repulsed And yet the same Night tho' a Prisoner gave the Besieged an Account of the Confusion the Turks were in by reason of the approaching Succours they thought it convenient for all that to make another Signal to the Duke from St. Stephen's Tower and the rather since the Turks seemed still obstinate in carrying on their Attacks which they continued with no very great Advantage till the 11th of Sept. when that same Afternoon they drew all their Forces out of their Camp and marched towards the Calemburg which was a certain Sign to the Besieged that their Succours were marching that way and taking the Advantage of the Night endeavoured to get up the Hill whilst the Christian Armâ— met them in the Descent At that time the Besieged also had the Satisfaction to see the Rockets which were thrown up on the Top of the Hill as a Signal of their Approach and which they expected with so much Impatience The next Day which was the 12th of Sept. after Sun-rising the Christian Army advanced from the upper part of the Calemburg moving slowly in close Order from the Carthusian Monastery and St. Leopold's Chappel and extending it self more and more until they made their way out of the Forest when they closed their Lines and marching towards the Plain left a Space for them that followed and room for themselves to move in their Cannon playing upon the Enemy at several Intervals But the Turks were guilty of a very great Oversight in not securing the Passages of the Wood or other advantageous Posts which the Christians found difficult enough to pass tho' they met with no Opposition but perhaps the former vainly trusted to their Numbers having still an Army of an 120000 fighting Men tho' they had lost near 60000 at the Siege whereas the Christian Army without was not above 80000 and 6000 within the Town who yet did good Service upon this Occasion The Right Wing of the Army was given to the King of Poland for that he had most Horse and that the Country was open on that side the Left to the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Lorrain because they were strongest in the Foot and that the Country was inclosed on that side all along the Danube and the main Body to the Elector of Saxony and Prince Waldeck In this Disposition the Generals that Morning according to Appointment met upon the Hill to give the necessary Orders and were no sooner come together but a Body of 10000 Turks appear'd and advanced towards the Christians whereupon a Battallion was ordered to post themselves in a Vineyard that was on an Hill hard by being supported by 3 other Battallions which made the Turks stop For not enduring the Fire of those Battallions and being all Horse and in a Ground where they could not well attack the Foot they contented themselves to make one Discharge accompanied with an hideous Noise and so retired Whereupon the King of Poland and the other Princes having observed the the Disposition of the Enemy drew the Army into 3 Lines and closed without any Intervals as before mentioned and ordered them to march very slowly towards the Enemy and to stand when the Turks came to Charge them keeping themselves very close and not to fire till the Enemy had made their Discharge which was exactly performed for the Enemy advanced towards them with an horrible Cry as if they meant to break in upon them hoping thereby to make them give way or to put them into Disorder But finding the Christians stood firm and expecting them in a very close Order they durst not push any further but halted and still finding the Christians did not stir but stood expecting them they then made their Discharge and wheeled off Upon this the first Line of the Christians fired and that done the whole Army advanced slowly and so gained Ground upon the Enemy who returning came up as before the Christians thereupon made an Halt and expected them and the Turks having made their Discharge retired again which they repeated several times without adventuring to break in upon the Christians who still gained Ground driving the Turks before them like a Flock of Sheep Being come near the Enemies Camp a Body of Foot and Dragoons were detach'd to attack their Cannon which they made themselves Masters of without any great Opposition the Enemy having but a small Number of Foot to defend them and even their Horse made no great Resistance any where tho' they endeavoured on the side of the Right Wing to Charge the Christians in Flank which the King of Poland mistrusting caused part of the second Line to advance and make a Front on that side and charging the Enemy in Person with the first Line made them give way During the hottest of the Battle the Turks attackt the Town and put the Besieged so to it that Count Staremberg was forced to send to the Duke of Lorain for Assistance whereupon the Duke sent Prince Lewis of Baden with a Body of Horse Foot and Dragoons into the City with whose Help all the Turks that were in the Attack where cut to pieces In short towards Evening the Enemy began to give way and fled being pursued by the Christians beyond their Camp and there they made an Halt the Soldiers upon pain of Death being Commanded not to stir out of their Ranks and the whole Army remained all Night in Battle array as if the Enemy had been still present Next Day the Camp was Plundered half a Company going out at a time while the other half continued at their Arms and when they returned these went out in like manner All the Enemies Baggage Provision Tents 50 Pieces of Cannon 2 Horse-Tails the Grand Seignior's Standard and the Visier's own Horse were taken and most of their Foot cut in pieces being computed at about 15000 the rest having perished during the Siege and the Victory was so much the more glorious to the Christian Arms in that they lost not above a 1000 Men in all and very few Persons of Note the Duke of Croy and some others being wounded and that the Capital of the German Empire was hereby relieved which otherwise must inevitably have fallen into the Hands of the Infidels in less than 48 Hours more having already endured 9 Weeks Siege for want of Provisions and a sufficient Garrison to defend it longer their Number being diminished one half and the Turkish Mines ready to blow up the last Retrenchments they had for its Security And because it is fit the Memory of those Great Men that appeared this Day at the Head of the Christian Army and under whose Conduct this signal Victory was obtained should by all just Means be perpetnated to future Generations they were these that follow The King of Poland the Electors of Saxony and Bavaria the Duke of Lorain Prince Waldeck General of the Empire the 2. Princes of Baden the Prince of Anhalt the Duke of Croy the Prince de Salm the
French Army was above 40000 strong Luxemberg having drawn a great Number out of the Frontier Garrisons and having been reinforced 3 days before by a Detachment of the Marquess de Boufflers consisting of 18 Batallions 45 Squadrons and the flying Camp commanded by the Count de Gournay The Prince indeed had some Notice of this Conjunction but it was very uncertain and some say the Governour of Namur gave notice of it by a Letter but that it was not to be believed upon any good Grounds However it were the Fight being resolved upon the Command of the Right Wing was assigned to the Prince of Nassau General of the Horse accompanied by Lieutenant-General d' Huby a Spaniard and the Prince of Birkenfield with his Brigadiers the Prince of Nassau Governour of Friezland and Mareschal de Camp and the Lieutenant-Generals d' Alva and Webbenum had the Charge of the Left Wing and the main Battle Some Horse also before the Fight-began were sent to line the Right Wing of the Army which lay in a good Post but whether none were sent to line the Left or that they who were commanded thither did not do their Duty they did not perceive that the Enemy slipped several Troops behind a rising-Ground and a small Wood next the Sambre who posted themselves behind the 2d Line of the Left Wing which constrained them to face about and turn their Backs to the Line whereby being much weakened some Batallions of the Right Wing were sent to secure their Flank and assist to keep their Ground Which was no sooner observed by the Duke of Luxemburg but he said to the Duke of Main who was then next him Do you see what the Enemies are doing I foretel they will be beaten In short the Left Wing was attack'd at the same time in Front Rear and Flank the 1st Line from which as has been said one Batallion was taken to reinforce the 2d after they had fought some time were forced to give Ground Whereupon the Enemy who knew how to make use of that Opportunity advanced to the 2d to fall upon their Rear Now that Line was already advanced to make head against the Cavalry which they had before them and which they had routed and drove back in disorder upon the French Infantry But the French had 3 Lines so that no sooner was one over-turned but fresh Batallions renewed the Fight and with more ease repelled the Dutch quite tired with the Brunts they had already sustained Prince Waldeck perceiving the Left Wing in that Condition and that the Horse weary of such hot Service had for the most part given Ground sent to their Relief the Horse of the 2d Line of the Right Wing from whence the Foot had been already drawn for the same Reason While this was doing on that side the 1st Line of the Right Wing was also engaged with the Enemy and had bravely routed them several times and General du Puy who charged them in Flank had gained 10 of their Cannon But the Enemy having 3 Lines on that side also and being continually relieved by fresh Numbers the Dutch Cavalry were dispersed and broke to that Degree that the whole Body could never be rallied again However the Count of Flodorp got together about a 1000 or 1200 about an hours riding from the Camp and brought them on again but then it was too late for that the Infantry were retreated But however Matters went with the Dutch Cavalry in this Action they have had the Misfortune to be esteemed ever since the worse Horse among the Confederates And certainly if they had behaved themselves as well as the Infantry did upon this Occasion I think there had been no room left to doubt of their attaining a compleat Victory For it may be truly said without any Exaggeration That never Foot performed greater Wonders for after they were forsaken by the Horse they alone sustained the Charges of the French Cavalry and Infantry both being charged in Front Flank and Rear at the same time and yet could not be broken They let the Enemies Squadrons approach within Pistol-shot of them and then let fly with such an unconcern'd and steddy Aim that the whole Squadron together seemed to sink into the Ground at once hardly 30 of the whole Number getting off and this Course they so accustomed themselves to observe that at length they laughed at their Enemies crying out Let them come on we will give them their Belly full The French on the other side were so dasht with the Execution done upon them that they fled as soon as they saw them but once present their Musquets nor durst they any more come near them but suffered them to retreat in good Order without ever offering to pursue them Which made the Duke of Luxemberg say That they had out-done the Spanish Infantry at the Battle of Rocroy Where notwithstanding the Spaniards performed Wonders Adding withal That it was for Prince Waldeck to remember the French Horse and for himself never to forget the Dutch Infantry But what-ever some have said in Justification of the Dutch Horse the Deputies of the States General when they took a View of the Army at Hawn to see the Damage they had sustained seemed to be of another Opinion for as they went from Company to Company in every Regiment they gave every Foot Soldier a Piece to the Value of 3 Franks as a Reward of their Bravery but gave the Horse nothing at all as being accused of faâ—ling in their Duty This Battle was very bloody on both sides the Dutch themselves owning they lost 4600 Men upon the Place a great many wounded and near 3000 taken Prisoners besides part of their Cannon which they needed not to have done had not the Waggoners cut their Harness to facilitate their Flight And yet of them the Garrison of Charleroy brought off 25 Pieces and 3 of the Enemies two days after The most remarkable Persons among the slain were the Prince of Saxon Masquerg the Count of Stirum one of the young Counts of Nassau the Baron de Heide and several Colonels Captains and inferiour Officers And however Prince Waldeck might have been mistaken as to his Intelligence concerning the Constitution of the French Forces before the Fight yet 't is certain he did all that could be expected from a General of his Age and so unweildy as he was during the Battel and retreated that Evening with the rest of the Army in very good Order to Nivell and next day to Bruxells as the Duke of Luxemberg did to Villain and from thence to the Place where the Prince encamped before at Pieton having put all the Country round about under Contribution which besides the Honour of a Victory was some amends for the many Men he lost in the Battel some computing them to 12000 slain wounded and made Prisoners though themselves would never own nothing near the Number But what Inequality soever there was in the strength of the Armies when they engaged
Lordships on the 3d instant That the Infantry of his Royal Highness's Army marched on the 2d from before Pignerol to join the Cavalry which they did the same day at Marsiglia after having blown up the Fort of St. Bridget and set fire at Piscina to all the Bombs and Ammunition which they could not carry away The Army was presently drawn up in Battalia The Marquess de Leganez commanded the Left Wing composed of the King of Spain's Troops as well Horse as Foot and of the Regiments of Commerci Taff and Scrutenbagh commanded by the Prince de Commerci His Royal Highness and under him the Count de Caprara commanded the Right Wing which was covered by the rest of his Imperial Majesty's and his Royal Highness's Cavalry In the Right Wing and the Corps de Battaille was posted the Foot of his said Imperial Majesty of his Majesty of Great Britain and of his Royal Highness The Corps de Battaille was commanded by Prince Eugene of Savoy who had under him the Marquess de la Parelle and the Count de las Torres The Army being disposed in this order march'd on Saturday the 3d into the Neighbourhood of Orbassan from whence we perceived the Enemies Army towards the Hills between Orbassan and Piosasque The Enemy seeing us thus advanced made a shew of moving to us in order of Battel but the Night coming on the two Armies marched off to a greater distance from each other to suffer the Troops to repose themselves At Midnight we sent away all the Baggage and put our selves into a Posture to receive the Enemy who we perceived by the Ground their Army took up were much more numerous than we At break of day the Enemy advanced towards us making use of the Advantage they had in the Ground which was full of Woods and Vineyards They threw some Dragoons into the Village of Piosasque situate upon a Hill to cover their Right Wing and began to play all their Artillery upon our Left Wing which did us some Damage But our Cannon being likewise very well posted and well served did great execution among their Cavalry About half an hour after Eight they fell upon our Left Wing with about 20000 men without firing a Shot having their Bagonets at the end of their Fusils and their Swords in their Hands but they were repulsed and driven back with great vigour They renewed their Attack and took in Front and Flank the Neapolitan and Milaneze Horse who after having courageously withstood the Fury of the Enemy were at last over-powered by their Numbers and pushed upon the German Horse who being thereby put into disorder and being at the same time charged by the little Gendermerie were no longer able to keep their Ground and fell upon the Infantry which was put also into Disorder The second Line being brought on to repulse the Enemy while the first Line rallied the Horse gave way by which means the said second Line not being able to withstand the Efforts of the Enemy was obliged to give ground likewise But while things passed thus in our Left Wing the Enemy were thrice repulsed with great loss by our Corps de Battaille and our Right Wing and we had all along the Advantage on that side until the Enemies Horse which had made our Left Wing give way attack'd our Infantry behind and in Flank who had no longer any Horse to cover them on their Left and were at the same time attack'd by the Enemies Foot Our Troops resisted them with extra-ordinary Courage made their Cavalry give way by the means of our Cannon which was employed to very good purpose and repulsed them with a great Effusion of Blood This Resistance and Effort of our Horse in the Right Wing quite disheartned the Enemy but they being 10000 Men stronger than we and receiving a farther Reinforcement attacked our Troops anew So that being environed by their Cavalry and very much fatigued and without hopes of being succoured by our Horse we were obliged to retire at Four in the Afternoon leaving the place of Battle to the Enemy with 10 or 12 Field-pieces the rest being saved Orders were given for our Troops to rally at Moncalier where in the Evening most of the Foot passed the Po. Last Night and this Day a great many Soldiers came hither the Enemy did not make the least shew of pursuing us All the Troops fought very well and the Action was very sharp on both sides The Troops of his Majesty of Great Britain which were in the Corps de Battaille did particularly distinguish themselves and the Duke of Schomberg who commanded them fought on foot at the head of his own Regiment and would not take any other command The Count de las Torres desired him after the Enemies third Attack to take upon him the Command and cause a Retreat to be made by the Foot of the Corps de Battaille and the Right Wing which had not yet sustained any great damage but the Duke of Schomberg told him That it was necessary first to have his Royal Highness's Order and until it came they would bear the Enemies Fire adding That he found things were gone so far that they must now overcome or die The Valour of the said Duke is to be greatly admired he had the Misfortune to be wounded in the Thigh one of his Serants who waited upon him in his Chamber saved his Life for he seeing the Duke fall run to him and called for Quarter but before he could be heard was killed upon the Spot The Duke at the same time was taken Prisoner but Monsieur Catinat sent him back upon his Parole and he arrived here this Day I had already desired a Trumpet of his Royal Highness who came hither yesterday about 5 in the Evening to go and demand him I cannot yet exactly tell your Lordships how many are killed on our side 'T is thought that the Spanish Troops have sustained the greatest loss The Regiments of his Majesty of Great Britain have likewise suffered very much and there is not a Third of them left Of the Regiment of Schomberg 18 Officers are taken many of which are mortally wounded and of the others proportionably We have yet no News of Collonel Montauban l'Isle Marais Lieutenant-Collonel is taken Prisoner The Baron de Viskoute Lieutenant-Collonel of the Regiment of Schomberg is also taken and wounded De Loches Lieutenant-Collonel is kill'd or taken with several Captains There are 3 or 4 Captains of the Regiment of Miremont killed Collonel Monbrun has 4 dangerous Wounds his Major is killed and his Lieutenant-Collonel is killed or Prisoner Of the Troops of his Royal Highness the Marquiss de la Suse Lieutenant of his Life-Guards is killed the Count de Chalaus Collonel of the Regiment of Mondovi is likewise killed Of the Troops of his Imperial Majesty the Prince de Comerci is wounded in the Shoulder and the Son of the Count de Palfi killed The Enemies loss is at
rest were hasting to pass it All this while the Imperialists could not imagine that the Infantry could stay alone on this side the River because that the Night before they had done no more than only begun to make a second Retrenchment according to the Report of the Bassa and other Prisoners This obliged Prince Eugenius to advance with the Cavalry and some Artillery within an Hours March of Zenta receiving divers Confirmations in his March of what had been reported The Prince being come to the Place before-mentioned staid there for the Foot which being arrived he drew up the Army in Battle-Array the Right Wing was secured by the Theysse the Left was extended as far as the Men could take up any Ground the Left Flank was reinforced with a Second Line In this Order he made a Halt till 3 of the Clock and half an hour past at what time the Army marched in Battle-Array Being come near Zenta they could perceive but Two Thousand of the Enemies Horse The Van Courriers also reported That they viewed the Turks Bridge over which Troops were continually passing insomuch that there was a great deal of Confusion upon the Bridge Upon which Prince Eugenius took three Regigiments of Dragoons out of both the Wings and two more out of the second Line of the Flank with some Pieces of Cannon and putting himself at the Head of that Detachment advanced towards the Enemy with all the Speed he could giving Order for the rest of the Army to follow him in order of Battle All this while the Enemy's Horse made over the Bridge as fast as they could so that the Prince could easily perceive the Confusion that was upon the Bridge there being a World of Baggage still on this side Being thus advanced within Cannon-shot of the Enemy's Detachments the Turks began to play upon the Imperialists with their great Guns which the Christians answered while the Army still advanced and the six Regiments which had been detached were ordered to their Stations in the Army In this Order the Army advanced within half Cannon-shot of the Enemy's Entrenchments there remaining no more than two Hours of Day-light The Right Wing was then as it were lin'd by the River together with some Regiments of the Flank of the Left at what time they perceiv'd the Enemy's Horse were endeavouring to slide between them and the River and so fall upon that Wing but they found that impossible In the mean time they planted some Pieces of Cannon upon that Wing with which they plaid continually against the Bridge and the same Order was observed in the Right Wing and immediately after the Fight began on every side I have already told you that the Turkish Cavalry endeavour'd to slip between the River and the Left Wing which the Imperialists perceiving and observing that there was a Space of Ground between 30 and 40 Paces broad between the Enemy and the River from whence they might fall upon the Enemy's Rear they planted some Cannon there with all speed and ordered the Enemy to be attack'd by the Infantry of the Flank and the Left Wing some time before the main Body and the Foot of the Right Wing could do it This succeeded 〈◊〉 notwithstanding the thick Fire of the Enemy with their great Guns laden with Cartouches and the continual Vollies of their Small-shot so that the Infantry of the Left Wing broke in upon them and then the Army as well Horse as Foot fell on at the same Instant that the Enemy was already in some Disorder by reason of those who had already fallen upon their Backs There were two Entrenchments one behind another besides a Barricado of Waggons and they were so good that it is not easie to apprehend how the Foot could force them The Victors passed them both in half an Hours time during which there was nothing but Fire and Smoak on both sides The Horse also advanced at the same time with the Infantry to the Moat of the Entrenchment where they stood the Enemy's Fire and charged in the same manner as the Foot which perhaps was hardly ever seen before So soon as the Infantry of the Left Wing had broken into the Entrenchments all the Army acted together with equal Force nor was it possible to restrain the Soldiers One part of the Cavalry alighted from their Horses and passed the Moat over the slain Enemy In the mean time the Germans of the Left Wing and Flank cut off the Turks way to the Bridge whence followed a most horrible Slaughter as well within the Entrenchments as upon the Bridge and in the River into which they threw themselves to escape the Imperialists For the Soldiers were so eager after Blood that they gave Quarter to no Body neither Bassa's nor Officers tho' they promised large Ransoms Hence it came to pass that so few Prisoners were taken and those only such as were found among the Slain or in the Barks that composed the Bridge By those it was understood that all the Turkish Infantry was in the Fight there being not any on the other side of the River but about 2000 Men for the Grand Seignior's Guard Whence it may be concluded That the Foot were all destroy'd and that several Thousands were slain The Fight ended with the Day nor can we sufficiently set forth the Valour and Courage of the Generals the Officers and Soldiers from the highest to the lowest but principally the Skill and Dexterity of Prince Eugenius is to be extolled who tho' much inferiour to the Enemy knew so well how to watch his Opportunity that he made himself equal to him in some sort by falling upon him at a time that but one part of his Army could fight the other being on the other side of the River and not able to succour those that were distress'd All the Imperialists retreated out of the Trenches after two Hours within Night and spent the rest of it as well as they could However it were so order'd that the greatest Number was posted along the Theysse but it was impossible to rally them all again under their proper Colours Some were appointed to Guard the Bridge beyond which was set an advanced Guard The next day being the 12th a Camp was marked out for the Army and it was found that the Action was much more advantageous than it was thought as well for the Number of the Slain as the Number of great Guns the vast quantities of Bombs Carcasses Granadoes Ammunition and Provision besides great and small Cattle by reason of the Enemy's Camp beyond the River which was half a League wide and which the Turks had quitted The Fugitives reported That the Grand Seignior fled in great Consternation to Temeswaer In their Camp were found all their Tents with that of the Grand Seignior's himself several Camels and other Beasts heavy Artillery Bombs Carcasses and other Ammunition besides a prodigious quantity of Provision and about 6000 Waggons on both sides the River and some Men
gave a few Moments breathing to the Attack but the Courage wherewith they fell on afresh made the Besieged see it high time to think of a Capitulation which they made a Sign of by hanging out a White Standard upon the Ramparts whereupon Arms were laid down in order to regulate the Articles But this was only an Artifice of Turkish Perfidy to make a feigned shew of Rendition with a real Design to procure a greater Loss to the Besiegers by a brisk and unexpected Sally which so incensed the Venetians that they took a firmer Resolution than ever to put an end to the Siege which had already continued 49 Days wherefore having first swept the Ramparts with their Shot they bravely mounted the Walls and entred the Town where being heated as they were with the Baseness of the Enemy and the Assault they were now engaged in they made a dreadful Slaughter of all the Inhabitants without distinction either of Age or Sex They found in the Place 128 Pieces of Cannon whereof 66 were Brass besides a great Quantity of Ammunition and Provision This Work being now at last happily accomplished by the Captain-General after he had staid so long at Coron till the Fortifications were so far repaired as to make the Place desensible he resolved to do all he could to encourage the People of the Province of Maina in the Disposition they appear'd to be to cast off the Ottoman Yoak And to that Purpose sent the Mainots who came in to him upon the Taking of Corou with some other Troops to attack Zarnata one of the strongest of the 3 Fortresses built by the Turks since the Candian War to keep those People in awe And some Days after having caused the Army to embark the whole Fleet set sail from Coron and the next Day arrived at Chitie about 5â—Miles from Zarnata where they were joined by the Ships that had on Board the Saxon Troops consisting of 3000 Men and from whence the Fleet sailed towards Calamata near which Place the Forces landed again However all these Motions could not be managed with that Expedition and Secresie but that the Captain Basha having notice thereof he dispatched ashoar what Men he could out of the Turkish Gallies which he left at Napoli di Romania securing the Port with great Chains and being joined by a great Body of Horse and Foot marched towards Calamata to keep the Mainotes from revolting to the Venetians This the Captain-General had no sooner Notice of but he sent an Officer to the Garrison of Zarnata to let them know that if they did not immediately surrender the Place they must expect to be treated in the same Manner they of Coron had been Whereupon the Garrison desired that they might send to the Captain Basha to acquaint him with the Condition they were in which was granted But the Officer not returning at the time appointed they gave up the Place on the 11th of Sept. the Men marching away with Bag and Baggage yet the Aga who commanded them fearing he should be ill treated by the Captain Basha staid in the Venetian Camp towards which the Basha was now advanced at the Head of 10000 Men with a Resolution to fight the Christians which the Captain-General Morosini did not decline on his part For he marched towards the Enemy feigning at the same time to make a Descent to give them a Diversion in some other Place For which Purpose he had caused some Troops to embark and commanded the Fleet to keep along the Coast The Venetians who came up with the Enemy on the 14th were drawn up in Battalia by General Degenfield on an advantageous Ground The Turks on the other side having put themselves into a Posture to receive them their Horse fell immediately upon the Venetians Left Wing while a great Body of their Foot at the same time advanced towards their Right at the Head of which was the Prince of Brunswick but they found so brave a Resistance that they were forced to retire yet they presently after returned and charged a second time with greater Fury than before The Fight was maintained with great Courage and Resolution on both sides for a time till at last the Turks being no longer able to keep their Ground fell into Disorder and soon after dispersed and fled leaving a great Number of their Men slain behind them and the Garrison of Calamata to fire the Magazine and abandon the Place which the Venetians immediately took Possession of as they did soon after of Porto Vitulo which the Mainotes took for them Of Chielifa a strong Fortress not far from the other Place and Passavania whereby the Republick became possess'd of the whole Province of Mayna whereof the Captain-General made Seignior Lorenzo Venier Governour and so gloriously ended this Campaign And I shall end this Year with taking Notice that it was fatal to the Liberty of the Reformed Gallican Church the Edicts of Nants and Nismes being utterly revoked by another of the 22th of Oct. and those made null and finite which were looked upon irrevocable and perpetual the Consequence whereof all the World has seen and heard and therefore I shall say nothing of it in this place year 1686 We have left England last with the King 's Dissolving his Parliament now it is time to see a little how he carried himself His Brother had laid the Foundation of making a Parliament Felo de se by hectoring and making Bargains with Corporations to give up their Charters and take new ones from him wherein he reserved a Power that if they did not return such Members as pleased him he would resume the Charters he granted them and herein he made a great Progress But his Keeper and Attorney-General refused to grant Patents to such poor Corporations as could not pay their Fees at length the Keeper having kickt up his Heels last Year and Jefferies advanced to be Lord Chancellor and the Attorney turned out with another put into his Place that would with greater Charity perform the Office these Remora's to the King's Designs were removed Yet there was another Pace to be made still which was to make the Judges in Westminster-Hall to murder the Common Law as well as the King and his Brother designed to murder the Parliament by it self To this End his good Majesty before he would make any Judges would enter into a Bargain with them that they should declare the King's Power of dispensing with the Penal Laws and Tests made against Recusants out of Parliament However it was said the King stumbled at the Threshold for beginning with Sir Thomas Jones who had deserved so well in Mr. Cornish his Tryal and others he boggl'd very much at it saying plainly he could not do it to which the King answered He would have Twelve Judges of his Opinion and Sir Thomas replied He might have 12 Judges of his Opinion but would scarce find Twelve Lawyers to be so But for all this the King went on
de Starembergh marched also to the Bridge being followed by the Baggage and encamped in a very advantageous Post where they could not well be forced by the Enemy the Cavalry of oâ—e Left Wing advanced up an Hill and those of the Right into a Plain near Rossava And that the Enemy might think their Design only was to secure the Passage of the Infantry one part of the Horse were ordered to dismount Whereas while this was doing Colonel de St Croix with some hundreds of Horse together with the Counts of Chakey Deak and Buduani with the Hungarians Rascians and Hussars getting before the Cavalry through a Valley wherein they could not be discovered flew with full speed upon the Enemy and were seconded by the Cavalry who had opportunity during the Shock to mount again The Turks retired slowly thinking to draw the Christians into a Wood behind which they had planted 10000 Men Tho' when they found themselves charged by all the Imperial Cavalry they fell into some Disorder and were pursued by the left Wing to a narrow Place where they made an Halt But when the Prince of Baden and General Veterani came up with the Regiments of the right Wing they retreated in Confusion to another Wood where they were pursued for an Hour and an half till they came into a Plain Here it was the Christians drew themselves up in good Order of Battel and fell upon the rallied Turks with that resolute Bravery that above 400 of their best Horse were defeated upon the Place and a great number of Prisoners taken among whom was the Commander of the Janisaries together with 12 Coronets and some Kettle-Drums The Hungarians and Hussars pursued them a considerable way killed a great Number and got a very large Booty because the Fliers threw away their Baggage and their Arms that they might the readier make their Escape The Cavalry returned the same day to attack the other Party of the Turks before they could join the Fugitives To this end 500 Foot were detach'd to make themselves Masters of a narrow Lanc at the Entrance of a thick Wood about an Hour and an halfs March long into which there was but one Way to enter and beyond it the Enemies Army was encamped in a large Plain They quickly beat off 3000 Janisaries and some Horse that lay concealed to hinder the Imperialists from gaining it which however was not done without some loss on both sides There they stayed till the 30th where all their Infantry came to encamp in a Plain beyond the Wood by the Favour of a thick Mist having a Wood behind them to the Right another Wood that ran out as far as the Morave and the River it self on the Left The Prince of Baden who had rejoyn'd the Foot the Evening before ordered the Horse to re-pass the River and post themselves in the same place where the Infantry had encamped the Night before leaving on the other side no more than 7 Squadrons of Hungarians and Rascians and some Horse and Dragoons a foot to guard the Baggage As soon as the Mist cleared up the Turks appeared drawn up in Battel-array and the Prince had hardly time enough to range the second Line of his Foot behind the first before the Turks both Horse and Foot advanced upon him notwithstanding whole Peals of Cannon and Showers of small Shot poured in upon them The Conflict lasted about 2 Hours during which time both sides kept continually firing but General Castelli having got out of the Wood with his Dragoons the Enemy no sooner heard the Trumpets and Kettle-Drums of the first Squadron but they began to retreat into another Wood and thereby gave the Imperialists an opportunity to plant their Horse behind their Infantry It fortunately happened at the same time that a Bavariâ—n who had been taken at the Siege of Buda having made his Escape discovered that there was another Plain behind the Wood to which the Enemy retreated where theâ— lay entrench'd Upon this Count Staremberg having first view'd the Road within the Wood and finding it broad enough and withal that it was not above 500 Paces long and that the Turks lay in their Entrenchments that were as so many Fortresses for them the Prince commanded him thither with 300 Men a Battalion of his own and one of Staremberg's and was followed by a good body of Infantry With these he bravely drave the Enemy from their 1 st Entrenchment who thereupon retreated to their second about 100 Paces further and environed with a Moat full of Water that was not accessible on that side However they continued firing from one Entrenchment unto another for above an hour and an half so that many Soldiers were lost here by the Germans together with 4 Captains and a great many men wounded While this was in agitation the first Entrenchment was levell'd for a Post for the Cavalry and then Picolomini who had the Command of the Vanguard that day advanced both with the Horse and Foot in good Order to the second Entrenchment Count Palsi in the mean time advanced cross the Woods with his Heydukes and making an hideous Noise with his Trumpets to terrifie the Enemy as if there had been some considerable Body that was coming to attack their Rear This Stratagem took so well that as soon as they heard the Noise of the Trumpets and Kettle-Drums and saw Picolomini moving towards them notwithstanding all their Vollies of small Shot they retreated athwart another thick Wood into their Camp being pursued by the Imperialists though the ways were very narrow But when they came into open ground Colonel Zand was sent with a Regiment to fall on their Rear being followed by all the Horse Regiment by Regiment Zand with his own Regiment and that of Serau drave the Infidels from the Wood and forced them into their Camp which was upon an Hill near Patochin and then staid till other Troops came up with him But a great Shower falling at that time and the Night coming on he fell upon the Enemy now under great Consternation with those 2 Regiments only put them to the Rout and forced them to quit their Camp of which the Christians became Masters and where they sound 105 Pieces of Cannon 3 Mortars several Bombs a great quantity of Ammunition Provision Waggons Camels Oxen Bufalo's Tents and other Riches Some of the Enemy escaped to Jagodin others to Krakolovez being pursu'd still by the Hungarians who kill'd divers of them and found some Pieces of Cannon and other Arms in the Mountains Though the number of the Slain was not so considerable in these Onsets yet the Advantage therein as well as in the great Booty the Imperialists got was manifestly on their side every way which will yet farther appear by the succeeding Actions of this Campaign I am loth to make any interruption in this Place in the rest of the Successes of the Imperial Arms and the rather since it has not been my Custom upon other
there was an Hill to the E. of the Enemy's Camp and N. from the Town he went thither to view their Camp which he found to be all along the River in two lines and where he had a long Discourse with the Prince Duke Scomberg Duke of Ormond Count Solms Major General Scravenmoor my Lord Sidney and other great Officers who were all curious in making their observations upon the Enemy and Scravenmoor said they were Vne pettite Armee for they could not reckon above 46 Regiments that lay incamped but the King answered that they might have a great many Men in the Town that there was also an Hill to the S. W. beyond which part of their Army might lie incamped and that possibly they did not shew all their Numbers however he said he was resolved to see very soon what they were From hence the King rid on to the Pass at the old Bridge and stood upon the side of the Bank within Musket-shot of the Ford there to make his further observations on the Enemy's Posture and Camp and in some time after rid about 200 Paces up the River nigh the West of all the Enemy's Camp Whilst his Army was marching in he alighted and sat him down upon a rising Ground where he refreshed himself for about an hour during which time some of the Irish with long Guns came down and shot at our Dragoons who went down to the River to drink and some of our went down to return the Complement to the former And 't was farther observed that a Party of about 40 Horse advancing very slowly stood upon a plowed Field over-against the King for near half an Hour and brought 2 Field-pieces with them which they dropt by an Hedge on the said Ground as was afterwards known though our Men did not then discover them and one of which when the King was mounted they fired It killed 2 Horses and a Man about a 100 Yards above where the King was which was no sooner done but immediately came a 2d which had almost been fatal to one of the greatest Lives upon Earth for the Ball having first grazed on the Bank of the River did in its first rising slant upon the King's Right-shoulder took out a Piece of his Coat and tore the Skin and Flesh and afterwards broke the Head of a Gentleman's Pistol My Lord Conningsby no sooner saw his Majesty struck but he rid up and clapt his Handkerchief upon the Place but the King himself took little notice and kept on his pace saying only There was no necessity the Bullet should have come nearer though the Enemy continued firing who when they saw their shot somewhat disturb our Horse they set up a most prodigious shout all over the Camp as if the King 's whole Army had been ruin'd and drew down several Squadrons of their Horse upon a Plain towards the River but in such a Place as they knew it was not possible for the English to come at them Yet when our Guns came up which was about 3 that Afternoon and begun to play they withdrew their Squadrons into their Camp The King about 9 at Night having called a Council of War declared he was resolved to pass the River next Day which Duke Scomberg at first opposed but finding the King positive he advised that part of the Army should be sent that Night about 12 towards Slane-bridge and to pass the River thereabouts and so get between the Enemy and the Pass at Duleek but this Advice was not taken Then they fell into a Debate about getting good and trusty Guides when my Lord George Hamilton who was by immediately brought 4 or 5 of his Irish Iniskilling Officers who knew the Fords very well and took upon them to guide the Army next day and here it was concluded how the Army should march and who should command at the different Posts which were ordered in this manner Lieutenant General Douglas was to command the right Wing of Foot and Count Sâ—homberg the Horse who were to march on early toward Slane-bridge and other Fords up the River to flank the Enemy or get between the Enemy's Camp and Drogheda whilst in the mean time a body of Foot forced their way at the Pass at Old-bridge But while this was doing on our side the Enemy were not idâ—e for they also called a Council of War wherein Lieutenant General Hambleton advised to send a Party of Dragoons to a Ford that was below the Town of Drogheda which the English either knew not of or else did not regard and all the rest being 8 Regiments with their whole left Line towards the Bridge of Slane but King James said he would send 50 Dragoons up the River which put Hamilton into a great Amazement considering the Importance of the Place to be defended Towards the close of the Evening the Cannon ceased on both sides and the King gave Orders that every Soldier should be provided with a good Stock of Ammunition and all to be ready at break of day to march at a minute's Warning with every Man a green Bough or Sprig in his Hat to distinguish him from the Enemy who wore pieces of Paper on their Hats The Word that Night being Westminster he rid in Person about 12 at Night with Torches quite through the Army At last Tuesday the 1st of July came which proved to be a very clear Day as if the Sun it self had a mind to see what the Event would be when about 6 in the Morning Lieutenant General Douglas march'd towards the Right with the Foot and Count Scomberg with the Horse which being observed by the Enemy they drew out their Horse and Foot towards the left to oppose us The Right Wing at first were ordered to pass all at Slane but upon better Information several Regiments were ordered to go over at other Fords between the Camp and that place When the Horse approach'd the River they found a Regiment of the Enemies Dragoons posted on the other side who fired upon them and then thought to have retreated to their main Body but before they could do that they were flanked in a Lane and about 70 of their Number slain which was almost all the Opposition they meâ— with in passing the River that way But when they advanced forwards they found the Enemy drawn up in 2 Lines Whereupon the English drew up in 2 Lines also being 24 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and but six Batallions of â—oot which being too few Douâ—las sent for more and in the mean time according to my Lord Portland's Advice the Horse and Foot were mix'd Squadron with Batallion for their greater Security However more Foot coming up this Figure was altered and all the Horse drawn to the Right by which they out-flanked the Enemy considerably They found the Ground very difficult to pass by reason of a great Bog and some Ditches that were in the way but the Horse moving to the Right and the Foot taking
the Bog so scared the Enemy that they retreated in great haste towards Duleek which was no sooner observed by Count Scomberg but he fell in among their Foot with his Horse and killed a great many The King who knew not the disadvantages of the Ground but computing the time when he thought his Right Wing might well get over ordered his Foot to attack the Pass at Old Bridge During all this time a great part of the Enemies Army were marching towards Slane and though our Cannon plaid upon them all the while yet they kept their Order The Blue Dutch Guards being to the Right were the first that took the River at Old Bridge they beat a March all the while till they got to the River side and then the Drums ceasing in they went some 8 or 10 a-brest and found themselves almost up to the middle presently in the Stream The Enemy who had lined the Houses Hedges and Breast works on the other side did not fire till our Men were got towards the midst of the River and then a whole Peal of Shot came from all Quarters upon them yet there was but one only observed to fall He that was foremost was a Lieutenant of Granadiers who as he got footing on the other side drew up 2 Files of Men and then stoop'd and they briskly fired over him at the next Hedge which made the Irish quit it with which the other were discouraged and so all of them left their Posts and were followed by a Volley of Shot from our Men advancing upon them The Irish Foot ran scattering into the next Field and before the Dutch could get well over they were charged very bravely by a Squadron of Irish Horse yet they were quickly beat off again But by this time there appeared a great many Battalions and Squadrons of the Enemies all of a sudden from behind the little Hills that were there However the Dutch stood stoutly to it as did also 2 French Regiments and Colonel St. Johns who passed the River about the same time as the other had done a little lower For tho' Lieutenant General Hamilton who commanded at the Pass advanced with a Party of Foot to the very River and himself and some others went into it giving Orders at the same time that my Lord Antrim's Regiment and some more should go and flank Sir John Hanmer's and Count Nassau's Regiments who were also passing about 200 Yards still further Yet neither would his Men stand the brunt nor could the other be perswaded to come within the smell of Hanmâ—r's However â—â—s Hamilton retreated a Squadron of their Horse charged our French so bravely that about 40 of them broke quite thro' Monsieur La Calimot's Regiment and wounded himself mortally But they hapned to over-do their Work at this time for being obliged either to go back the same way or else to pass thro' the Village and so to wheel to the Left to recover their own Men they chose the latter but were so paid off by some of the Dutch and Inniskilling Foot that not above 6 or 8 of them got beyond the Village most of their Horses stragling up and down the Fields The Dutch and the rest of our Foot advanced all this while so that the Irish Foot quitted a second Hedge they were perswaded to rally to when another Body of Horse came down upon the Dutch who neglected the Hedges and met them bravely in the open Field but kept so cloâ—e that it was impossible to break them And as the Enemy came on begun to fire by Platoons and both flanked and fronted them and so killed a great many of them before they drew off yet not without some loss to themselves By this time some of the French and Inniskilliners were got into the Field from whence the Irish had disturbed our Troops with their Cannon the Day before who obliged a fresh Squadron of Horse that was coming down upon the Dutch to retreat with considerable Loss All our Horse went over to the Right and Left except one Squadron of Danes who passed the River whilâ—t our Foot were engaged and advancing to the Front Hambleton sent out 60 Horse who charged the Danes so vigorously that they retreated much faster than they went on some of them never looking behind them till they had crossed the River again The want of Horse was so apparent in this place that the very Countrey People cried out Horse Horse which might have proved a fatal Mistake for the Word going towards the Right and they mistaking it for Halt stopt the Right Wing for near half an Hour for that time well spent might have done great Service This and the Irish breaking thro' the French Regiment hapned much at a time which was thought was the Occasion of the Duke of Schomberg's going over so unseasonably For in this Hurry he was killed near the little Village beyond the River He received a mortal Wound thro' his Neck and was cut in two places over the Head besides and fell down from his Horse without speaking one Word Captain Foubert being also shot in the Arm as he was getting him off Dr. Walker likewise met with his Death's Wound near the same place and was immediately stripp'd for the Sâ—otâ—h-Irish that followed the Camp were got thro' already and took off most of the Plunder This Action bâ—gan about a Quarter past 10 and was so hot for above an Hour that a great many old Soldiers said They never saw brisker Work But then the Irish retreated to a rising Ground and there drew up again in Order desâ—gning to renew the Charge Whilst this lasted at the Pass the Left Wing of our Horse consisting of Danes Dutch with Colonel Wolsley's Horse and Dragoons passed the River at a very difficult and unusual Place whilst the Danish Foot with my Lord Cuts and some others went over a little above them The King during all these Transactions was almost every where before the Action began he rid between his own Army and theirs with one only Dragoon and had ordered every thing in all other Places as well as might be before he passed the River which he did with the Left Wing of Horse and that with as much difficulty as any other whatever For his Horse was bogged on the other side and himself forced to alight till a Gentleman helped him to get his Horse out But as soon as the Men were got upon the other Bank and put into order he drew his Sword which yet was troublesome to him his Arm being stiff with the Wound he had received before and march'd at the Head of them towards the Enemy who were coming on again in good order upon our Foot that had now got over the Pass and were advancing bravely towards the Irish tho' they were double their Number But when theâ—e 2. Bodies had got almost within Musket-shot of one another the Enemy espy'd the Left Wing of our Horse moving towards them at which they
as to offer the Enemy Battel which the other did not decline For upon the 18th Catinat gave the Signal and by 11 in the Morning ordered the Italians to be attack'd by the way of the Morass which he had caused to be sounded before and found firm enough to bear his Men So that the Duke 's Left Wing not expecting to be attack'd in Flank the Morass being to the Left of them made not such a stout Resistance as they might have done had they been forewarned However they killed several of the Enemy but at length the Cavalry began to give way being maul'd both with the firings of a Body of Reserve and with the great Cannon that plaid directly upon them But the Right Wing stood firm till 3 in the Afternoon when being not able to bear the whole brunt of the Enemies fire they were constrained to betake themselves to flight and several of them thinking to facilitate it by taking the Po in their way were drowned The Duke himself retired with part of his Troops to Carignan to compute his Loss which the Enemy affirmed to be 4000 slain out-right 11 great Guns good store of Baggage some Colours and a considerable quantity of Ammunition taken and that themselves had not above an 150 killed and about 100 wounded This Account tho' it be not altogether probable yet the Advantage every way was the French's past all doubt and what was intended to have been saved by the Duke of Savoy in hazarding this Battle was the Consequence of Catinat's Victory who the very next day possessed himself of Salusses as he did soon after of Savillana a large City 15 Miles from the former Villa Franca and divers other Places and then march'd with his Army to Raiconoggi with a Design to set upon the Duke of Savoy's Men that were retired to Carignan after their Defeat or at least to make himself Master of Carmagnoli But the Duke not finding himself in a state to abide his coming retreated to Monclair to recruit his Army and to wait for the German Troops that were coming to his Assistance after he had put 4000 Men into Carignan and secured Carmagnola The Germans or at least part of them some time after joyned the Duke with which Reinforcement besides some Milanese Troops being near 20000 strong he decamp'd on the 16th of Sept. from Monclair and advanced towards Catinat who also having been strengthened with some Regiments from France was not at all startled at his Approach but stood his Ground while Monsieur St. Ruth was reducing Tartantasia and Morienna with all Savoy excepting Montmelian under the Obedience of the French King whose Cities swore Allegiance to him and whereof Monsieur St. Ruth for his good Services was made Governour with an annual Pension as 't was said of 40000 Livres And as the French Forces had in a manner made a compleat Conquest of the Dutchy of Savoy this Season you have already an account how far a Progress they have made in Piedmont the most valuable part of the Duke's Dominions and now you will hear of what was more afflicting to his Royal Highness than any one thing that perhaps befel him since the Rupture Suza is a City very considerable for its Situation as being that which opens a Passage out of the Dauphinate into Piedmont whenever the French should think it requisite For every time the Kings of France design'd a War in Italy they always coveted to be Masters of that Post Now Catinat had had an Eye upon it for some time and made some secret Paces towards accomplishing his Design which yet he could not carry so covertly but that the Duke had notice of it so that he did all he could to prevent the misfortune To this purpose he sent away the Count of Lovigniez with 6 Batallions of Foot and some Horse to secure the Place Of which Monsieur Catinat being advertised he did not take the ordinary Road but hasted towards the Mountains marching his Men with wonderful Application and Celerity for 6 Days together without Intermission This Motion of his when the Duke heard of he mistakingly thought the Siege of Suza had been a feign'd business but that the true Design of the French was to give him Battle and therefore sent Orders to Lovigniez to leave Suza and forthwith to joyn him with all his Forces This was no sooner done but the French immediately begirt the City where there was only 6 or 700 Men in Garrison under the Count de Lande who seeing no likelihood to defend himself in such a weak Post with such an inconsiderable Force against a numerous Army or rather being of a base and dastardly Nature made shew of putting himself first in a Posture of Resistance but presently after surrendred the City upon Terms of marching out with Arms Baggage and 3 Cannon and to be convey'd to the Gates of Turin With this Action the Campaign ended in Italy for Catinat divided his Army thereupon sending one part of them into Winter-Quarters in Savoy and the other into Provence But while the Duke of Savoy was struggling in this manner with his adverse Fortune at home without its having been in the Power of his new Allies the Germans and Spaniards hitherto to bear him up under the Weight that oppress'd him he bethinks himself of making Application to some other oâ— the Confederates and therefore first sends the Count de lâ— Tour his Envoy into Holland who was kindly received by the States and promised some Support tho' this was the first that ever came from a Duke of Savoy to them ever since they had been a State and had Orders from thence to go into England to congratulate the King and Queen's Accession to the Throne having done his main business with the King's Envoy before at the Hague and delivered himself to the King in the following Terms which I am the more inclined to takâ— notice of because of something in consequence and whereâ— you will have an Account in due place that quite contradict what in substance is contained herein SIR HIS Royal Highness congratulates Your Majesties glorious Access to the Crown due to your Birth merited by your Vertue and maintain'd by your Valour Providence ordain'd it for your sacred Head for the Accomplishment of Heavens Designs from all Eternity that Providence which after long forbearance raises up chosen Instruments at length to suppress Violence and protect Justice The wonderful beginnings of your Reign are assured Presages of the Blessings which Heaven is preparing for the Integrity of your Intentions which have no other Aim than to restore this flourishing Kingdom to that Grandeur which it anciently enjoyed and to break off those Chains under the Weight of which all Europe at present groans This magnanimous Design so worthy the Hero of our Age soon fill'd his Royal Highness with unspeakable Joy tho' he were constrain'd to keep it undisclosed for a time in the privacies of his Heart and if afterwards he
Prisoners notwithstanding some small Detachments sent to their Relief who could do no good against such an unequal Number and the Loss of this Regiment was not only confirmed the same Day by an Adjutant of Caprara's Regiment who made his Escape but that the Recruits of the Regiments of Hoffkirken and Caprara had fallen under the same Misfortune and that all the Baggage Women Wagons and led Horses were lost with 200 Wagon Load of Provision and 1200 Oxen that drew them In the mean time they perceived that the Enemies Army lay posted along the Danube upon rising Grounds much more advantageous than those possest by the Christians and that they were at work to fortifie them and to cut off the Christians Communication with Peter-Waradin The Prince of Baden saw plainly he had a desperate Game to play and that he must either force the Turks in their Entrenchments or perish in a Station where there were no Provisions to be had from any other place whereupon the former was resolved on and to be the next Day which was the 19th of Aug. at what time all things were ordered in the following manner Duke Christian of Holstein who was on that part of the Right Wing next the Danube with his own Regiment and that of Neuburg was to make himself Master of the rising Ground that separated the Imperial Army from the Enemy and by that means to open a way for the Body of the Army and these were to be seconded by 20 Battalions under the Command of General Souches and Camp-Mareschal Staremburg and the Army which followed in order of Battle had orders to extend it self as much as possible from the Danube to the Plain while the Left Wing had orders to march through the Plain and attack the Enemy in Flank and Rear and this was to be the principal Attack because the Turks had posted almost all their Janizaries and planted all their Cannon upon the rising Ground against the Right Wing of the Christians having nothing to secure their Flanks but only some Wagons bound together and lying almost open in the Rear It was very difficult for the Germans to approach them because of the Hills Vallies and Miry Ways which they were to cross and tho' they had decamped very early in the Morning the Attack was not begun by the Right Wing till 3 in the Afternoon and they labour'd hard to carry the Trenches But in regard the Left Wing which was to fetch a great Compass through very bad ways required a considerable time to get near the Enemy those of the Infidels who perceived it had leasure to advance with their Horse and with the same design to fall upon the Imperialists in the Rear In the mean time the 2 Battalions of the Right Wing attack'd the Entrenchments and advanced where the greatest number of Janizaries were drawn up in very good order of Battle and very strongly entrenched having a wide Moat before them defended with good Redoubts 100 Paces one from another with which the Imperialists were strangely surprized who knew how little time the Turks had to do it But however all this could not hinder them from bravely advancing to the Trenches at what time some of the Granadiers went down into the Moat crossed it and got up to the very Trenches But all this was attended with much Loss for besides the playing of the Enemies great and small Shot continually upon them the Janizaries came also 3 times out of their Trenches with their Scymeters in their Hands and fell with extraordinary Fury upon the Imperial Foot that were almost tired and suffocated with the Fire and Smoak Holstein and Newburg's Regiments of Horse and 2 or 3 others suffered very much thro' the continual Firing of the Cannon of the Janizaries And at the same time all the Left Wing of the Enemies Cavalry fell upon the Right Wing of the Christians and very rudely handled the Regiments of Caprara Serau and Beck that were the first exposed to their Fury At that time the Prince of Baden seeing them in some disorder and perceiving his Left Wing was got at some distance from the Enemy advanced with some Troops that had not yet fought and flew with that Vigor upon the Infidels that he forced them to give Ground whereby a stop was put to the Fury of the Enemies Left Wing for a while But they resuming fresh Courage fell again upon the Regiments of Caprara and Serau whom they drave upon the Battalions of Beck and Kaunisch who were by that means utterly ruined before they had time to make their first Discharge upon their Adversaries yet the Troops of the second Line that began already to totter being supported by two Regiments more took fresh Courage and all things were well again in that Wing Now the Prince of Baden whose design was only to amuse the Enemy on that side and whose principal drift was to charge them in Flank and Rear seeing all things well restored in the Right Wing hastned with other Generals to the Left and being arrived at the Turks Camp ordered the Hungarians and Rascians to the number of 5000 to break in who presently overthrew all before them making a most dreadful Slaughter of the Infidels and this was the beginning of the Turks ruin For the Hungarians and Rascians being seconded by the Regiment of Hoffkirk and 4 or 5 more that composed the Left Wing the Spahi's and Janizaries defended themselves well for a time but at last were utterly defeated the Spahi's brake thro' the Battle of the Imperialists and the 2 Lines of their Horse received the bloody effects of all their Shot But the Janizaries who stood a little longer fled some one way some another Night only putting an end to the Slaughter However they continued the pursuit next Day and the Days following and killed a great number that hid themselves in the Bogs among the Rushes and in other by-places And the immediate consequence of this Defeat was the Imperialists possessing themselves of the Field of Battle of all the Tents Cannon and all the Baggage and of all the Enemies Ammunition and Provision The Mony also for the Payment of the Soldiers fell into the Germans Hands but that proved to be no great Purchase for they found the greatest part of the Coin they made use of was Copper But for all that the Booty must certainly be very great though at the same time it cost the Christians dear For besides the advantage of their Camp it is past all doubt that the Infidels never fought with so much Obstinacy and Courage as at this time there being not a Battalion or Squadron that was not oblig'd to Fight nor an Officer that was not in the thickest of the Action and forced to discharge his Pistols several times like the meanest private Soldier The Loss on both sides is almost incredible the Conquerors themselves owning they had about 7000 killed and wounded in all and among them a great number of
Enemies from the Hedges so far that in this Hedge-fighting their firing was generally Muzzle to Muzzle we on the one side and the Enemy on the other But to return to our Army As soon as they were come to the Head of the Defile it was order'd to halt particularly our Left Wing of Horse that the Foot that were interlin'd with them which were most English and Scotch and which I have before mentioned might march up thro' the Horse they were obliged to this Halt tho' it was the loss of the day because the Ground was so streight and the Enemy had such Hedges Copses and little Woods to cover them that there was nothing to do for the Horse So that when the Van-guard began to engage they had none but part of the Infantry interlined with the Left Wing of Horse to second them the Body of the Infantry being almost a Mile in the Rear However as soon as the Action began the King made all diligence possible to get the Infantry up ordering a Brigade to march up to the Wood and forming a Line of Battel in the Plain with that Infantry as could come up The Soldiers shewed such eagerness to come to the Enemy that they ran to the Relief of those that were engaged even so fast that they put themselves into some disorder which was the Reason that they took more time to form their Battalions than was at that time convenient This was the Case of those Battalions that were sent to the Wood to the Relief of our Van-guard so that when they came up our Van-guard and Infantry of the Left Wing being over-powered by the vast many Battalions of the Enemy as charged them successively one after another and lastly by the survening of Boufflers's fresh Troops they were forced to retreat in great Disorder and to leave the Wood in which they had lodged themselves entirely to the Enemies Possession The Baron of Pibrack's Regiment of Lunemburgers being in great Disorder in the Skirt of the Wood and the Baron their Colonel lying dangerously wounded upon the Place which he got in rallying of his Regiment the Earl of Bath's one of the Regiments that was commanded towards the Wood the other English being Brigadier Churchil's was ordered by Prince Casimir of Nassau to their Relief two Sergeants of this Regiment rescued the Colonel who lay wounded almost in the Enemies Hand and brought him off in spite of their Fire Upon these Orders of Prince Casimir of Nassau Sir Bevil Granville who commanded the Earl of Bath's Regiment march'd up to the Relief of this Lunemburg Regiment bearing the Enemies Fire before he suffered any Plattoon of his Battalion to discharge once by which Method the Regiment lodg'd it self in the Trench or deep Way that lay upon the Skirt of the Wood which it maintain'd till it was commanded off again by the said Prince of Nassau The King having formed a Line of as many Battalions as could come up in this little Plain the Enemy upon their Right and our Left of the Wood as we fac'd planted a Battery of about 10 Pieces of Cannon to put them in disorder by their Fire we at the same time brought another against it and thus continued firing one upon another a considerable time What Mischief our Men did to the Enemy by our Cannon then I cannot tell but theirs killed several of our Soldiers some in the Regiment of Fuzileers and some in the Battalion of the second Regiment of Guards but the most considerable Loss we sustained by it was Col. Hodges who was shot with a Cannon-ball at the Head of his Regiment of which he soon after died There was likewise a Skirmish between some of the French and some of our Battalions between the Wood and that Farm which was fired by the Enemy but it did not last long what Regiments they were I cannot tell but 't is supposed they were some of the Dutch interlined in the Left Wing of Horse commanded by Brigadier Fagel The Van-guard being thus disordered for want of a timely Relief which was occasioned by the narrowness of the Ground and consequently beaten out of their Post in the Wood Luxemburg being likewise join'd by the Marquess of Boufflers's fresh Troops who came â—ime enough to compleat the Defeat of our Van-guard with his Dragoons and besides the Night drawing on the King ordered his Army to retreat which was done with admirable Order for tho' the French did follow â—us for some time yet they did not fire a Shot such was the Order of our Retreat that they did not dare venture upon it The English Granadiers brought up the Rear and when-ever the French moved towards us they fac'd to the Right about and presented themselves to the Enemy then the Enemy would halt and so our Rear-guard marched on This halting and facing and then marching continued for some time till the Night put an end to the Enemies farther Motion And thus the Army came back to Hall on Monday Morning about Three We lost in this Action several Pieces of Cannon some taken by the Enemy and some we could not bring off the Horses being tired we likewise blew up some of our Powder-Waggons in the Retreat which we could not bring off some having their Carriages broken and others their Horses tired The English lost two Colours and the Dutch likewise some We had about 2000 Men killed and about 3000 wounded in which number we comprehend the Prisoners taken by the French disabled by their Wounds to come off being about 8 or 900. Here it was that brave General Mackay Sir John Lanier and divers other gallant Officers lost their Lives and surely the French notwithstanding their Te Deum for this pretended Victory had nothing to boast of since their Loss according to the Confession of divers of their Officers rather exceeded that of the Confederates and they had not come of so cheap neither had it not been for the Chevalier de Millevoix one of the Elector's Domesticks his having given and endeavoured to give further Intelligence to the Mareschal de Luxemburg of the King's Motion and Designs for which he was fairly hanged upon a Tree on the Right Wing of Horse And now this Business is over it is time we should come to the Particulars of Granvalle's forementioned Conspiracy as published in that time by Authority and it was briefly thus Upon the 11th of Aug. the Sieur de Granvale was brought to his Tryal before a Court Martial at Lembeck for the horrid Conspiracy by him entred into against the Life of his Majesty of Great Britain Where it appeared by Informations intercepted Letters and other Authentick Pieces that some of the greatest Ministers in the French Court had laid a Design to assassinate his Majesty of Great Britain and made Choice of Bartholomew Liniere Sieur de Granvale for their Instrument to manage the Enterprize and find out fit Persons to assist him To this purpose Granvale understanding that one Anthony
into Faro St. Lucar or Cadiz That about 6 in the Evening of the same Day the French Admiral and Vice-Admiral of the Blue came up with the Leeward and Sternmost of the Fleet which were 2 or 3 Dutch Men of War who as we understood afterwards fought first 11 and then 7 French Men of War but were forced at last to yield and the Captains being carried Aboard the French Admiral he asked Schrycer who was one of them and fought most desperately whether he was a Man or a Devil and treated them both very civilly This made the Dutch Merchant-men that were there tack for the Shore and the Enemy after them which gave a fair Opportunity to the Ships to Windward and a head to make sail of And this tacking after the Dutch saved most of the Fleet and the French accounts have exaggerated the loss we sustained mightily which indeed was too much But however it hapned with M. Tourville in the Management of this Affair I am sure if an English Admiral had had such an opportunity over the French and made no better use of it the Nation would never have forgiven him for the loss in the utmost extent of it was not reckoned above 32 Merchant-men taken and 27 burnt and some of the former belong'd to Neutral Princes and the greatest Loss that befel the English was the sinking of 4 of the greatest Merchant-men in the Bay of Gibraltar where it was hoped they were safe whereas the Danes Dutch c. that put in there for shelter came off unhurt and I have heard the occasion was that when a French Squadron came thither to bomb them and one of the first Bombs that was shot fell into one of these English Ships this tho' it did no considerable Damage ye◠it so terrified the Commanders that they could think of no way to save their Effects but by losing them as I have told you tho' nothing is more apparent than that the French might have shot a Thousand Bombs and not one more alighted in a Ship Sir George Rook upon this Disaster with the Men of War and some Merchant-men made the best of his way for Ireland where he safely arrived to the great Satisfaction of the Nation that things were no worse But I must say that Mens Tongues I believe were never looser against the State-ministry than now but where the Blame particularly lay has been left in the dark to this Day Having thus briefly passed over this ugly business we shall now step into Flanders and see what is doing there The French this Year were prodigious strong on that side and by Computation of the Forces on each side they exceeded the Confederates almost by one half at the beginning of the Campaign but the King's Diligence to possess himself 〈◊〉 the Camp at Park entirely broke the French King's Design upon Brabant which made the latter send a strong Detachment under the Command of the Dauphine and the Mareschal de Boufflers into Germany and return himself to Versailles without any manner of Attempt which was matter 〈◊〉 much Discourse both in France and elsewhere The French all this while were encamped at Meldert whose Convo◠were much molested by the Garrison of Charleroy yet 〈◊〉 seemed a Trial of Skill between both Armies who should continue longest in their Posts which at length on the 28th of July the French were forced to quit marching to Heylissem in their way towards the Meuse which gave the King an opportunity to send a strong Detachment under the Command of the Duke of Wirtemberg to force the French Lines in Flanders While he was putting this in Execution with very good Success and that Count Tilly General of the Troops of Leige was marching with a Re-inforcement to join the King Luxemburg being advertised of it immediately posted away some Troops to hinder that Conjunction who used that Celerity that they in a manner surprized the Count in the hollow ways thro' which he was marching and briskly charged such of his Troops as they could come at but the Count making a Vertue of Necessity ordered his Men not to engage but to retreat as fast as they could the French pursuing them as far almost as Maestrich to whom they did no considerable Damage save the taking of their Baggage However this Success incouraged Monsieur Luxemburg to lay siege to Huy which was invested on July 9th and this made the King move nearer the Country of Liege But when he came to Tongres he was surprized to hear the Castle of Huy had capitulated which made him also upon further Information that Monsieur Luxemburg was drawn nearer Liege send 10 Battalions thither who with very great Difficulty got at length into the Place that now absolutely rejected the Neutrality Luxemburg offered the Mareschal thereupon made as if he designed to attack it but in reality concluded to attack the King now encamped at Neerhespen so much weakened thro' the several Detachments he made to cover the places that seemed most in Danger that it was generally computed the French at the time of the Engagement exceeded the Confederates at least 35000 Men. The King to know the certainty of the Enemies Designs before he went further off from the Meuse sent out daily some Parties of Horse to get Intelligence of the Enemy one of which returned and gave him an Account they could not go beyond Waren because they met there with a great Party of French Horse which indeed was the Left Wing of their Army upon the March which made the King the Elector and other great Officers immediately to get on Horseback to inform themselves better And in short it was the King's own Observation by the Enemies Countenance that 't was the Vanguard of the whole French Army that was coming up to attack him in his own Camp which made him immediately draw up the Army in Battali◠to expect the Enemy As soon as the Enemy drew up by our Camp the King ordered Brigadier Ransey with his Brigade then composed of 5 Battalions viz. Offerrel Mackay Lauder Leven and Monroe to the Right of all before our Right Wing of Horse to guard some Hedges and hallow Ways which there covered our Right just upon the Right of the Village of Laer. The Brandenburg Battalions were posted at this Village and to the Left of it and more to the Left the Infantry of Hanover Prince Charles of Brandenburg as Major-General commanded the 6 Battalions of Brandenburg and Lieutenant-General du Mont the Hanover with whom he was to defend the Village of Neerwinden that cover'd part of our Camp between the Right Wing of Horse and our main Body These were afterwards reinforc'd by the first Battalion of the first Regiment of Guards and the second Battalion of Scotch Guards Upon the Left at Neerlanden his Majesty order'd the first Battalion of the Royal Regiment Churchill's Selwyn's and Trelawney's Prince Frederick's Battalion of Danes and Fagel's to possess this Village that
or Upper Castle which Work being embraced and all manner of Communication cut off was forced to Surrender But the French to prevent such a Method of proceeding another time built a strong Stone Redoubt just upon the top of the Hill between the Cohorn and Terra Nova with a Case-mott upon it Bomb-proof and this Work commands all this Bottom unto the Sambre before which Work they had also made a very good Covered Way pallisadoed from the Angle of the Gorge of the Cohorn to the Brink of the Hill upon the Meuse Add to this a very good Half-moon they had made upon the Curtain of the Horn-work of the Terra Nova besides their fortifying of the Devil's House which flanks the sides of the Cohorn towards the Meuse with a strong Stone Redoubt which place when the Spaniards had it had but a simple Retrenchment about it and yet it held out 4 or 5 Days From the upper part of the Cohorn which is towards the Meuse they had made a very good Covered Way that goes about before the forementioned Redoubt to the Edge of the Hill upon the Meuse they had undertaken a prodigious Line cut into a Rock all along the top of the Hill near an English Mile in length terminating upon the Edge of the Hill towards the Sambre and the same Hill towards the Meuse with two Redoubts at each end The Line was finished and the Redoubt towards the Meuse very forward but that toward the Sambre was but just begun which they made up with Fascines upon the Arrival of the Confederates before the Place And in short the Castle was so strongly fortify'd upon the top of the Hill with all these Outworks that it would have been a very tedious piece of Work for the Confederates to have attack'd it this way But the weak side of the Castle and Cohorn was towards the Sambre and the Town and the French had not provided for an Attack on that side so that all those prodigious Works fell into the Confederates Hands in less time than the French had taken this Place before tho' then far inferiour to what it is now in Strength and Fortifications To which if you add the Strength of the Garrison being computed at near 14000 Men and most of them the best Troops of France headed by a Mareschal of France and assisted by Major General de Megrigny one of the ablest Engineers in Europe it would look little less than a Wonder that the Confederates should carry it But now its time to come to some Particulars After the Place had been invested the King ordered the Earl of Athlone with most of the Cavalry to the Plains of Flerus and so to the Pieton to consume the Forage that was there and a good Reinforcement from the Army under Prince Vaudemont to march towards Namur where on the 27th of June the Besiegers began to work on the Lines of Circumvallation traceing the Ruines of that which the French had made when they besieged the place but for want of their Cannon coming up they did not open their Trenches till the first of July which was done without considerable Disturbance from the French But by the 3d their Cannon began to play from a Battery of 3 Pieces of Cannon from the de Bouge against the Old Tower and from the Edge of the Height of St. Barbe On the 4th a Detachment was sent to reinforce the Prince de Vaudemont upon an Information that the Duke de Villeroy designed to attack him who to that end had made his Army as strong as possible and passing the Lys advanced to St. Barbon of whose Motion the Prince being aware he made a Movement of his Camp at Woutergaem to bring his Right more to the Reer to take up the rising Ground of Arseel which he judged more defensible and then ordered Retrenchments to be made upon the Left towards the Lys and Walken as they also fortified all the rising Grounds upon the right of Arseel The Prince had then with him about 50 Battalions of Foot and 51 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and with these Forces he was then resolved to expect the Mareschal de Villeroy though the latter had near double the number with which he was marching upon the 4th of July towards him and came up early enough to have attacked him But whether it was that he found the Prince's Camp so strongly fortifyed or that he would not then hazard a Battle or that he had Orders to stay till Montal had taken his Post in the Reer of the Prince's Right Wing between Arseel and Wirk to attack him there he remained in sight of them that Evening expecting to have fallen upon the Prince very early in the Morning and in a manner to have caught him in a Net by invironing him on the Right But the Prince being informed of Montal's Motion and finding he had already passed the Thielt wisely changed his Resolution of Fighting and though the time was very urgent and pressing he immediately with a most admirable Judgment resolved upon and contrived a Retreat and as he is a Person of very great foresight he had wisely provided for such an Accident in the Morning by ordering all the Baggage to load immediately and to March by the way of Deinse to Ghent that it might not embarrass the motion of the Army First the Prince ordered the Cannon to be drawn off of the Batteries and to March towards Deinse which was done with that Secrecy that the Enemy did not perceive it for he had cunningly ordered the Artillery to be moving from the Batteries all the Afternoon so that when it went clear off the Enemy thought it had been but the ordinary Motion Then marched the two Lines of Foot upon the Left along the Retrenchment to cover which the Prince ordered a Body of Horse to go and post themselves in the Retrenchment as it was quitted by the Foot the Foot at the same time marching out with their Pikes and Colours trailing to conceal their going off Neither did the Enemy perceive this Motion till the Cavalry mounted again and abandoned the Retrenchment By which time the Infantry was got into the Bottom between Arseel and Wouterghem marching towards Deynse But while the Foot were filing off from the Retrenchment the Prince ordered Monsieur Overkirke with the Right Wing of the Horse interlined with Collier's Brigade of Foot to make a Line falling towards Caneghem extending himself from the Wind-mill of Arseel towards Wink And this Motion was in order to make Montal believe that this Line was designed to oppose his Attempt upon the Rear of the Prince's Right but his secret Orders were to march off by Wink to Nivelle and so to Ghent At the same time that the Foot marched by Wouterghem and Deynse the Earl of Rochford who was posted with the Left Wing of Horse and two Battalions towards the Lys made the Rear-Guard towards the Left with a Line of Foot upon the one
to have attacked them successfully considering the rout of their Cavalry but therein they were prevented by the approach of Night Next Day which was the 22d the Elector sent a numerous Detachment to observe the Enemies posture who gave an account of their being strongly posted between two Morasses that secured the Wings of their Army and that they had planted several Cannon before them and that the avenues of those Morasses were almost inaccessible Whereupon it was concluded in a Council of War that the Imperialists should retreat 3000 Paces towards the Mountains in hopes to draw the Turks out of their Entrenchments which was done next Day in order of Battle On the 24th the Enemies appeared with a great part of their Army but drew a new and third line so speedily that it was finished before the Germans could fall upon them so that there was no more done that Day but Cannonading one anothers Camps On the 24th the Imperialists made some little motion and fell down into a Plain having a River behind them in hopes to draw the Enemy out of their Retrenchments yet that would not do neither But upon the 25th the Imperialists had advice upon the return of their advanced Guards that the Infidels began to appear and were fetchâ—ing a compass to fall upon the right Wing being covered by a thick Wood which was in part cut through and separated the Enemy from that right Wing about a Leagues distance It was thought at first to have been only some Detachment but the Imperial Generals coming out with some Horse upon the Discovery found it to be the whole Ottoman Army marching in a full Body towards them and this was confirmed by a Prisoner that was taken immediately after Upon this the Imperial Army was ranged in Order of Battle with a Design to go and meet the Enemy but they made so much speed that before the Germans â—uld cross the Woods the Turks had posted themselves upon one Line between the Imperialists and Temeswaer having a Wood behind them a tripple Range of Cannon in Front their-Right Wing opposite to the Imperialists Left and having a Morass upon their own Left Wing which was the Reason the Imperialists could not press so close upon them as they wished However Six Battalions were commanded out who entred the Wood about Five in the Afternoon to charge the Turâ— in Flank being seconded by two Regiments of Dragoons while the Body of the Army advanced at the same time through the Wood. The Ottomans finding themselves very much annoyed drew out their Horse and detach'd againâ—â— the Body of the Imperial Army that advanced in two Columns Twelve Thousand Senderbeegli's on Horseback being a sort of People that usually run upon the hottest of the 〈◊〉 and fight like Madmen in hopes of great Rewards which the Sultans are wont to give them after the Battle is over These Men after they had forced the Calthorps of the Imperialists broke into the first Line so that two Battalions were constrained to give way to their Fury but they were sooâ— after repulsed by some sent out for that purpose and the Line was again closed by the same Battalions In the meaâ— time the six first Battalions fell upon the Janizaries behind the Barricade of Waggons and that with so much resolute Bravery that they drove them from thence But the Jaâ—â—saries fired so thick upon them besides that they were attacked in Flank with so much Fury by the Ottomon Horse thâ— they were forced to retire The two Regiments of Drâ—goons that were to second them had at the same time begun to charge those Horse with good Success But the Jâ—nisaries coming to their Succour the Encounter was so rude that several Officers on both sides were slain and some wounded and the said two Regiments of Dragoons being constrained to retire were pursued by the Ottomans with greâ—â— Slaughter But then General Heidersheim coming up with 〈◊〉 fresh Regiment of Horse drove the Enemy within their baâ—ricado'd Waggons There that gallant Commander whâ— had been engaged in this War every Campaigne from thâ— beginning of it had the Misfortune to receive a dangerouâ— Wound which forced him to leave the Battle and of whiâ—â— he died after While both Parties were thus contending on this side thâ— Enemies Cavalry poured in upon some of the Imperial Regiments on the other and having first put them to the Rout broke in upon the Second Line but they were stopped short by the Infantry till the first Line was Closed again by some Regiments of Horse that were sent for from the other side upon which the same Regiments vigorously Repressed the Enemy but were hindred as was said from pursuing them by some unknown Order However some other Regiments of Horse pursued them with extraordinary Courage even to their Barricades Upon this there was some Foot immediately detached away not only to supply the place which the Regiments of Horse had left void in the first Line but to second them and to endeavour both together to force the Enemies Waggon-Barricades But the Janisaries fired so furiously upon the Imperialists that they obliged them to Retire and being pursued by the Turks the Retreat was so hasty that another Regiment of Horse was quite put out of order But then the Regiment of Caprara's coming in seasonably to their Relief Charged the Enemy in Flank and drove them back again to their Barricades with so much loss and confusion that the Grand Seignior who Commanded a Reserve of about 3000 Men in Person at a little distance behind the Barricades had much adoe to stop the Run-a-ways and to prevent his other Troops from forsaking the said Barricade But Night coming on it was not thought convenient to Attack them in their Barricades However the Elector kept the Army upon the Field of Battle at their Arms all Night and offered the Sultan Battle next Day which the other declined and so ended this Battle than which there has not been any one Fought with more Resolution and Bravery on both sides in this Age and it seemed to have been like a drawn Battle The Loss in all appearance was not very different for the Christians did not make the Enemies loss to exceed 4000 Men and when they themselves on the other Hand have owned their's to have been about 3000 some small Deduction for Partiallity will make it very near the same But tho neither side had any great reason to boast of its Advantage this Campaign from this Battle yet the Success Count Barthiani Governour of Croatia had in the mean time by the Taking of the strong Castle of Vranogratz and the Fort of Tuderaw altered the case in favour of the Germans For the Reduction both of the one and the other freed the Emperor's Territories from several Incursions of the Infidels that way which very much annoy'd the Inhabitants of those Parts We have but little to say of the Venetians this Year there being nothing done in the
Points and Articles therein contained and declared have for our Selves our Heirs Successors Kingdoms Countries Lands Lordships and Subjects accepted approved ratified and confirmed and do accept approve ratifie and confirm the same and do promise upon the Word and Faith of a King to keep and observe the whole inviolably without ever acting to the Contrary directly or indirectly in any sort or kind whatsoever and thereto we oblige and mortgage all and every our Goods that are or shall be In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with our own Hand and have made our Seal to be set thereto Given at St. Germain en Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The ARTICLE concerning the Prince of Orange AS in pursuance of the War which for some Years has happened betwixt the most Christian King and the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces of the Low-Countries his Majesty caused to be seized all Things belonging to the Prince of Orange as well the Principality of Orange as other his Lands and Seignories lying in France and granted the Revenues thereof to Monsieur the Comte d' Auvergne who enjoys the same at present and since by the Grace of God a Peace is settled by the Treaty this Day concluded and so all the angry Effects of War ought to cease his Majesty hath promised to the said Prince and doth promise by this separate Act that immediately after the Ratifications exchanged his Majesty will take off the said Seisure and cause the said Prince to be restored to the Possession of the said Principality and of the Lands which belong to him in France Franche Comte Charleroy Flanders and other Countries depending upon his Majesty's Rule and to all his Rights Actions Privileges Usages and Prerogatives in such Estate and Manner as he enjoyed the same till he was dispossess'd by reason of the present War Nimeguen Aug. 10. in the Year of our Lord 1678. Marshal D'Estrades Colbert De Mesmes H. Beverning W. de Nassaw W. Haren WE well liking the separate Article aforesaid in all and and every Point thereof have by these Presents Signed with our Hand allowed approved and ratified and do allow approve and ratifie the same promising upon the Faith and Word of a King to fulfil observe and cause to be observed the same truly and faithfully without suffering any Thing to be acted directly or indirectly to the Contrary thereof for any Cause or upon any Occasion whatsoever In witness whereof we have Signed these Presents with Our Hand and have caused Our Seal to be put therto Given at St. Germain in Laye Aug. 18. in the Year of Grace 1678. and of our Reign the 36th Signed Lewis By the King And underneath Arnauld The Day after the Signing of this Peace came over the Ratification of the late Treaty between the King and States with Orders to Sir Will. Temple to proceed forthwith to see the Exchange of them which he did accordingly tho' after the Counter-pace made by the Dispatch sent by De Cross and the Consequences of it the same seemed now as unnecessary as it had been at first unresolved at the English Court and unexpected by the Dutch who many of them now were as unsatisfied with the Peace and especially with the Precipitation of Monsieur Beverning to Sign it upon the sudden Offer of the French Ministers to evacuate the Towns and before he had acquainted the States with it and received new Orders thereupon as the generality of that Nation were weary of the War but the Thing was done and after some Contestation the City of Amsterdam declaring her Approbation of it the rest of the Provinces came soon to acquiesce also in the same But while these Matters were transacted in the Cabinet there was a Work of another nature undertaken in the Field Mons had been straitly Blocked up for some time by the French Army under the Command of the Duke of Luxemburg who was so confident of the good Posture he was in that he sent the Mareschal d' Estrades one of the French Plenipotentiaries at Nimeguen word He was so Posted that if he had but 10000 Men and the Prince of Orange 40000 yet he was sure he could not be Forced whereas he took his Army to be stronger than that of the Prince But the Prince for all that and in spight of many Disadvantages from an Army drawn so suddenly together so hasty a March as that of the Dutch and Posts taken with so much Force and Fortified with so much Industry did upon Sunday the 17th of Aug. in the Morning Decampt with his own and the Confederate Armies from Soignes marched towards Roches and from thence resolved to advance towards the Enemy whose Right Wing was Posted at the Abby of St. Dennis and the Left at Mamoy St. Pierre with such advantage of Situation that they were almost thought unaccessible for besides the Woods there was only a Precipice led to them and that by narrow Paths About 12 the Cannon began to play upon St. Dennis and the Prince went to Dinner in the open Field just as the Duke of Monmouth arrived in the Camp when Dinner was ended the Battalions under the direction of Count Waldeck began to act on the side of the Abby and about 3 in the Afternoon made their Attack the Prince himself being there present and that with extraordinary Bravery all the Regiments of his Left Wing seconding one another in excellent Order In the mean time the Spanish Troops under the Command of the Duke de Villa Hermosa acted on the side of Chasteau being assisted by the Prince's Guards who had the Van and the English and Scots Troops Commanded by the brave Earl of Ossory The Action lasted from 3 in the Afternoon till 9 at Night during which the Prince rid toward Chasteau where the Dispute was likewise very sharp the Guards behaving themselves with extraordinary Vigour and the Earl of Ossory with his Troops doing Wonders The Prince himself was Ingaged among the foremost of the French who on such an occasion were not well to be distinguished from the Confederate Troops and Monsieur Overkirk shot a French Commander who attackt his Highness At last after a great Slaughter on both sides the Confederates remained Masters of St. Dennis Abby having thought fit to quit the Post at Chasteau by reason of the great difficulty they found to second their Attacks on that side The Duke of Luxemburg finding how things went on his side thought fit to Retire in the Night leaving his Dead many Wounded his Tents c. behind him and the Prince next Morning went to view the Camp the Enemy had Abandoned taking up his Quarters at the Abby of St. Dennis where the Duke of Luxemburg had had his the Day before But Advice of Signing of the Peace coming to the Prince next Morning from the States hindred the prosecution of this Advantage which
and 4 Senators to the French Court to make their humble Submissions But while the French Monarch was thus triumphing over the little republick of Genoa the Campaign was not in Hungary the general Rendesvouz of the Imperial Army was upon on the 20th of May at Schlesia upon the Waag from whence they moved and Encamped the 30th of the same Month near Schenowitz and from thence by several Marches and Halts by Monday the Fifth of June they came within â—aif a Mile of Neuheusel having as 't was thought a design to Attack the place but being informed on the 10th that the Garrisons of Pest and Budae consisted only of 8000 Men and that there was no more Force besides there save 2 or 3 Thousand Tartars that Encamped near the place and that even the whole Turkish Army between Buda and Esseck consisted of no more than 17000 Men and that there was not any Discourse of a greater Number they ordered thereupon a Bridge of Boats to be made at Cran which the Army marched over and so joined General Mercy and Collonel Heusler who had several Regiments of Horse under their Command and some Foot and the Duke on the 14th after having sent 500 Men under Count Sâ—â—rum before went directly to Vicegrade which was a Turkish Pass and a strong Mountainous Fortress on the Danube where his Artillery arrived next Day he ordered the place to be Attackt at which the Enemy put out a Red Flag for a Signal of Defiance having sent all their Women and Children before with the best of their Effects to Buda However the Infantry posted themselves immediately under the Walls of the Town against whose Walls and Pallisadoes they fired 12 pieces of Canon on the 16th all the day long and in the Evening stormed it which the Enemy not enduring were forced to flee to the Castle and adjacent Mountains but they found no security there neither For the Castle was so Bombed next day that about Noon they began to Capitulate but it happened so that the Conditions could not be agreed on that day because of a flying Report that came from Gran That Baron Halliwell had been worsted by the Enemy which made the Duke with some Horse immediately move that way But upon Confusion of Reports he thought fit to send the Prince of Baden with some Squadrons thither who upon his Arrival found the Action already over which hapned briefly thus The Turks upon their approach to Graâ— about Noon appeared and sounded an Allarm Whereupon General Halliwel who was much mistaken as to their Number went and posted himself upon the left Hand betwixt the two Mountains in a straight Pass with about 500 Horse and gave at the same time Orders to the Lieutenant Collonel of Sax Lauemburg to advance through the Passage and put himself in order Things being thus effected the General from an Hill where he had posted his Men found contrary to expectation the Enemy much stronger than he had thought drawn up in the form of an half Moon and advancing with a design to inclose him which made him think of retiring but it proved too late for he was here killed though Lieutenant Collonel Rabâ—â—â— did all he could to relieve him falling upon the Enemy with great Fury whom he drove back and pursued above 5 Miles from the Place to an advantageous Post where they rallied and in this Action came off with a greater Loss than the Christians From Vicegrade the Duke of Lorain directed his March by the Way of Gran and Barkan towards Waisen sending Colonel Hâ—uster before with 500 Horse to view the Posture of the Enemy who on Monday the 26th brought Intelligence that the Turks were advancing towards Waisen in the hollow Way Whereupon the Duke continued his March and next Day arrived in the Plains of Waisen where the Enemy being about 15000 strong appeared drawn up in Battallia Their right Wing flanked with Janizaries stood upon the Mountain but their left drew towards the City which made the Duke put himself immediately into a Posture of Defence flanking the Cavalry with the Infantry This was hardly done when the Enemy discharged 5 Pieces of Cannon they had with great Fury several times upon the Imperialists right Wing but without any Damage so that they quitted that Station and fell briskly upon the left but were soon beaten back in great Disorder and Confusion towards the right where they were so warmly plied with the German Cannon that they immediately retired the Horse towards Pest and as many of the Foot as saved themselves into the City having lost in all about 1000 and among them one Basha but with very little loss to the Germans especially since the Duke of Lorain escaped so well though so narrowly for his Horse was shot through the Neck during the Engagement The Consequence of this Success was after the firing of some Cannon the Surrender of Waisen upon Discretion From hence the Army marched towards Pest after having garrisoned the other Place with 2000 Foot 500 Curassiers and 300 Dragoons On Monday the 10th of July the whole Army got over the Danube and encamped at a Place called St. Andrew their Left Wing being secured by the Danube and their Right by an unaccessible Mountain and right against them a broad and long Marsh But for all this the Enemy not only advanced towards Noon but divided themselves into 2 Wings and leaving the great Marsh in the middle fell with great Noise and Fury upon the Germans whose Cavalry thereupon a little advanced upon their Left Wing but were immediately ordered back by the Duke's Commands In the mean time the Turks had beaten back the Christians Watch but the Prince of Salm who commanded the Rear-guard stoutly opposed them and being reinforced with a Battallion of Infantry and with some Pieces of Cannon from the Duke he utterly routed and pursued them near upon 2 Miles when the Turks rallied again and fell with great Fury upon the Right Wing tho' a continued 〈◊〉 from 20 Pieces of Cannon which the Germans had planted quickly drove them back to the Tops of the Mountains where they thought to secure themselves But 〈◊〉 Bastemburg Battallion who had before hid themselves in the Bushes of those Mountains did so â—epper them with their Shot that the foremost were constrained to quit them Saddles and the hindermost to seek for shelter among the Bushes from whence they were beaten down headlong by another Battallion into the Valley where they were again extremly gauled by the Germans Cannon and being forced to retire to their Right Wing which by this time had put themselves into some Order they fell with their whole Power upon the Christians Left who bravely opposed them and upon their retreat were intercepted by Sâ—affeâ—berg's Regiment and a Party of Dragoons who had posted themselves on the Right-hand of the Marsh and divers of them slain Upon this they fled to a Mountain where their Artillery was planted and tarried
there all Night and next Day marched in all haste towards Buda after a considerable Loss while the Imperialists in the mean time pitched their Camp within a Mile of the said City in a large Plain and rested there till the 12th of the same Month and on the 12th invested the Place The Germans for the 3 following Days continued to raisâ— Batteries and make their Approaches and on the 18th the Camp was changed part of the Infantry and Cavalry being detached over the Mountains to besiege the Town on thâ— side when a strong Party of the Enemy appeared on the Eminence towards Alba Regalis which the Duke resolved to attack But they intended to assault the Germans Approacheâ— while the Besieged made 4 furious Sallies and beat the Germans on the Danube side even to the Powder-Mill but therâ— were at last every where repulsed and drove into the City The Imperialists the next Day attack'd the Lower Towâ— in 2 different places with that resolute Braverâ— that they eâ—tirely carried it and that with the Loss but of 10 Men the Enemies amounting at least to 200 but the Place having dâ—ring the Assault been fired both by the Turks and Christianâ— thoughâ— the Flame increased not much at first yet a Wind aâ—â—sing in the Night it reduced it almost to Ashes On the 20th the Besiegers begun to raise a Battery on the Right hand of the Upper City upon Gerrard's Mount and towardâ— Evening possest themselves of that Block-house which thâ— Turks had abandoned and the Day following they continue their Battery with much Application when at Night 〈◊〉 't was resolved the Duke of Lorain should go and see out the Enemy who were Encamped about Four Milâ— of concerning which and the Victory that ensued taâ— the Account from the Duke 's own LETTER to the Empâ—ror IT having pleased Almighty God to give Your Imperial Majesty Yesterday being the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen a great and signal Victory I could not omit sending this Express Count Charles de Magni Colonel of Dragoons to give your Imperial Majesty an Account of it with all the Circumstances that have accompanied this great Action Upon the Advice we received on the 21st Instant we were resolved to leave all the Infantry and what Horse was necessary before Buda and with the rest of the Cavalry and 1000 Musqueteers commanded by the Count de Aversburg and 1500 Hussars commanded by Count John Esterhasi to go and meet the Enemy who were encamped 2 German Miles beyond Buda near Hanschabets We marched all Night and by Break of Day were within half a Mile of the Enemies Camp who might easily see and observe us being very well intrenched They came out of their Camp being about 20000 strong put themselves into Battalia and made a shew for some time of attacking us in our Flank but we did our part to hinder their Design and so the Fight begun and God blessing your Majesty's Arms we put the Enemy into Confusion they fled and we followed them very close and became Masters of their whole Camp as at the Raising of the Siege of Vienna of all their Tents Baggage Artillery and all their Riches 4000 of the Turks were slain upon the Place and a great many wounded beside those that were killed wounded or taken Prisoners in the Pursuit we having sent the Hungarians and the Poles after them The Turks had with them 1000 Janizaries who were all cut off We have taken the great Standard of Mahomei which the Sultâ—n gives to the Grand Visier when he takes upon him the general Command of the Army and the Pavilion of the Turkish Officer who is known by the Title of the Serasquier and commanded in Chief this Army in the Absence of the Grand Vifier This Victory through the Almighty Hand of God may be said to be compleat and entire and gives us a Prospect of being in few Days Masters of the Town and Castle of Buda Prince Lewis of Baden Nephew to Prince Herman of Buden pursued the Enemy above 2 Hours at the Head of the Regiments of the Prince of Sâ—â—oy and of General Goiz And it was he that took the Enemies Cannon The faithful Hungarians and Prince 〈…〉 Poles followed them likewise a great way We cannot sufficiently commend the Gourage of our Cavalry and we may say to your Majesty that all the Officers have behaved themselves extreamly well and have out-done what could be expected from them We must truly own that the Count de Caprara Mareschal de Camp General Prince Louis of Baden the Prince de Salm and all the Officers of the Imperial Army have very much contributed to the Glory of this Day We have caused Te Deum to be sung for this Victory And for the rest we refer it to Count Magni to give your Imperial Majesty a more particular Account of what passed CHARLES Duke of Lorain But tho' this Success did considerably heighten the Courage of the Besiegers yet it did at not all abate the Resolution of the Garrison to defend so important a Place to the last Extremity and therefore tho' the former attacked it every way with all the Resolution imaginable yet the other obstinately persisted to repulse them by frequent Sallies and making new Intrenchments and other Defences behind the Works that were ruined by the Imperialists Cannon And this continued for the Remainder of July the whole Month of Aug. and to the 11th of Sept. when the Duke of Bavaria with his Auxiliary Forces arrived in the Camp who taking up their Post on the Left-hand of the Bridge immediately raised a Battery against the Castle and the Elector on the 13th sent a Corporal of his who understood the Turkish Language with a Summons in Turkish and in Latin in his Imperial Majesty's Name to surrender the Town giving him a Captive Turk for a Guide The Basha ordered the Messenger 15 Ducats and told him That he had no need to give up the Town being provided with all Things necessary for its Defence Whereupon the Bavarians fell furiously on and advanced the Siege very much on their side but the Germans succeeded not so well And this continued for several Days when on Monday the 25th of Sept. the Enemy made a more vigorous Sallâ— than they had done at any time before while the Serasquieâ— who had a good Army without used all his Endeavours at the same time to put some Troops into the City over the Hill on the Left of Weissemberg and notwithstanding the great Efforts made by the Christians to repulse them they succeeded so well as to get 600 Men into the Place Now the Siege began to be fainter and fainter and the Besieged appeared every Day more vigorous than other And so Things continued almost for a Month longer when the Garrison made 3 great Sallies on the 24th and 25th of Oct. with so much Resolution that they killed abundance of the Christians and ruined several of their Works the Bavarians were forced
Agria bombarded by the Baron de Merci and all the Country round it ravaged and destroyed and then the Troops went into their Winter-Quarters the Bounds whereof they had considerably enlarged in that part of Hungary this Campaign I have nothing to say concerning the Feats of the Poles this Season unless it be that they did suffer their Provinces of Podolia c. to be ravaged by the Tartars came themselves late into the Field not under the Conduct of the King but of the Crown-General and besides a Skirmish or two with some of the Enemies Parties and threatning to invade Moldavia or some of those Dynasties did nothing else but return again to their Quarters But the Venetians made far better Work of it for after considerable Preparations made and divers Consultations had at length the Captain-General Francisco Morosini considering the vast Importance of Coron could he take it for the Use of the Republick set sail in the Month of July for that Place But scarce had the Venetians approached the Place when a great Body of Turks came down from the Country and took their Lodgments within Pistol-shot of the Christians which wonderfully animated the Besieged who were already of themselves sufficiently bent to make an obstinate Resistance especially considering the Advantages they had by the steep and difficult Situation of the Town the Abundance of Provision and Ammunition they were stored with besides their own Strength and Number which was very considerable And indeed to say the Truth of them the Besieged and Turks without acted for the Preservation of the Place whatever might be expected from desperate and brave Men. They attempted several times to become Masters of a Bonnet which commanded the Venetian Camp but they were stil repulsed though it retarded the Besiegers and was an Hindrance for them to carry on their Works Then the General sprung a Mine wherein were an 100 Barrels of Powder which was perform'd on the 24th of July but it had not the desired Effect quite contrary to the Hopes of the Success of this Work which so encouraged the Turks that they broke into the Venetian Lines to gain their desired Object the fore-mentioned Bonnet Yet when they thought themselves secure of it the General poured in upon them a good Body of Horse and Dragoons which being seconded by the Maltese Forces attack'd them at the very Entrance of the Bonnet with so much Resolution and Valour for the Space of 3 Hours during which time the Combate very obstinately lasted that at last the Venetian Forces replanted their White Colours upon the Place the Turks that were driven from it endâ—avouring to shelter themselves under the Covert of the adjacent Trees but that Place was quickly made too hot to hold them also They lost in the whole of their Number 400 and had as many wounded but the Venetians had not above 130 killed and wounded in all on their side and even to sweeten that Loss they got by the Action several rich Spoils and amongst other Things 17 Standards When they returned into their Trenches they exposed 130 Turks Heads to the View of the Besieged thinking thereby to terrifie them into a Surrender â—ut for all this they continued nothing less obstinate in the Defence of the Place which provoked the Venetians on the other hand to give them more terrible Effects of their Resolution and Power by the most furious Discharge of their Cannons Bombs and Stones upon them while at the same time which was July 30 the Turks rallied again after their Flight their Strength being considerably augmented by a great Number of Soldiers they had drawn together from all Parts of the Morea and by the Forces of the Captain-Basha and attempted a second time with greater Fury than before to throw themselves into the Venetian Trenches yet they were bravely repulsed and encountred with a Shower of Musket-shot and Granadoes so that they were forced not only to retreat but were pursued by Col. Bianchli's Regiments with 200 Dragoons to their own Retrenchments with the Loss of 400 Men which was so much the more heightned in that a Cannon-Ball took off Kalil Basha Visier Commander General of the Ottoman Army However all these Disadvantages would not abate the Turkish Pride and bring them to yield for they knew still where to be recrulted with fresh Troops and omitted not daily to disturb the Venetians in their Trenches Which Obstinacy of the Turks together with the Venetians being in this manner from within and without much harrassed with continual Action greatly lessened their Numbers so that the General saw plainly there was no lingring on the Matter but that either he must make some bold Attempt or draw off Wherefore having first ruminated it in himself he then proposed the Design to a Council of War which was To adventure to force the Enemies Camp and which perhaps contrary to his Expectation was approved of by them Hereupon he drew out of the Gallies 1500 Voluntiers who under the Command of Lieutenant-General Magnani landed about Midnight and next Day being Aug. 7 1200 of them filed off to the Left of the Enemies Retrenchments by the Entrance of a Valley the rest of them at the same time moving to the Right while some other Troops were held in a Readiness to follow their Motions and give them speedy Succour as Necessity required in order to favour and promote the Design The Twilight of the next Morning being come 2 Barrels of Powder were fired as a Signal which was immediately followed with a Discharge of all the Cannon and furious Salvo's of all the Musketeers with a continual firing both on the Front and Flank of the Enemies Camp which brisk and unexpected Assault put the Turks into very great Disorder and the forwardest of them began to flinch and give back without being able to be heartned up by the Example of the most undaunted or Commands of their Officers So that the Venetians finding such weak Resistance they fell on with the greater Fury and made a great Slaughter among the Turks scare any escaping their Swords and all this with little Loss to themselves They found also in the Turks Camp a very rich Booty of Artillery Arms Ammunition and Provision with about 300 Horses Tents Standards and 6 Brass Guns 3 whereof were marked with St. Mark of Venice besides the Imperial Standard adorned with 3 Horse-Tails The Venetians after so fortunate an Adventure finding themselves free from the great Obstacles of the Turks that were encamped without the Walls and now Masters of the Field were big with Hopes of soon putting the Besieged out of all Thoughts of further Defence wherefore they prepared for a general Assault and for that End sprung a Mine whose Effect was to bring them to an Attack which lasted for 3 Hours together the Besieged withstanding them with incredible Valour and Opposition fatal to a great many Noble Venetians and Valiant Soldiers who perished there This considerable Loss
On the 16th it was carried on with great Vigour and at the Duke of Lorain's Attack the Pallisadoes with which the Enemy had secured the Breach were burnt but the Night following they set up new ones again and made other Works to defend the Breach while the Germans and Bavarians continued their Mines Batteries and other Preparations at their respective Attacks for a general Assault So that on the 19th all Things were again ready for a Storm but the 2 Mines which the Christians sprang not throwing down the Enemies Pallisadoes as was expected they did not then go on with it but raised a Battery of 4 Pieces of Cannon more to play upon the Enemies Pallisadoes Thus Things continued to the 20th when about 6 in the Morning 3000 chosen Janizaries and Spahi's each of which received 30 Crowns from the Grand Visier to encourage them to that Service fell upon the Christians Out-guards and forced them and the Croats who were posted in the Plain to retire into the Camp and in the Confusion occasioned thereby they put about 150 Men into the Town the rest being beaten back by the Troops which Count Caprara and General Heusser brought to the Assistance of the Croats However this Reinforcement was not so considerable as either to daunt the Germans or hearten the Turks much tho' the latter persisted still as obstinate in their Defence as the other were resolute to carry the Place before they left it a second time To which end they continued on the 21st to play with their Cannon and Bombs from the 3 Attacks they had and to fill the Ditches with that Success that on the Elector of Bavaria's side all Things were ready for an Assault But the Besieged made a Sally upon them next Day and beat them from some of their Works which the Bavarians recovered soon after and not only so but cut off the Turks they found there Not satisfied with that on the 23d they made an Assault upon the Castle the Detachment which was appointed for that Service mounted the Breach tho' defended by the Turks with great Obstinacy whose Retrenchments they forced and all their other Posts on that side and remained absolute Masters of the Castle most of the Turks that were posted there being killed and the rest retired behind the Ruines of the Houses from whence the Christians Cannon quickly chased them into the Town which was only separated from the Castle by an old Wall of no great Defence This being happily effected the Besiegers bestirred themselves in all Quarters to put the finishing Stroke to the Work and so much the more because of the near Approach of the Ottoman Army again and therefore amongst other Things on the 27th they laid a Boom cross the River with Beams to prevent any Body's swimming into the Town tho' none of the Enemy appeared either that or the next Day But on the 29th by Break of Day a Party of about 3000 Janizaries on Horse-back advanced along the side of the Danube by the Hot Baths with a Design to throw themselves into the Place by the Way of the Lower Town to which Purpose they brought along with them some Engines like Ladders made with Boards which they applied to the Wall and about 6 Turks passed who were cut off by those on the inside There were about 400 of them who rid along the Wall of the Lower Town till they got to St. Paul's Valley receiving the Fire of the Christians Lines which was there doubled upon them and a little further they met with a Squadron of Horse who cut them all off save 4 or 5 that got into the Town And indeed they were so confounded with the Christians Lines and Redoubts that they knew not which way to turn themselves so that they came off with very considerable Loss Yet this Miscarriage did not totally discourage the Grand Visier who on the 30th of Aug. attempted by 3 several Ways to put in Succours but the Troops appointed for that Service were repulsed by those which were set for the Guard of the Imperial Lines with the Loss of 500 Men Tho' to favour the Design the Grand Visier had at the same time drawn up his Army in the Plain making a Shew as if he would attack the Christians but went no farther So that the latter proceeded with all imaginable Application to fill up the second Ditch and to put every Thing in a Readiness for a general Assault to which they were the more encouraged by the Additional Re-inforcement they received on the 1st of Sept. of near 10000 Men under the Command of the Count deâ— Scherffenberg whereof 2000 of them mounted the advanced Posts at the Duke of Lorain's Attack the same Day At last the Second of Sept. came when all Things being now ready it was unanimously resolved in a Council of War to storm the Town which was done in the following Manner They begun and continued from all their Batteries to play upon the Breaches and the Flanks of the Enemies Retrenchments with Chain-shot and at the same time threw a great many Bombs and Carcasses into the Town and to amuse the Turks the Christian Troops made several Movements as if they designed to fight the Grand Visier and part of those that guarded the Works towards the Town were in the Enemies â—ight drawn from thence towards the Lines while double their Number were detach'd by cover'd Ways to supply their Places About 3 in the Afternoon the Pallisadoes that secured the Breaches being beaten down by the Besiegers Cannon 3000 Men divided into several Detachments and supported by a like Number made the Assault at the Duke of Lorain's Attack being commanded by the Duke of Newburg the Duke de Croy Count Souâ—hes and the Count de Scherffenberg At the Bavarian and Brandenburg Quarters 1500 Men were appointed in each to begin the Assault being also seconded with a Reserve of the like Number and 2000 were appointed to make two false Attacks Things being thus ordered the Detachments as soon as the Signal was given advanced and mounted the Breaches with as great Order as Courage and the Besieged at the same time defended themselves with a Resolution equal to what they had shewn upon other Occasions and with their Fougades Bombs Stones Bags filled with Powder Pikes and other Arms forced the Germans at the Duke of Lorain's Attack twice to retire But these being supported by the Duke's Presence who lead them on himself to the very Foot of the Breach going up the 3d time entred the Town with the Slaughter of 800 Janizaries that defended the Breach on that side where the Visier Basha was himself during the whole Action and gave incredible Proofs of his Bravery and would by no means quit his Post though he was wounded in the Right Arm but taking his Sabre in his Left-Hand continued still to encourage his Men till he fell among the slain which verified the Answer he first sent the Duke of Lorain upon
a Crescent on the Right Wing whose Right extended towards the Flank of the Enemy who attackt the Left and the Left side went to encounter another Body of Spahi's and Janizaries that came up to charge them And now the Battel grew very hot and they fought a long time on both sides with extraordinary Courage the Turks being observed to do it more orderly than in former Battels But at length the Day inclined in favour of the Christian Army the Infidels beginning by little and little to lose Ground and very quickly after betook themselves to an open Fight the Imperialists pursuing them to their very Camp which they entred Pell-mell with the Conquered made an horrible Slaughter of all that came before them and mastered all the Retrenchments without halting and all with the Loss of not above 700 Men. But it cost the Turks much dearer for besides 2000 slain upon the Spot there was a vast Number of them drowned in the Morasses and the River into which they fell by the breaking of the Bridge which being put together made it amount by the Estimate of some to about 16000 Men. But how uncertain soever the Number of Men lost might be the Booty was very great and beneficials for besides an 116 Pieces of Cannon and Mortars a vast Quantity of Ammunition with divers Standards and Colours there was a World of Silver and precious Moveables found in the Camp and particularly the Elector of Bavaria had a very rich Booty of the Grand Visier's Tent for his Share which was so vast that it rather resembled a Castle than what it was really made for and was enriched with Gold Pearls and precious Stones all that Officer's Plate his Jewels Moveables Chancery and 40000 Duckats that were found in his Treasury But though this Blow might have been thought to be a fatal one to the Turks yet there was one Accident hapned in the Nick of it that gave them an Opportunity to breath and re-assume some fresh Strength and diverted the main Army of the Christians in the Designs they had to prosecute their Advantages upon the Drave And that was the Prince of Transilvania notwithstanding the Treaty he had made with the Emperor his suddain declaring himself in favour of the Port. But this we shall come to by and by and observe at present that though the most important Work of the remaining Campaign was to endeavour to reduce the said Prince to the former Compact yet there was a Necessity of covering Syclos and Five Churches and therefore this Work was consigned into the Hands of General Dunwald who had further Orders to endeavour to pass the Drave and attempt as he saw Opportunity the Fortress of Esseck and other Places possest by the Turks in Sclavonia It was on the 30th of Aug. before the said General could pass the Drave and what with cross Intelligence and had Weather he made it the 11th of Sept. before he began the Siege of the Castle of Butschin situated between the Drave and the Save the taking of which would be a means for the Troops of Croatia to extend their Winter-Quarters as far as the last of the said Rivers The Works were carried on with much Application and the Commanding Aga summoned to surrender whose Answer was To defend the Place to the last Extremity which he had so much the more Reason for in that the Bey of Possega had sent him Word he would speedily relieve him and threatning withal to empale him if he performed not his Duty However the Battery that was directed against the Castle having by the 14th made a considerable Breach it made the Aga seeing now the Place was in great Danger of being taken by Storm think better of the Matter and beat a Parley But no other Terms would be allowed him than a Surrender at Discretion which he was forced to submit to and consign into the Hands of the Imperialists that important Fortress which laid about 100 Villages under Contribution and covered Virovitza and St. George from the Enterprizes of the Turks and was a Means to hinder them from passing the Drave to put Succours into Sigeth and Canisia But though this successful Enterprize seemed to promise so much yet what followed in relation to Esseck was of much greater Importance For tho' the General according to the first Intelligence he received in relation to the Garrison thought he should be obliged to force it by a formal Siege yet being soon after informed by a Deserter that the Garrison of the said Place having Notice of his March had abandoned it on the 29th of Sept. and that so hastily that they forgot to fire 7 Mines for the blowing up the Fortifications at their Retreat He was as much surprized at the Relation at first as he was over-joyed afterwards when upon the Information of the Count de Lodron whom upon the News he had detached thither he was confirmed of the Truth of the Deserter's Account With this further Addition That he found 52 Pieces of Cannon 4 Mortars and a vast Quantity of Ammunition and Provisions therein The Consequence of this Desertion of Esseck was the Surrender of Walpo at Discretion and the Abandouing of Possega the Capital City of Sclavonia with some other Places on that side But as for the principal Army under the Command of the Duke of Lorain they passed the Danube on the 19th of Aug. near Mohatz directing their March towards Peter-Waradin which the Duke had an Eye upon before he went any further but finding the Grand Visier advantageously posted with his whole Army not far from it and that his Design was impracticable he moved towards Segedin where the Duke staid till the 15th of Sept. expecting the Emperor's Orders and then he passed the Theysse marching directly towards Transylvania to take up his Winter-Quarters there tho' the Auxiliary Troops of Suabia refused to march along with him which all the Submission and Offers of Money and other Refreshments by Prince Abafti who was now sensible of his Error would not exempt him from For the Duke wholly reduced that Country under the Emperor's Obedience causing all the Prince's Troops to evacuate the Fortresses into which he put Imperial Forces and withal concluded a very advantageous Treaty with Prince Abafti and the States of Transylvania This so much more heightned the Joy of the Imperial Court now at Presburg the Capital City of Imperial Hungary since they had by that time the Duke of Lorain arrived there so well settled all Things with the States of that Country in relation to Arch-Duke Joseph the Emperor's eldest Son his being invested with the Regal Dignity of that Kingdom that the Ceremony of the Coronation of him was performed not long after viz. on the 9th of Dec. with the greatest Solemnity And if the Regaining the Submission of one Principality for the Father and the Investiture of a Kingdom for the Son made the one a Sweetning for the other
occasions however as I presume it to be pardonable for once I shall observe before I proceed any further That tho' his Imperial Majesty was without doubt much pleas'd already with his Affairs on this side yet those towards France seemed mostly at this time to take up the Thoughts of this Court which was now at Ausburg whither the Electors and other Princes of the Empire were to come The outward Appearance of things was such as if there were nothing but the Coronation of the Empress aud the Election of a King of the Romans in view But the particular Design was undoubtedly to concert Measures and agree upon what Enterprizes were to be undertaken the following Spring and to find a way to defray the extraordinary Charges of such a necessary and important War as that wherein they were engaged against France wherein how well or ill they succeeded will best appear by the sequel of this History But however France might be affected with these Proceedings and Designs of which she could not be ignorant she had some sort of satisfaction about this time to get rid of one turbulent tho' inconsiderable Enemy in respect to others and that was the Algerine who now made a Peace with her upon these Terms That all Prizes that were taken on both sides till the 24th of September which was the day of the Ratification of the Treaty should be good but that all that were taken on either side since the Ratification should be restored The Algerines engaged themselves to come into the Ocean with forty Sail to Pyrate upon the English and Dutch and were to be admitted into all the Ports of France and especially Brest and should be further furnished with all things necessary for their Money but what Vessels they took upon the Ocean were to belong to the French King tho' the Lading was to be theirs And finally whereas his most Christian Majesty was unwilling they should make any Slaves they engaged to let him have the Prisoners delivered to him at so much a Head But to return from whence I have lately diâ—gressed to the Emperor's Arms in Servia The Prince of Baden understanding the Turks after the fore-mentioned Defeat were so far from having any further thoughts or indeed from being in a condition to enter Sclavonia as before they had intended that they had quitted the Enterprize of Seback and not only so but forsaken Zwornich after having first plundered and burnt it because they did not conceive it tenable and were retired towards Nissa and being willing to improve the present Consternation of the Enemy and take the opportunity of the fair Weather resolved with the Imperial Army consisting of about 16 or 17000 Men to advance towards Nissa where he happily arrived after several long Marches on the 23d of Sept. and ranged them in order of Battel that very day The Turkish Army day encamped before the place from Nissa to the top of the Hill that secured it he found them intrenched in their Camp much more regularly than the Turks were wont to do which made it to be believed that some Christian had been their Director Besides this they were invironed with a deep Moat well pallisado'd and the River that ran through the City and which was very rapid secured then on the other side so that there was no possibility of attacking them any way but behind where their Camp was only accessible Nothing passed that day save some petty Skirmishes between the Volunteers of the Imperial Camp and some Troops of the Infidels but the next day the Imperialists decamped an hour before day the left Wing followed by the Baggage took their way to the left side of a Mountain over which they were to march and where they made an Halt until the right Wing commanded by the Duke of Croy had joined them then the whole Army descended into a Valley in Battel-array at what time the Enemy showed themselves upon another little Hill over which the Christians were also to pass before they came in sight of the Infidel's Camp making a shew as if they intended to come down and to charge the Imperialists who no sooner perceived them than that they boldly advanced to meet them But the Turks not thinking it convenient to tarry the Christians advanced to the top of the Hill without any opposition where they found themselves near the Enemy's Intrenchments and perceived it was impossible to force them on that side with an Army not half so numerous as the Enemy Whereupon it was concluded they should seek out a more accessible place and to that purpose they marched along a Valley coasting the Enemy that lay on the right side with a design to fall upon them in the Rear But because they were not well acquainted with the Ways Count Cziaki was sent out with a Party of Hussars to view the Avenues on that side In the mean time several slight Skirmishes passed betvveen Parties of both Armies which however did not hinder the Imperialists from keeping on their Way expecting Count Cziaki who returned at length and assured them they might march on without any danger the which was also confirmed by a Prisoner taken at the same time who added withal that behind the Hills which the Army had in view before it there were two Villages upon the left and to the right a spacious Plain large enough to embattle the Army and where they might attack the Enemy's Rear When the Turks perceived the Christians Designs they began to intrench that part of the Camp which they had neglected before not dreaming of being attack'd that way The Flower of the Janizaries were ordered to guard the Hills which they saw the right Wing of the Christians going to possess themselves of and sent out 4000 Horse to charge the Rear of the left Wing commanded by Picolomini who sending out a Detachment of 3 Squadrons of Noirkermer's Regiment they charged the Enemy so briskly that they were repulsed and pursued above 300 Paces In the mean time the right Wing was engaged with the Janizaries who made a stout resistance and cost the life of the brave Major-General Vellon but the Christians rather animated than born down with the resistance they met with redoubled their Fury and after they had beaten off the Janizaries gained the Hill whither they brought their Cannon and played briskly upon the Enemy who were retired into a bottom from whence they also fired continually upon the Christians And now the Spahi's who had been beaten by a Detachment of the left Wing returned again to the Charge endeavouring still all they could to flank the Christians and fell on with much greater Fury than before as if the Ignominy of their flight had given life anew to their Courage This on-set was firmly sustained by Palâ—i's Regiment of Heydukes who being seconded by others put the whole Ottoman Cavalry into disorder and drove them even upon the Janizaries who seeing the Cowardize of the Spahi's fired
upon them which being done also by the Turks posted on the other side of the River this manner of Treatment forced the Fugitives to renew the Charge But alas that served only to augment the Confusion that was already very great in the Ottoman Army For the Christians taking advantage of the disorders flew upon the Enemy from all parts who then betook themselves to their Heels not knowing whither to fly So that only Night protected them from the fury of the Victors But several of them in seeking to save their Lives in the Dark not being able because of that to find the way to the Bridge adventured in hopes to pass the River to escape by swimming but the stream was so rapid that most of them were drowned insomuch that of all the Turkish Cavalry there were but very few that escaped In their Camp the Imperialists found great store of Utensils for Pioneers 30 Pieces of Cannon of an extraordinary bigness of which some were four square a great Number of Carcasses Glass Granadoes Bisquet Barley Rice Meal Oats Tobacco Camels and other things but of all the Plunder the Prince of Baden reserved only for himself the Serasquier's Tent which was very magnificent and which had been sent him by the Grand-visier in regard he had lost his own in the former Battel After the Army had pillaged the Camp they entred Nissa without opposition where they found Provisions enough for the Subsistence of the whole Army for 5 or 6 Weeks and took above 3000 Horses and Mules and what still made this Victory the more considerable was the smallness of the Imperialists loss there being not above 300 killed and not many more wounded whereas the Turks were computed to have been worse for this Battle by 8000 Men. The Prince still to pursue this great advantage dispatcht away the very next day 3000 Horse under the Command of Picolomini to look after the fugitive Turks with orders to advance as far as Sophia and view the Country who returned the 13th of Sept. without having been able to meet with any of the Enemy but reported the Countrey was very good having suffered but little by the War that he had put Garrisons into Pio and Mussa Pafora which the Turks had quitted upon his Approach and that he understood by some Prisoners he had taken that the Infidels were retired to Sophia where they endeavoured to rally their broken Troops This Intelligence moved the Prince to fortifie Nissa and so much the rather because the Country People who came in great Numbers to implore his Protection assured him that the Country was good and â—ertile and if preserved sufficient to furnish an Army with all necessary Provisions and when he had done he made Count Pic lomini Commander of the Place and the adjacent Country depending on it and soon after Couâ—t Tekeley who had some time before possessed himself of Orsâ—wa thought convenient to quit it but he first set the Town on fire and then retired to Silistria Mean while the Prince of Baden not willing to conclude this glorious Campaign with this last Action set forward Oct. 6th with his Army for Widin another important Place with a good Castle upon the Danube and upon the 11th arrived at Breslau where he staid one Day in expectation of the Baggage and from thence sent a Detachment of Germans and Hungarians to view the Country and to get some intelligence of the Enemy These returned next Day with some Prisoners and reported that the two Bassa's were retired near Widin with their Forces and that Tekeley had taken the Road to Sophia Hereupon the Prince re-sumed his March and on the 14th by 10 in the Morning got to the Plains of Widin when the Enemy who knew nothing of the Army's March were strangely surprized to see the Imperial Foragers foraging very near their Camp and their Consternation was so great that before they could recover themselves the Prince his right Wing had passed the great stone Bridges that were built upon the Moras and was drawn up in Battle-array expecting the coming up of the left Wing which passed immediately after Neither did the Enemy endeavour to hinder them which gave the right Wing an opportunity to take up their Posts very near the City and to secure themselves with the Danube The Turks seemed at first very couragious but they were charged with so much bravery by the right Wing where the Prince of Baden was in Person that they were driven to an Intrenchment they had made about the Town upon whom however the Imperial Cavalry advanced receiving the Fire of the Janizaries which killed some Horse-men and made the rest recoil Yet they presently rallied again behind a rising Ground and advanced within 40 Paces of the Enemy's Moats where they stood their Ground till the rest of the right Wing had planted themselves near a Church-yard that was there In the mean time General Veterani who commanded the left Wing ordered 200 Dragoons to alight and attack the Enemâ—'s Intrenchments which they did so well that they entred in a short time the City pell-mell and were soon seconded by the Cavalry and the rest of the Forces killing in the whole of this Action near 2000 Turks with the loss of 400 of their own Men. Those of the Turks that could not save themselves on the Barks that lay upon the Danube or with that part of the Cavalry that fled to Sophia retired to the Castle of Widin where they resolved to hold out a formal Siege which made the Prince send to Semendria for his great Cannon In the mean time he ordered his Men to begin to open the Trenches that all might be ready upon their Arrival for widening a Breach and storming the Place But the besieged upon better Thoughts would not stay for the Cannon and therefore upon the 18th of Oct. they capitulated to march out of the Place with Arms and Baggage and were conducted by Water to Nicopolis with which the Prince of Baden concluded this long and most glorious Campaign distributing his Army into Winter-quarters in Transilvania and Vallachia sore against the Will of the Hospodar who could not help it and then he returned to Vienna But while these things were transacted in the Field the Ottoman Embassadors at Vienna for some part of the time pressed very much the Negotiations of Peace wherein they found the Emperour but little disposed Yet having at length received some dispatches from the Grand-Seignior they themselves grew much more remiss in their instances The reason whereof the Emperour and his Allies could not well penetrate into And therefore to sound them the more it was thought fit the Pretensions of the Allies should have been imparted to them to see whether they had any orders to conclude upon those Conditions which Proposals were 1. That the Kingdom of Hungarry should be restored with all its Dependances and the Principality of Bosnia in such a manner that the
the Clock and the General finding it necessary to have that Ford and the other ways that lead to the Right of the Irish Army as the most proper means to attack them ordered Cunningham's Dragoons at the Ditch to advance toward a Party of the Enemy posted on the other side who thereupon with another Body that sustained them all retired behind a Hill nearer their Camp where was posted a greater Body who being assisted with other fresh Parties obliged the English Dragoons to retreat So that the General ordered Eppinger's Dragoons to get between those Bodies and their Camp but this was discovered by the Enemy who had the Advantage in pouring in so many Men upon the English that they would still have been too hard for the Dragoons had they not been seconded by the Earl of Portland's Horse who behaved themselves here with great Bravery tho' not without considerable Loss But what was at first only a Skirmish had by this time engaged a considerable Body on both sides yet the Enemy in a while retired and this brought the Generals together to deliberate whether it were not best to defer the Battle till next Morning which was agreed on so far that their Tents were ordered to be sent for but when they perceived the Enemy to be in some Disorder by what had already hapned they resolved not to delay the Attack least the Enemy should march off in the Night and so afford no more Opportunities Wherefore by the Advice of Major-General Mackay a Person of great Judgment and long Experience in the Art of War it was agreed to prosecute the Battle on the Enemy's Right thereby proposing to draw part of their Strength from Aghrim Castle near unto which their main Body was posted that so the Right Wing of the English might have the easier Passage over to attack their Left and then the whole English Army might have the Opportunity to engage which was otherwise impossible and this Advice had its desired end About half an Hour after 4 in the Afternoon a Party of the English Left Wing moved towards the Enemy and by 5 the Battle began afresh The Ditches were strongly guarded by Irish Musketeers and their Horse advantageously posted to sustain them And here the Irish behaved themselves like Men of another Nation defending their Posts with great Obstinacy for they would not stir from one side till the English put their Pieces over at the other and then having Lines of Communication from one Ditch to another they would presently post themselves and flank the English which occasion'd a great firing on both sides and continued on the Left almost an Hour and an half before the Right Wing of the Army and the Center bega◠to engage except with their Cannon which play'd all this while on both sides In the mean time the English Army advanced in as good Order as they could And now Major-General Mackay and the rest observing the Enemy draw of several Bodies of Horse and Foot from the Left and move towards their Right where our Men pressed them very hard They laid hold of that Advantage and ordered the Foot 〈◊〉 march over the Bog which fronted the Enemy's main Battle The Regiments of Earl Herbert Creighton and Brewer going over at the narrowest Place where the Hedges on the Enemy's side ran furthest into the Bog they had Orders to marc◠to the lowest of the Ditches adjoyning to the side of the Bog and there to post themselves till the Horse could come abou◠by Aghrim Castle and sustain them and till the other Foot had marched over the Bog below where it was broader and were sustained by Foulk's and Brigadier Stewart's Regiments Earl's and the other 3 Regiments advanced over the Bog most of them passing up to the middle in Mud and Water and upon their near Approach to the Ditches received th◠Enemy's Fire but that did not hinder them to march on 〈◊〉 the Enemy's lowest Hedge and to beat the Irish from thence who however did not retreat far but posted themselves i◠the next Ditches which the English seeing and disdaining to suffer their Lodging so near them they beat them from thenc◠also and so from Hedge to Hedge till they were got very near their main Body But the Irish had so well order'd th◠matter that they had made an easie Passage for their Horse among all those Hedges and Ditches by which means they poured in great Numbers both of Horse and Foot upon the English which Colonel Earl observing he encouraged his Men by advancing before them and saying There was no way to come off but to be Brave Yet now being both flanked and fronted besides being exposed to all the Enemy's Shot from the adjacent Ditches the English were forced to quit their Ground and retire to the Bog again with the loss of a great many Men and among others the brave Colonels Earl and Herbert the former after twice taking and retaking got free at last tho' not without being wounded but the latter as was said was barbarously murthered after Quarter given by the Irish when they saw he was also like to be rescued While this was doing here Colonel St. Johns Colonel Tiffin the Lord George Hambleton the French in English Service and several other Regiments were marching over below upon the Bog while the Irish lay so close in their Ditches that several were doubtful whether they had any Men at that Place or no But no sooner were the French and the rest got within about 20 Yards of the Ditches but the Irish fired most furiously upon them which the other sustained with intrepidy and still pressed forwards tho' they could scarce see one another for Smoak And now the Battle seemed so doubtful for some time that a By-stander would rather have given it on the Irish side for they had driven the English Foot in the Center so far back that they were almost got into a Line with the great Guns planted near the Bog which the English had no benefit of in that Conjuncture because of the Mixture of the Irish with their own Men. You hear little all this while of Horse but now we are to tell you that Major-General Ruvigni's Regiment of French and Sir John Lanier's being both posted on the Right were afterwards part of them drawn to the Left where they did very good Service and the Right Wing of English Horse were in the mean time making the best of their way to succour the Foot For they saw their Danger and that indeed all was at hazard because of the difficulty of the Pass in pressing and tumbling over a very dangerous Place and that among Showers of Bullets from a Body of the Enemy's Dragoons and Foot that were posted conveniently under a Covert-place by the Irish to obstruct the others Passage However the Horse bravely surmounting all these Difficulties lodged themselves at last in a dry Ditch in the Throng of the Enemy's Shot from Aghrim Castle and some old