he might have some inclination to attend and see what effect his Manifesto might have upon the spirits of the people the War not being yet so far gon but that if they had given any assurance of satisfaction he could have hearkned to their conditions and have saved those Provinces from all the calamities and devastations hath been since brought upon them by his Army But whatsoever was the reason we spent there fifteen dayes in reparing the ruines as well as we could the whole Army working all the while with all diligence imaginable The War being thus begun and no enemy appearing in the Field there was not much Hostility committed the King keeping his Army in as strict a discipline as if they had been in his own Dominions However they did not forbear the prosecuting the War from the time it marcht from about Chasteau de Cambresy and Pilois Camp-Master to the Horse was Commanded out with 500 Horse to fall into the Country for intelligence and to discover if there were any preparation making against them The most part of the persons of quality offered themselves as Voluntiers in this Expedition but the King would permit but some few of which the most considerable were the Duke d' Enguien the Counte de S. Paul and the Duke de Boüillon but their design proved to little purpose for after they had been abroad four or five dayes they returned to the Camp without opportunity of doing any thing During the stay of the Army at Charleroy the Queen as I have said returned to Compiegne but she came back as far as Avesne to enjoy the presence of the King who was there and to take the advantage of that little time he would spare from the care he would needs take to see the place accommodated himself The day she was to arrive the King went out with a good body of Horse some two or three Leagues to meet her and during the four or five days they were together Monsieur who remained in the Camp gave out all necessary orders Some there are that will say that that which carried the King into this part of the Country was not only the designe upon Charleroy which he knew was demolisht before he set out But having a long time maintained a correspondence in Namur and Luxembourg he had hastned his march to encourage that enterprise but I am not so well informed of the intrigues of Government to know the certainty this I only know they were favourers of the house of Austria that spred the report to make the conduct of the King the more odious to the people In short they put Charleroy into such a condition of defence that they left all the great Guns they had in the Camp there and put the Regiment of la Ferte in Garrison and other Companies drawn out of several battalions which they formed into another called the Dauphins Regiment and gave the Command of it to Phisica somtimes Lieutenant Colonel in the Regiment of Turenne the Government of the Fort was bestowed upon Montal with order to continue the fortifications without intermission They left also 300 Horse about Charleroy for their farther security after which marcht the King up into the Country to make his advantage of the consternation his great Army had brought upon the Provinces On the 15th of June he discamp't and marching towards Brussels he took up his quarters about Nivelle whither having at the entreaty of the inhabitants sent two of his Guards to secure them they were notwithstanding contrary to all honour and equity carried Prisoners to Brussels where they lay above two moneths From Nivelle the Army marcht a little above Mons towards Braine-le-Comte and after some days march they came to At h a little Town situate almost at the head of the River Dendre without any fortification but so capable of it that the King resolved to leave a Garrison there and made des Landes who had formerly served the Prince of Condy the Governour Out of divers Regiments there were some Companies drawn out in all about 400 Foot and 100 Horse which were left on purpose to infest and alarm the Towns thereabouts and particularly Brussels which was but eight leagues distant there being no considerable Rivulets betwixt them All this progress was made without any other impediment then from the badness of the wayes the Enemy not daring to shew themselves any where only a Party of their Cravatts earnest upon plunder fell upon our bagage But Rommecour Lieutenant of the Company of the Gardes de Corps being by accident with a Party of Horse near Enchoit upon a design which was the place where this business began he charged them so home he constrained them to leave their prize though they had slain some of our men not without loss certainly to themselves This I am sureof the Comte de S. Geran who served then as Aide de Camp and the Marquis de Bellefont were both very much wounded The Army staid not so long there as it had done at Charleroy they left the Garrison only some pallisadoes to begin their fortifications withall and the King discampt and marcht to the siedge of Tournay a place of great importance but very ill provided with Souldiers and the inhabitants who were very numerous bearing no great animosity to the French under whose Dominion they had lived long for it is scarce an age since they submitted themselves to the house of Austria Besides the King perceived the taking of this Town would be a considerable acquest in respect of its situation upon the River Sceld betwixt Conde and Oudenarde and might especially perplex that part of Flanders is called the Wallonne Country of which that is a Member as also Hainault and Brabant On the 20th of June they began their march but before that he gave order to Comte de Lillebonne a Prince of the house of Lorrain who Commanded the Troopes the Duke of Lorraine had sent to the King and who being not as yet joyned to the Army was quartered about Arras that he should immediately joyne himself with Artagnan who was thereabouts also and that passing the bridge at Avendin he should march away immediately and block up Tournay on that side next Lille which was executed accordingly and the Bridges for communication being finished the King past the River next day with most of his Army and took his Quarters up at the Town of Foryenne having left on the other side of the water the Marquis Humieres and the Comte de Duras with such Troops as were thought necessary for the beleaguering the Town on that side next to Hainault and Brabant and without giving further time to the beseiged to recollect themselves it was resolved they should that very night begin their approaches The place being surveyed we began our approaches on the side of certaine Windmils which are plac't upon a little eminence not far from the banke of the River as you go into the Town The
returned without some prize Lamezan somtimes Ensign of the Gens d' armes belonging to the King with three or four Voluntiers and their equipage going from Arras to Dourlens fell unluckily into their hands Lamezan was kill'd there and another Voluntier called Bretoncelles was wounded and the young Villarceaux taken in a Waggon in which he lay sick But this party were near doing a greater exploit for the Duke d' Euguien the comte de Armagnac the Duke de Bouillon and other persons of quallity returning into France with the King and hearing at Court the Army was lying down before Courtray and that their several Regiments were drawn out upon that design that is to say the Duke de Enguin's Regiment with the Brigade of Bissy of which that was a part and the Duke of Bouillons with the Brigade belonging to the Comte de Roy they resolved upon any termes to return into Flanders and accordingly taking the Road to Arras without any other convoy then their own Servants and some officers of the Army that would need accompany them they were in great danger within two or three leagues of Dourlens of being taken by some Troops that seemed to come from Arras And had it not been for de Roche a Captain in the Prince of Condy's Guards who went out to discover them supposing them at first sight a convoy sent for the Duke of d' Enguien from Arras but finding them Enemies he suffered himself to be taken to preserve the rest which if he had not done they had doubtless run the same fortune I forget to mention how the King before his departure had resolved the Marshal de Aumonts Army that had done nothing these two sieges should be imployed upon some place or other of importance to which end he sent him four Regiments of Foot out of the main Army viz. the Regiment of Champagne the Royal Regiment and the Regiments of Orleans and Roussillon and three Brigades of Horse all under the Command of the Marquis de Paguilin Marshal de Camp who carried eight great peices of Canon along with him the Marshall d' Aumont having none before A while after we understood that on the 12th of that moneth the Marshal had raised his Camp and was gone from Pont-à -Tresin near Lille with Peguilin recrutes towards Courtray where they were well informed the Garrison was very weak At this time also the Marshal Turenne drew out five Brigades of Horse under the Command of the Marquis de Bellefons Lieutenant General and sent them for sureness sake to the reinforcement of the siege they tooke their post at Harlebec a Town upon the Lis about a league below Courtray they left about Doüay also two Brigades of Horse and the Alsatia Regiment of Foot to attend the King in case the Enemy should draw into a body and constrain our Army to march to the relief of the besiegers but they had already put in what force they were able the Barron of Limbec with 300 Horse having conducted some Foot in the 13th of that moneth which was the day before our Troops were set down before it But as he was making his retreat the Marquis of Bellefons having got newes of his march pursues and overtakes him in a Town as he was refreshing some four or five leagues off it fell out very luckily for the Enemy for the Town had Barriers and could not easily be entred whereby they having opportunity to get to Horse and some of them having got to a Bridge we must of necessity pass into the Town they repelled the formost of our Troops and after a short dispute retired towards Gaunt without any considerable loss Courtray being besieged in this manner the 14th and the Trenches opened the 15th at night without making any lines the Regiment of Campagne had the honour of the first attaque as being the antientest Regiment in the Army having been six moneths longer standing then the Regiment of Navarre but these Troops and the other on the other side meeting no no great resistance from the Town they took the out-works the first night and the next day the Townsmen treated and yeilded The Souldiers retreated into the Cittadel where on the 17th they were besieged also on which day we threw up two works one in the Plain on the side the Town lyes and the other on the other side But notwithstanding this Cittadel was in a good condition and indifferently well provided with men it defended it self not much longer then the Town for the next day it surrendred and 400 or 500 men that were in it were sent down the River to Gaunt according to the Articles in Boats About this time the King was returned from Campiegne and the Queen with him whom his Majesty had a desire should have a sight of his Conquests and to let her understand that as he had undertaken her interest so he was able to do her reason by by force of Arms when the untractableness of the Spaniard could not be brought to it otherways Perhaps also he would have his new subjects see a Princess of the house of Austria who coming in person to demand her Rights become one with his Majesty now by her Marriage might take away their regret at the changing the Government and leave them without just reason of complaint She was brought at first to Doway where she was received with all possible acclamations which made him desirous she should see Tournay also as well to prevent any exception that Town might take for having been less considered then Doway as also to demonstrate to all the world that he was absolute Master of the Field neither the Queen nor any of her Train having received the least allarme nor heard one Gun goe off in all their march And although they past in the sight of Lille and very near the Isle of S. Amont which was certainly the Enemies they sent away the Court Harbingers on the 25th to take up lodgings for the King and Queen the next day at Tournay but the way being long from one place to the other and very incommodious for an Army to pass especially with so great a Train all the Court came that night to the Camp at Cautice some two leagues higher then the Road they should have come What past that night being no matter of War is not to be expected in this journall nor to be written by a person so little acquainted with the affairs of the Court I shall only say this that all they that had houses in the Kings Quarters made tender of them to the Ladies The King and the Queen making choise of no other then the lodgings belonging to the Vicomte Turenne The next morning by 10 of the clock they arrived at Tournay where the people gave all the expressions of joy imaginable Two days they past there without any thoughts but of their divertisment after which the Queen returned to Doüay in her way to Arras where she was to attend the Kings
of only six years of age and against a Regency subordinated to the Laws of a Testator without any form of Justice or observance of the Rule of first demanding satisfaction And if your Majesty hath any pretension of dissatisfaction Reason and Justice require your Majesty should first declare and justifie them not only in particular to the Parties interessed but also to the Neighbouring Princes to the Countries in dispute and to your Majesties own Subjects since by the Law of Nature nothing can be exacted or forcibly taken from ones own Subject or Slave much less from one that is wholly innocent where the Government is ty'd up by a Regency to the prejudice of the Subjects of both Parties and of the Roman Empire by vertue of whose Laws and without whose knowledge so noble a Member as the Circle of Burgundy cannot be taken away This proceeding violates the Treaty of Munster by which as also by our Peace which was since concluded it was capitulated that in case of a Rupture the Parties concern'd should have ten moneths notice of it and infringeth the Peace of our Neighbours whose concernments will oblige them to interest themselves in a common danger Besides this your Majesty was pleased to tell the Marquis De la Fuente at his Audience of Conge That he was a Witness with what earnestness you intended to preserve the good correspondency and peace between both Crowns and that he should in your Majesties name assure the Queen my Mistress that you would continue it in the same manner and with the same good will giving likewise your Ambassadour at Madrid the same charge I leave it Sir to the consideration of your Majesty how remote it will be from the Justice Christianity and Generosity of your Majesty to attempt an Invasion without any of those Formalities and Interpositions which all Christian Princes have alwayes observed that so your Majesty as the most Christian may not introduce an Example which as it is contrary to all former ones so it may prove prejudicial to your self and your Posterity I do not desire your Majesty to prejudice your own Rights if any such you have but only that you would declare them if you pursue them nor that you should suspend the use of Force if satisfaction be denyed you but that before you begin your March or any Hostility which may render an accommodation impossible you would prevent the Mischiefs that may ensue upon it to all Christendom by giving place to a Negotiation I am firmly perswaded that the Queen my Mistress will give your Majesty all reasonable satisfaction and that she will not refuse to reason the Cause wherein both parties are interessed to the Cognisance Mediation and even the Decision of any of those that may be concerned in the mischiefâ— the Rupture will occasion Obliging my self as soon as I know the cause and pretensions of your Majesty to give account of it to the Queen my Mistress who I doubt not to let the World see her good intention and the justice of her Proceedings will not refuse to refer her self to the judgment not of one or two only but of the whole World and in particular of all the Princes of the Roman Empire of the Crown of England supposing that your Majesty is very near a Peace with it and of the Vnited Provinces our Neighbours to the end that their joynt Plenipotentiaries may see the reasons and justifie those that have reason on their side before any advance be made by the force of Armes considering there is nothing that so far presseth you nor any danger in suspension that should be preferred before the common Interest by which each Party may justifie to the World the events which may happen This Representation Sir and Request which my Zeal alone to your Majesty hath put me upon seems to me most just as desiring that Christendom our Neighbours and common Subjects may avoid all new calamities and especially those mischiefs which may prove far greater then those that are already past before an end can be put to these Wars wherein we are going to engage our selves And I hope Sir that your Majesty will please to admit it as such and that Almighty God will put it into your Majesties heart to resolve upon an Expedient as just as it is fair and advantageous to all by letting Reason take place and having a just regard to the tender age of the King my Master giving our Neighbours the satisfaction of being Judge of the Differences between us whereby alâ— those Mischiefs may be prevented which a different procedure or further violence will occasion God preserve the Sacred Person of your most Christian Majesty as I desire Brussels May 14. 1667. A RELATION Of the French Kings Late Expedition into FLANDERS Anno Dom. 1667 and 1668. THe flame of a new War being begun to be kindled between the two Crowns in the Year 1667. And finding my self without imployment in the new-raised Army I thought I could not fit my self with a more honourable and more profitable way of bestowing my time during the Campagne of this year then to set down in writing the Passages thereof to the end I might not be reduced as I have often been during the space of seventeen or eighteen years spent in his Majesties Troops to ransack my memory in vain for such things as I had a mind to remember I take not upon my self to make an exact description of the State of affairs at that time my design being to compose a Journal and not a History Neither do I think fit to display the Queens Title to the Netherlands since the righteousness thereof hath been authentically enough made out by the Manifesto published by his Majesty concerning the same It shall be sufficient for me to relate in a plain manner and without all affected Ornament of Style what I saw my self and what I received by information from others The Peace which was Treating at Breda between England France and Holland was at the point of conclusion when the King who had suffered eighteen or twenty months to pass since the death of Philip the fourth King of Spain thereby to allow time to the Queen Dowager to give him satisfaction in a fair way in reference to his pretentions to several Provinces of the Low Countries as he had given her to understand as well by sundry Letters as by frequent instances of his Ambassador in the Spanish Court astonisht all his Neighbours and surprised most part of his own Subjects by giving order in the months of March and April that almost all the Forces design'd by his Majesty to serve in this Expedition should advance to the Frontiers of Champaigne and Picardy under pretence of making great Musters as he had accustom'd to do for some years past wherein all the Regiments and Companies both of Horse and Foot were used to encampe as exactly and regularly as if they had been in open War and in the midst of his
fell to their work to shelter themselves as well as they could but S. Fere having the curiosity to stand right up and peep over their blind received a shot from a Musquet in his body and dyed within a quarter of aâ— houre Aspremont in the mean time was with some of his Voluntiers and Swisses in the ditch labouring to fill it up as much as possible and of the seven that swam over one of them only was killed the other six made their work defensible and the Bridge being by five in the morning so finisht that they might pass over dry they sent over from the other side a Sergeant with twelve Souldiers well arm'd to make good what their six comrades had thrown up All this affaire both in the night and day cost about 40 Souldiers and two Officers slain or wounded but amongst the Voluntiers there were several persons of quality ill handled the Marquis de Noisy Maupeou was wounded that night by a Musquet shot in his head of which he recovered though it was judg'd mortall at the first The Comte du Broutay sometimes Camp-master to the Regiment of Navarre received a shot under the Arm-pit and died a few days after The Marquis de Termes was wounded in the thigh the Comte de Combourg on his foot Monmont in the shoulder and a little before the Trench was raised the Comte de Blin received a shot with a facileon bullet on the top of his arme which brake the bone so as it was believed he would dye of it as he did in the conclusion There was several others wounded with their Canon but the Prince d' Espinoy who was shot in the Arme and Brissac a Lieutenant in the Guards are all I can remember As to the approaches of the Regiments Picardy was relieved by the Regiment of Auvergne but not being there I can give no further relation then that Vauban Captain in the Regiment of Picardy that commanded in that work received a Musquet shot in his face For the same reason I shall pass by what was done on the Comte de Duras his side having heard no more then that being encampt with his Forces on the other side of the Town towards Cambray and Valecienne and desirous that his Forces also should have their share in the honour he beg'd of the King that he might make his effort on his side also whither having drawn up the Regiment du Saut on the fourth at night and having found no great resistance with no great difficulty he lodged himself the same night on the Counterscarp Insomuch as the Enemies seeing themselves overlaid on every side and perswaded otherwise by the reasons of the Comte de Gramont whom the King had sent to summon them they demanded a parly and obtained a cessation of Arms that very fifth at night at least on the Guards side for on the side the Regiments of Lyonnois and Louvigny were on who were apparently ignorant of the Truce they past the two ditches and lodged themselves upon the half-moon which proved to no great purpose the Hostages being given before All the rest of the night was spent in making their termes which were that all the Souldiers consisting of about 300 Foot pittifull fellowes and ill provided with three Troops of Horse of about 120. should march out with their Armes and Baggage but no Canon which was performed the seventh of the same month and they conducted to Valencienne The Scarp Fort was attempted distinctly by the Count de Lillebonne and some other Troops Commanded by le Bret Marshal de Camp to whom the King had given the Charge of that affaire They opened their Trenches on the fourth at night by the Regiment of Champagne which having began its approaches along the Marsh carried them on within twenty paces of their Counterscarp without the loss almost of one man The next day this Regiment was relieved by the Regiment of Castelnau who observing the small resistance that was made past over the ditch before the Counterscarp and in two several places lodged themselves at the very foot of the Pallisadoes of their False-Bray and forc't the Enemy to leave their main Guards and in short all their out Guards insomuch as they beat a parley and their Articles being made they marcht-out with their Arms and Colours but not Canon and were conducted to Valencienne So that Doway which never durst for the space of five and twenty years after the gaining several Battels be attempted was taken in three dayes and its Fort which was believed impregnable by reason of the water and â—lâ—â—es with which they could drowned all about both the Fort and the Town The King made Aspremont Governour who had been so instrumental in the 〈…〉 taking it and gave him eight Companies of the French Guards and six of Swisses Commanded by Sury Captain of that body but no Horse in respect that all his Family the most part of the Equipage of the Court were then at a distance whilst the King who was then departing for Compiegne began his journey But the reason why the King left the Army at that time is not yet come to my ears all that I can say is that there were several marcht off with him that never thought it necessary to come back All this while the Marshal d' Aumonts Army was at Armentieres where to prevent idleness they had began to repair the old works But judging the small Garrison left there would be in no great security the Marshall removed from thence and brought his Troops nearer Lille encamping about Hautbourdin some two leagues from the Town to the end he might block up that Garrison that made its constant excursions either upon our Convoy or to the very Gates of Tournay But for the father incommodity of this great Town they put fire to all the Windmills that were near it which amounted to near 50 or 60 which could not be performed without some â—kirmishes without outting off some particular persons by their Canon About this time it was â—he Foot Regiment of Normandy and the Queens Regiment having met in the night without discovering one another they charged and as was reported in the Kings Quarters could not be got off till 30 or 40 men were slain in the place The 9th of this moneth the Marshal General of the Camp remaining sole Master as it were he rose from before Doway and encampt about two leagues from that place near an Abby of Nuns called Flines just upon the Road to Lille and on the their side the Army advanc't to Cautice about half a league distance from Orchies where their design was to attend the returne of the King During the 15 dayes the Army â—emained incamped there was no great matter past the Enemy having no great party of Horse in the Field they conâ—ented themselves to sally now â—nd then out of the Town in â—mall bodies to incommode us in our forraging and convoys from which they seldome
coming back who was then advancing further against his Enemies with design of inlarging his Conquests He conducted her two Leagues himself and having taken his leave and returning to the Camp with Rochefort's Brigade only and some Voluntiers he discerned a great dust and hearing of Guns go off he sent out and understood it was a great body of the Enemy fallen upon the Guards on that side next to Lille with a design to beat them off There was a Squadron of the Kings Gens-d'armes upon the Guard that day Commanded by the Prince de Soubize Captain Lieutenant to that Company he had one of his out-Guards almost surprized by the Enemy who counterfeiting themselves Lorrainers came on crying out Vive Turenne and at the first dash kill'd three or four of the Guards but the rest having discovered the cheat engag'd them very stoutly though they were much inferiour in number The Enemy was reinforc't with four other Troops which advanc't a full trot towards the Squadron of the Guards and they having taken the alarme were marching towards the relief of their own insomuch that there was only a hollow way betwixt the Enemy and us When the Voluntiers that were about the King came in and his Majesty also with his Troops being at hand and making a great dust they perceived it and ran immediatly without order or resistance and were pursued in the very sight of Lille The Duke d' Enguin was one of the first that followed them and made it appear at this as well as at all other times that courage was no less natural to him then to the Prince of Condy his Father they were so close pursued that of 200 Horse Commanded by Maciet a man of great reputation amongst them he had much adoe to bring half off the rest being kill'd or taken The next day being the 28th of July the Army rose from about Tournay and passing the Sceld about half a league above they encampt at Herines and the next day at Luperken a Village not far from Oudenard This town which the Sceld runs thorow was already blockt up on one side by the Comte de Lillebonne and his Lorrainers and on the other by the Forces commanded by Bellefons and Peguilin who had not as yet rejoyned themselves with the body of the Army since they were drawn out from Courtray they would that night have opened their Trenches on both sides but they did it only on Bellefons side for the Lorrain Foot though they were further advanc't were judged not numerous enough nor well enough arm'd to venture upon a place that set so good a countenance upon the business and appeared outwardly so well fortified for within it was no great matter They let them alone therefore till their next day and for that night imployed no other then the Regiments of Campagne and Castelnau who having opened the Trenches by the Fauxbourg that goes towards Courtray they carried the Counterscarp at first and fell a filling the ditch leaving a half moon on their left that the Enemy had deserted The day after about ten a clock the King planted good store of Cannon upon an Eminence about a Musquet shot from the Town that Commanded all the outworks on that side that is towards Brabant which Battery with some of the Field-peices they carry at the head of their Battalions firing continually all day long the Enemy durst not shew themselves but apprehending they should be stormed and carried by force the next night they beat a parley about four in the afternoon and yeilded upon conditions that all the Souldiers should become Prisoners of War there was in the Town about four or five hundred Foot but no Horse This Conquest cost very few men and we took in less then four and twenty hours a place that Strada makes a great noise of in his History of the Low Countries and magnifies the Duke of Parma exceedingly for having conquered it in two moneths There was but one Officer wounded in the Regiments that fell on but very few Souldiers there was also on the Kings side one Voluntier wounded and that with a Faulcon shot in the calf of his legg and two other shots with a Musquet as he was advancing too near the suburbs to survey their works he was called Royecourt and had had considerable employments in the War of Piedmont and Italy in the time of the Regency of Madam Royal the Dutchess of Savoy This Town being taken though attach't by the by the Army marcht the next day being the 12th of August towards Alost The Count of Duras was drawn out that night with five Brigades of Horse and 1500 Musquetiers to possess himself of some post betwixt Brussels and Dendremond so as to be able to give alarme and jealousie to both As he past by he summons Alost and had it surrendred after some few Volleyes there being in the Town not above thirty Horse left rather for intelligence of our motion then defence In this party there marcht so great a number of Voluntiers they made up some distinct Troops and would needs undertake some enterprize by themselves the design was to march up betwixt Brussels and Viluord and to surprise if they could one of the passage Boats that goes daily up and down that Cutt betwixt the two Towns but whether it was that the design was ill laid down at first or whether amongst such a collected medly of people there was not that obedience or discipline that was requisit they had not the success was expected From other places also there were several parties Commanded out and so strangely had the desire of engaging their Enemies seised upon their spirits that one of the Troops commanded by Chazeron Lieutenant of the the Guards de Corps fell foul upon another of our Troops and by a generous refractoriness refusing to tell who they were for fell on and found not they were Friends till Royer Dubreüil Captain of the Colonels Regiment was slain The 13th the Army encamp't at Hochstrate a Village betwixt Alost and Dendremond from whence Truel a person of great understanding in those affairs was dispatcht to discover the situation of Dendremond and to informe whether it might not be blockt up by a line or whether the waters which they kept with their sluces being let loose would not make a great inundation Truel reports they might lodge themselves well enough and on the Fourteenth the King gave order the Wherries that went along to the Artillary should march to make a Bridge over the Sceld and made all the other Boats he found in Alost to be carried down the Dendre to make another over that The next day being the fifteenth the Bridge over the Sceld was finish't at a Villedge called Apels some half a League above Dendremond on that side the way lyes from Gaunt but having imployed all their twenty Wherries about that Bridge and finding no more to make another on the other side towards Anwerp where
Guards who with the Chevalier Cauvesson and Captain Camisson were drawn out thence and made a good post which they kept till the next day about ten or eleven a clock when the Swisses came to relieve them The Enemy seeing the half-moon on the left hand was lost also they beat a parly and desired to capitulate This last half-moon was stormed by the Regiments of Auvergne and Roussillon and by 200 commanded men out of the Kings Regiment of whom all the Officers almost were wounded and some of the other Regiments also there were some Sergeants kill'd and Souldiers a good number there was at the other storm some seven or eight of the Kings Musquetiers kill'd and fifteen or twenty wounded but of Officers there was only Colbert Captain of the second Company that received a shot and that but slight too There were several Voluntiers hurt and amongst the rest the Marquis of Bourbonne lost an eye The Guards also lost some Souldiers but they had never an Officer kill'd but Arcis Catinat a Captain who was shot in the knee with a Musquet Bullet and died in a few dayes after In short cessation of Arms concluded the News was carried with all speed to the King about Saturday noon and certainly it was as acceptable as could have come for the Foot began to be weary of the service and of the ill weather which for the five or six last nights had been very bad however the Trenches were reinforc't with more exactness then before because we understood very well the Enemy was at Ipre and it was of highest reputation to his Majesties honour that they should put in no relief now it was so near a surrender Upon this consideration he left his quarters at Loos and removed to the Marquis of Humieres at Helesme whither he brought all his Guards de Corps and two Battallions of French Foot and Swisses that being the convenientest place to give relief to all quarters but especially the Lorrainers where they had no other Foot then the two Lorrain Regiments in whom they had no great confidence as well for their number as that they were ill armed Besides the King was there at the foot as it were of the Trenches and had intelligence every moment and his presence made all things be executed with more care and expedition The Enemy having demanded parley they sent out the Marquis of Richebourg with their propositions who was received by the Marquis de Bellefons that day Lieutenant General and conveyed to the King of whom he at first desired two or three dayes time in expectation of relief engaging if they came not to surrender upon reasonable conditions but these proposals not answering the impatience the King was in of perfecting his conquest he sent him back immediatly and commanded the Marquis of Bellefons to renew the Batteries and ply their Guns as fast as they could But some of them that attended Richebourg back having told him his Propositions were unreasonable in the Condition the Town stood then all their out-works being taken and the Rampart that remained being hardly defensible that it would bring the safety of the Town and the prudence of the Governour in question who had mannaged his affairs so honourably hitherto if by delaying for a few hours they should incense his Majesty and make his own condition worse and expose the people to the hazard of being plundred and all the calamities of a Sack Moreover that he had been overseen not to bring some of the chief Citizens along with him who were a considerable body to have a care of their interest in the Capitulation Now whether he was by these arguments effectually perswaded or whether he had Order from the Governour to abate of his former demands he condescended to propose that some small time might be allowed him to return and confer with the several interests In short after some going to and fro which continued till eight a clock at night all things were agreed The Governour and the Citizens having joyntly sent out their Hostages the Regiment of Castelnau which was then in the Trenches on the left side was about eleven that night put into possession of one of the Gates of the Town and about eight or nine in the morning the Garrison marcht out with Armes and Baggage their Horse consisted of six Companies of the Regiment of Maciet of four of Erbais of three of Gavelans two of Richebourg and some others I know not whose the whole number might be about 7 or 800. The Infantry consisted of 300 natural Spaniards or thereabouts drawn out of several Terces and near as many from Naples but not so good Souldiers about as many English and some 150 Irish proper men and who had the appearance of old Souldiers There was also besides these a part of the Regiment of Rache which were reported to be but six Companies but they made up above 600 men which made it be believed that they being composed of Walloons as they were the most part of the Curlins of the Town and their new Levies had put themselves into those Companies because there was not found one person of that kind though we were informed during the siege that there was 1500 of them within And this with the Governours Company consisting of 30 men was the whole number of their Foot and all these by an inferior Officer with twenty of the Guards only conducted to the Ipre the Count de Broüay not being perswaded to go any-where else because it was rumour'd in the Army they would attempt this place again Whilst in this manner the Garrison marcht out and the Champagne Brigade and two other of Horse viz. that of Bissy and that of Resnel entered the Town the King gave order that the Army should march to see if by any means he could ingage the Enemy It is remarkable that from the time the King understood they parlied in the Town all his trouble was to find out a way to give the Enemy Battel whilst they were together Having to that end had conference with the Marshal Turenne he made the Marquis of Crequy with his Horse and Dragoons to march that very night being Saturday he gave order also to the Comte de Lillebonne with his Lorrainers that he should follow the Marquis as fast as was possible Insomuch as these Troops having refresh't a little at Menene were the next day encamp't beyond Harlebec and having from thence past the Lis at Deinse were advanc't as far as the Canal betwixt Bruges and Gaunt The King having only past through Lille as it werre and stay'd the time of singing a Te deum marcht himself on Sunday after dinner but it being late he could march that night not above three quarters of a League which was near the Abby of Marquette The next day being Monday the 29th he marcht very early in the morning with a design to encamp also at Harlebec where the two Brigades of Horse belonging to Choiseul
enemies After the review which his Majesty made of his Guards at S. Germains towards the end of the month of April it began to be divulged that his Majesty would in good earnest take the Field if the Counsel of Spain did not speedily yeild to the King a good part of those thing which he had demanded of them Soon after Generall Officers were nominated and care was taken for disposing great sums of money for the Artillery and provisions The Commanders of Regiments had notice given them to advertise all persons under their command to see to their Equipages and in a word all such Orders were given out as are usual in the commencing of a War Whilst these things were in preparation the Manifesto setting forth the Queens Right and Title to those Countries was published and about the beginning of May Printed Copies thereof were sent throughout all Europe eâ—pecially into Spain and to Brussels Which being a sufficient and competent Declaration of War the King fitted himself to go and expect an answer to it at the head of his Army Accordingly his Majesty together with the Queen departed from S. Germains on the sixteenth day of the same moneth attended with such a small number of those of his Court as were in readiness to accompany him most of the great Lords and Courtiers staying behind to prepare their Equipages of War But that those who intended to follow might have time to overtake him his Majesty spent four dayes on the way before he arriv'd at Amiens where he arriv'd on the twentieth day of the same moneth of May. At the same time the General Officers set forward in order to the drawing of the Troops together in several places some at La Fere others at S. Quintin Guise Mezieres Peronne Dourlens and Hesdin so that the Forces were extended from the River Meuse to the coast of Calais though in distinct Bodies yet so as that they might joyn together in five or six dayes according as it should seem expedient Marshall D' Aumont Governour of Paris was design'd to command a body of between seven and eight thousand men on the coast of Dunkirk and he had under him for his Lieutenant Generals the Count Du Passage and the Duke of Roanez formerly styl'd Count de la Fuâ—illade for the Marshalls of his Camp the Counts de â—orge and S. Lieu. His Infantry consisted of the Regiments of Navarre Normandie Plessis-Praslin Harcourt Sourches and the Queen's Regiment His Cavalry Commanded by Monsieur la Cardonniere Comissary General was divided into three Brigades at the head of which were the Marquis de Rouvray the Marquis de Gelis and Calvo The Marquis de Crequy newly recall'd to Court from which he had been absent for six years was sent with between three and four thousand men to the Frontrie of Luxembourg and the parts about Alsatia and with him Monsieur Desperce for Marshall of that Camp He had but two Regiments of Foot with him viz. the Regiment of Piedmont and S. Vallier besides 1000 Dragoons His Cavalry was likewise divided into three Brigades under the Command of the Marquisses d'Joyeuse de la Feüillee and de Montaurel who were all under the obedience of Monsieur de Rochepere At the same time the Duke of Noailles was sent to Perpignan whereof he was Governour to the end he might take care of Roussillon whilst the main brunt of the War should be in Flanders This Duke had but few Forces because there was but little to enterprise onely some Regiments of Cavalry were assigned to him and Monsieur Foucaut for his Lieutennant General 'T was easily judg'd that the King had some great design when it was understood that before his departure from S. Germain's he appointed a Counsell to remain with the Queen consisting of the Chanceller of France and the Marshall d'Estree with two Secretaries of state Monsieur Vrilliere and Monsieur Guenegaud After which having declared her Majestie Regent of the Kingdome during his absence he sent for the Parliament and other Soveraign Courts to signifie to them his pleasure that they should acknowledge her for such whilst his Majesty should be absent The Prince of Conde remain'd at his house of Chantilly partly for that he was indispos'd in his health and partly for that as it was seen afterwards the King reserv'd him for other imployments when the War should be begun his Majesty declaring that during the whole course of of this Campagne he would not make use of the Counsell of any but that of mounsieur de Turenne Marshal General of the Camp who by this meanes beheld himself at a higher step of glory then ever he had ascended to before As for the Ministers of State of whom his Majesty serv'd himself namely Monsieur le Tellier Monsieur de Lionne Secretaries of State and Monsieur Colbert they departed not from Paris till six dayes after his Majesty and then they went directly to La Fere there to remain in expectation of further orders The Marquis de Louvois Secretary of State had set forth from Paris two dayes before the King namely on the fourteenth of May in order to give notice to all the world of his Majesties march and the design he had to let the Queen see what Troups he had about Peronne where their Majesties arrived the 26 of May. But before we proceed any further it seems to me not impertinent to give account what Forces were in being when the King began first to think of this enterprise All the Infantry of France were divided into 1200 Companies each of them consisting of fifty men but several young Gentlemen of Quality having since taken the Command of Regiments upon them they are now much more they having for greater Ostentation of their Commands many of them inlarged their Troops and at their own expence raised several Companies much more Numerous then was required Moreover the King had two Regiments of his Guards one of French the other of Swiss besides twenty Companies of new raised Swiss all which Foot amounted upon the Muster Role to 70000 men besides 1000 Dragoones The Horse consssted of 200 Troops each of them of fifty men which made up likewise by the Roles 10000 Horse his Court and Equipage were 3000 Horse if we reckon the Guards de Corps his Musquitires on Horse-back his Gens d' Armes and his light Horse belonging to his person the most ready and best disciplin'd that without doubt have been seen at any time Having furnisht his Garrisons out of these and divided the rest into several Bodies according to the different places he design'd to imploy them as I have related before the Army Royal was judg'd to consist of about 24 or 25000 Foot and 9 or 10000 Horse of which you shall have the particulars The Foot was divided into four Brigades the first and strongest was that of the Guards Compos'd of twenty-eight Companies of the French Guards and nineteen of the Swiss and four