somtimes Ensign of the Gens d' armes belonging to the King with three or four Voluntiers and their equipage going from Arras to Dourlens fell unluckily into their hands Lamezan was kill'd there and another Voluntier called Bretoncelles was wounded and the young Villarceaux taken in a Waggon in which he lay sick But this party were near doing a greater exploit for the Duke d' Euguien the comte de Armagnac the Duke de Bouillon and other persons of quallity returning into France with the King and hearing at Court the Army was lying down before Courtray and that their several Regiments were drawn out upon that design that is to say the Duke de Enguin's Regiment with the Brigade of Bissy of which that was a part and the Duke of Bouillons with the Brigade belonging to the Comte de Roy they resolved upon any termes to return into Flanders and accordingly taking the Road to Arras without any other convoy then their own Servants and some officers of the Army that would need accompany them they were in great danger within two or three leagues of Dourlens of being taken by some Troops that seemed to come from Arras And had it not been for de Roche a Captain in the Prince of Condy's Guards who went out to discover them supposing them at first sight a convoy sent for the Duke of d' Enguien from Arras but finding them Enemies he suffered himself to be taken to preserve the rest which if he had not done they had doubtless run the same fortune I forget to mention how the King before his departure had resolved the Marshal de Aumonts Army that had done nothing these two sieges should be imployed upon some place or other of importance to which end he sent him four Regiments of Foot out of the main Army viz. the Regiment of Champagne the Royal Regiment and the Regiments of Orleans and Roussillon and three Brigades of Horse all under the Command of the Marquis de Paguilin Marshal de Camp who carried eight great peices of Canon along with him the Marshall d' Aumont having none before A while after we understood that on the 12th of that moneth the Marshal had raised his Camp and was gone from Pont-à -Tresin near Lille with Peguilin recrutes towards Courtray where they were well informed the Garrison was very weak At this time also the Marshal Turenne drew out five Brigades of Horse under the Command of the Marquis de Bellefons Lieutenant General and sent them for sureness sake to the reinforcement of the siege they tooke their post at Harlebec a Town upon the Lis about a league below Courtray they left about Doüay also two Brigades of Horse and the Alsatia Regiment of Foot to attend the King in case the Enemy should draw into a body and constrain our Army to march to the relief of the besiegers but they had already put in what force they were able the Barron of Limbec with 300 Horse having conducted some Foot in the 13th of that moneth which was the day before our Troops were set down before it But as he was making his retreat the Marquis of Bellefons having got newes of his march pursues and overtakes him in a Town as he was refreshing some four or five leagues off it fell out very luckily for the Enemy for the Town had Barriers and could not easily be entred whereby they having opportunity to get to Horse and some of them having got to a Bridge we must of necessity pass into the Town they repelled the formost of our Troops and after a short dispute retired towards Gaunt without any considerable loss Courtray being besieged in this manner the 14th and the Trenches opened the 15th at night without making any lines the Regiment of Campagne had the honour of the first attaque as being the antientest Regiment in the Army having been six moneths longer standing then the Regiment of Navarre but these Troops and the other on the other side meeting no no great resistance from the Town they took the out-works the first night and the next day the Townsmen treated and yeilded The Souldiers retreated into the Cittadel where on the 17th they were besieged also on which day we threw up two works one in the Plain on the side the Town lyes and the other on the other side But notwithstanding this Cittadel was in a good condition and indifferently well provided with men it defended it self not much longer then the Town for the next day it surrendred and 400 or 500 men that were in it were sent down the River to Gaunt according to the Articles in Boats About this time the King was returned from Campiegne and the Queen with him whom his Majesty had a desire should have a sight of his Conquests and to let her understand that as he had undertaken her interest so he was able to do her reason by by force of Arms when the untractableness of the Spaniard could not be brought to it otherways Perhaps also he would have his new subjects see a Princess of the house of Austria who coming in person to demand her Rights become one with his Majesty now by her Marriage might take away their regret at the changing the Government and leave them without just reason of complaint She was brought at first to Doway where she was received with all possible acclamations which made him desirous she should see Tournay also as well to prevent any exception that Town might take for having been less considered then Doway as also to demonstrate to all the world that he was absolute Master of the Field neither the Queen nor any of her Train having received the least allarme nor heard one Gun goe off in all their march And although they past in the sight of Lille and very near the Isle of S. Amont which was certainly the Enemies they sent away the Court Harbingers on the 25th to take up lodgings for the King and Queen the next day at Tournay but the way being long from one place to the other and very incommodious for an Army to pass especially with so great a Train all the Court came that night to the Camp at Cautice some two leagues higher then the Road they should have come What past that night being no matter of War is not to be expected in this journall nor to be written by a person so little acquainted with the affairs of the Court I shall only say this that all they that had houses in the Kings Quarters made tender of them to the Ladies The King and the Queen making choise of no other then the lodgings belonging to the Vicomte Turenne The next morning by 10 of the clock they arrived at Tournay where the people gave all the expressions of joy imaginable Two days they past there without any thoughts but of their divertisment after which the Queen returned to Doüay in her way to Arras where she was to attend the Kings
were but 200 Souldiers in the Town and that the principal Inhabitants had already resolved to deliver up the Town and attended only his Majesties appearance with his Army to surrender it into his hands But both these opinions were disappointed in the event for the Army which was then incampt at Helchin some three leagues from Courtray four from Oudenarde and four or five from Lille on a sudden on the 30th of that moneth marcht cleer back again the King having the day before Commanded out the Count de Duras with two Brigades of Horse and the Comte de Lillebonne with all the Lorrainers in order to a design upon Doüay and these Troops being advanced to strengthen it al the Army followed with great marches so as on the second of July the Town was besieged on all sides The King at first would take up his quarters at Barbieres a Village upon the Scarpe neer the Road betwixt Doüay and Arras but this Town being too far off and it being believed the Town would require circumvallation he removed and lodged himself in la Mottes quarters nearer the Town and more capable of being fortified Whilst they were ordering the Camp the King having din'd at a Villedge of Esquierchin perceived as he was getting a Horseback some of the Enemy drawing out of the Town and advanc't to a little Chappel some 7 or 800 paces without their Counterscarpe which gave him a great desire of seeing them nearer hand he Commanded out presently a small party of the Colonels Regiment that was then by to charge them and take some Prisoners if they could Mazel Master of the Horse to the Vicompte de Turenne with some others putting themselves in with this party and having ordered two Squadrons of the Guards to relieve them they advanc't and without so much as stopping at their Vollies they advanced to their Turne-pike behind which the Enemy being retired our Forces were open to all their shot both Canon and Musquet Notwithstanding which there were not above two or three wounded amongst whom Lestang an Ensigne of the Guards of Turenne was one and another Named S. Rut. Some persons of quallity stole away from the King also to be present at this action and amongst the first of them was the Comte de Soissons and the Comte de Avergne It is no great matter to guess the Reasons that brought his Majesty before Doüay For this Town being of very great consequence in those parts being situate upon the Scarpe some five leagues below Arras and capable of receiving great numbers of men and the yeilding great supply of Provision for the Army we could not take in any thing of more importance or that could contribute more to the keeping of Tournay which without the communication of this Town was not easily to be kept Besides he had advice the Town was but ill man'd and not like to hold out long and that the Scarpe Fort which is a Fort consisting of five Bastions built in that Marsh which makes the River and gives it its name about a Cannon shot below the Town was also very ill provided and upon these reasons the King resolved to attaque them both at one time as well to astonish them within as to take away all hopes of relieving them without which would have been very easie another time in respect the place was of that extent it would require a vast line of circumvallation and without that it was impossible to attempt either the Town without the Fort or the Fort without the Town at least to block them up so as to prevent their reliefs but in spight of the strength or feebleness of the Enemy the Vigilance of the King and his Captains overcame all difficulties For on the third at night our Trenches were opened by fourteen Companies of the Regiments of Guards where Marshall Grammont their Colonel was present as sick as he was as he had been before at Tournay The Guards began their works as they had design'd to attaque the Ravelin before the Gate towards the Village of Esquierchin and the Regiments of Picardy and the Kings on the other side began theirs towards the half Moon that looks towards Quinchy There happened nothing singular in these attaques saving that the Trenches being very large and deep they raised a battery the same night of ten peices of Canon betwixt the works which was in condition to play by four a clock in the morning Le Renché a Captain was wounded here but very slightly and scarce one man lost The fourth at night the French Guards were relieved by the Swiss Guards that is to say by seven Companies of them and the Count of Soissons Generall of all the Swiss in the French service at the head of them They entered the Trenches about seven at night exposed to all the Canon of the Town which was a great number and perhaps as well planted as ever any were The King visiting the Trenches approved very much what they had done but he had much more reason to commend them the next day when he understood that the 400 paces of Ground remaining betwixt the head of their Trenches and the Ditch of the Counterscarp was secured by the works they had thrown up that night and that all the Trenches were in a good condition by six a clock in the morning Nor was this all the Marquis d' Humieres Lieutenant General that da◠having proposed to the Comte de Soissons to attempt the ditch to sound it and throw in some Faggots in order to their advancing the next night The Swisses animated by the example of their General who was present all the while would shew no weariness for what was past but having begun a mine by eight in the morning they peirc't their ditch by noon though they had neither plancks nor blinds nor any thing necessary in such an Enterprise There were two Officers that Commanded in the Trenches one was Aspremont a Captain in the Regiment of Guards who mannaged all the works and exprest himself in that a man of more then ordinary understanding the other was S. Fere a Captain of Horse who had put himself then amongst the Voluntiers that accompanied the Marquis de Humieres These two Officers desiring to signallize themselves by some action extraordinary proposed to the Commanders in the Trench to swim over the ditch and lodge themselves on the other side as well to render the structure of the Bridge the more easie as to make it the more formidable when it should be done and by the boldness of the enterprise to frighten the Enemy perhaps from the point of their work their proposal was applauded though contrary to the rules of so great a siege And having chosen a certain number of souldeirs that could swim they stript themselves upon the Spott and S. Fere with seven Swisses only without other Arms then their Pickaxes and shovells swam over the ditch and placing themselves on the other side they
fell to their work to shelter themselves as well as they could but S. Fere having the curiosity to stand right up and peep over their blind received a shot from a Musquet in his body and dyed within a quarter of aâ— houre Aspremont in the mean time was with some of his Voluntiers and Swisses in the ditch labouring to fill it up as much as possible and of the seven that swam over one of them only was killed the other six made their work defensible and the Bridge being by five in the morning so finisht that they might pass over dry they sent over from the other side a Sergeant with twelve Souldiers well arm'd to make good what their six comrades had thrown up All this affaire both in the night and day cost about 40 Souldiers and two Officers slain or wounded but amongst the Voluntiers there were several persons of quality ill handled the Marquis de Noisy Maupeou was wounded that night by a Musquet shot in his head of which he recovered though it was judg'd mortall at the first The Comte du Broutay sometimes Camp-master to the Regiment of Navarre received a shot under the Arm-pit and died a few days after The Marquis de Termes was wounded in the thigh the Comte de Combourg on his foot Monmont in the shoulder and a little before the Trench was raised the Comte de Blin received a shot with a facileon bullet on the top of his arme which brake the bone so as it was believed he would dye of it as he did in the conclusion There was several others wounded with their Canon but the Prince d' Espinoy who was shot in the Arme and Brissac a Lieutenant in the Guards are all I can remember As to the approaches of the Regiments Picardy was relieved by the Regiment of Auvergne but not being there I can give no further relation then that Vauban Captain in the Regiment of Picardy that commanded in that work received a Musquet shot in his face For the same reason I shall pass by what was done on the Comte de Duras his side having heard no more then that being encampt with his Forces on the other side of the Town towards Cambray and Valecienne and desirous that his Forces also should have their share in the honour he beg'd of the King that he might make his effort on his side also whither having drawn up the Regiment du Saut on the fourth at night and having found no great resistance with no great difficulty he lodged himself the same night on the Counterscarp Insomuch as the Enemies seeing themselves overlaid on every side and perswaded otherwise by the reasons of the Comte de Gramont whom the King had sent to summon them they demanded a parly and obtained a cessation of Arms that very fifth at night at least on the Guards side for on the side the Regiments of Lyonnois and Louvigny were on who were apparently ignorant of the Truce they past the two ditches and lodged themselves upon the half-moon which proved to no great purpose the Hostages being given before All the rest of the night was spent in making their termes which were that all the Souldiers consisting of about 300 Foot pittifull fellowes and ill provided with three Troops of Horse of about 120. should march out with their Armes and Baggage but no Canon which was performed the seventh of the same month and they conducted to Valencienne The Scarp Fort was attempted distinctly by the Count de Lillebonne and some other Troops Commanded by le Bret Marshal de Camp to whom the King had given the Charge of that affaire They opened their Trenches on the fourth at night by the Regiment of Champagne which having began its approaches along the Marsh carried them on within twenty paces of their Counterscarp without the loss almost of one man The next day this Regiment was relieved by the Regiment of Castelnau who observing the small resistance that was made past over the ditch before the Counterscarp and in two several places lodged themselves at the very foot of the Pallisadoes of their False-Bray and forc't the Enemy to leave their main Guards and in short all their out Guards insomuch as they beat a parley and their Articles being made they marcht-out with their Arms and Colours but not Canon and were conducted to Valencienne So that Doway which never durst for the space of five and twenty years after the gaining several Battels be attempted was taken in three dayes and its Fort which was believed impregnable by reason of the water and â—lâ—â—es with which they could drowned all about both the Fort and the Town The King made Aspremont Governour who had been so instrumental in the 〈…〉 taking it and gave him eight Companies of the French Guards and six of Swisses Commanded by Sury Captain of that body but no Horse in respect that all his Family the most part of the Equipage of the Court were then at a distance whilst the King who was then departing for Compiegne began his journey But the reason why the King left the Army at that time is not yet come to my ears all that I can say is that there were several marcht off with him that never thought it necessary to come back All this while the Marshal d' Aumonts Army was at Armentieres where to prevent idleness they had began to repair the old works But judging the small Garrison left there would be in no great security the Marshall removed from thence and brought his Troops nearer Lille encamping about Hautbourdin some two leagues from the Town to the end he might block up that Garrison that made its constant excursions either upon our Convoy or to the very Gates of Tournay But for the father incommodity of this great Town they put fire to all the Windmills that were near it which amounted to near 50 or 60 which could not be performed without some â—kirmishes without outting off some particular persons by their Canon About this time it was â—he Foot Regiment of Normandy and the Queens Regiment having met in the night without discovering one another they charged and as was reported in the Kings Quarters could not be got off till 30 or 40 men were slain in the place The 9th of this moneth the Marshal General of the Camp remaining sole Master as it were he rose from before Doway and encampt about two leagues from that place near an Abby of Nuns called Flines just upon the Road to Lille and on the their side the Army advanc't to Cautice about half a league distance from Orchies where their design was to attend the returne of the King During the 15 dayes the Army â—emained incamped there was no great matter past the Enemy having no great party of Horse in the Field they conâ—ented themselves to sally now â—nd then out of the Town in â—mall bodies to incommode us in our forraging and convoys from which they seldome
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
necessary to the accomplishment The King all this while spared no pains no watchings no expence no not so much as his own person considering nothing on this occasion but his own courage and what might contribute to the augmentation of his glory One of these nights which the King past at Biouac or most commonly at the quarters of the Light Horse belonging to the Dauphin where to repose himself he would goe somtimes into the Tent of the Marquis de Valliere there happened a fire in his lodging which burnt it almost quite down though by thy care of those that were there the loss was not considerable The Vicompte Turenne on his side was on Horseback night and day and forgot nothing he had learn't by his long experience as considering well that whatever should befall must contribute either to his honour or diminution All things disposed to the best advantage according to the shortness of the time the eightteenth at night the Trenches were opened and they fell on oâ— that side that was next the Village of Helesme In this approach the opinions of Aspremont who this Campania was chief Ingineer and Vauban a person of great understanding in matters of Leaguer over-rul'd Others there were would have the attaque made at the Porte de Malades because all the prisoners that were taken and all the people that came out daily reported that the weakest place and that there was but three foot water in the ditch Others were for storming on the Suburbs side because there was but one work and newly made and not yet in a condition to be defended and that being briskly attaqu't they should come immediatly to the Counterscarp of the Town without any further trouble then at the first moreover they alledged that place was nearest the Kings quarters and under the shelter of his Guns whereby they might draw up their releifs with more convenience without reckoning the advantages of Timber and other materials for a siege which they should gain in that part of the Town But all these reasons gave place to other nor without reason seeing it was but fit they should in some measure accommodate to the judgment of those that were to have so great a share in the action besides on that side next Helesme there were but two Bastions and they a great distance from one another and defensible only by their Cannon because there were three half moons upon the same line to secure the length of their Curtain in the midst of which there was a gate in an old Tower but so weak their Flankers could give but little defence This place therefore being chosen for the storme on Tuesday night they opened their Trenches in two places about two or three hundred paces from one another the French Guards took the right as was usual not but that they might have chose their post as they saw their advantage but judging their sallyes less to be feared on that side having a Marsh and a River on that hand and that the Enemy not being able to come at them without great difficulty they might with more expedition advance they took the right as I have said and began their approaches along the paved way by the Church of the Priory of Fere. That night they advanc't extraordinarily but their Trenches were so bad and so narrow by the mistake of those that set them out or because it is almost impossible it should be otherwise in so great Leaguers the front whereof is of so great extent that there was scarce any part secure The Regiments of Picardy and Orleance made their approaches on the left hand but they advanc't not so far as the Guards yet their works were very well done sustaind with redoubts and other works and all with the loss of very few men Wednesday the 19th the Enemy made a sally but by the consequence it appeared only for a tast and to discover how we lay for the better pointing their Artillery rather then for any thing else for their Horse not being above sixty and their Foot not many more they never durst venture above 100 paces from their Counterscarp and scarce had they shown themselves there but they were beaten back by the Horse that attended our Trenches and by the Foot of the Guards who advanc't immediately against them in their sally Castelan Major of that Body was bruised in the upper part of his thigh To make good our attaques five Squadrons every night releived one another at the tayle of our works under the Command of a Brigadier besides which they plac't three more at a little more distance behind the Line of circumvallation against any present alarme Moreover the greatest part of the Voluntiers imbracing the occasion got themselves together the first day of the siege and resolved to form themselves into Squadrons of which one was every night to be with the other Horse in the Trenches to doe the same service with the regulated Troops and to that end had chosen themselves Commanders who were the Chevalier de Rohan Folleville the Marquis of Grignan and the Comte de Maré for there was nothing so much apprehended as their sallies had they had the courage to have made them and that because of the Number of the Horse were in the Town which were known certaiâ—â—y to be seven or eight hundred and good Horse too besides that they had Foot enough by reason of the inhabitants But these apprehensions lasted but a short time and in process of the siege we understood that the Count de Broâ—ay the Governour finding he had men enough in his Regiments to defend a place of that Latitude and extent as Lille was dismounted part of his Horse leaving the other part scarce able to keep Guards both without and within for although he was well beloved in the Town and past amongst them and the Souldâ—ers for a brave person and experienc't yet he neglected not to have an eye over the Townsmen who being always used to a quiet and secure life and to have no other care then to increase their estates were amazed to see their houses come thundring down with our Granadoes and Fireworks and the Bullets that came over their works They were troubled likewise as was reported at the daily contributions towards the new Levies and at their payments towards the works and reparations that were but necessary for their defence of the place they began to deliberate also whether if their Forces that were incamp't out of the Town were set upon they had best venture out to their relief and this perhaps may be one of the reasons why the Order establisht amongst the Voluntieres was but of two dayes continuance unless you would rather think that so many French Gentlemen differing both in humour and quality were not likely to remain long in a mind or to bring themselves to obey one another At first it was not certainly known whether they had any of the Army Troops or not however
it was considently believed they had not above six Companies of Spaniards consisting of about 250 men and almost as many Italians one Regiment of Walloons called the Regiment of Rache and about 400 English and Irish besides which they had almost 2000 Curlius for so they call the Militia they had raised in that Castelleny But that which is truth is they shot hard at our first approaching and so as in twenty sieges and above that I have been at I never in my whole life saw such fire which made us at first believe the Townsmen also were in Armes because according to our conjecture the Souldiers were not enough to defend the Town in that manner The 19th at night fourteen Companies of the French Guards Commanded by Dortie were relieved by eight Companies of the Swiss Guards with the Count de Soissons their General That night they advanc't not much for the Guards had left their works in so ill a condition the Vicomte Turenne had given orders they should by no meanes go on above 100 or 120 paces and Commanded the Pioners should be imployed in nothing but repairing the works had been so ill made the night before both by inlarging them and making them deeper to such a proportion that they might advance under covert which was executed as was desired they working hard all night to make new where their old works were irremediable insomuch as the next morning those that came to veiw the Trenches knew them not when they saw them they were already so exact This night very few men were lost because we advanc't not very far The next morning the Enemy made a shew again of sallying some thirty or forty of their Horse coming out some 50 paces from their works the Voluntiers that were then with our Horse prest on immediately towards them there being several persons of quality amongst them whose exploits did daily distinguish them as amongst others the Comte of S. Paul the Prince of Marsillac Lansson that was then upon the Guard with his Guards de Corps and by accident was next them advanced with forty Horse as a reserve to the Voluntiers who marcht up to their very Pallisadoes under whose shelter the Enemy retited at first and there it was the Chevalier de Fourbin Major of the Guards de Corps was wounded in the throat with a Musquet two of the Guards were killed also and one taken prisoner having ingaged himself too far We took one of the Enemies too but he could tell us no news but that the Townsmen certainly took up Arms and had listed themselves for the Common defence The 20th at night the Swisses were relieved by fourteen Companies of the Guards of France who were Commanded by Magalloti and this night also they made no great progress being imployed in making a line of Communication with the Trenches of Picardy which they had not begun before and in this there was never an Officer hurt but Remond an Ensign At the other attaque I have said there was the Regiment of Picardy and Orleance who had opened their Trenches too and were relieved by the Regiments of Champagne and Plessis Parslin who with the loss of very few men made very good works and I think there was not on Officer hurt but the Chevalier du Plessis Master de Camp of the Regiment of his own name and two Captains of the Regiment of Champagne The third day these two Regiments were releived by those of Auvergne and Roussillon who proceeded very well also with the loss of scarce a man and never an Officer wounded but the Duke of Cheureuse and he but slightly in the nose The fourth in the morning our Batteries began to play that is to say twenty-four peices of Cannon of which some carried thirty three pound balls and others twenty-four but the place they battered being of great extent and the Enemy having more great Guns planted against us then we against them in spight of all the noise and thunder we made with ours they forbore not incommodating us much and especially our Trenches and Batteries with six peices they had plac't upon a Bastion a good distance on the right hand of the breach and towards which there was not one of ours Insomuch as during this siege this Battery did us much mischief and being planted at the foot of a Windmill on the Bastion they called every shot that came the Millers shot However the fourth at night it was attempted to raise a new battery of four Guns upon the right hand of the approaches of the Guards to remove those peices from the Bastion that disturbed us But this work being very near the Counterscarp and many of the Pioners slain t is possible they did not exactly pursue their directions and therefore in the morning at break of day they found the work not being well pointed would doe but little service against the Bastion from whence the Miller play'd his pranks besides it was not altogether near enough however they finisht it so that on the fifteenth at night they planted four Guns to batter the half moon on the right hand in case we had stormed that as some people advised but others were for falling on only on that in the midst which covered the Gate of Fere alledging it was too much to storm three places at one time in the mean time the works went on and the seven Companies of Swiss that relieved the fourteen French Companies advanc't very near the Counterscatp so as it was conceived they were not above 80 paces off it This day Monsieur was in the Trenches of the Guards Battery where the Swisses were then with the Count de Soissons he viewed their works to the very utmost Post having done the same at the other Battery that day the Regiments of Saux and Harcourt were there where notwithstanding all they could say to the contrary he exposed himself much more then persons of his greatness ought in reason to doe The other Trench was relieved by the Regiments of Castelnau and Turenne who though they met with several half-moons which the Enemy had made at the angles of the Counterscarpe were not discouraged from proceeding considerably that night Amongst the Swiss they lost several men their Major called Demer whilst he was giving directions was shot with a musquet in the legg to no small inconvenience to the party he being an old Officer a brave man and exceedingly experienc't in all things of War there was never another Officer hurt but of the common Souldiers there were about sixty slain I know not what the Regiments in the left hand Trenches lost and therefore I shall say nothing of them This day the Enemy made a show also of a sally their Horse appearing along their Counterscarp betwixt our Battery and the Port de Malades but the King being with his Guards near the contrevallation with a Regiment that bore his own name commanded by the Prince d' Marsillac marches himself directly against them
stopt their journey they contenting themselves with the firing all the Cannon and Musquets they had upon all that appeared in the Plaine The fifth at night the Trenches were relieved those of the Guards by the Regiments of Lions and of Louvigny and those of Picardy by the Regiments of Saux and Harcourt these Regiments advanc't still having but few Offices hurt and not many Souldiers The sixth the Kings Regiment relieved the Regiments in the Guards Trenches but they could proceed but little because they came at a way that was paved and as it were fortified with the ruines of Houses which made the work very difficult however they found when it was day they were not far from the Counterscarp because they had several officers wounded and many Souldiers kill'd On the left hand the Kings Regiment and the Lorrainers entered the Trenches which they carried on within twelve or fifteen paces of the Counterscarp without any considerable loss amongst people of note there was only the Chevalier de Signac slain a young Gentleman and a Voluntier who would needs assist every night in carrying on the works exposing himself always as much as was possible in these sorts of imployments I do not always observe the names of the General Officers that Commanded in the Trenches it is sufficient to tell you there were in the Kings Army four Liuetenant Generals that is to say the Marquis de Bellefons the Marquis de Humieres the Comte de Duras and Pradelle and four Marshalls of the Camp the Marquis of Vivonne the Marquis of Peguilin Podwits and le Bret of which two viz. one Lieutenant General and one Marshall de Camp were daily in the Trenches and gave orders for the security of the Camp which when they had done they gave constantly their account to the King or the Marshall Generall and then betook themselves to such places as had most need of them There was every day also one of the Aides of the Kings Camp that went to the Trenches to overlook what was done continued there as long as the Troops he came with all there were six of them 〈◊〉 all who relieved one another by turnes that is to say the Comte de Lude the Marquis de Soyecourt the Comte de Chamilly the Marquis de Villars Biscarras and the Baron de la Garde of which number the Marquis de Soyecourt falling sick at that time the Marquis d'Arcy-Martel was by the King deputed in his place The Marshall de Aumonts Troops being disperst in several places during the siege of of Lille the Count de Lorges Marshall of his Camp was drawn out to assist against Lille from whence he was Commanded to the Lis to secure the passage there but the necessity they had of having more Horse in the Line made him be Countermanded and that day the Regiments of Saux and Harcourt were in the Trenches he was there and received a shot in the lower part of his reines and was the only General Officer was wounded for that touch that le Bret received who was a Marshal de Camp likewise was but inconsiderable Whilst things in the Camp were at this pass there came intelligence from all parts that the Enemy was drawing together out of all his Garrisons to form a body and put some relief into the place which occasioned a message to the Marquis de Crequy to march away with his Horse and Dragoons only so as to be in the Camp the 23d of August in the morning being ordered for the more expedition to leave his Foot behind with his Baggage Powder and Ammunition to come along after him under the Command of Espence who was Marshal de Camp to his Army The King thought good to keep only some of his Regiments of Horse and 500 of his Dragoons send him away with the rest to Comene a passage upon the Lis where they were most fearfull the Enemy would encamp for that being but three Leagues from our Camp they might give great disturbance to the quarters of Duras Bellefons and the Lorraines whose Troops were weakest for otherwise coming from a greater distance they did not apprehend they could come near our Lines but we should hear of them Besides this we had intelligence of their march every day from At h we had news they were coming that way and it was probable might attempt that place wherein there were very few Forces though it were but to restore the courage of the people who believed themselves utterly abandoned seeing no effort made either for their protection or defence From Courtray we had advice the Enemy were passing to Gaunt and so to take the Road to Burges towards the Sea where our Garrisons were but small and our Towns in an ill condition inasmuch as there was good reason of suspecting some enterprise or other was in hand Especially they imbarking Cannon upon the Canal at Gaunt to be sent to Burges But all these alarms and the murmurings of several persons about the King could not alter the Vicomte de Turenne's pace in the siege who opposed all their Counsels that advised to deal a little more roundly with the besieged but all that he prest with vehemence to the Regiments when they went into the Trenches was that they should work well and securely not regarding how little they advanc't so that on the seventh day they had fifteen or twenty paces to the Counterscarp left which not agreeing with the impatience of the Frâ—nch several persons took the liberty to decry him for making so great a business of this Town and saying that if they had handled this as they had done Tournay and Doway it had been ours before then the Garrison being no stronger then in those places seeing all the resistance they could make was only with the Musquet and that principally by vollies and those most commonly without aime 'T is true the Cannon they had within was well disposed but it was only against our batteries where we had twenty-eight peices of great Cannon to silence the Enemies if those that were to mannage them would ply them hard that in respect of those five or six peices upon their Bastion on the right where as I have said our Batteries could not play it was an easie matter to make them unserviceable by planting five or six of ours upon a little rising before the Lorraine quarters that was open to the back of that Bastion and from whence they might easily dismount their Guns But all the design these people had was but to lessen the Marshal General whom they asperst with protracting the War for no other end but to continue his own greatness and Authority And through most quarters of the Army this was the only discourse which was intended only to hasten the siege But the French Guards and the Regiment of Picardy having retaken their turn upon the 7th at night it was imagined they might fall upon the Counterscarp that night and accordingly the Marquis de
and Fourilles were drawn out under the Marquis de Bellefons to march towards Gaunt and to follow the steps of the Marquis de Crequy and the Lorrainers The next day the Army past the Lis at Deinse where the King took up his quarter his Troops encamping upon the way whereby they might upon all occasions relieve the Marquis of Crequy if there should be any necessity and the same night he sent away Podwits Marshall de Camp with the two Horse Brigades of Arâ—agnan an Montauban to joyn with the Marquis de Bellefons but they hearing the Marquis had already past the Canal near the Village called Vinderhout some three quarters of a League from Gaunt at a Bridge the inhabitants had made for the convenience of their commerce they followed the same way and found them encampt in two Villages about a League and a half on the other side of the Bridge The Marquis of Crequy being alwayes about half a League before to interpose and stop them in case the Enemies design were to return to Gaunt as the King and the Marshall General conceived they would in which they found afterwards they were not much deceived for Marcin who was at Ipre having no news on Sunday noon that Lille did capitulate and considering there were no Forces left in Gaunt Brussels nor generally in all Brabant nor Hinault he saw plainly all diligence was to be used to retire with his Troops to the relief of those places that might be in great necessity for want of them so as he discampt within an hour after he had received the news marching directly for Bruges and from thence for Gaunt but with his Horse only because he judged the Foot would not be able to follow so fast which obliged him to send them down the River from Ipre to Dixmude by water Marcin being with the greatest diligence he could marcht to Bruges understood there by the people of the Country that the Marquis of Crequy had past the Canal and that he was got into a Country very inconvenient for Horse where he would have much a doe to get off should he advance against him Upon this he immediately sounds to horse putting himself at the head of about 40. divisions he marcht along the way to Gaunt without any delay to the place where he heard our Troops were in which expedition he spent most part of that night but coming near them and having taken some Prisoners he found the Marquis was not alone that Bellefoâ—s was not far off 〈◊〉 at last that the King had past 〈…〉 at Deinse all his Troops 〈…〉 along continually on that 〈…〉 know not well how wel 〈…〉 this news was to him but 〈…〉 rtain a party of his of a 〈…〉 100 came up to the Marquis his out Guards about two a clock after midnight and only giving them an allarme retired The Marquis of Crequy who had kept those Guards on Horse-back all night commanded out a Cornet with 25 Horse which was the Guard aforesaid to follow them immediatly either bring him some Prisoners or be taken himself which was performed happily enough for within an hour he returned with some Cavaliers Prisoners which eased the Marquis of the disquiet he was in by informing him who they were had given him the allarme and accordingly at the same instant he gave order to all his Troops to march keeping before him only that Regiment that had the Guard which was that day the Kings Regiment Commanded by the Comte de Torigny Matignon and which was the first of the Marquis de Rouvrays Brigade He had scarce past a League or such a matter in this order but he overtook three of the Enemies Troops who made a head and took up all the Ground they could possible in that place our forelorns charged immediately but having to doe with those that were drawn and stood firme in a good place which is great advantage in an inclosed Country they could move them but little and there could have been nothing but Skirmishing at a distance had not the Marquis dismounted 100 of his Dragoons commanded by Ranqueil who being drawn upon the right and left hand of the way and giving their Volleys at a convenient distance the Enemy was so startled that the Marquis with the Marquis Peguilin who was sent to him with some Troops from the Marshal d' Aumont the Comte de Torigny the Marquis du Rouvray with ten or twelve Officers besides that were next them having charged that Troop that had possest it self of the way they break it so that all they that made head at first took to their heels and fled in spight of all their Officers could do and were pursued by our Horse above a League where some of them made a stand but 't was but for a short time for they were routed again and pursued above two Leagues more and not one person fac't about unless some Officers who pay'd dear for their valour There were many kill'd many of the most considerable wounded and taken Prisoners amongst the rest the Chevalier Vielleneuve Commissary General of their Horse the Prince of Salme the young Rhingrave Vaudemont and other Officers I know not their names there were also two pair of Kettle-drums and three or four Colours taken with many Horse and about 3 or 400 men insomuch as the Enemy was chased into the Territories of Holland We lost there some persons of condition amongst the rest the Marquis of Crequy's Master of the Horse Gassay Matignon and some others were wounded and the Marquis of Crequy and Peguilin had both of them their Horses shot under them On the other side the Marquis of Bellefons who as we said following four Brigades of Horse considering with himself that he was in the Rear of all and that following their steps that were before he should never see the Enemy not being able to pass either of one hand or other by reason of the hedges and inclosures on each side and conceiving moreover in the confusion they were then in the Enemy must needs retire to Bruges he leaves the Troops of Crequy and the Lorrainers to pursue that way and facing about with his own he marches about two Leagues to the right hand without meeting with any thing when turning again a little to the left he had not marcht long but he fel upon the heels of Marcin who was marching away with 3000 Horse after he had seen the Van of his Troops disordered he leâ—t the way open for such as did run and in good order retreaâ—s towards Bruges having left his Cravates and the Holstein Regiments which he had great Confidence in being most old Souldiers and the Collonel a Dane who not finding his conditions so good under the Emperour had made a better bargain with the King of Spain to bring off the Rear Bellefons Van coming up to the Rear Guard they charged them immediately with the Queens Company and Mousieurs the first under Villiers Command the other