Prisoners to the Marechal de Villeroy who made some Excuses for their ill Treatment and was himself very civil to them He gave them immediatly their Liberty and desired they should stay no longer but to refresh themselves He invited them to Dinner the next day and so sent them back without Ransom The Mareschal de Villeroy having slipp'd this opportunity of falling upon Prince Vaudemont by his wise and happy Retreat marchâ—d with the French Army to Rousselar and Prince Vaudemont who had march'd all night as far as Mary Kirk under the Walls of Ghent halted here till nine of the Clock in the morning that he judged all the Straglers were got up to the Army and so marched through Ghent and incamp'd without Brussels Port. And as Prince Vandemont foresaw that the Enemies having missâ—d this opportunity would march towards Newport so twelve Battallions had orders not to pitch their Tents but to be ready to march under the command of Sir Henry Bellasis Lieutenant General but the Army marching through Ghent and the Baggage this Detachment could not repass the Town to march towards Bruges till the next day early in the morning Brigadier Offerrel was left in Deinse and a Swedish Regiment besides a Detachment Prince Vaudemont had writ a Letter the 4th to the King to give him an account of his Circumstances and of the motions of the Enemy to attack him which made us very anxious before Namur for the success of that Affair The next day in the morning he sent an Express to the King to give his Majesty an account of his successful Retreat which the King received at night which good News caus'd an universal Joy before the Town and dissipated all the Apprehensions we had for the safety of Prince Vaudemont's Army This brings me back again from Flanders to speak of the progress of the Siege of Namur The 4th the English Army employed in this Siege were like to lose all their money coming from Louvain under an Escorte of about 100 Horse and 50 of Dopf's Dragoons Mr. Hill the Pay-master-general of his Majesty's Forces was with them They met by Perwys at a Defilé with a good Party of the Enemy's Horse and Dragoons from Charleroy which at first made ours give way thinking them stronger than really they were The Pay-masters of the Regiment had put their money into a Waggon which the Enemy overthrew and were taking out the Horses In the mean time the Officer commanding our Party who before had done his best to make his people stand rallyed them again who finding that the Enemy were not so strong as at first they apprehended them came on upon them and so the Enemy were obliged to retire in their turn But the Waggon being over-turned several Regiments lost their money in the confusion some taken by the Enemy and some by our own Troopers However the Enemy being near our Camp and afraid of another Party went off as fast they could to Charleroy their Garrison having no great occasion to brag of their Booty which they quitted as easily as they got it Mr. Hill was in a Coach but he made his escape upon a Led-Horse The same day Lieutenant-Colonel Billing of Sâ—lwyn's Regiment was commanded with 300 men to take Post upon the rising Ground of this side the Sambre over-against the House of the other side called the Ballance where the Enemy had a good Guard to defend the Passage of the River This was in order to make some Batteries upon the side of this Hill to dislâ—dge the Enemy from the Ballance and the Abbey of Salsen This Post was pretty warm at first being exposâ—d to the â—ire of the Battery of two upon the end of the Enemyâ—s Line of which we have before given an account But our men soon put themselves under Cover and this Post was daily relieved with a Lieutenant-Colonel and 300 men till we had gainâ—d the Passage of the Sambre At night Mâ—jor-â—eneral Hâ—uklom commanded the Trenches The 5â—h or about this time Baron Fleming Velt Mareschal-General of the Elector of Brandenburgh's Forces came to the Camp before Namâ—â—â— and took his Quarter on the other side of the Meuse with the Brandenburgh Troops under his Command which hitherto had been commanded by the Lieutenant-General Baron Heyden The same day it was resolved that the English Forces incamp'd at Tâ—empâ—oux should open the Trench upon the Right of the Enemys Retrenchment directing their Approaches towards the old Tower of Cocklé That three English Regiments should mount the Trenches here and three Dutch upon the Left towards the Meuse where they had opened the Trench near the Village of Bouge Accordingly in the Evening my Lord Cutts Brigadier was commanded with the Regiments Royal Selwyn and Trelawny for this Work and Major-General Salisch had the Trenches The Enginier missed in the night the Ground where we were to begin to work which was in a bottom upon the Right of the Enemy's Rettenchment or covered way And so these three Regiments returned without breaking Ground The 6th Major-General Lindeboom mounted the Trenches and Brigadier Fitzpaterick with the Regiments of Seymour and Columbine being that lately commanded by the Marquiss de Rada Son to the Marquiss de Montpouillan who dyed of a Fever at Bruges the beginning of the Campagne and the Regiment was given to Lieutenant-Colonel Columbine Captain of the Guards who had been Lieutenant-Colonel to it in the time of Colonel Babington the third was the Regiment of Fusiliers This night these Regiments opened the Trench before the Enemy's covered way upon the Hill of Bouge taking the opportunity of the hollow ground to begin their work very near the Enemy Captain Thilips of Selwyn's Regiment was wounded with the Workmen Thus the Trenches were mounted upon the Right by the King's Forces three Battallions commanded by a Brigadier and by the States Forces three Battallions upon the Left commanded by a Dutch Brigadier making two Attacks upon Right and Left under the Command of a Major-General 200 men were commanded every night upon each Attack with two Captains and other Officers proportionably to work and advance the Trenches whilst the Regiments of the Trenches covered their Work which they did under the shelter of Wooll-sacks with their Fire which generally continued more or less the whole Night The 7th Major-General Heukelom had the Trenches with my Lord Cutts's Brigadier upon the Right and the Battallions of Tidcomb Stanley and Collingwood I could not get a List of the rowling of the Dutch Brigadiers and Regiments upon the Left so that I must pass it over Captain Gaubet of Colonel Ingoldesby's Regiment and Enginier and another Enginier of la Meloniere's Regiment were killed in the Work this night The 8th several of the Regiments encamp'd at Temploux had Orders to march in the Lines of Circumvallation being the first Battallion of the Royal Regiment the Fusiliers Ingoldesby Saunderson Maitland and Lauder We continued still to fire with our small Battery upon the
King of Spain's Hands He does not aggrandize his Dominions by it and has no other Interest in it but the glory of doing so much Good to the World in general and of establishing the Welfare and Security of his Subjects in particular by the Reduction of this strong Key of the Spanish and United Provinces Thus much for this Preface I believe the French depended more upon the strength and greatness of their Army than upon any Hopes the Dean and Chapter 's Preface could give them The 16th the Maréchal de Villeroy left the Camp of Seneff and Nivelle He commanded all the heavy Baggage away to Mons and march'd with the whole Army to the Plains of Fleury where he encamp'd with his Right between St. Amand and Fleury and his Left towards Sombref the head Quarter was at Marbais At Night he caus'd about 50 Pieces of Cannon to be drawn at the Head of his Camp upon the Causey that goes to Namur which were discharg'd round to give the Besieged notice of his Arrival who now made every Night some Signals from the top of the Cavalier of the Terra nova with lighted Torches sometimes Four and Three and Two which we suppos'd to signifie the time of the Resistance they could make The Besieged did not answer Villeroy's Signal and as 't was told after the Siege did not hear it the Wind being contrary tho' 't was a still Night The King upon Villeroy's Approach with the French Army left his Quarter at Malogne and the Siege of the Castle to the Elector of Bavaria and the Duke of Holstein Ploen and took his Quarter that very Night at the Castle of Bovesse a Gentleman's House in the Rear of our Right Wing of Horse but most of His Majesty's Domesticks remain'd at the more convenient Quarter in the Abbey of Malogne The next Day the King was very early with Prince Vaudemont at his Quarter at Golsines being then indispos'd which hinder'd him from waiting upon the King at his own Quarter Measures were then taken for the Security of our Camp by making Retrenchments where they were requisite The King brought with him from the Siege Velt-Maréchal-General Fleming and Count d'Arco General of the Bavarians to command our Right-Wing of Horse and Lumley's Brigade of English Horse was detach'd from the Left to the Right Wing which was most expos'd to the Enemy to re-inforce it They encamp'd at St. Denis between the Hesse Troops and the Right of our Army which we advanc'd yet farther in the Front and drew our Line closer to the Woods and the Avenues between them The same Day 17th the second Battalion of Dutch Guards and the second of Scots which had reliev'd some Days before my Lord Cuts his Battalion and the first Battalion of Dutch Guards were countermanded back to the Camp and 12 Battalions more of the Elector of Brandenbourgh's and States Forces besides more of the Horse imploy'd in the Siege so that 't was computed we had this Day 97 Battalions and 237 Squadrons to oppose to the Maréchal de Villeroy besides about 30 Battalions which continu'd the Siege and Six in Garrison in the Town This is the true state of our Forces in this great Conjuncture and at this time 500 Men is the most that we can rate a Battalion at one with another and 110 each Squadron in either Armies I leave the Calculation to the Reader and the difference of the two Armies will appear upon it This Day we began to work at our Retrenchments to fortifie the House and Bridge of Masy we made a Retrenchment at Bossire before Fits-patrick and Selwyn's Brigades which had before Prince Vaudemont's Quarter at Golsines in their Rear and Bossire upon their Left but upon the approach of Villeroy they chang'd their Ground and encamp'd with their Right at the Prince's Quarter and Left towards the little River which runs by Gemblours and Masy to the Sambre and Bossire in their Rear their Line being perpendicular to the Line of our Army This Retrenchment defended the Plain which runs with a Wood upon the Right and another upon the Left towards Conroy and Gemblours Farther towards Conroy we cut down Trees to barricade the High-ways and plac'd there a Captain and 60 Men detach'd out of the two ' fore-said Brigades with Orders to maintain the Post as long as possibly they could to give notice of the Enemies Approach These two Brigades were then under the Command of Major-General Ramsay The same Day 17th Brigadier Fitspatrick was detach'd with 8 Battalions 3 whereof were Maitland Tiffeny and Ferguson the rest Dutch and Germans to the Village of St. Denis which lying upon the skirt of a Wood they fortified very strongly The Hessians were more to the Right where they defended with a good Retrenchment the little Plain between St. Denis and Meux situated on the skirts of another Wood more towards the Mehaigne Velt-Maréchal Fleming and Count d'Arco with Lumley's Brigade and the Brandenbourgh Horse and Bavarian Cuirassiers were order'd more to the Right between the Wood of Meux and the Village of Du where they made another Retrenchment over the Plain from the Wood upon the Left to Du upon the Right The Mehaigne has several little Springs and some in this Place This was the Disposition of our Affairs the 1â—th in the Army As for the Enemies they did not march this Day but continued in their Camp between Fleury and Sombref they had made a considerable March the Day before with such a vast Body that they halted this Day to compleat their Army to Forrage and give out Bread to the Soldiers The 18th they march'd more upon their Left towards Gemblours to come nearer to our Right which was the most open part of our Camp our Left towards the Sambre being very strongly encamp'd as we have describ'd it above They encamp'd with their Right at Gemblours and Left at Grandléz the head Quarter at Saunier Upon which Motion of the Enemy Orders were given in our Army not to stir out of the Camp and every Body to be ready at a Minute's warning which should be given by the firing of three Pieces of Cannon The same Day 18th 22 Grenadiers per Company out of his Majesty's Forces were order'd to be ready to march and make an Assault upon the Breach we had made in the Terra nova jointly with the rest of the Besiegers who were to attack the Breach of the Cohorne and other Out-works But his Majesty expecting the Enemies should attack us the next Day thought it more convenient to deferr the Assault longer and in the mean while to widen and applanish the Breaches with the usual violence of our Cannon these Grenadiers being more necessary in our Camp at this time The Maréchal de Villeroy intended to attack us the next Day the King was inform'd of it and the Army expected it for which Reason all Officers and Soldiers were order'd to lie in their Cloaths with their Arms ready to
turn out upon call Prince Vaudemont tho' very much indispos'd came by Three of the Clock in the Morning in his Coach and stood at the Head of the English Guards notwithstanding that he had kept his Bed Three or Four Days before and had then a Feaver upon him the whole Army turn'd out an Hour before Day We form'd our Battalions and Squadrons in a readiness and the King came at the same time to see us in a posture of defence and went in Prince Vaudemont's Coach to conferr with him upon the present Conjuncture The Weather was very thick and foggy so that we could hardly see 50 Yards before us but we had Out-guards all along beyond our Retrenchments to prevent any surprize nevertheless we were very much concern'd at the unseasonableness of the Fog tho' 't was as inconvenient to the Enemy as to us In the Morning the Brigade of Guards was commanded to the Right at St. Denis under the Command of Major General Churchil to form a Reserve and sustain the Eight Regiments that had been posted here under Brigadier Fitspatrick which were all fresh and had not been concern'd in the Siege of Namur This was the most convenient Passage in our Camp and 't was expected that the most vigorous Attack of the Enemies would be here therefore there was a great deal of Care taken to fortifie all the Avenues and Church-yard of this Village The Brigade of Guards continu'd the Retrenchment from the Village within the Hedges and a marshy bottom by which they continu'd it to the Hesse Retrenchment And we had now provided so well for the defence of this Passage that we had no great Apprehension of the Enemies coming here The Hessians had made very good Batteries upon their Retrenchments cover'd with Gabions from whence they commanded the whole Plain There was another Passage to the Left of St. Denis about an English Mile before our Right Wing of Horse which we retrench'd and fortify'd and Sir David Collier was posted here with his Brigade and some Artillery We retrench'd all the Rising Ground within Masy and Golsines and so to the Woods we had upon our Right This was the Posture of our Camp this Day The Enemies had made several Motions the Night before and this Morning sending several Bodies sometimes to their Right and sometimes to their Left and their whole Camp was under Arms most part of the Night before and this whole Day About Noon the Weather began to clear up upon which Villeroy advanc'd to St. Denis to observe our Posts and our Army We had barricaded the way through the Wood with several Trees we had cut down and the Boughs being thick and green and there being a large Barn hard by he came by this way through the Wood and took the opportunity of this Cover to come up close to this Retrenchment As soon as he was perceiv'd all our Men within the Retrenchment took the Alarm and stood to their Arms expecting it to be the Van-guard of the Enemies Army The King was at Dinner in his Tent which was pitch'd hard by for that purpose who immediately got on Horse-back to observe the Enemy But Villeroy finding himself discover'd retir'd immediately having seen enough to convince him that 't was not fit to meddle with us here The Day being pass'd without any Action and the Time pressing for now we began to wait in our Camp the King thought it not convenient to deferr the Assault of the Breaches of the Terra nova and Cohorne any longer wherefore a Detachment was made this Evening 19th of 36 Grenadiers per Company out of those Regiments of His Majesty's Forces which had not been concern'd in the Siege and 18 out of those that had been employ'd in it The Grenadiers of the Brigade of Guards were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Evans Captain of Grenadiers in the first Battalion and the rest by Colonel Epping Colonel of one of the Danish Battalions But before I proceed to give an Account of this Assault it is necessary to continue the Affairs of the Siege to this time The 15th as we have said it before we took the Half-moon of the Sambre which would otherwise have flank'd our Trenches if we had not beat the Enemies from it and likewise our Assault upon the Breach of Terra nova The 16th being Masters of this Half-moon we began to work at a Pattery of 10 Pieces of Cannon upon the Left of our inferiour Trench between it and the Half-moon which fir'd upon the inward Face of the small Bastion at the Foot of the descending Courtin of Terra nova Our Batteries from the Town could only fire upon the outward Face towards the Sambre and besides this Battery firing more perpendicular upon the Breach of Terra nova had yet a better effect than those from the Town Captain Hart of Colonel Courthop's Regiment was killed this Day in the Trenches In the Evening his Majesty left the Siege to put himself at the Head of the Army upon Villeroy's Approach Major-General Lindeboom reliev'd the Trenches this Night with the Prince of Holstein Norbourg Brigadier and Colonel Mackay of our Forces This Night we advanc'd our Trenches between the side of the Cohorne and the Sambre The Descent of the Hill from the Cohorne to the Sambre being steep this gave the Enemies opportunity to make use of a Machine to hinder our Work they fill'd some Casks with Powder Bombs and Grenades with a Fuzee at each end of the Cask which they tumbl'd down the Hill upon our Men but the Bombs and Grenades being too heavy in the Casks for the Powder caus'd an unequal Motion of the Machine which hinder'd its Effect for it could not roul down strait but inclin'd either to the Right or to the Left and if it fell per chance among our Workmen they only open'd to the Right and Left and let it run down the Hill tho' at first it put them into some disorder but the Machine made more Noise than Mischief The 17th early in the Morning our Battery of 10 Pieces of Cannon upon the Left of our inferior Trench began to play with very good success and contributed very much to level the Breach of the Terra nova for a more easie Assault By this time most of the Enemies Cannon were dismounted except some great Pieces upon the Cavalier of Terra nova which could not bear low enough upon us that attack'd from the bottom of the Hill and so did us no harm but their Drakes were still troublesome which being light they could easily draw up and down where they were most convenient for them In the Afternoon we discover'd a Party of the Enemies of 20 Troopers from the Garrison of Dinant which had posted themselves in Ambuscade just by our Line of Circumvallation towards the Meuse where a Detachment of the Elector's Guards were posted who attack'd them killing 6 of the Enemy and made the Lieutenant Prisoner and 7 more of his Party
Lieutenant d' Aneau kill'd in Seymour's Lieutenant Campbel kill'd in Columbine's Captain Cummins kill'd Lieutenant Twinhoe wounded in the Fusiliers Captain Groves and Lieutenant Rainsford wounded in Tidcomb's Lieutenant Sowell wounded in Stanley's Lieutenant Mordant kill'd in Ingoldsby's Captain Parry kill'd in Saunderson's Lieutenant Midlemore kill'd in Maitland's Lieutenant Arthurs wounded All these were Officers of Grenadeers There were yet some others of the same whose Names I could not get The Loss of the Four Regiments concern'd in the Attack was as follows In Colonel Courthop's Regiment the Colonel Captain Coot and Lieutenant Evans kill'd Sir Matthew Bridges Lieutenant-Colonel who now has the Regiment wounded Captains Wolf and du Bourguay Lieutenants Disbordes and Ash Ensigns Foncebran Eyres and Denis with 101 Soldiers kill'd and 149 wounded In Colonel Friderick Hamilton's Regiment Lieutenant-Colonel Ormsby Captains Purefoy Pinsent and Carteret Lieutenants Fitsmorris and Ramme Ensigns Fettyplace Blunt Baker and Hayter kill'd Captain John Southwel and Ensign Lister dead of their Wounds Colonel Friderick Hamilton Captains Kane du Roure Seymour and William Southwel Lieutenants la Planche Brereton Hybert Arphaxad Râ—leston Ensigns John Gifford Ormsby and Blackney wounded Soldiers kill'd 86 wounded 185. In Colonel Mackay's Regiment Captain Catenberg Ensign Macdoâ—gal kill'd Major Cunningham Captains Cunningham Mackenzy Camerone and Bruce Lieutenants Macleod Monro Dickson and Wilson Ensigns Neil Macleod Monro John Macleod Macdonald Gordon and Martyn wounded Sergeants and Soldiers kill'd 73. wounded 166. In Colonel Buchan's Regiment Captains Johnston Baily and Wear Lieutenant Bailly kill'd Lieutenant-Colonel Guilliams Captains Dalham Cassin and Orach Lieutenants Levingston and Windram Ensigns Gordon Lesley and Urguhart wounded Soldiers and Sergeants kill'd 65 wounded 140. The Loss in these 4 Regiments of Officers and Soldiers kill'd and wounded being join'd together amounts to 1028. besides the Grenadiers which I 'm sure had near 300 kill'd and wounded So that the whole Loss of His Majesty's Forces concern'd in this Action amounted to about 1400 Men tho' most Prints that speak of this Business make the whole Loss of the Allies to come to little more than this 'T is true that the other Forces concern'd in the Attacks of the Cohorne and Casotte did not suffer near so much as we did or rather their Loss was but inconsiderable except the Dutch and Bavarians employ'd in the Attack of the Breach of the Cohorne under Major-General Rivera who had many both Officers and Soldiers kill'd and wounded and if the Loss of all the rest of the Allies put together be suppos'd equal to that we sustain'd we must have had in all kill'd and wounded in this Action near 3000 Men. We had a great many Voluntiers to signalize themselves in this Occasion If I could have got a List of all these worthy Gentlemen I would have mention'd them in this Place What Loss the Enemies sustain'd particularly in this Attack is not known no more than in any of the others but we need not doubt but such an Attack which lasted so long and where our Bombs play'd at the same time incessantly in their Works must destroy them a great many Men. This Night 30th Major-General Arnheim had the Trenches with the Prince of Anhalt Brigadier We work'd all Night to strengthen and fortifie the great Lodgment we had made the Day before To return to the two Armies in presence of one another the one to endeavour to relieve the Besieged and the other to cover the Besiegers Villeroy had been the Day before to visit our Posts at St. Denis and though he began then to apprehend the great Difficulty there was to attack us in our strong Posts and the apparent Hazard of a Battel yet to endeavour all Ways possible to relieve the Place he order'd the Army in the Morning 20th to march upon the Left towards Perwys to try a Passage at the Springs of the Mehaigne the Country being more open thereabouts The King who expected this Motion of the Enemies order'd in the Morning our Cavalry of the Right under the Command of Velt-Marechal Fleming and Count d' Arco with Lumley's Brigade to march on upon the Right towards the Mehaigne The Hesse Troops made the same Motion and they all encamp'd with a Wood upon their Right their Left towards the Village of Du and that of Ypigny's before them Lieutenant-General la Forest was detach'd at the same time with 20 Squadrons of Horse to Taviers and Bonef upon the Mehaigne to observe the Enemies March who came early in the Afternoon to their Camp near the Mehaigne Lieutenant-General la Forest continu'd in his Post till the Left Wing of the Enemies Horse which upon this March had the Van of the Army was come up to the Ground which extended it self along the River between Ramelies and Harlue and Taviers upon the Mehaigne As soon as the Left Wing was come up they detach'd about 40 Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons to beat us out of the Post of Bonef But la Forest who was here posted had Orders not to dispute it but only to observe the Enemies March and abandon it the Enemies being so near and so much superior to him in number this occasion'd some disorder in his Retreat The Detachment of Dopf and Eppinger's Dragoons that had been posted in some Hedges to make good our Retreat were forc'd out of it and the Enemies having gain'd the Pass endeavour'd to flank our Horse which march'd off in two Columns and to surround them with their Line of Squadrons However after some Skirmishes on both sides our Cavalry made their Retreat good Major Crowther commanded a Squadron of Brigadier Lumley's Regiment in this occasion with which he fac'd about in the Retreat and with some others skirmish'd with the Enemies The French expected that this would bring both Armies to a Battel and the Princes of the Blood put themselves at the Head of the Cavalry to shew a good Example in so important an Action The Duke du Maine had a Horse kill'd under him the Marquis de Villequier was dangerously wounded On our side the Major of Eppinger's Dragoons was kill'd and Lieutenant Alexander of Brigadier Lumley's Regiment was made Prisoner and we lost about 10 Horses The French made much of this inconsiderable Success an Express was immediately dispatch'd to give an Account of it to Court They had already broke in upon our Right Wing of Horse and nothing less was expected by the next Courier than the Defeat and Rout of our Army and the Relief of Namur nay the thing was thought so sure that 't was immediately communicated to Foreign Ministers as 't is credibly reported This also contributed very much to the Oppression of our Dixmuyde and Deinse Prisoners who were now very ill treated and abused though afterwards the Pretext was for Reprisal of their Sick and Wounded in the Town of Namur which they pretended were not well us'd among us Some of the most hot-Headed of our National Enemies abroad would then tell the Soldiers
we were in some trouble and pain at this time about Prince Vaudemont For the Marechal de Villeroy who had advanced as far as the Scheld at Pottes and Escanaffe expecting Orders to have march'd to the relief of Namur or to undertake some Siâ—ege for a Diversion received Orders to repass the Lys to attack Prince Vaudemont in his Camp at Woutergâ—em which if it had succeeded would have been an effectual way to raise the Siege of Namur 'T is a very easie thing to find Miscarriages and Faults in ill Success and when an Enemy has come to the worse by taking wrong measures t is no hard matter to tell how he might have done better The Attempt upon Prince Vaudemont was doubtful for either Villeroy may come to the worse or the Prince may retreat But if whilst Villeroy was advanced as far as the Scheld the French King had undertaken the Siege of At h or Ardenard one of these two places must of necessity have fallen into his Hands whilst we were besieging Namur or we must have raised the Siege to have hindred it However whether it was that the Enemies who had no other designs but to act defensively had not prepar'd themselves for a Siege or whatever other reason there was for it Villâ—roy easâ—d us of the Jealousie we were in for At h and Aâ—denarde and received orders to repass the Lys For this end he made his Army as strong us possibly he could and order'd Monsieur de Ximenes Lieutenant-General and Pracontal Major-General who were near Mâ—ns with a good Detachment of Horse to come and join him Being reinforced with these Troops he ordered Bridges to be made upon the Lys the 2d at night at Vive St. Eloy where he pass'd that River the 3d. and encam'd at St. Barbon Montal at the same time had Orders to march with the Body under his command from the Neighbourhood of Kenoque towards Thielt Prince Vaudemont being informed of this motion of the Enemy's made a movement of his Camp at Wonterghem to bring his Right more to the Rear to take up the rising Ground of Arseel which he thought more defensible This was the third in the Evening the Prince ordered then Retrenchments to be made upon the Left towards VVacken and the Lys and the 4th the Army retrench'd and fortified upon the Right all the rising Ground of Arseel and the Regiments of Strathnaver and George Hamilton with Brigadier O Farrel came from Deinse to the Camp to reinforce our Army the Garrison being supplyed by Detachments Prince Vaudemont had then about fifty Battallions and fifty one Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons and with these Forces he was then resolved to expect the Marechal de Villeroy and to venture the issue of a Battle in his Retrenchments which he had made very strong though Villeroy had near the double of his number and that Prince Vaudemont had not above 36000 men Whilst we were working at our Retrenchments at Arseel the French Army commanded by the Marechal de Villeroy was marching in the morning towards our Camp with their Left upon our Right near Caneghem and their Right towards our Left at Beâ—â—â—ghem and VVacken We had a Dutch Major posted with two hundred Foot at Inghelmonster upon the River Mandel the Castle or Gentleman's House was pallâ—saded and moted from whence he interrupted the Enemy's march for some time who had a Colomne to march by this place His Post being strong and palissaded he would not surrender till they brought Cannon against him and then he surrender'd himself and Detachment Prisoners of War Some of the French Officers would have had him made an Example for pretending to hinder the march of a Royal Army with a handful of men but on the contrary the Marechal of Villeroy approved of his Courage and Bravery and was pleas'd to applaud it The Mareschal de Villeroy came early enough in presence of our Army that day to have attack'd it and to have decided the Fate of our Army by a Battle But whether it was that he found our Camp strongly fortified and that he would not then hazard it or that he had orders to stay till Montal bad taken the Posts in the Rear of our Right between Arseel and VVirk to attack us there and that he thought it more sure and expedient to stay till then He remained in presence of our Army that Evening expecting to have attack'd the Pâ—ince very early the next morning and in a manner to have caught him in a Net by invironing him upon the Right Prince Vaudemont was informed of this motion of Monsieur de Montal's Our Army was then posted in the Retrenchment expecting the Enemy and though Montal had already pass'd Thielt and was drawing near to Caneghem Prince Vaudemont chang'd Resolution and thought it very hazardous to venture a Battle which promis'd the total ruin of his Army and then though the time was urgent and pressing he immediately with a most admirable Judgment resolv'd upon and contrivâ—d a Retreat The Prince had very wisely provided for such an Accident in the morning by ordering all the Baggage to load immediately and to march by Deinse to Gâ—ent that it might not embarrass the motions of the Army The Prince order'd first the Cannon to be drawn off the Batteries and to march towards Deinse which was done so secretly that the Enemies did not perceive it He had wisely ordered the Artillery to be moving from Battery to Battery all the Afternoon so that when it went clear off the Enemies thought it had been but the ordinary motion After the two Lines of Foot march'd upon the Left along the Retrenchment To cover this march of the Foot the Prince ordered a Body of Horse to come and post in the Retrenchment as 't was quitted by the Foot The Foot march'd with their Pikes and Colours trailing to conceal their march neither did the Enemies perceive this motion till the Cavalry mounted again and abandon'd the Retrenchment and then the Infantry was already got in the bottom between Arseel and VVouterghem marching towards Deinse At the same time that the Foot were filing off from the Retrenchment the Prince ordered Monsieur d Auverquerque with the Right Wing of Horse interlinâ—d with Colliers's Brigade of Foot to make a Line facing towards Caneghem extending himself from the Windmill of Arseel towards Winck This motion was to make Montal believe that this Line was design'd to oppose his Attempt upon the Rear of our Right but his secret Orders were to march off by Winck to Nevel and so to Ghent At the same time that the Foot marchâ—d by Wouterghem and Deinse my Lord Rochford who was posted with the Left Wing of Horse and two Battallions towards the Lys made the Reer Guard towards the Left with a Line of Foot upon one side and three Squadrons of Eppinger upon the other All this was so contriv'd by the Prince from the Right to the Left that the Army disappear'd all at
Battalions including Mackay and Torsay that lay Incamped upon his Right to defend the passage of the Canal of Sasvan-Ghendt at Mulenstein and 22. Squadrons of English Horse and 7. Dutch all the Dragoons were with the Duke of Wirtemberg near Bruges Villeroy was Encamped with the French Army since the taking of Deinse near Ghendt with his Right at Nevel and his Left at Gothem upon the Lys where he remained five or six days but before we attend his Army from hence to Brabant we must not forget the Barbarities and Inhumanities which the French Soldiers Committed in this Desolate Country which was all at their devotion of the French side of the Canal of Bruges They Plundred all the Inhabitants and stripp'd a great many naked and not only the Villages and Country People felt the Barbarous Usage of the Soldiers but the Churches and Cloisters and nothing though never so Sacred and Holy could escape their Sacrilegious Hands They stole all the Chalices that they could find either in Churches or Priests Houses without any regard to their God and Saviour whom they pretend to be in it and Robbed the Transubstantiated Sacrament of his Dwelling and Habitation At Torhout a considerable Borough they Ruined the Place Plundered the Inhabitants stripping the best of them naked and their beastly Fury carried them to the very Cloister Ravishing without distinction the Nuns as well as other Women And yet these are the Men whom the French pretend to be the only Defenders of the Catholick Cause as if the Emperor and King of Spain were the greatest Betrayers of this Interest by their Alliance with the King and the States of Holland Whereas not only those whom they brand with the name of Hereticks but the very Turks and Barbarians would scarce be guilty of so much disrespect to their Holy Places This is a short Account of the crying Mischiefs the Enemies committed in Flanders whilst it was exposed to the Licentious Fury of their Soldiers and no doubt they could have done more they could have Crown'd this Master-piece of Cruelty by the Bombarding of Ghendt and Bruges but the French King thought it would make more noise in the World and more Mischief in the Spanish Netherlands to Bombard its Metropolis the Seat of its Governors its chief place of Wealth and Trade and the dwelling of the Court and of its chiefest Nobility and then afterwards to Raise the Siege of Namur and command or give as they term it Peace to Europe 'T is in the pursuit of this important Attempt that we must now follow Villeroy and his Army Prince Vaudemont having Intelligence of the Enemy's Designs to pass the Scheld and march towards Brabant drew Sir David Collier with his eight Battalions from the Guard of the Canal of Bruges and the Dragoons from the Duke of Wirtemberg's Army who joyn'd him back again at Oostackre the day before he marched to Dendermonde The 26th the Marâ—echal de Villeroy re-passed the Lys at Wacken and Incamped near the Scheld within the Line Prince Vaudemont having notice of this Motion of the Enemies decamped the same day from Oostackre having then 26 Battalions with him and all the English Horse and Dragoons except the Dragoons of Rosse and Cunningham which remained with Lieutenant-General Bellasis and those which went with the King of which we have given an Account making in all 48 Squadrons he passed the Scheld this day about a League above Dendermond upon a Bridge of Boats with the Foot which Encamped along the Scheld as far as this place the Horse and Dragoons passed the Scheld at Dendermond and encamped between Dendermond and Baesrode The next day the Prince had information that Villeroy was re passing the Lys which made him suspect that Villeroy had made the motion the day before only to send him towards Brabant and in the mean while to come back and pass the Canal of Bruges to put the Paijs de Waes under Contribution for which Reason the Prince was hastning back again to his former Camp of Oostackre and had re-passed the Scheld when he received a more certain Account of Villeroy's Motions that he was then passing the Scheld to march towards Brabant the Prince then caused the Columnes of the March to Face to the Right-about and march back towards the Scheld where the Horse and Foot passed as they had done the day before and so went with all speed towards Brussels having then a good Account of Villeroy's Orders and Designs The Army marched the whole night except a halt it made of two or three hours about the middle of the night but the Baggage still continued loaded and the Soldiers rested upon their Arms. The halt being over the Army march'd on towards the Canal of Brussels which it pass'd the next Day the Foot at Vilvorde and the Horse at Burnt Bridge and so gain'd that Evening being the 28th the Camp of Deghem having march'd two Days and one Night about Thirty six Hours and notwithstanding the feeble and valetudinary Disposition of the Prince yet in so long a March he was very often on Horseback taking care of every thing his Zeal for the Cause and Affection for the Service overcoming all the Infirmities of his Body which seem'd to make prodigious Efforts to execute the wise Orders of his Mind By this great March he gain'd the Advantage of the Enemy to get between them and Namur tho' he could not hinder the Bombarding of Brussels At the same time that Prince Vaudemont left the Camp of Oostackre to march towards Derdermond the Duke of Wirtemberg left the Neighbourhood of Bruges to follow the Prince with all speed in order to join him with the 12 Battalions under his Command and march'd the same Day being the 26th to Ghendt Villeroy who had pass'd the Scheld the same Day at Escanaffe march'd with his whole Army to Lessines upon the River Dender below Aeth which being a considerable March to pass the Scheld and advance thus far oblig'd him to halt the next Day and to stay till all the Artillery Baggage and Stragglers were come up Montal was left in the Lines with no more Men than was just necessary to do the Duty of a Guard upon them Sir Henry Bellasis who encamp'd at Placendal whilst the Duke of Wirtemberg was at Bruges came up to this Place upon the Duke's marching to Ghendt and the Regiments of Tiffany and Buchan were detach'd from his Body to re-inforce Prince Vaudemont's Army so that Sir Henry Bellasis had at Bruges under his Command 10 Battalions and 2 Regiments of Dragoons having drawn off the Regiments of Strathnaver and George Hamilton from Newport and Belcastell from Ostend The 29th Prince Vaudemont march'd through Brussels from Deghem and encamp'd without Halleporte and Fort de Monterey with his Right upon the Hill that lies just over the River Senne and his Left at the Namur Port where he immediately order'd the Army to retrench and fortifie this Rising Ground which
was very strong and where it had been very difficult for Villeroy to have forc'd even this small Army The high Ground near the Senne this River and the Fort de Monterey fortified his Right besides the Retrenchments in the Front it was cover'd by the Bois de Sogne which came up close to the Left and Brussels remain'd just in the Rear Prince Vaudemont could have taken the Camp of Anderleck where he could being join'd by my Lord of Athlone and Count Nassau have prevented the Bombarding of Brussels but then the Enemies would have had the Advantage of us in marching towards Namur so that it was impossible at the same time to cover the Siege of Namur and to prevent the Bombarding of this Place The Foot only of Prince Vaudement's Army encamp'd within the Retrenchment between Halle Porté and that of Namur the Cavalry and Dragoons being re-inforc'd with the 22 Squadrons detach'd from the Siege of Namur with Count Nassau Weilbourg encamp'd at Scarbeck between Deghem and Brussels to guard the passages of the Canal being commanded by Monsieur D' Auverquerque But Prince Vaudemont being extreamly fatigu'd with the long March to Deghem was forc'd to keep his Bed at Brussels Villeroy who halted the 28th at Lessines for all his Army to come up march'd the 29th to come nearer to Brussels and at the same time to receive a Convoy of Provisions of Artillery Mortars and Ammunitions from Mons pass'd the Dender at Lessines and encamp'd with his Right near Steinkirk and his left towards Enghein and here he halted the next day for the Convoy from Mons which was escorted by the Marquis de Harcourt who had pass'd the Sambre some days before to join and re-inforce the Maréchal de Villeroy My Lord of Athlone with the Horse and Count Nassau with the Foot whom we have brought to the Camp of Genap the 29th halted here the next day The Enemies being then at Enghien and Steinkirk we had not one Piece of Cannon and we were very much afraid that Villeroy instead of going to Brussels should have march'd to Nivelle for then we must have retreated from Genap which is but a League from Nivelle to the Camp of Masy And Prince Vaudemont being encamp'd at Brussels the Enemies from Nivelle would have hinder'd his Passage by the Bois de Sâ—gne and Genap so that he must have march'd about by Louvain to come to Namur which consequently would have given the Enemies the Advantage of a March for the Relief of the Siege But Villeroy had Orders to Bombard Brussels and he must execute them which has lost the French the best opportunity they could have to relieve the Siege of Namur The 30th Prince Vaudemont was re-inforc'd by the Duke of Wirtemberg who came up to Brussels this Day with the 12 Battalions under his Command and encamp'd within the Retrenchment between the Gates of Halle and Namur where we had now by this junction 38 Battalions And this is the mighty Army in whose presence Villeroy bombarded Brussels which as the Paris Gazetteer boasted dar'd not attack the French Army which sought by this undertaking an occasion of fighting and to bring us to a Battel The French being now Masters of all the Country between Brussels Ghendt and Dendermond Sir Henry Bellasis sent Sir Bevil Granville's Regiment to re-inforce the Garrison of Dendermond where the Lunenbourgh Regiment of Luck had been order'd before and march'd himself with the Body under his command to Ghendt The 31st the Maréchal de Villeroy being expected before Brussels my Lord of Athlone had Orders to march from Genap to come nearer to Brussels to be ready to join Prince Vaudemont if Villeroy should offer to attack him in his Retrenchment Accordingly my Lord of Athlone pass'd the little River Dyle below Genap upon two Bridges and encamp'd with his Right at Waterloo in the Skirts of the â—â—is de Sâ—gne where the Marquis de Gastanaga has built a very pretty Chapel made in the Figure of Four Demi-Domes join'd together and one in the Centre rais'd upon them This Chapel was dedicated by him to the Virgin Mary to interceed for Issue to the King of Spain My Lord of Athlone's Left was at Braine Alleu and here he had his Quarter in the House where Prince Vaudemont was born The Causey between Brussels and Genap remain'd in the Rear Upon our March to this Place we had 12 Pieces of Cannon sent by Prince Vaudemont Besides this Count Nassau-weilbourg was order'd by the Prince to post himself with about 30 Squadrons of Horse along the way through the Bois de Sogne to make the Communication good from the Army at Brussels to that at Waterloo In the Evening his Majesty came from the Camp before the Castle of Namur with a good Escorte of Horse to Waterloo where his Majesty lay that Night to conferr with Prince Vaudemont upon the present Conjuncture of Affairs who waited the next Day tho' still indispos'd upon the King The same Day 31. the Maréchal de Villeroy march'd from Enghien and Steinkirk in order to execute the Commands of his Master against Brussels and encamp'd with his Right within two English Miles of Anderlecht and his Left at Halle My Lord of Athlone commanded a good Guard at Braine le Chasteau to defend the Passage from Halle to his Camp and the same Evening Rantzaw's Brigade was commanded from the Army within the Retrenchment to encamp between Anderlecht Porte and that of Flanders for the Defence of the Town on this side being the only Place where the Enemies could make an Attack The Magistrates upon the first News of the Enemies coming towards them had stopp'd up all the Sluces of the River Senne which run under the Walls of this Town and through the lower part of it which by degrees o'erflow'd all the bottom from the Canal before the Gates of Flanders and Anderlecht quite to that of Halle and all the Meadows near the Banks of the Senne from Brussels to Anderlecht But the Country between Anderlecht Porte and that of Flanders being pretty high and the bottom near the Ramparts but narrow the Water could not so overflow here but that the Enemies cou'd make their Batterie of Cannon and Mortars just by the Place and near enough to ruine afterwards the best and the most wealthy part of the Town The first of August the French advanc'd to come close to Brussels August and encamp'd this Day with the Right towards the Canal of Brussels and the Left beyond Anderlecht towards Halle The Marquis de Harcourt was left at Halle to make the Communication good between Monâ— and the Army All this being join'd together Villeroy was suppos'd to have full â—00 Battalions and about 220 Squadrons for besides the Regiments he had from Montal's Army to encrease his own the French King had order'd out of his Frontier Garrisons all the Regiments he could possibly spare to make up a formidable Army So far that I have heard
of our side However the French did not stir which made some People believe they design'd to exchange their Batteries and bring them towards the Lacker Porte and the Canal to burn the King's Magazines of Hay which were of the other side and see how far their Bombs would reach in the Town this way But I suppose their Bombs were spent and the King's Magazines which were very great were sav'd The farthest Bomb the Enemies shot from before Anderlecht Porte reach'd just below Prince Vaudemont's House belonging to the King and just by the Court it broke in the fall before it came to the Ground and a piece of the Shell kill'd an English Woman in the Street She was dress'd like a Gentlewoman and had a considerable quantity of Gold and Silver in her Pocket but I have never heard who she was The 6th the Enemies having drawn off the Day and Night before all their Cannon and Mortars tho' not without Loss for the Cannon from the Town still fir'd upon them the Afternoon before during their Work they sent them back again to Mons before with a strong Detachment and their Army was ready to follow them The 7th the Maréchal de Villeroy withdrew his Army from before Brussels and march'd back and encamp'd between Halle and Enghien The same Day the Two Battalions that had been detach'd from my Lord of Athlone's Army at Braine Alleu to Brussels under Major-General Heukelem march'd back through the Bois de Sogne and rejoin'd my Lord of Athlone who had now chang'd his Camp with his Right before Braine Alleu and his Left towards Bois-Seigneur-Isaac to be nearer to defend the Passage from Halle to Namur at Braine le Chasteau This Night the Artillery march'd from Prince Vaudemont's Army and the Baggage towards Genap and the next Day Prince Vaudemont follow'd with his Army marching upon one Line through the Bois de Sogne My Lord of Athlone likewise march'd from his Camp at Braine Alleu and the Cavalry from Scarbeck commanded by Monsieur D'Auverquerque which march'd through Brussels and the Bois de Sogne and so both Armies join'd in one Line of Battel encamping with the Left at Genap and the Right at Waterlo with the Causey of Brussels before us Prince Vaudemont had his Quarter at a House call'd the King's House upon it And this is the first time since the Siege of Namur that we had an Army to oppose the Maréchal de Villeroy which consisted of 182 Squadrons and 70 Battalions including that of Buchan which had not yet join'd us from Malines where he had been sent to Garrison during the Bombarding of Brussels And the Elector of Bavaria went back this Day from Brussels to the Siege of Namâ—r Villeroy was now encamp'd between Enghien and Steinkirk epecting the Rhine Detachment the Remainder of the King's House and some Battalions from the Coast to march to the Relief of Namur which they made sure of and so to give as they boasted Peace to Christendom The Rhine Detachment was already arriv'd at Rocroy the 7th having march'd through Lorrain Luxembourg and Champagne being now upon the Frontiers of Hainault were Monsieur de Pracontal Major-General was sent to march them up to Villeroy's Army This Detachment consisted of 12 Battalions 3 of Champagne 2 of Anjou 2 of la Châtre 1 of Thiange 2 of Lorrain and 2 of Blaisois and 4 Regiments of Dragoons of 3 Squadrons each in all 12 Squadronsâ— being the Regiments of Gobert Estrade Brâ—toncelle and Sailly At the same time that the Enemies had made this Detachment from the Rhine the Prince Lewis of Baden made another for Flanders to counterballance it the King having writ to the Prince before that if the French King order'd a Detachment from the Rhine to the Low-Countries he should send another to reinforce our Army and make head against all the united Forces of Villeroy This Detachment consisted of 10 Battalions of the Troops of Lunenburg and Hesse and 22 Squadrons commanded by Count de Lippe Velt-Maréchal of the Landtgrave of Hesse's Forces but the Landtgrave himself who is extreamly affection'd to the common Cause of the Allies but more particularly to his Majesty's and the Protestant Interest came himself to command in Person He arriv'd at the Camp before Namur the 5th of August with the Prince his Son his Army follow'd him having march'd from Prince Lewis's Army upon the Neckre to the Rhine at Coblentz from whence the Foot came down by Water to Cologne and by this time they were got between Aix la Chapelle and Liege The 8th Prince Vaudemont decamp'd from between Genap and Waterlo and march'd upon the Left to Sombref passing the Dyle at old Genap upon four Bridges laid over this little River two for each Column and so on between the Abbey of Villers Perwijs upon our Left Flank and Melle upon our Right the Artillery and Baggage by the Causey We came late to the Camp by reason of some Desilés which interrupted our March between these two Places Prince Vaudemont had his Quarter at Sombref with our Left here and our Right at Marbais and the Plains of Fleury before us The 10th we march'd still on upon the Left to take up the strong Camp of Masy Buchan's Regiment join'd us upon this March from Malines We encamp'd at Masy our two Lines in the Figure of a Semicircle the Convex part of it at Masy our Right before Temploux and the Cense or Farm de Boquet and our Left between Spy and Melmont towards the Sambre Prince Vaudemont took his Quarter at Golsines an old ruinous Castle formerly the dwelling-Place of the Counts of Namur Fitspatrick's and Selwyn's Brigades encamp'd before the Prince's Quarter at Bessire to take up a high Ground which forms a Tongue of Land towards Masy something steep towards Sombref and cover'd with thick Woods Some Horse and Dragoons encamp'd upon the left of these two Brigades close to the Village of Bessire and two Regiments of Dragoons at the Prince's Quarter And because this is the Camp that must decide the Fate of the Castle of Namur I shall give a short Description of it There is a little River that has its spring about Gemblours and falls into the Sambre which contributes very much to the strength of this Camp for in its short course to the Sambre it runs along a narrow Valley with Hills upon each side which makes the Passage of it difficult and so much the more that the side of the Hills towards the River is cover'd with thick Trees At Masy the Ground is more level on both sides of the River which makes this a considerable Passage being the only one from Gemblours to the Sambre that is convenient for an Army Beyond Masy as this River comes near the Sambre by Melmont it runs at the Foot of a steep Hill cover'd with thick Trees which made our Left between Spy and Melmont inaccessible to the Enemy Our Right was cover'd from Bessire and Golsines the
to terrifie them That they must not expect to be treated as Prisoners of War but as Rebels But this was making a Triumph before the Victory as it prov'd to their Confusion The King being inform'd of the Enemies March upon their Left towards Perwys order'd the Army to march upon the Right at the same time that our Besiegers were engag'd in the Assault against the Castle and Outworks The King took his Quarter this Day at a Gentleman's House call'd Ostin near the Village of Du. The Brigade of Guards being now in the Reserve encamp'd upon the Right of the King's Quarter in a third Line near the Hesse Troops Our Body of Foot encamp'd within the Retrenchment of Du and our Cavalry encamp'd behind them to sustain the Foot in the defence of the Retrenchments We abandon'd the perpendicular Retrenchment at Bossire between Masy and Gemblours Livingston's Dragoons with the Regiment of Foot of Holstein Ploen was left to guard the Post of Masy my Lord George Hamilton Brigadier was left to guard the Retrenchment of Golsines with three Battalions This was made upon the quitting of the Retrenchment of Bossire leaving Golsines Prince Vaudemont's Quarter before it who was Quarter'd at Ostin in the same House with His Majesty Brigadier Fitspatrick continu'd with his Eight Battalions at St. Denis We had a good Body of Horse posted at Ypignies before our Right At our coming to this Ground we saw the Enemies encamp'd with their Left near the Mehaigne between Ramelies and Taviers and their Right stretching towards Orbais with Perwys before them and Malevre in their Rear At Night we continu'd our Retrenchment from Du to the Wood upon our Right to be defended by the Hesse Troops and some of the Body of Foot The 21st we continu'd our Fire against the Castle with the usual Fury to make all Things ready for another Assault We began to apply the Miner to the Breach of the Cohorne for our Cannon firing from the Town and the other side of the River up the Hill could only break down the upper part of the Work whilst the Foot of it remain'd entire under the Shot of our Cannon and besides having gain'd the Counterscarp of this Work our Cannon could not play against the Cohorne without doing harm to our own Men And this I suppose was the Reason why we design'd in the last Attack to carry the Counterscarp and Breach all at once At Night Major-General Lindeboom mounted the Trenches with Brigadier Dedem The same Day the Maréchal de Villeroy pass'd the Mehaigne with a good Body of Horse and advanc'd as far as Ypignies The grand Guard we had here retreated to the Camp upon his Approach their Orders being not to engage The Maréchal de Villeroy left the main of his Body of Horse and rid on full speed with two Squadrons of Hussars whose Horses are very fleet and fit for such a purpose close to our Retrenchments upon our Right to view our Works and to observe our Camp He continued here wheeling sometime to the Right and sometime to the Left near a little Hedge that cover'd him We brought down some Pieces of Cannon to fire upon him which as soon as he perceiv'd it he rid off full speed with his two Squadrons under the shelter of a Wood we had before the Hesse Retrenchment At the same time that we brought down our Cannon we drew up several Regiments of Foot within our Line expecting the Enemies but no Action happen'd only some pickeering as they term it that is when single Men detach themselves voluntarily from both sides to meet and fire upon one another and then retire to their several Bodies again The Maréchal de Villeroy having observ'd the Posture of our Camp and our strong Retrenchments rid back again full speed with his Hussars to the main Body of Horse he had left at the heighth of Ypignies We detach'd some Squadrons after him the grand Mousquetaires of Brandenbourgh being one of them but without any other Action than the former Pickeering Villeroy having found us so well posted in this Place would yet try to find out a Passage for the Relief of Namur between our Right and the Meuse and therefore he went with his Detachment of Hussars towards the Village of Verderin where there is another narrow Plain upon the skirt of a thick Wood which from hence continues to the Meuse The Dragoons of Dopf and Eppinger were posted here where they made a Retrenchment and the Cavalry of the Right was commanded this Day with Lumley's Brigade to join these Dragoons for the Defence of this Post with Collier's Brigade which hitherto had continu'd in the little Retrenchment in the Wood between St. Denis and Golsines Thus Villeroy found all the Passages guarded before the Town from the Sambre where the River of Masy falls into it by all these Villages we have mention'd round to the Meuse below Namur at our Bridge of Communication making with Woods Rivulets and Retrenchments a kind of an outer Line of Circumvallation near Twelve English Miles in length And this was thought a better Defence than to have disputed the Passage of the Mehaigne to the Enemies when they came to Perwys Although Villeroy had now lost all Hopes of doing any thing for the Relief of the Castle for he found that he could not attack us without hazarding the Loss of his whole Army and that ours was in a good Condition and strongly posted and indeed our Strength was such that I believe had not the Siege of the Castle depended upon the Issue of a Battel we should hardly have put a Spade in the Ground to have made a Retrenchment yet the Enemies Presence at Perwys was very inconvenient to our Army which was now shut up in a kind of a Line of Circumvallation where Forage was very scarce They had cut off all Communication with Brussels and Louvain from whence we had our Provisions They were now Masters of the River-side between Namur and Liege so that we could have nothing from thence by Water but must be brought by Land on the Dinant side through a difficult Country But the Maréchal de Villeroy had secur'd his Communication with Charleroy and Mons by leaving the Marquis de Harcourt with a small Army near Fleury From whence it appears that if the French had not left the Castle to the last Extremity before they came to Relieve it it might have prov'd of a very dangerous Consequence to our Army which would have been in a manner depriv'd of Subsistance for Man and Horse But they must bombard Brussels first and so they came too late and I cannot imagine the Reason of this Proceeding unless they believ'd all the Reports of our Losses publish'd in the Paris Gazette and so to let the Siege run on to shatter our Army and then to come at last with their Army to give the finishing Stroke to our Ruine If they say their Rhine Detachment was not yet come up