which made the World think it would at last come to something The 23 after the Prince of Orange's Envoy had made known his Propositions the King ordered a Drummer to go with him to Brussells that he might know the Count de Monterey's answer to the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington's demands in the King of England's name which was to call back all the Spanish Forces that were either in Breda the Busse Bergen-op Zoom or the Dutch Army's M. de Turenne came to wait on his Majesty at Boxtel and lay there that night following and his Army the while rested at Hompel whether the Ordnance being arriv'd with their Convoy they were sent on a league forward of the next day's journey towards the Kings Quarters The 24 the King called a Council of War at which he himself was present as he always used to be and it was there resolved that after his Majesty's departure who intended to return and refresh himself a while in France after the toile he endured in the Campagne Monsieur de Turenne should stay behind in Brabant with 20000 men and should have for his Lieutenants general the Sieurs de S. Abre and Foucault for his Camp-Marshals the Sieurs de Choiseul Magalotty and de Vitry that the Count de Chamilly should come and lye below Maestricht and the Marquis de Rochefort with the greatest part of the Kings Household above it that so betwixt them they might wholly block up that Town that M. de la Feuillade should go with his own Brigade and some others which he should have given him to the number of 4000 horse and lye about Wezel And because the King intended to return again as soon as he should have given such orders at home as were necessary he sent most part of his Equipage and heaviest Baggage to Grave that he might not be troubled to send them backwards but that at his return he might meet them there in readiness The same day the Duke of Neubourg came to Boxtel to give his Majesty a visit and Monsieur de Turenne's Army leaving Hempel advanc'd towards Beerlicon within 2 leagues of the Kings Quarters and remain'd there till after his Majesty departure whom M. de Turenne left not till then At the same time the Spanish Troops in the Hollanders service having heard of the Proposals which the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington were going to make with Count Monterey and knowing that the Spaniard was not in a condition to maintain a War of that importance as he was thrcaten'd with upon refusal pack'd up bag and baggage and made themselves ready to depart upon the first orders to that purpose which they doubted not but they should speedily receive Some persons whom we met in our march told us they went every day to the Busse and assur'd us they had seen the said Troops there who were very weary of the service and complain'd much of their ill diet and pay The 25 the King after having treated the Duke of Neubourg had him out to view the Troops that belong'd to his person and some others that were then with him and in the evening when he came back he let us know that he would be going the next morning for France and accordingly gave order that all things should be in a readiness for his departure against that time The same day he committed the Government of Lorraine to the Marquis de Rochefort Monsieur de Turennes Army rested at Beerlicon and the Count du Lude Grand-Master of the Ordnance left it and came to Boxtel with a part of the Artillery which was to follow the King Some few days after the Marquis de Ranes General of the Dragoons and the Count de Guiche Lieutenant General of the Prince's Army came thither likewise the King having order'd them to follow him into France The 26 in the morning the King departed from Boxtel and came to lye at Borkel which is a great Abbey of white Fryars in the way from Boxtel to Tongres His Majesty lodg'd in the Abbey but almost all the Court was forced to encamp about it because there were very few houses thereabouts A great part of the Regiment of Guards staid behind to joyn with M. de Turenne's Army as did all the rest of the Foot which was in the Kings retinue because they could not keep pace with the King who intended thence forwards to take great Journeys only 12 Companies were order'd to follow softly after him to Paris Monsieur de Turenne return'd to lead his Army which lay still at Beerlicon and the Prince of Mechlebourg came to visit the King at Borkel The 27 in the morning the King left Borkel which lies in Brabant and within the Territories that belonged to the Hollander and having passed by Beringen which is a little Town in Liege went and lodg'd a league beyond that Town The 28 in the morning the Light-horse which had hitherto accompanied the King returned to joyn with M. de Turenne's Army which had not yet disencamped his Majesty came to a little Village called Leuve within a league of Hannuy a little Town of the Spaniards where we met some Cravates belonging to the Spanish-Troops The heavy baggage of the Court and those that belonged to them had orders not to accompany the King any farther but to march after leisurely with a Convoy which was ordered for them all The same kind of baggage which belonged to the Kings Houshold was sent to Maesiick with another Convoy The King in the middle of this day's Journey met Monsieur Vaubrun with 2000 horse a 1000 of which he left with his Majesty to guard him beyond Binche and returned with the rest to M. de Turenne's Army The 29 the King left Leuve betimes in the morning and having staid to dine in the middle of his Journy he was inform'd that all the heavy Baggages had been taken and plundered some said by a party which sally'd out of Maestricht and others by the Cravates we met at Hannuy His Majesty thereupon sent in hast to know the certainty of the business but the Courier brought back word that only M. Brancas's Baggage had been taken by some horse of the Enemy's who being aware that his Waggoner drove a good way before the rest made him turn into the Woods where they took away the horses and left the rest to be riffled by the Peasants who had hid and sheltered themselves there ever since the beginning of the War The 30 the King continuing his march left Ameley betimes in the morning and came by Binche where without entring the Place he dined at the Gate and afterwards went and lodged a league beyond that Place upon the road of Quesnoy This day he order'd the Van of his Life Guard and the Brigades of the Men at Arms and light Horsemen to go before and expect him at the Castle of Cambray where he intended to spend the next day The 31 the King
Queen for Compeigne left St. Germain in Laye and went and lay at the Louvre in Paris Monsieur de Montal who had all the night been upon the Watch expecting that the Enemy should attaque his Out-works or open their Trenches was frustrated in his expectation for betimes in the morning Count Marsin sent away all his Wool-packs Baskets and Sacks to put Earth in together with twenty pieces of Canon and two Morter-pieces to be carryed back to Namur The 22. their Majesties went and lay at Verberye which is a great Village almost in the mid way between Senles and Compeigne At last the Enemies rais'd their Siege and about day-break all their Troops both Dutch and Spanish discamp'd and march'd off the Hollanders going by the ways of Marchienes-au-pont and Fontaine-l'Evesque towards Binche which they attaqu'd as they came from the Siege of Charleroy and the Spaniards towards ..... where the Prince of Orange Count Marsin and some other Generals met and afterwards march'd towards Rennel Viennotte and other places and then departed every one to their several Quarters and among the rest Fifteen hundred Foot and some Horse which had been drawn out of Maestricht return'd thither The 23. Their Majesties arriv'd at Compiegne which the King intended to leave and pass on further according as he should hear from the Courriers but those who arriv'd that night bringing news of the Enemies retreat made him change his mind but being likewise told of the Hollanders sitting down before Binche he resolved to stay there till he could further see into their designs The 24 25 and 26 their Majesties rested at Compiegne and talk'd not of stirring thence because of the return of the Dutch Forces to Binche their Majesties were not willing to go back thence till the Dutch were retir'd from before that place which at last they did after having beat down the Gates of it as a mark of their fury The 27 whilst the Hollanders venter'd their last stake before Binche the Duke of Luxembourg left Vtreeht taking with him Two thousand Horse and all the Foot he could make and went to Woerden where he would not stay but made his Men march on all night intending to set upon Bodengrave which was the Hollanders refuge to which they us'd to retire when ever they had ill success as to an assur'd place of safety So that the next day in spight of the Thaw the Snow the Bogs and Canales in which he many times had like to have been lost with his whole Army he came in good time to a Village call'd Wells where the Enemy was quarter'd and had cast up two Intrenchments which he easily forc'd with the loss of one only Soldier who was kill'd by one of five or six shots which they made before they betook themselves to their heels From thence marching along a Dike which made his march much easier then it had been hitherto he met with six hundred more at a Village call'd Swammerdam where they were entrench'd in all the Houses from the windows of which they were very liberal of their shot and port-holes for Canon which were many He attaqued them at two several places at one of which the Count de Saulx chief Brigadier of the Army commanded in chief and at the other the Marquis de Moussy And because there were two Bridges to pass which were guarded by the Enemy the Soldiers of their own accord without being commanded leaped into the Water and waded through it to beat them down shewing in such a voluntary action much of their courage and zeal and so much the more in that the Enemy made a very resolute opposition to their Designs insomuch that they had like to be worsted had they not been seconded by a party that was drawn out to that purpose and advanc'd to skirmish the Enemy which they perform'd so well that they forc'd them to retire into the Houses of the Village to their Companions where the Count de Saulx got almost as soon as they and notwithstanding all their Shot forc'd the Doors of all those Houses and made himself master of them The Duke of Luxembourg immediatly commanded them all to be fired not sparing so much as that of the Prince of Orange in which many Men Goods and Cattel were burn'd to be reveng'd of him for assaulting the Castle of Marimont one of the Kings Houses of Pleasure which had been yielded him at the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle After so many Toils Perils and so much Execution done one would have thought it would have been but reasonable to give the Soldiery a little rest and truly had they desired it they could not in reason have been denyed it But it is to be admired that the Soldiers march'd on of their own accord till they came to Bodengrave where they found not that resistance which they expected for the Count Koningsmark had quitted it with all his Troops At Compeigne their Majesties being certified of the Prince of Orange's retreat resolv'd to return to St. Germains The 29. Orders were given at Compeigne for their Majesties departure and preparations made to set forward on the 31. The Duke of Luxembourg who staid awhile at Bodengrave to give his brave Soldiers a little rest and refreshment found himself necessitated to march on yet further for being inform'd that some of those whom he had routed the day before had not dar'd to stay at Niverburg and by their fright so infected all those that kept the Garrison which was most advant giously fortifyed that they had all forsaken it he thought himself oblig'd to march thither where at his coming he found no living soul only 21 pieces of Canon 8 of Iron and 13 of Brass fell into his hands which he sent to Bodengrave to be secur'd by his Foot which were left there the Horse and Dragoons having been all left at Woerden After this the Prince of Orange took his way homewards having had as ill success in Flanders and the Country of Liege as in Holland And because Monsieur de Duras lay between Tongres and Charleroy and had possest all the ways by which the Prince was to return he was forc'd to go a great way about to avoid meering any of the French Forces which he dreaded above all things The 31. their Majesties left Compiegne about 9 in the Morning and came that night to Senlis from whence they went on the first of January 1673. after the Queen had been at her Devotions and lay that night at the Louvre in Paris from whence they went to St. Germain en Laye FINIS
A JOURNAL OF THE War with Holland SINCE His most Christian Majesty's departure from PARIS until His Return With a continuation of what happen'd after the Kings return into FRANCE Translated out of French OXFORD Printed at the THEATER Anno Dom. 1673. A JOURNAL OF THE WAR WITH HOLLAND Since his most Christian Majesties Departure from Paris until his Return Translated out of French At the THEATER in OXFORD M.DC.LXIII A LIST of the General OFFICERS Of his most Christian MAJESTIES Armies in Holland Officers of the Kings Army THE KING at the head of all his Forces in person MONSIEUR Generalissimo Monsieur de Turenne General Lieutenant Generals Monsieur the Count de Soissons M. de la Fueillade Duke of Roannez M. the Count du Lude General of the Ordinance M. the Count de Lorge M. the Marquis de Rochefort M. de Gadagne Feild-Marshals Monsieur the Chevalier de Lorraine M. Martinet M. de Montal. M. the Marquis de Genlis M. de Vitry General Officers with Titles Monsieur de Turenne General of the Horsâ— M. the Count de Soissons Colonel Generaâ— of the Suisse M. the Marquis de Ranes Colonel General of the Dragoons M. the Chevalier de Fourille Camp Masteâ— of the Light-horse Quarter-Master General M. the Count de Froullé Major General of the Army M. de Saintsandoux Quarter-Masters of the Army M. de Langlée M. de Champlay the Son Brigadiers of Horse Monsieur the Count de Roye M. de la Füeillée M. de Chazeron M. de â—illoys M. de Koniksmarck M. de Caluaut M. de Rouvray M. de Villiers Brigadiers of Foot M. the Marquis de Beauveau M. the Marquis de Castelnau Adjutants of the Camp Monsieur the Count d' Ajen M. the Marquis d' Albret M. the Chevalier de Nogent M. the Count de Grancé M. the Marquis d' Angeau M. the Marquis de Breauté M. de Cavois M. the Marquis de Termes M. d' Artois M. de la Roche-Courton Besides these Adjutants of the Camp there â—re others that belong to each of the Lieuâ—enant Generals and to the Feild-Marshals A List of the General Officers of the Army of Monsieur the Prince MOnsieur the Prince General Lieutenant Generals M. the Count de Guiche M. de S. Aure. M. Foucault M. the Count d'Estrade the Father Feild-Marshals Monsieur the Count du Plessis M. the Count de Nogent M. de Magalotty M. de Choiseul Major General of the Army M. de Trassy Captain of the Guards Commissary General of the Horse M. de la Cardonniere Brigadiers of Horse M. de Montauban M. de Fourneaux M. de Beauvezé M. Vivien Brigadiers of Foot Monsieur de Puysieux Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment de Turenne M. de S. Micault Colonel of the Regiment de Condé M. de la Motte Colonel of the Regiment d' Anguyen Monsieur ....... His Majesty who is a person of an admirable judgment and a deep foresight thought it would be of great consequence to secure his Frontiers and to that end he sent a flying Army of 10 or 12 thousand men into Flanders under the command of Monsieur de Nancré He appointed also an Army for Roussillon and gave the command of it to Monsieur le Bret Colonel of the Regiment des Vaisseaux and Governour of Doway And whereas the Mareschal de Crequy who was designed to command an Army in Holland was impeded His Majesty was pleased to recall Monsieur the Count de Chamilly who was gon Lieutenant General to M. the Archbishop of Colen and bestow on him the command of that Army with two Mareschals de Camp who were M. de Vaubrun Nogent and M. the Chevalier du Plessis Prâlin Major General Monsieur de la Marilliere Brigadiers of Horse M. de Joyeuse M. de Pierrefitte Last of all M. the Duke of Luxembourg was sole Commander of all the Forces of the Allies of Munster and Colen Camp-Master of the Horse of the Allies Monsieur the Marquis de Renel Colonel of the Foot Monsieur de Mornas So many Armies from all sides could not but contain a prodigious number of Soldiers which are usually distinguished into Companies out of which are composed Regiments and of a number of these Brigades Of which here follows a particular An Account of the KINGS Forces for his War with Holland Forces belonging to the Kings House The Horse THE first body of horse belonging to the Kings house is at present the Gardes du Corps since his Majesty hath declared for them against the Gendarmes who formerly held the first rank And the first Company of the Gardes or Archers du Corps is the Scotch Guard under the command of M. the Duke de Nouailles and M. the Count d' Ayen his son in reversion It consists of 360 Maistres two Lieutenants two Ensigns two Exempts two Adjutant Majors four Brigadiers eight Vnder-brigadiers and so in the three other Companies The second commanded by M. de Rochefort of 260 men The third under the command of M. the Duke de Duras of 260. men The fourth was under the command of M. the Marquis de Lauzun and since is commanded by the Duke of Luxembourg of 260 men The Company of the Gendarmes of the Kings Guard was under the command of M. de la Salle Caillebot Captain Lieutenant and at present is commanded by M. the Prince Due de Soubise Rohan of 200. men The Light-horse of the Kings Guard under the command of the Duke de Chevreuse of 200 men Two Companies of Musquetiers the first called the Grey commanded by Mons the Count d'Artagnan of 300 men The second called the Black under the command of M. Colbert de Maulevrier at present commanded by M. de Monbron of 300 men Scotch Company of Gendarmes under the command of M. the Chevalier de Hautâ—feuille of 100 men English Company of Gendarmes commanded by Sr George Hamilton of a 100 men English Company of Light-horse under the command of M. the Marquis d'Hautteman of a 100 men Company of Gendarmes de Bourgogne commanded by M. the Count de Broglio formerly Eusign of the Kings Gendarmes of a 100 men Company of the Queens Gendarmes under the command of M. the Marquis du Garot of 150 men Company of the Queens Light-horse commanded by M. de Velliers of 150 men Company of Monseigneur the Dauphins Gendarmes under the command of M. the Marquis de la Trousse of 200 men Company of Monsieur the Dauphins Light-horse commanded by M. the Count de Rieux of 100 men Company of Monsieur Gendarmes commanded by M. the Count de la Roque of 150 men Company of Monsieurs Light-horse under the command of ...... of 150 men Company of M. the Duke d' Anjou's Gendarmes under the command of M. the Marquis de Genlis of 100 men Besides a Company of the Gardes de la Porte under the command of M. the Count de Valsemé As also Cent Gardes de la Prevosté commanded by the Marquis de Sourches but
these do not fight The Foot Guard belonging to the Kings House French Regiment of Guards consisting of 30 Companies 100 men each M. de la Feuillade Colonel Swiss Regiment of Guards 10 Companies 200 men each M. de Molondin Colonel The hundred Swiss under the command of M. the M. de Vardes Other Regiments of Foot The Old Body Picardie under the command of M. the Count de la Marck 70 Companies 50 men each besides Officers Champagne under the command of M. the Marquis de Monimes 70 Companies Navarre under the command of ...... 70 Companies Piedmont under the command of M. de la Meilleraye 70 Companies Normandie under the command of M. the Marquis de Meilâ—y 70 Companies La Marine under the command of M. the Count de Tonnecharante 70 Companies Besides these there are several other Regiments some of which were heretofore called the Little Old ones but are now mixt with the others and are distinguished only by seniority Of which here follows a List Auvergne under the command of M. the Marquis de Coeuvres 33 Companies Sault under the command of Monsieur the Count de Sault 33 Companies Castelnau under the command of M. the Count de Castelnau 33 Companies Rambures under the command of M. de Rambures 33 Companies La Marine under the command of ..... 33 Companies Bandeuille under the command of M. the Marquis de Bandeville 16 Companies The Regiment du Roy under the command of M. Martinet at present commanded by M. de Monbron 100 Companies The Regiment Royal under the command of M. the Duke d'Arpajou and M. de Pierrefitte 70 Companies The Regiment d'Anjou under the command of Monsieur the Count de S. Geran 70 Companies Lyonnois under the command of M. the Marquis de Villeroy 25 Companies Praslin under the command of M. the Chevalier du Plessis 18 Companies Dauphin under the command of M. de Beringhen 70 Comp. The Regiment des Vaisseaux under the command of M. le Bret 80 Comp. Crussol under the command of M. the Count de Crussol 18 Comp. Montaigâ— under the command of M. the Marquis d'O 10 Comp. Turenne under the command of M. de Turenne M. the Marquis de Puisieux Lieutenant Colonel 33 Comp. La Motte under the command of M. the Count de la Motte 17 Comp. Dampierre under the command of M. the Marquis de Dampierre 16 Comp. Louvigny under the command of M. the Count de Louvigny second son to M. the Mareschal de Grammont 18 Comp. Grancé under the command of M. the Mareschal de Grancé 16 Comp. La Reine under the command of M. the Marquis de Moussy 70 Comp. Mompezat under the command of M. the Marquis de Mompezat 16 Comp. Orleans under the command of M. the Marquis de Beaufort 33 Comp. Artois under the command of Monsieur the Marquis de Senlis 33 Comp. Bretagne under the command of M. de Noyon 16 Comp. Carignan under the command of M. the Count de Carignan 16 Comp. Chasteau-neuf under the command of M. the Marquis of Chasteau-neuf 16 Comp. Sourches under the command of M. the Marquis de Sourches 18 Comp. Vendosme under the command of M. the Duke de Vendosme La Ferté under the command of M. the Marquis de la Ferté 18 Comp. Conty under the command of Monsieur the Prince de Conty La Fere under the command of ...... Condé under the command of M. the Prince M. de S. Micault Colonel 17 Comp. Anguyen under the command of M. the Duke M. de la Motte Colonel 17 Comp. Jonzac under the command of M. de Jonzac 18 Comp. Monperoux under the command of M. the Marquis de Monperoux 16 Comp. Boüillon under the command of M. the Duke de Boüillon 16 Comp. Bourgogne under the command of M. the Marquis de Chamilly 33 Comp. La Marine nouveaux under the command of ....... Vermandois under the command of M. the Count Gassay 20 Comp. Fusiliers under the command of M. the Count de Lude General of the Ordinance for the guarding of which this Regiment attends of 24 Comp. The Forreign Regiments of Foot Alsace under the command of ......... of 12 Comp. Each of which of 180 men besides Officers which are not comprehended in the number of which the forementioned Companies were said to consist that is there are 50 men complete in the French bodies The Scotch and English under the command of Sr George Hamilton 10 Companies 120 men each Roussillon under the command of ...... 20 Companies 120 men each Furstemburg bears the name of its Colonel 12 Comp. 100 men each The Irish under the command of M. the Marquis du Glas 24 Comp. 100 men each who also commands the following Regiment Another Irish Regiment under the command of Mr Merrow Colonel to Sr George Hamilton 16 Comp. 100 men each The Royal Italian all under the command of M. de Magalotty 27 Comp. 100 men each The Royal English under the command of the Duke of Monmouth 8 Companies 100 men each Stouppe Suisse bears the name of its Colonel 12 Comp. 200 men each Erlac Suisse bears the name of its Colonel 12 Comp. 200 men each Festa Suisse as the former Salis Suisse the same The English Regiment under the command of the Duke of Monmouth 8 Comp. 100 men each The Regiment of the Duke of Monmouth of 7000 men Besides these there are two Regiments of Dragoons the first called the Colonel under the command of M. the Chevalier de Tilladet 6 Comp. 100 men each The Regiment Royal under the command of M. the Chevalier de Bouffiers 6 Comp. 100 men each The Regiments of Light-Horse The Colonel General of the said Horse is Monsieur de Turenne the Regiments of 6 Troops and of 50 men each Troop besides the Officers which are Captain Lieutenant Cornet and Quarter-master Camp-Master General of the said Horse is M. the Chevalier de Fourille Commissary General of the said Horse is M. de la Cardonnierre Royal du Roy under the command of M. the Count de Gassay a Forreign Regiment Another Forreign Regiment Cravates du Roy under the command of M. the Count de Talar La Reine ....... Dauphin ........ Orleans under the command of MONSIEUR the Kings only Brother Condé under the command of Monsieur the Prince Anguyen under the command of Monsieur the Duke Rouvray under the command of M. de Rouvray Gassion under the command of Monsieur de Gassion De Joyeuse under the command of M. the Duke de Joyeuse Fourille under the command of M. de Fourille Des Fourneaux under the command of M. des Fourneaux Resnel under the command of Monsieur the Marquis du Resnel La Fueillée under the command of M. de la Fueillée Montauban under the command of M. de Montauban Pillois under the command of Monsieur de Pillois Beauvezé under the command of M. de Beauvezé De Roye under the command of M. the Count de Roye Calvaut under the
thither about ten in the Morning with a Guard of 500 Horse and afterwards about three in the Afternoon parted from us with 120 Horse and went to Leige The Enemy now began to shut themselves up and issued out no more in a great Body but only as Pickeerers 12 15 or 20 in a Company and killed a Quartermaster and six of the Horse men that guarded Monsieur the Marquis de Louvois and had tarryed a little behind the rest The same Evening two others who had bin foraging in a Village were killed by the Enemy who had hid themselves and pretended they were Spaniards belonging to some of the Spanish Garrisons The tenth we march'd to Bierzey and came near again to Leige The same day Monsieur de Turenne left the King who tarryed still at Charleroy and advanced with one part of the Troops of which he formed an Army for himself The Troops that had convoy'd Monsieur de Louvois rejoin'd with us and he himself tarryed at Leige The eleventh Monsieur de Turenne continued his march and we stayed at Bierzey Monsieur de Louvois sent word that we should dispatch in the Evening a hundred Dragoons to guard them along which Monsieur the Marquis de Ranes sent him In the mean time Monsieur the Prince marched slowly on with his Army on the other side of the Meuse on the right hand The twelfth in the morning Monsieur the Marquis de Louvois returned from Leige and we being joyned with the Army of Monsieur de Turenne went to encamp at Greville near Tongren which we took without resistance and placed a Garrison in it Monsieur the Count de Chamilly came to us from Huy where he had bin before The thirteenth Monsieur de Turenne staid at Greville but he sent away the Foot Regiments of Alsace and Languedoc that made six Bodies three Companies of Dragoons of the Regiment Royall that came to 300 men the Horse Regiments de Joyeuse de Tury de Gassion de S. Loup de Rouville and some others This party was commanded by Monsieur the Count de Chamilly Afterwards we went to Bilsem The fourteenth we went and encamped at Rakem which lies two Leagues on the other side of Maestrickt and within one of Maesiick M. de Turenne followed us with his Army and the King marched another way near Vizè 2 Leagues above Maestricht The 15. in the morning we came up within sight of Maisiich where the army being drawn up M. the Count de Chamilly summon'd the Town which not seeming averse to a Parley he went in but they not agreeing upon Conditions command was given to prepare Faggots and we began to raise a Battery for four pieces of Canon and not staying to throw up Trenches some Companies of Foot were drawn out and commanded to come up under the shelter of some thick Hedges and old Walls which lay near the Town-ditch All this was done by two in the Afternoon and then we began to play upon the Town which did the like upon us They held out about five hours and defended themselves well enough In this Action we lost in all but one or two Officers and some few common Soldiers and the Enemy had not above 3 or 4 men killed but notwithstanding about 7 of the Clock they beat a Parley and denr'd to Treat whereupon the Count de Chamilly and the Sieur de Ranes went in again and came not back till the Town was surrendred and in the mean time the Chevalier du Plessis Camp Marshal to the Army commanded the Attaque But before this not imagining the Place would have yielded so soon advice was given thereof to Mareshal Turenne who thereupon advanced and was very near when the Marquis de Ranes took Horse and left the Town which had just now yielded to advertise him of it Whereupon he made a halt and encamp'd with his Army pretty near ours and himself retir'd into one of the M. de Ranes's Houses who went back immediatly into the Town to Count de Chamilly and thence they both return'd to Marsha Turenne This Action gave occasion to some Dutch Railery who thereupon told that the French had taken Maestricht no no I mistake would they say 't is Maesiick but this was the last time they were in a ralling humor for since then we have dealt with them in such earnest that they have not had time to bethink themselves or give their minds to so much relaxation as to be in a fit of drolling or playing the Satyrists The sixteenth we left the Sieur Chamilly at Maesiick with his Troops and Monsieur du Plessis to see to the fortifying of the Place The Marquis de Ranes coasted along the River towards Maestricht with three Companies of Dragoons and took all the Boats he met with to the number of 25 and had them all brought back up the River to the Abby of Ocq where we were by that time encamped and where at our coming we found Monsieur Vaubrun Camp Marshal with a part of the Army which he there commanded The 17th in the Morning we left that Party to the conduct of Monsieur Vaubrun their Commander and march'd with some Guides to Vizè whether His Majesty came also the same day but in our March coming within Canon shot of Maestricht there issued out thence some Horse one part of which seem'd to turn off towards Monsieur Vanbrun's Camp and the other to advance towards us The Sieurs Tâ—renne and de Ranes made up towards them but they thereupon nimbly retir'd the Enemy only letting fly 30 or 40 Canon and some volleys of small Shot at us which did no harm A League from thence we met the Count de Lorge with his flying Army who had encamp'd hard by upon the way to Tongres He drew near likewise to Maestricht and beset it closely on his side as Monsieur de Vaubrun had on the other The 18. the King went to take a view of the out-works of the Fort ... which belongs to the Spaniard and lies on the right from the Meuse near a League from Vizè and two from Maestricht he was saluted by the Garrison which is always very strong with many great Guns and volleys of small shot The 19. Monsieur the Prince encamped within two Leagues of us and came the same day with Monsieur the Duke to visit the King and afterwards having first been at Council return'd to his Camp The 20. the Kings Army as also that of the Prince rested The 21. They rested again and a Bridge of Boats was begun upon the Meuse below Vizè Monsieur Vaubrun went and joyned his Troops to those of Monsieur de Chamilly who have since been employ'd almost during all the rest of the Campaigne in fortifying Maseick and in coursing about Mastricht The 22. they continued working about the Bridge which was well forwarded The same day the Prince's Army march'd The twenty third His Majesty rested again the Bridge was finish'd and the Collonel Regiment of
top of the Ramparts but they were so suddenly and briskly set upon that they could by no means perfect them The same day we took two Barques upon the Rhine and by that means we doubled the Guard we had plac'd in the middle of it As soon as Burick was yielded M. de Turenne receiv'd a Pacquet from the King upon which he immediatly hastned to wait on His Majesty The fourth nothing was done at the Kings Army nor at Monsieur Turenne's but at the Princes they open'd Trenches before Wezel which would not yield up to mercy They were begun on the side of the Town that lies toward the River and a Drain was made to empty the Ditch which would have been done the night following had not the Enemy at last seeing his Highness resolv'd to set on then vigorously sent the Keys of the Town and yielded themselves up to mercy At the same time we were inform'd that the Duke of Luxembourg had taken Lokem The fifth the Kings Army was busied in making Faggots and Gabions for the attaquing of Rhineberg His Majesty sent a Command to M. de Ranes to meet him there with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons which was then with him before Burick which he did M. the Prince at 6 in the Morning entred Wezel and visited the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrison where he search'd for French-men and finding 10 or 11 had them hang'd The Duke of Luxembourg turn'd off toward Grol and M. Turenne's Army rested M. Cajax was made Governor of Orsoy The fixth in the Morning 10000 Faggots more were ordered to be made which the Dragoons perform'd but the Garrison at Rhineberg finding themselves too weak to resist a Victorious Royal Army and being likewise out of hope of receiving the Succors were promised them by the States resolv'd to yield The Officers of the Garrison came and laying themselves at his Feet begg'd of him not to take advantage to their cost of the trick which the States had put upon them in promising them 2000 Men more as a reinforcement which they had not perform'd His Majesty considering the falshood of the States Promises even to their own Soldiers was mov'd to compassionate their condition and thereupon gave them leave to march out Drums beating Colours flying with Match lighted and Bullet in mouth which they did and march'd toward Maestricht the King having given them a Convoy and Provision for four days The Regiment of Guards entred the place about one of the Clock in the Afternoon Rhineberg is a pretty large Town belonging to the Archbishoprick of Colen situate on the left side of the Rhine in the midst of a very low Marshy Country which contributes much to its strength The States had taken it again and again from the Spaniards they having wrongfully took it from the Elector of Colen who ever since hath been demanding it of them and making complaints upon that account in every Diet till at length the Spaniard propos'd to give it him back on condition he might keep a Garrison there But this condition not pleasing the Elector they at last promis'd without any reserve to put it into his hands but how instant soever the Elector was with them he could never perswade them to be as good as their word they had so many shifts feigned excuses and pretences that at last they proved the chief cause of the Electors declaring War against them Whilst it was in their possession they fortifyed it to their own minds and being it was a Frontier Town they had made it one of their strongest Holds The Fortifications are very regular there are good Bastions and Half-moons good Ramparts and very broad Ditches but their Out-works are to big as in most of their Towns All the Works are of Earth which makes them the easier to be assaulted though it better resist the Canon which can only make a hole in them The same day some Foot were sent over the Rhine to plunder a certain Castle there but the Prince had sent some others to the same purpose the day before so that those who came last did but lose their labor The Princes and Monsieur de Turenne's Armies rested again and the Count d'Estrade was made Governor of Wezel The seventh Monsieur de Turenne left the King and so did M. de Ranes and the Regiment Royal of Dragoons We went and joyn'd with the Army which was left before Burick and having sent all our heaviest baggage to Rhineberg where we left the new Companies of the Regiment of Turenne in garrison we went and encamp'd at Worstemberg near Santein in the Country of Cleve which belongs to the Duke of Brandenbourg M. the Prince left Wezel and advanced likewise on his side The King's Army stayed still at Rhineberg and the Duke of Luxembourg with the Munster forces attaqued Grol The eighth the King left Rhineberg came to Burick whether the Float was brought to waft over the Army to the other side of the Rhine We left Worstemberg in the morning passed by Zante or Santein and went and besieg'd the Fort of Rees which we presently beset so closely that the frighted Garrison durst not fire so much as one gun But the Town which lyes on the other bank of the Rhine was not so civil for their Canon did much harm to our Dragoons especially those who being come close up lay open to them There were many of them lost and more of their horses But notwithstanding the Capitulation went on at the Fort which was but ill man'd and because the Governor stood upon terms and would not deliver the place before he had seen and felt our Canon M. de Turenne commanded the Foot to advance and begin the Assault which they did without any resistance from the Enemy who had retired into a Redout which was very strong Wherefore he caus'd a bridge of hurdles to be made by which he pass'd over and enter'd the place himself and commanded the Governor and his Garrison to be beset who at last yeilded Afterwards we turn'd the Canon of this Fort upon the Town and much shot past on both sides Many of the Enemies Guns were dismounted and the whole Town so tired out that the next day they were forc'd to carry the Keys of their Gates to M. the Prince who came up as we did and made a shew as if he would also have attaqued it though his design was to go streight on towards a party of the Enemies which kept the Passage of the Isle of Beter and of the Yssel that the King might go and besiege that Town and Emerick As soon as the Fort had yeilded Monsieur de Turenne left there a part of his Horse all his foot the Artillery and Baggage and upon no tice that 4000 of the Enemies Horse had pass'd the Wahal with a design as 't was thought to set upon us we went to meet them To that purpose we went and pass'd the River near Calcar a little Town in
him for one though he was clothed after the French mode and had a white scarf on Monsieur the Count de Guiche was at the head of them and did all that a good Captain and a brave Soldier could have done on the like occasion The Forces of his Majesties house were commanded to pass next and to swim the river which they immediately did with so much courage and resolution as struck a terrour into the Enemy They were followed by a great number of Volunteers and immediately our Canon began to play as also did that of the Enemy In the mean time General Wurts Commander of the Troops that guarded the passage being a stout and well experienced Captain marched at the head of the first squadron and caused them to advance into the water up to their Horses bellies having given order to all the rest to follow him into the river some on the right and some on the left hand The first squadron advanced with resolution and made a brisk discharge at which M. the Count de Nogent Feild-Marshal to that Army a person of a brave and daring spirit received a wound in his head which made him sink into the water where he was unfortunatly drown'd But the following squadrons that had orders to enter the river not daring to run that hazard stayed in the rear of the former and by that means gave liberty to our men to pass both on the right and the left wing and at the same time to come upon them on the flank In the mean time the Dragoons being impatient also to cross the river though having had no order they did not dare to do it advanced part of them into the water that they might skirmish more commodiously and never ceased giving fire At length the Dutch took the rout and the Commander himself that had enter'd so briskly into the water was forced to consult his own safety by flight For having comforted his men and told them that no Nation but ours was capable of such bold enterprises and that nothing would be able to resist us trusted his life and his honour to his Horses feet and at length made his escape after he had fled a league or two and suffered a continual loss of his men in the pursuit During this time the Generals and Monsieur the Prince himself having past the river the Enemies Foot that could not take the same course that the Horse had done and had nothing to hope for but death or mercy began to mollify and M. de Longueville with the Duke and other Volunteers were coming up to them But M. the Prince observing the Enemy to yeild and fearing the youthfull heat of the young Gentlemen would produce some bad effect run up crying they would cause his son to be killed and having made all possible hast he came up to the trenches as soon as the rest and cryed out to the Enemy they were all Rogues and if they shot once more he would have them all hanged His threats made them all lay down their arms and cry out in their own Language Kartyr Kartyr But the misfortune was that M. de Longueville not taking notice of what had past and desiring to free that Post found a passage too soon and falling upon the first Officer that he met kill'd him on the place and upon the confused noise he heard of Kartyr which the Enemy demanded he gave a sign with his hand and cryed no Quarter being immediatly followed by all his men that were then present Thereupon the Enemy despairing of their lives betook themselves again to their arms and gave one shot more which proved a very fortunate one to them for at it the sieur de Longueville M. de Guitry Grand Master of the Kings Wardrobe M. d'Aubusson the Marquis de Tasse nephew to Monsieur the Marshal de la Force and the Count de Theobon were killed upon the place Several others also were wounded amongst which were M. the Duke de Coistin and M. de Vivonne M. the Prince de Marsillac M. the Count de Saulx the last in the face and the arm after he had been ingaged in the general and a single Combat For having gone too far in the pursuit of the Enemy he found himself alone with one of their Officers who put himself upon his guard and wounded the Count in his face M. de Brouilly dyed in a short time of his wounds M. de Termes was also wounded and M. the Count de Revel received a wound on his arm and another of a musket shot in his thigh M. de Beringhen was shot through the breast The other persons of note that were wounded were the Marquis de Beauveau de Mont-revert de Beaumont de S. Arnoul and which was worst of all Monsieur the Prince had his left arm broke at the wrist which accident did much retard and lessen his Majesties Conquests for his name alone made the Enemy tremble and they began not to make resistance till they had learnt the news of his mishap considering too that from that time Monsieur de Turenne was obliged to command in his place and to join the Troops of his own Army with those of the King so that of three Armies there remained now but two The enemies also on their side lost in this rencounter three or four hundred men that were killed upon the place besides a great numâ—eâ— that were taken prisoners After all this â—laughter the Forces of the Kings Hâ—use draw up on the edge of the Rhine and the sâ—de of the Island and quartered at Bihâ—vaâ— Thâ— Aâ—ny that had hitherto been commanded by Monsieur de Turenne continued all day passing the Rhine over against Rees and were all over that night The thirteenth the Bridge of Boats that had been making the day before was finished and the Army of M. the Prince began at break of day to march over with M. de Turenne who from that time commanded alwaies in the place of his Highness When they were all over they pillaged Tolhuys a plain Castle with one great Tower guarded only by a ditch and a wall but being seated within a musket shot of the river near the passage a hundred looss horse that had been drawn out of the Fort of Schain to secure that Castle had time enough to give two volleys of musket shot and discharge twice or thrice a peice of Canon that carried eighteen pound bullet charged with cartridges before we could get over and come up to them and afterwards they had the conveniency to retire before our coming because M. the Count de Guiche who was the first that passed had busied himself in pursuit of the horse and M. the Prince of the foot as was said before We found in this Castle store of fair and good Moveables some persons also that had retired thither in hope that we would not have attacqued Holland about this Isle but have passed directly on to Yssel where the Prince of
Orange and the Count Maurice were both with their Armies After the pillage of this Castle Monsieur de Turenne marched on close after the Enemy a party of which he overtook and found breaking a bridge upon the Channel that runs from Arnhem to Nimegen over which we must necessarily pass These men though but a small party had a mind to finish their enterprise perhaps because they thought they might be seconded with the rest of the Army that was not gone far but having skirmish'd a little with the Vanguard the Dragoons lighting of their horses set upon them so vigourously that they gave them the rout and forced them into Arnhem And finding themselves well enough at the end of a bridge that lyes over the Rhine and reaches from this Town to the Isle of Betau they lodged there maugre the Canon and musket shot of the Enemy that fortunately killed more horses then men His Majesty having call'd a Council before the departure of M. de Turenne as soon as it was ended began to march towards Emerick to joyn with his Army which all this time lay in their Quarters at Reés The Army also that had been commanded by M. de Turenne came thither likewise and made up one body with that of the King The Troops that had followed his Majesties two days before and those of his own House did the like M. the Duke of Monmouth natural Son to the King of England arrived the same day at the Camp at Emerick with 7000 foot that were all brisk and active men Monsieur the Cardinal de Bouillon that day consecrated anew the great Church of Reés The 14th his Majesty rested with his whole Army at the Camp of Emerick After dinner he visited M. the Prince who the day before had caused himself with the rest that were wounded to be removed into this Town and at his return took a view of the Duke of Monmouths Forces Monsieur de Turenne seeing his affaires so well advanced before Arnhem resolved to lay siege to it and thereupon having taken a view of it and taken up his Quarters he sammoned the Town In the mean while that no time might be lost M. the Count du Plessis employed some men about repairing the boats that the Enemies had began to break as being necessary for our passage but in that action he was killed with a Canon shot to the great regret of the whole Army The Dragoons which were much incommoded by a guard of the Enemy placed in a redoubt on the other side of the river were resolved to venture the passage which after orders were given they performed with so much resolution and success as struck a terrour into the Town whereupon the Burghers began to mutiny and at length forced the Garrison to leave of firing The Fame of General Wurts defeat and of our entrance into Betaw was not long a spreading and the noise of it no sooner came to the ears of the Prince of Orange who with his Army guarded the passage of Yssel but the Enemy being daunted with the news thought of nothing but a retreat which was done in so great hast as terrified all the places through which they passed In the mean time M. de Turenne ordered 150 horse under the command of a Captain of the horse of Condé to swim the river and to fall on their rear Guard that passed pretty near Arnham The Enemy little expecting this attaque as thinking themselves secured by the River were so surprised at this assault that the Guard of the Baggage abandoned it all to those few horse who made themselves masters of it at their leasure and returned loaded with so great a booty that they had enriched themselves by it though they had not joyned to it the two other of which they had also the spoile which amounted to no less then fourty thousand Francks The same day M. the Cardinal de Bouillon consecrated anew the great Church of Emerick The 15. The Kings Army rested and His Majesty took a view of it after dinner Upon the Summons that M. de Turenne had given to Arnhem the Citizens began to mutiny and threatned the Garrison to cut all their Throats if they fired any more whereupon they came and demanded Articles but M. de Turenne sent them to the King and immediatly marched away with the greatest part of his Army to besiege Knotzembourg otherwise called the Fort of Nimigen because it is seated on the right side of the Wahal directly opposite to that great Town that lies on the left hand He arrived thither time enough to open his Trenches that Evening it being but three little Leagues from Arnhem That Night we worked with so much success as to lodge our selves on their Counterscarpe by which we became Masters of their covered way but not without some difficulty and the loss of several Men for they defended themselves from the Fort very briskly and gave continual fire from the Town besides three Boats each of them provided with 8 10 or 12 pieces of Canon came round and fired at us with full Charges at about thirty paces distance During all that Night there was fired so great a number of Canon-shot that those that heard it from Emerick where His Majesties Army lay could not imagine where so continual a noise should be made but from another place where the noise could not plainly be heard one would have thought they had been Musket-shot and only an engagement of some Foot The 16. His Majesty early in the Morning parted with all His Army from Emerick and encamped at Latem upon the River Yssell or rather the Channel of Drusus A branch of this River that runs from Arnhem to Doesburg is a Channel that communicates between the Rhine and the Yssel which was made by Drusus in the time of the Romans whence 't is called the Channel of Drusus or the Drusian Ditch In the mean time we advanced to Zevenaer a small Town that hath no other Fortification but its Ramparts so that we made our selves Masters of it without any great difficulty Presently after that M. the Count de l' Orge and M. the Marquis de Ranes had command to pass the Yssel the one with 4000 Horse and the other with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons to take the places that lie before Doesburg which immediatly they did But the Deputies of Arnhem having came to the King and brought the Keys of their Town without Conditions His Majesty in the Afternoon gave order to the M. de Ranes to go with his Dragoons to take possession of the Town M. the Marquis de Louvois went thither also and the Inhabitants had granted them a freedom of their Religion with all their Priviledges but the Garrison were made Prisoners of War and disarmed to the number of 3000 Foot and 200 Horse which were very sufficient to have defended the place The Dragoons were hardly masters of the Gates when 200 Bores that came to the Garrison with
Provision desired entrance whom we suffered to come in and afterwards made Prisoners with the rest Arnhem is a great Town seated on the right side of that Branch of the Rhine which keeps its name and washes the Walls of the Town It s situation is partly high partly low being commanded on that side that looks towards the Velue by a Hill which to repair the Injury it doth it sends down a torrent of Water that defends it on the other side by a great flat bottomed Ditch all lined with Free-stone which is the fairest and largest that one shall any where see and which doth almost surround the Town except on that side where the Rhine washes the Walls and doth sufficiently defend it For the rest the Hollanders have taken care enough and bin very diligent in fortifying it and I may very well affirm They have not very many Fortifications so good as these They are all lined with Brick which is not ordinary in their other Towns The Ramparts also are very fair and large To conclude all things are very good and it might be very well look'd upon as one of their best Towns At nine in the Evening M. the Count de Guiche brought thither the Regiment of Navar and the Dragoons came back and encamped on the side of the Yssel In the mean time M. de Turenne continued to storm the Fort of Nimigen which defended it self almost all day with equal force but having fired also on the Boats they were run a ground so well that the Enemy fearing least in the night we should make our descent into the Ditch and so enter the Town they rendred themselves up after having killed 1000 or 1200 Men of which the Sieur de la Plastriere Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment Lyonnois and the Sieur Alsan the son Lieutenant of the Colonel of Champagne were the principal M. Magalotty Camp-Marshal lost a Finger of one Hand and was hurt in the other The 17. in the Morning the Marquis de Ranes repass'd the Yssel with his Dragoons upon a Bridge of Boats which he made over it and went and joyn'd with the Kings Army which by reason of a great maras was forced to turn back by the way of Zovenaer and then passing by Dutecum went and besieg'd Doesburg M. the Prince removed to Arnhem that he might not be far from the King M. de Turenne who came himself to acquaint the King with the taking of Knotzembourg return'd immediatly and caus'd us to march towards Skenkssconce which since our passage over the River had been block'd up The Marquis of Sauvebeuf who as has been said was hurt before Maestricht the 24. of May and there taken Prisoner came back to the Camp cured of his Wounds and without having paid any ransom by the means of the generous C. Rhingrave who together with the Spaniards in the Garrison whose Commanders had taken his part had a contest with the States and Dutch party upon that account for though the Dutch were willing enough to release him yet they were very eager for to have him pay his ransom first But at last after a great dispute on both sides the Spaniards threatned to forsake the Town if they would not agree which made the States consent to give him his liberty freely together with a Pass to return to the Army The 18. The King summon'd Doesburg but the Governor refusing to hearken to the Trumpeter or receive the Letter he brought His Najesty ordered preparations to be made to attaque it Faggots and Gabions were commanded to be provided which was done with all diligence The Count de Lorge who lay on the other side of the River with 4000 Horse advanced toward the Town to hinder any Succors from being put into it that way M. de Turenne caused Trenches to be open'd against Skenksconce in which was a Garrison of 1900 Men. The same day about four of the clock M. de Rochefort Captain of a Company of the Life Guards and Lieutenant General in this Campagne who had receiv'd Orders to be ready to march with 4000 Horse set forward only with 1800 because at so short warning the Victuallers had not had time to bake Bread enough for so great a number M. de Genlis was given him for his Camp-Marshal The Marquis de Ranes set forward likewise with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons We swam our Horses over the Yssel and march'd on all the rest of that day and the night following without drawing bit The 19. was spent in preparations for opening of Trenches before Doesburg in making Faggots Gabions and Bridges for communication M. de Turenne on his side so vigorously assaulted Skenksconce that the Garrison beginning to be disheartned and dispairing of any succor were thinking upon capitulating which M. de Turenne suspecting sent the Colonel Regiment of Dragoons to attaque the Fort of S. Andrew which made no long resistance though there were in it 200 Men and it be I think the best Fortress the Enemy hath It lieth in the narrowest place of the Isle of Bommel compast with five good Bastions and water'd almost quite round by the River Wahal so that it is impossible to drain its Ditches and almost so to make any Bridge over them without the consent of the Besieged M. de Rochefort with whom as I said we swam the Yssel and march'd all night continued still his march all this day so that we were almost 23 hours continually on Horse-back without drawing Bit. At two of the clock in the Afternoon as we came out of a very fine Village which we found deserted our Van-guard discovered a Body of Foot which assoon as we went about to pursue sav'd themselves in the neighboring Woods which made us think they were only some Peasants or some that had been laid in Ambush by Count Maurice whose Army we were in pursuit of At last we came to Amerfort with design to attaque and take it by assault but the Inhabitants who had ever since the Prince of Orange his flight kept some at the top of a Steeple to give them notice of our coming that they might not fall into the Trap we had laid for them and being advertized of our coming came out before us and obtain'd the free use of their Religion and preservation of their Rights and Priviledges open'd their Gates to the Marquis de Ranes who entred the Town with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons which he had brought with him and staid there until the 27 of the same Month. The Sieur de Mazelles a Captain of Horse having at the same time been drawn out with his Company which consisted of 50 Maistres and the Sieur de Bonneval Captain of Dragoons with 100 Maistres of the same Body to go forward and get intelligence of the Enemy march'd all night toward Naerden a little but very strong Town which hath six Bastions and lies just upon the Frontier of the Province of Holland 3 little Leagues from
Amsterdam in which was a Garrison of 200 Men as well Horse as Foot At his arrival he made all the noise he could with Drums Trumpets beating and sounding divers Marches and afterwards summon'd the Town which being terrified and surprized the Burgomasters of it came out to Treat which they spun out so long that the Garrison had time to make their escape And when they were all gone they open'd their Gates and admited him As soon as he was in the Town he made enquiry to know if there was no Soldiers in the place and was told there was not but considering that place to be of too much importance to be left without a Garrison by the Hollander he caus'd one of the Burgomasters to be apprehended and told him They should all lose their Heads for not discovering to the King truly whether there were any Soldiers in the Town These threats made them confess That truly there had been some there but as soon as they heard the noise of the French Troops they had fled towards Amsterdam whereupon he immediatly caus'd the Gates to be open'd and went out in pursuit of them and at the same time order'd his Lieutenant with some Horse to follow the Enemies Horse who were not yet out of sight and were some a Horse-back and others on Foot their Horses being laden with their Baggage The Lieutenant pursued them to the Gates of Amsterdam got the greatest part of their Baggage and in his way homewards summon'd Muyden which not finding in case to make any resistance he entered and was master of it for 2 hours but at last finding himself to weak to keep that place he returned to fetch more Men but in the mean time things put on another face At the same time the Sieur de Mazelles on his side had pursued the Foot which took the way of the Fields and enclosures and passing over 3 Bridges still broke them as soon as they were got over so that he was forced to his Horses strength to follow them But the third time as he swam his Horse was mired so that taking only his Pistols he left him there and follow d on only accompanied with about 20 more of his Company who making up to them upon the very mouths of their Muskets at last took almost all the Soldiers and two of their Captains Prisoners This day the Inhabitants and Burgomasters of Vtrecht and the Towns depending on it being frighted by the suddain Conquests and Enterprizes which His Majesty so fortunatly and vigorously prosecuted after 3 or 4 days consultation sent a Trumpeter to ask for a Pass for them to come and bring the King the Keys of their Town and its dependents viz. Amersfort which we had unknown to them already taken Ewick Rhenen and Montfort The same day we were inform'd that the States-General had left the Hague in a fright and retired to Amsterdam with all their Writings and Riches how they arrived there the seventeenth and assembled themselves to consult on Saturday the eighteenth being very much frighted and full of consternation That they mistrusted the Prince of Orange who had so soon taken flight and retired with his Army to the Country about Leiden We heard likewise of the pittiful condition to which Count Maurice and his Army were reduc'd who some days before had fled beyond Vtrecht they having refus'd to admit him and that he was now marching for Amsterdam whether he had been sent for That some of his Companies had not above five or six Men left the rest having forsook him and fled to divers parts That when they were near Amersfort a Bore having in sport told them he had seen a great party of French thereabouts immediately upon hearing of it they took their heels and â—â—ed above 2 leagues without stopping The Dâ—ke of Luxembourg came now and laid â—â—â—e to Deventer The 20 the Kings Army open'd their Trenches before Doesburg they wrought hard all night pretty freely and undisturb'dly under the command of the Duke of Roannez at the head of four Batalions of the French Guards defended by Monsieur de Rommecourt who commanded the horse Guards for the Enemy fired but very sparingly Monsieur de Rochefort left Amersfort in the morning and with a party of horse march'd towards Vtrecht and by the way heard that Naerden was taken and that the Count Maurice was not far from it M. de Rancs came back to Amersfort and took with him 150 horse 50 of which were Dragoons and we march'd all night that way In the mean time the Marquis de la Trousse who had been out by the King with 3 Squadrons to march towards Zutphen frighted them of that place not a little so that the Burgomasters considering that the longer they held out the worse conditions they should have and that on the other side they could hope for no succours sent to let him know that they desir'd they might send Deputies to the King to Capitulate for them and that their Governour would not be against it the Marquis de la Trousse presently inform'd his Majesty of what had pass'd whereupon Monsieur prepar'd to march thither and in the mean time the Marquis de Ranes sent some Dragoons to the Castle of Em who possest themselves of it This Castle takes its name from the little river Em which runs from Amersfort and discharges it self into the Zuiderzée after it hath run by this Castle which lyes near the mouth of it The 21 the Garrison of Doesburg which the night before were as quiet as if they had been a sleep began to bestir themselves in the morning and at break of day began to fire very furiously but this hinder'd us not from going on in our work happily enough and with little loss so that the Batteries were made fit to play Monsieur being come to Zutphen summon'd it but they absolutely refus'd to yeild it up which so much the more incensed his Royal Highness because the day before they had sent to propose the yeilding it The Marquis of Ranes arriv'd at Naerden about 2 of the clock in the morning he reinforc'd the Garrison with 50 Dragoons besides those 100 which were there already with the Company of the Sieur de Marelles upon notice that Count Maurice was thereabout with his Troops and that he had put 2000 men into Muyden which he had that day done so suddenly that the Lieutenant who had been master of it 2 houres and went to fetch more men to put into it when he came back found the Enemy possest of it and had now retrench'd himself on the other side of the stream of Wesep Monsieur de Turenne at last made himself Master of Skenksconce and then turn'd his Arms towards Nimegen Skenksconce is a little hole as I may say so famous that it were unnecessary to say any thing of it but it is also of more than ordinary concern to the Possessours because of its situation which is just on the point
thereabouts We heard of the wounds which the Heer de Wit the emprison'd Counselor receiv'd within 100 paces of his own house as he was returning home at midnight from an Assembly of the States how he was set upon by 4 men two of which were Citizens and the other two Sons to a certain Counsellour in the Court of Justice who was likewise one of the States called Vander Graef who had given him divers stabbs in the head neck shoulder and side leaving him for dead but that the Chirurgeons notwithstanding affirm'd his wounds not to be mortal and gave some hopes of his life though the Assassinates who were taken had little hopes of theirs However this accident did not a little fright all men especially the great ones who now began to contrive how they might make an escape out of the Town and were preparing to do it with all their Goods of value but the multitude openly withstood their design not suffering so much as the Ministers of other Princes to depart The 26. The King left the Camp at Doesburg and went to a place called Biloin The Sieur Groot commonly call'd Grotius who came to mediate Peace between the King and States return'd without doing any thing Monsieur sent Father Zocoli a Jesuite and his Confessor to Zutphen in the Morning there to say Mass in a Tent which was pitcht for that purpose in the middle of the Town and about 3 of the clock after Dinner made his entry into it and view'd the Town with its Ramparts and other Fortifications We heard the Hollander had quitted Gennep and that Monsieur the Count de Chamilly was gone to possess himself of it and Grave seem'd not to intend any resolute resistance The 27. The King left Biloin and advann'd towards Wagemingen after having lefâ— orders that the Regiment de Vendosme should go and secure Arnhem About 8 in the Morning the second Bataillon of the Dauphins Regiment arrived at Amersford together with some Horse making up in all between 8 and 900 Men some of which were to stay there and some to march on to Naerden so that their arrival gave liberty to the Marquis de Ranes and his Dragoons which were at Amersford to go and joyn with the Marquis de Rochefort at Vtrecht where the Duke de Roannez likewise arriv'd with 4500 Men of the Regiment of Guards and two Companies of the Life-Guards but they enter'd not into Vtrecht that day In the mean time the States at Amsterdam were not a little disquieted they sat in Council every day and could not any way be satisfied till they had dispatch'd the Sieur Grotius back to the King in all hast with new Orders and a more ample and unlimited Commission The Towns of Dort Goud and Roterdam began openly to proclaim the Prince of Orange Captain-General of the Vnited Provinces misusing and Imprisoning some Burgomasters who went about to oppose them in it which made others more wary how they venter'd to displease an incens'd multitude Soon after all the rest followed their example Amsterdam only excepted which however a while after yielded notwithstanding all the shifts and devices which the States to whom the Peoples Acclamations on this occasion seem'd a very unwelcome sound contriv'd to divert it Woerden also open'd its Gates and receiv'd a Garrison from M. Rochefort Woerden is a little Town situate on the Rhine five little Leagues from Leiden and therefore not far from the Camp where the Prince of Orange had retired and in which he had intrenched himself being not a little troubled to see us Masters of that place and advancing so nimbly towards him that he would not be able easily either to make an escape thence or to enterprize any thing against us though he should have desir'd it The Castle belonging to this Town is very strong and the whole Town secure from any sudden assault The 28. the King rais'd his Camp at two in the Morning and went to encamp at Amerongen whither the Sieur Grotius came the same day On the other side Monsieur de Turenne finding the obstinate Resolution of those of Nimegen in which were 4500 Men in Garrison order'd Faggots Gabions and other like Preparations to be made resolving the next day to open his Trenches and caus'd likewise his whole Army to pass the Wahal that they might set upon the Town on the other side of the River whilst the Fort plaid upon it from this The Duke de Roannez enter'd Vtrecht with his 3 Batallions of Guards to defend that place whose strength consists more in the number of its Inhabitants though they be very seditious inconstant and wavering then the goodness of its Fortifications which are made up only of a pretty broad but shallow Ditch and a Rampart which is very much out of repair But as to the Buildings of the Town they are very stately neat and costly especially in the heart of the Town The little Rivolets which run through many of their Streets do not a little contribute to the beauty of the place The out-parts skirts of the town are likewise very pleasant having many Canals the entry into the town is very fine There are many pleasant Houses scatter'd about and the Suburbs are large and convenient about which lie many rich Meadows and Pasture Grounds stock'd with abundance of all sorts of Cattel as far as one can see every way Because the Burgomasters when they came to yield up their Town had desir'd to have no Garrison forc'd upon them promising to defend the place themselves for his Majesty and being they staid not till they were summon'd but of their own accord had yielded up the place it was resolv'd they should be thereupon consider'd and kindly used And that they might have no reason to complain M. de Roannez pitch'd his Tents upon the Rampart where he still continu'd as did likewise the rest of the Officers and Guards after his example The Musqueteers who had kept the place ever since the Surrender retir'd and encamp'd without St. Catharin's Gate with the Marquis de Rochefort's Army upon the Bank of the River that runs hence to Rotterdam The two Companies of Life-Guards enter'd the Town and dispersed themselves into divers quarters of it where they lay upon the Guard and afterwards the Horse-Guards belonging to the Kings Houshold mounted the Guard by turns relieving one another every Morning at six of the Clock The news of Count Maurice's retiring still farther was confirm'd to us and that he had also broken down most of the Banks that kept out the Sea having left only one which lay inwardmost standing and that thereabouts he made Intrenchments which he very carefully guarded and fortified with divers pieces of Ordnance Groot or Grotius in his passage told M. de la Fueillade That he had a Blank to present to the King if he would treat and so unlimited a Power granted him as the States had never before given to any Plenipotentiary The
29. the King leaving Amerongen went and encamped at Zeist and Stotwegen where Grotius had Audience and made his Proposals for a Peace but without success for the King would not admit of them so that being acquainted with the Kings Pleasure he prepar'd for his departure the next day Monsieur de Turenne open'd his Trenches before Nimegen where the besieg'd behaved themselves like Men that intended to defend themselves resolutly but without making any sally The Marquis de Ranes drew out 70 Dragoons of the Regiment Royal to strengthen the Garrisons at Montfort and Isselsteing and march'd with them himself to visit those places and give such Orders as he should find necessary for the defence of them The Count de la Mark was left sick at Vtrecht The 30. Nothing extraordinary was done at the Kings Camp which lay at Zeist and Stotewegen M. de Turenne proceeded on in his approaches before Nimegen where the besieged still defended themselves very vigorously The Marquis de Rochefort went out betimes to view and take notice what Forces lay upon the River that goes from Vtrecht to Amsterdam After Dinner Grotius return'd to Vtrecht and thence to Amsterdam to acquaint the States with the Kings pleasure as it related to a Treaty of Peace which was now diversly talked of The first of July His Majesty lay still and rested where he did before and so continued until the 10th The Marquis de Louvois and of Pouange came to Vtrecht after dinner The King in Person review'd his whole Army very strictly and then issued out severe Prohibitions to hinder any of his Army 's wandering from their own Colours upon pain of certain death without mercy so that whoever should offend they should all be hang'd and not hope that any should be put to the Lot for their Lives with command likewise to all Officers That they should bring in every Night to the Commander of each Body the names of all such as had been absent from their Companies It was now reported That a pail of fresh Water was worth 12 Stivers at Amsterdam which are equal to 15 French Sols The second of July the Cardinal of Bouillon came to Vtrecht where he was almost crowded to pieces by Roman Catholicks who followed after him as an Angel sent from Heaven praying him with much earnestness to Bless and Consecrate the Churches of the Town The Archbishop of the place himself desir'd it of him with much importunity in the name of all the People but he desir'd to be excused till he should have order to do it from the King The Marquis de Ranes and the Chevalier de Bouflers Camp-master to the Regiment Royal of Dragoons going over from Vtrecht to His Majesties Camp which lay but two Leagues distant were ordered to send two Companies of the said Regiment to the Count de Lorge who was about four Leagues thence drawing towards Arnhem with a flying Squadron which made M. de Bouflers return post to Vtrecht from whence he sent two Companies that of de la Faye and that of de la Rouillardiere Monsieur who 2 or 3 days before had joyn'd with the Kings Army after the taking of Zuâ—phen went to Vtrecht where he din'd with the Chevalier de Lorraine who treated him very splendidly The night following there chanced to be a Fire in the Town which burnt down two Houses and we were told That one of the 36 Burgomasters of Amsterdam who had been one of the 3 that had been against the giving up the Town to the King when the Inhabitants would not resolve to acknowledge the Prince of Orange as the most part of the rest had done we heard I say that this Burgomaster had received a Musket-shot from a Sentinel for not answering in time when he was asked Who goes there and that he was in great danger of death by it And that the Sea finding no opposition since the Count Maurice's cutting down the Banks did come into the Country with a dreadful impetuosity and had already overwhelmed a great part of the Country which lay between us and Amsterdam The Count de Chamilly whom M. de Turenne had ordered to march towards Gennep and Grave and make himself master of them arrived before Gennep thinking the Inhabitants whom the Dutch Garrison had forsaken would without difficulty have yielded it up but found not what he expected for a Colonel belonging to the Brandenburger being ordered to put some Forces into it and keep it as belonging to the Elector his Master having performed his Orders refused to give it up to Monsieur de Chamilly The truth is this little Town which is not extraordinarily strong and lies upon the Meuse between Ruremonde and Grave had formerly belong'd to the Duke of Brandenbourg but having been taken from him and long possest by the Hollander it was now no more reckoned to be his Wherefore M. de Chamilly resolving not to be put off sent him word That unless he would be gon and leave the place to him he would certainly put all his Men to the Sword and hang him without mercy But the Colonel being not mov'd at this Threat the Count de Chamilly made his Troops immediatly prepare to assault the place but then the Colonel searing a dismal Halter which he foresaw would be his fate if he stood out any longer sent us word That rather then disgrace his Family with being hang'd he would consent to any thing to avoid such an ignominious death wherefore he desired to be used as an Officer of the Duke of Brandenbourgs who having not as yet declared himself ought not to be reckon'd nor used as an Enemy he therefore desired he might freely march off and return to the place from whence he came and earnestly entreated M. de Chamilly that least he should be hang'd at his return for not maintaining the place he would give him an Certificate under his Hand that he was ready to give an Assault to the place and had threatned to hang him before he yielded it up which having been granted him he retir'd into the next Garrison as well satisfied as if he had gained some great Victory or done some memorable exploit So that the Count Chamilly presently ordered his Men to enter the place and then marched towards Grave whose Garrison was retir'd and which was now in the possession of the Sieur Cleodore who by order from M. de Turenne kept the place with 40 or 50 Maistres The third the Marquis de Louvoys went and visited the Town-house of Vtrecht and commanding the Maps of the Country to be brought him informed himself of the number bigness and other qualities of the Channels which compass'd the Prince of Orange's Camp that being before-hand instructed in these matters he might be ready to go and attaque him in case a Peace were not concluded It must be confess'd that the prudence and conduct of the Marquis de Louvois are almost incredible he hath manag'd things in this Campagne
as he doth all things else with marvelous vigilancy care and success The Kings Troops the care of which lay wholly upon him were the best order'd that might be nothing was wanting in the Army he had taken such care for all things necessary that the King needed only wish that things should be done and they were so He found in that Man an inexhaustible Treasure of all those good Qualities which fit a Man for ordering business dextrously he had establish'd such good Orders and such a way of living among the Soldiers that they found themselves as well accommodated as if they had been in Paris and that without any way being grievous to the Countrys where they lay There were every where continual Fairs and Markets to which Merchants Victualers and Country people resorted with as much security as to St. Laurence's Fair. In a word he so well contriv'd all things that we never wanted any thing After Dinner the King came to the Camp and having walked about it and view'd his Troops without causing them to take Horse he also rounded the out-side of the Town and then went into it likewise but incognito Monsieur de Turenne continu'd still battering Nimegen which did still couragiously defend it self Notwithstanding he dispatch'd a Courier to the King to tell Him he hop'd that very day to spring a Mine or that at farthest it would be sprung the next day The Sieur de Carman Lieutenant Colonel of the Champagne Regiment was killed before this place The Count de Lorge made his Men labor hard all day about making a Bridge over the Rhine that by it he might get into the Betaw The News of the Prince of Orange's being chosen Statholder and Protector of their Country by all the Towns of the United Provinces except only Amsterdam was confirm'd to us and at the same time the Sieur Groot who was this day to return and bring the King an answer about the ratification of the Peace instead of coming himself sent to desire That his time might be prolong'd two days more which were accordingly granted him It is to be noted That His Majesty would treat with him not as coming from the States whose Authority he would not acknowledge but only as from the People of Holland The fourth nothing extraordinary hapned in the Kings Army which continued resting and refreshing it self after all the hardship it had undergon M. de Turenne after having had his design of mining Nimegen twice frustrated by Countermines at length notwithstanding all the Enemies care and pains to hinder it almost finish'd one so that they finding they should ere long have a breach made in their Walls and be forced to endure an assault and come to handy-blows with the French which they feared above all things as knowing how good our Nation is at that kinde of Service and how dangerous it is to fall into their hands resolv'd at last to come to a Composition The Count de Saulx had a piece of his Breeches shot off and one of his Servants kill'd with him by a great shot before this place which gave occasion to the spreading of a rumor that he was dead and made him as much lamented in the Kings Army as if he really had been so The fifth at break of day 2 Horse-men from Naerden came to Monsieur de Rochfort to give him notice of the Count Maurice's last retreat and how he had cut down the Banks and let in the Zuiderzee whose farther course was now stopp'd by nothing but only one Dike which was only broad enough for 3 Horse to march abreast on At the same time M. de Rochfort dispatch'd a Courier to the Marquis de Louvois to give him notice of it and M. de Roannes drew out a party of the Life Guards which were of the Guard at Vtrecht and some of the Kings Men at Arms who were come thither sent them under the Command of the M. d'Ambre to view and take cognizance of the Post which the Enemy now possest They did accordingly and stood within Pistol-shot of their Intrenchments two long hours none of the Enemies in the mean time daring to come out towards them only they were free of their Musket-shot which yet did no harm so that our Men came back just as they went which is an infallible token of the Dutch cowardize who dar'd not stir out when they might have cut the whole Party to pieces and though they had fear'd some ambush yet might they have come round in their Barks and set on them behind without any danger of being any way surpriz'd being sure of a safe retreat when ever they desir'd it Monsieur de Turenne at length became master of Nimegen which yielded upon the same terms as others had done only the Governor and other chief Officers had liberty to depart with all their Baggage Nimegen is a very great Town and full of Inhabitants situate on the left side of the Wahal which runs by its Walls and separates it from the Fort of Knotzembourg it lies high on one side and low on the other On the higher part of the Town stands an old Castle which is still strong enough and commands both the Town and River The lower part is plentifully furnish'd with Towers Bastions and Half-moons of an excessive bigness and upon that account they need more Men to defend it then we do in our Towns who are more concern'd to have them well lined and flanck'd Those who have Travell'd in Holland may have observ'd the prodigious dimensions of all parts of their Fortifications so that each Work requires as many Men almost to defend it as a whole Town of ours In the mean time the Count de Chamilly who was march'd towards Grave found strange alterations there as well as he had at Gennep Some of the States either those that were at Maestricht or others hearing that their Garrison had so causelesly quitted the Town which is very strong and whose Works are in very good repair and knowing withal that there were not in it above 40 or 50 of our Men sent a command to the Governor that had quitted it to return thither and defend it upon pain of death and ordered the Governor of the Busse to give him all possible assistance in case of need Wherefore upon this Order he was forc'd to turn back again and the Governor of the Buss took with him 33 Companies of Foot and 100 Horse to go and perform what was commanded him There being as yet no Garrison put into the place and the Townsmen refusing to keep the Gates it was easie for him who came before in hast with 100 Maistres to enter the Town whil'st the Foot followed softly after though as it prov'd they made too much hast to their own misfortune He therefore visits the place and reckons upon those Men of ours which he found there as so many Prisoners But whilst this was doing the Van of the Count de Chamilly's Army
fury of 25000 Spanish foot when their Fortifications were by no means in so good a condition as at present and besides a certain little Collonel who had before been in Nimegen whilst we besiedged it and who would have still been among the rest of our Prisoners had he not been released and was afterwards made Governor of this Town thought himself engaged in honour of which he had much bragged to M. de Turenne not so lightly to yeild up a Place of that importance wherefore we were forced to set on them and as we came before the Place the Guides brought M. de Turenne so near that a Cannon bullet which had been shot from the Town fell just at his feet but that hindered not our proceedings we therefore went and encamped at Stelst which is a little Village lying upon the River within Canon shot below the Town Whilst the Kings Quarters were preparing some attendants having retired themselves into a certain grove to refresh themselves till a house should be appointed them for their Master perceiv'd the ground had lately been turn'd up there which gave them the curiosity to search if nothing were hidden underneath whereupon one of them felt with his sword and finding some resistance uncovered the place before some Officers that were then come thither and there found 28 dead bodies newly kill'd piled one upon the other divers of which those Officers knew to have been our horse The Count de Chamilly left Vlymen and went over with his Army to Monsieur de Turennes Army at Hempel and in the mean time order'd the fort of Hainkel to be slighted The 21 about 10 in the morning the besieged in Bommel who from the top of their works could easily see that we were encamped upon the River ventur'd out of the Town without any opposition fill'd a Fregate which carried 4. or 5 pieces of Canon with Soldiers and coming down the River ere we were aware of them arriv'd over against our Camp where they landed and made a discharge of their muskets and Canon loaded with small shot amongst our Tents by which they kill'd some few of our Cavaliers and many of their horses thereupon some of our men made up to them and our foot beating them back to the River side shew'd them so much vigour and courage in the Skirmish that they retir'd to the other side of the River which is out of Musket shot They came back however two or three times to discharge again but were still repulsed though not without difficulty and the loss of some men for the Marquis de Ranes having got between the Town and them at a place where the River is much narrower forc'd them to stand one of our discharges which they did but not to be behind hand with him answered it with their Muskets and Canon charged as before so that one Dragoon lost an arm and another a leg But as ill fortune for them would have it the fire caught in their powder room and so fired one end of their Vessel whereupon 7 or 8 of them for fear of being burnt flung themselves into the water where they all perish'd being either drown'd or killed by our men who were skirmishing on the shore this accident frighted them so that from that time forward they dared not venter out At the same time Monsieur de Turenne ordered Faggots to be made and sent a Trumpet to summon the Place once again the besiedged let him in and went to counsel which lasted 5 or 6 hours wherefore M. de Turenne sent M. Baleroy a Captain of horse with another Trumpet to enquire what was become of the first the Governor desired M. de Baleroy to come in which he did and they assured him they would surrender beseeching him to desire M. de Turenne to send Articles which he thereupon presently did In the mean time M. de S. Abre who was Lieutenant general that day not to loose any time caused Faggots to be carried and way made for the Canon which he brought forward and when night drew on he began to open the Trenches but proceeded not far in them because the besiedged sent back the Articles sign'd An hour or two after dinner a Fregate with men to put into Bommel came up the River from Worcum or Gorcum but having been made more cautious by what happen'd in the morning we had plac'd a Corps de Garde on divers places of the Banks so that they could not pass and were forc'd to go back as they came after having made a discharge or two of their Muskets and Canon charged with small shot By which amongst others poor M. Clodoré whom we had occasion to mention before for making the Capitulation at Grave and the history of whose life was known to many was kill'd one half of his head having been taken off At length the Place being yeilded up in the evening one Monsieur d'Espagne was made Governor of it the next morning and there were put into it 4 Companies of Switzers and the Regiment de la Ferté for a Garrison Bommel is a great Town situate as we said on the left bank of the Wahal 3 leagues above Gorcum its situation is very advantagious both upon the account of the Wahal which defends one side of it and of the Marshes which encompass it on the other and which are so deep that one can neither undermine nor keep Trenches long open before it Its Fortifications are likewise good and the Hollander who have made it one of the Keys of their Country have not forgot to keep them in repair but made its preservation one of their cheif cares It is surrounded with good Cortin's Bastions and Towers a double Rampart and a double ditch It was besiedg'd in 1599 for the Spaniard by Don Francesco de Mendoza high Admiral of Arragon who after many stratagems at last vented all his fury upon this Place which he besieged with 30000 men but was notwithstanding forced after a fortnight's stay to raise his Siege By which we may judge of the strength and consequence of this Place The 22 after a Garrison had been put into Bommel the whole Island became subject to the King the Forts of S. Andrew and of Wornes being already possest by our Dragoons Monsieur de Turenne departed hence with his Army and came back to Hempel where being to march through the Town he din'd The Artillery by reason of the bad ways having not been able to keep pace with the Army came behind under the Convoy of the Dragoons Those who had been drawn out on the 19 to fire the Villages whose Peasants had beaten and so barbarously used our party returned after having routed 100 foot and 50 Maistres of Breda which they met with Monsieur de Montauban was made Governor of Zutphen M. de Beauvezé of Rees and M. de Villiers of Doesburg This day there arriv'd at Boxtel an Envoye from the Prince of Orange with many Propositions for a Peace
setting out by break of day arriv'd at Quesnoy about 11 of the Clock where taking only a little broth he went to bed and rested till 5 in the evening and then after a light repast took Coach which he had not done before during all this Campagne but had always travail'd on horseback whatever weather it was and rode on all night accompany'd by a strong Convoy which had been drawn out of the Life Guards Men at Arms Light Horsemen and Musqueteers who accompany'd him to the Castle of Cambray where he dismissed them and made use of those he had sent two days before to expect him there and so march't on with them all the night following Almost all the Court staid at Quesnoy to come leasurely after because the King had horses lay'd for him by the way and the rest of the horses that came from the Army were not able to keep pace with them The Troops that belong'd to the Kings Houshold encamp'd before the Gates of Quesnoy The first of August the King arriv'd at S. Quintin by 4. of the Clock in the morning heard Mass in the Church of S. James and having taken a little broth which was brought him from M. de Pradelle the Governour of that Town to a Semstresse's Shop took Coach again and went on to Ham where he left his Convoy and at length arrived by 10 at night at S. Germains where the â—ueen did not expect him till the Thursday following The Troops which had staid behind at Quesnoy march'd this day to Landreby whether the party that had convey'd the King came also that after two or three day's rest they might return towards Maestricht whether Monsieur de Rochefort had order to march with them A LIST OF THE PLACES Conquered by His Majesty in this Campagne Tongres Maesiick Foucmont Vizé Orsoy Rhinemberg Burick The Fort of Lyppe Wezel Rees The Fort of Rees Emerick Skensconce The Castle of Tolhuis Tolhuis Arnhem Doësbourg Zevenaer Zutphen Deutecum Ouageningen Rhenen Wick Utrecht Amersford The Castle of Em. Naerden Monford Woerden Oudwater Isselsteing Dussel Croanembourg Tiel Wyanem Culembourg Buren Knotzembourg Nimegen The Fort of S. Andrew Woorn Bommelle Crevecoeur Hekel Borxel Grave Gennep Besides many Castles about Utrecht and Amsterdam whether the Enemy used to retire and secure themselves The Author to the Readers REaders I grow weary of venting my Wares thus by retail The rest are of the same kind with the former but I will give them out to you now in the gross They are not deceitfull I can assure you for though I have not been an Eye-witness to what I shall henceforward relate as I was to all that pass'd during the Kings stay in Holland yet I have it from some of my Friends who sent me their memoirs and having no design to misinform me took care to write nothing but what they knew for certain truth And what has confirm'd me in my good opinion of their veracity is that I find them altogether conformable to the Accounts that were constantly brought to Court of what pass'd in our Armies You will find here some Particulars and Circumstances which 't is likely you have not heard of before and which I promise my self you will not be sorry to know I wish I could have done more both for your Service and Satisfaction and in requital desire you to pardon what you shall find amiss I willingly confess my weaknes and unfitness to be an Author As I never valued my self upon appearing in Print so what I have done now was only in complaisance to some who desir'd it A CONTINUATION Of what happen'd in the Dutch WAR After the Kings return into France OUr invincible Monarch having sufficiently humbled the haughty States and left a general consternation all over their Country which made his very name formidable to the stoutest of them took his way for France as we before mention'd His absence a little rais'd their spirits so that they ventur'd out of their Intrenchments and march'd towards Woerden Croanembourg and som other small Towns which we had left ungarrison'd only upon promise of their Fidelity not judging it necessary to bestow Garrisons on them that did of necessity fall into the Hands of him that was Master of the Field They put some Forces into them and possess'd them awhile quietly enough and it may be we should not have concern'd our selves so far as to drive them out had not the Prince of Orange design'd to make Incursions into the liberties of Vtrecht and to use Woerden as his retreat Whereupon the Duke of Luxembourg who as we said before commanded the Army near Vtrecht and now permitted it to rest and refresh it self glad to find an opportunity of doing something for his Kings Service took the Field and streight march'd to Croanembourg where the Horse upon notice of their design securing themselves by a timely retreat they soon made themselves masters of the Foot who without much resistance were made Prisoners of War and not only they but 72 more who intrench'd themselves in a Castle that lay on the way and for 5 or 6 hours kept our Dragoons in play having killed 10 or 12 and broke Monsieur de Rouvray's arm who commanded our Horse and the Attaque on one side with a Musket-shot Afterwards the Duke march'd to Woerden which far'd no better then Croanembourg and the Count de la Mark was left there with the Picardy Regiment These proceedings did more trouble the States then one can well imagine for besides the confusion it put them in the loss of this last place though it be little and in it self inconsiderable yet was of great importance to them because it gave us admission into the heart of their Country and cut off all communication between divers of their great Towns So they presently call'd a Council of War and very earnestly desir'd the Prince of Orange presently to besiege it who thinking it a business of no difficulty the Town being but slenderly fortified clos'd with the proposal not doubting of carrying it and reckoning it would do well to flesh his heart less Men wherefore he presently betook himself to the march Whether it was because the Prince had willingly upon their reqâ—est undertaken this business or that they did imagine Woerden would not be so easily taken I know not but so it was that hereupon they let not their Gallant Protector depart without bestowing on him more new Testimonies of their Kindness wherefore they drew out a very considerable supply out of their Ships with which that he might joyn he went and encamped at the head of a Pass between Wesep and Naerden where he caus'd a strong Intrenchment to be rais'd behind a great Canale and placed a guard on it Such preparations could not be made without the Duke of Luxemburgs knowledge for every body talk'd of them and because it seem'd probable their designs were either against Naerden which they had long threatned or Vtrecht towards
a River and the Causeys being as good for the Hollander as so many Rampires and Gabions that they should rout an Army ten times as numerous as their own and win a Fort from them furnished with five Intrenchments well flank'd and pallizado'd Yet notwithstanding all this the Duke of Luxembourg having staid a little for Monsieur de Genlis and as long as was convenient to prepare himself for an attaque began to set on the Enemy who in spite of all his courage and theirs that he commanded beat him twice back but at the third Onset the Marquis de Meilly gave the rest a good example by leaping into the Water up to his middle which made many Officers and Voluntiers and at last the whole party to do the like and so they passed over upon the very mouthes of the Enemies Guns and got within their Intrenchments which they were glad to quit and betake themselves to slight as their last and best refuge The Count de la Mark in the mean while who as I said before was still ready to receive the Enemy if he had assaulted the place or to sally out if he saw any likelihood of being assisted being aware of the Duke of Luxembourgs arrival and attaque lost no time but sallyed out in person and fell in amongst them like Lightning killing many with his own hand and being very well seconded by those that followed him who had before tryed the Enemies Courage in a Sally that 400 of them made at the beginning of the Siege in which driving the Enemy out of a part of the Suburbs where they had sheltred themselves the better to make their approaches they fired it and beat the Enemy out of three Intrenchments which they had made to hinder any sallies from the Town The M. of Bois Dauphin was killed in this first action with six other Soldiers So all their Intrenchments Banks Canales Sluces Forts and Redouts wherewith they had fortified themselves and all their Canon were obstacles too weak to keep us out for they were presently quite routed and the Prince of Orange himself was forc'd to put all hopes of safety in the fleetness of his Horse But he was fortunate enough not to be of the number of about 500 who were taken and 800 slain amongst which were the Sieur Zulestein who had been Tutor to the Prince of Orange and Colonel Bis his Steward with 2 other Colonels 3 Lieutenants and about 70 or 80 Officers besides a great many that were drown'd and whose number could not be certainly known but may be guest at by those who were since taken up at divers places which among the rest amounted to 50 in one little Canale Their flight was too sudden for them to think of any thing but saving their lives wherefore all their Baggage and Canon which were nine Pieces three of which were on Batteries against the Town and the rest within their Intrenchments against any succor that might come to relieve it fell into our hands These were all put into the Town and will be made use of to repulse the Enemy again if they dare ever attempt any thing against it As there are no Roses without Prickles nor great Pleasures which have not either accompanying or soon following them some alloy of sorrow so this strangely fortunate success could not be attain'd without some loss of our side We lost in the Action many Soldiers and among the Persons of Note were the Count de Meilly the Colonel to the Normandy Regiment and who commanded the Foot in this Service the Sieur de la Tilhays his Lieutenant a Gentleman of Normandy and the Sieur de Parville Tibout a Voluntier of Normandy likewise in the same Body The M. de la Meylleraye Colonel of the Piedmont Regiment M. de Lardiniere Lieutenant Colonel of the Navarre Regiment and the Chevalier de Boufflers Colonel of the Regiment Royal of Dragoons were dangerously wounded besides divers Voluntiers who did wonders As the success of so perillous an Enterprise could not but be very glorious to the Duke of Luxembourg so upon that account it did reward it self but neither prov'd it less advantagious to him then glorious For the generous Monarch for whose service it had been undertook no sooner heard of it but with many Commendations bestow'd on him He presently thought how he might recompense it and besides a great sum of mony sent the Duke a Commission to be Captain of his Guards in the stead of the Marquis de Lauzun Peguilain that he and all Men might thereby see That no Man serves him for nothing That whatever is done for him is presently follow'd by its recompence and That he better knows how to reward Virtue then punish Vice This first Essay of the Hollanders for the execution of which they had taken all possible care and done all that might assure them of a good event succeeding so ill was not however altogether useless to the Prince of Orange who being made more cautious by his ill success resolv'd from henceforward not to venture any thing nor make the least attempt where he was sure to find any great opposition The States likewise began to discover how unseasonably they had put him upon this Siege Wherefore that he might not be forc'd to be always doing nothing to which he was here reduc'd by the Duke of Luxembourg who was still at the heels of him as soon as he took the Field He thought he might do somthing to more purpose if leaving Holland he went toward Liege either against Tongres or Fouquemont which were neither fortified nor like to be succor'd by any Army that lay near them for M. de Turenne was march'd after the Imperial and Brandenbourg Forces or else against Maesiick whose Fortifications not being yet finish'd would more easily be taken In this resolution he chose out his best Troops and most experienc'd Commanders in whom he chiefly confided and made up a Body of about 14000 or 15000 Men. And thus having given all necessary Orders for the security of his Camp at Bodengrave which had hitherto been his retiring place in all his Misfortunes and which having been fortifying it all the Summer he had made a Bulwark for the security of all the rest of Holland he set forward by the ways of Worcum Gorcum and Breda designing to take with him a part of the Garrison of this last nam'd Town as well as those of the Busse Berguen-op-Zoom and Maestricht to augment his Army but did not execute what he intended either because he chang'd his mind or because he could not the Garrisons of those places being for the most part Spaniards However it were it matters not but Bommelle lying in his way and that being a great rich Town and one of the chief of those that lie on the Wahal he thought it would be no bad prize if he could compass it and would be a happy beginning of his intended Progress wherefore he march'd thither and began
Wesep went accordingly with 300 Men drawn out of the Garrison of Naerden but he found no body for they had retir'd upon notice of his march so they fired the Village which they had quitted At the same time the Enemy took a fansie to attaque a place in Frizeland whether they went with 5000 Horse and 300 Foot and not having been able to surprize it as they hop'd they laid so formal a Siege to it that it lasted too long to their misfortune For the Marquis Reinel Camp-master to a party of Horse of the Confederate Forces hearing of it got together all the Men he could in hast and went to its relief where he broke through their Lines getting into the Camp among them killed many routed the rest and gain'd all their baggage The Elector of Brandenbourg their Protector had no better fortune then they or the Imperialists that he had with him Monsieur de Sainfandaux at this time Foraging about the Country with 20 or 25 Maistres was betraid by a Peasant who was his Guide into the Hands of a party of theirs consisting of 800 where after a long and brave resistance he was at length over-power'd by numbers wounded and carryed away Prisoner This was done before any Declaration of War from that Elector but this act of Hostility was not long without Reprizals Monsieur Turenne hearing they had left 100 Horse for the Guard of the Bridge by which they had pass'd over the Main sent 150 Maistres of the Kings houshold under the command of Monsieur Brizac Lieutenant of the Life-guards to take cognizance of them and discover whither what had been done was out of some particular grudge to M. Saintsandoux or that they intended an open War He went accordingly and having found the Bridge guarded as he had been informed advanc'd towards the Commander in chief and after having ask'd who they were for demanded free passage which was granted him afterwards he demanded Quarters in the neighboring Houses whereupon the Officer told him That being there was not sufficient room to quarter both parties in there was no reason he who had first taken up the Quarters should be turn'd out of them this satisfied him as to that point he having no design to quarter there wherefore M. Brizac ask'd him if he would send for some Wine saying They must needs drink a Bottle together but the German smelling a design of making him speak more in his drink then he was minded to do now he was sober replyed He had already drunk his Mornings draught and that if they must needs drink to one another it must be at a distance whereupon Monsieur de Brizac commanded his Men to advance saying Why then you are not our Friends and so sell on and defeated them A part of whom were kill'd in the Encounter and the rest were either taken or saved themselves by flight so that our Men became masters of the Bridge but Monsieur Brizac having had no order to keep it came back with his party The keeping of this Bridge was of main consequence to the Duke of Brandenbourg both upon the account of his Interest and Honor it being the way by which he was to retire in case of ill success and he having bragg'd and promis'd he would maintain it Wherefore having been told by those who had fled that they had been defeated by one only Squadron imagining we should have kept the same post he sent 2000 Men to take it from us but we saved them a labor because we thought it not worth keeping But it seems they were not of our mind for those 2000 Men strongly entrenched themselves at the end of the Bridge and seting a strong guard there dispos'd of themselves as well as they could in the Quarters thereabout but with order to be ever upon their guard because they foresaw that as long as Monsieur Turenne lay so near them he would not fail frequently to visit them They were not out in their conjectures for Monsieur Turenne having had notice of their being his neighbors two days after their return thither and imagining they were come thither with a design not to forsake the place without engaging took with him the Kings Houshold and march'd towards them with all speed to take cognizance of them himself being resolv'd once more to beat them from that post He had not march'd far when being yet above three quarters of a mile short of the Bridge passing thorow a Wood he met the Count d'Onak a near Kinsman to the Duke of Brandenbourg who being out upon a design of getting intelligence hearing some Dogs which had follow'd our party and were hunting in the Wood he follow'd the Cry till he came near our Van-guard and hearing a noise of Men and Horses came on towards us but found other kind of Hunters then he was aware of for he soon perceived they were our Troops by their marching in rank and file he came up to us notwithstanding very resolutly and having ask'd who we were for let fly at us first who returning the same salute wounded him in five or six places whereof he dyed on the place cursing and swearing part of his followers which were 15 or 16 in all were taken Prisoners and the rest fled to the Bridge where they put the whole party in such a fright that M. Turenne at his arrival found it deserted These were the worthy Exploits the Hollander and their Partizans perform'd at home whilst the Prince of Orange rang'd about in the Country of Liege with intent to surprize some place on that side He went to set upon Liege it self but staid not long before it but because Tongres and the Garrison there had done him much mischief he had a great spight at it and was alway framing some design against it After the taking of Fouquemont he resolv'd to besiege it in good earnest and it was in his march towards it that we left him but now and therefore we will now pursue our discourse of him and see how his design sped But if we would have found him before the Place we must have return'd sooner for though he came thither with intent to sit down before it yet Count Marsin made the project miscarry who seing though the Place was not over well fortified yet the Garrison in it was very strong and might defend themselves very long and cost a great many lives to winn it M. de Montal being in the Place who doubtless would maintain it to the last advised him not to pursue the design any farther This advice which was well grounded suggested to them another more likely project and the issue of which would be of much more consequence Monsieur Montal being now in Tongres whether he was come and had brought with him a great party of men to reinforce the Garrison made them judge Charleroy whose Governour he was and out of which he had drawn those men might easily be gained both upon the account of
the Governours absence and thinness of the Garrison which they imagin'd was much weakened by the party that M. de Montal had thence carried with him to Tongres upon these grounds they resolv'd to besiege it and gave Count Monterey notice of their design to oblige him considering the importance of the Place to send them more Forces which it seems he too carefully and zealously did For he unfurnished many of his Towns to make up a body of 16000 which was directly contrary to the Treaty at the Pyrenaeans and Aix la Chappelle The 15 of December the Count Marsin who commanded that Body went and sat down before the Place in expectation of the Prince who was to follow with his Army In the mean time the Sieur de Montal being inform'd of the design by some prisoners and by 50 Maistres whom he had ordered to follow the Enemy at a distance and observe their motions though he could hardly beleive they would venture upon so great and difficult a business yet sent intelligence of it to the Court as they also did from Charleroy withal desiring a Commission to return and get into the Town which he immediatly prepared himself to do without staying for orders so soon as he should be sure they were resolved upon the Siege of that Place The 16 Monsieur de S. Cla a Brigadier of Horse hearing of the same design at Maesiick where he then was went thence accompanied by the Sieurs de S. Sylvestre and d'Arty Captains of Horse the Sieurs de Labadie Vignart de Treüil Lieutenants Levigny and Magny Cornets and Lopair and Empereur Quarter-Masters together with 50 other Horse and brought the confirmation of this news to M. de Montal at Tongres offering him withal to accompany him in his design of getting back into the Town he accepted their profer and without any farther delay dispos'd himself to set forward the next morning The 17 he set out about 10 in the morning as he had appointed accompanied by the forementioned Gentlemen and their 50 Maistres besides 60 more which he had brought along with him to Tongres and marched all day and all night intending to get thither the next day whatever it cost them In the mean time the Couriers who had been sent with the news making all possible speed arriv'd all three one after another to Versailles were their Majesties then were The news they brought was so extraordinary and it seem'd so improbable that the Prince of Orange should come into Flanders to besiege one of our principal Places there that had not all the 3 Couriers successively confirmed what had been related of the Count Monterey's drawing out 15000 or 1600 men out of his Garrisons and sending them to begin the Siege the Couriers would have been laught at as mad men rather then beleiv'd besides that after all there was another reason that added to the improbability of it which was the violation of the Treaty which after this Count Monterey could not excuse They were notwithstanding beleived because they all said the same thing and the King thereupon that same night sent the Marquis of Louvois thither in post and sent orders to the Marshal d'Humieres who was at his own estate near Compiegne to go immediatly to Lisle of which he was Governour and there to expect farther orders As M. de Louvoys is a man of excellent conduct and foresight in managing business so is he indefatigable when their is need of dispatch he therefore set out at midnight as soon as he had his orders and having sent to the Chevalier de Nogent to accompany him went by Peronne and thence to Athe. The Marshal d'Humieres likewise though he had kept his bed three days before being tormented by the Colick set out immediatly for Lisle As to Monsieur de Montal he took the same way along the Caussey by which the Enemy had march'd before him that so he might not be discovered he had not marched above 5 or 6 hours before he overtook some of the rear of their Army loitering behind all which he strip'd and hamme-string'd their horses that they might not follow nor give notice of his march The â—8 before day he came pretty near the Enemy 1500 or 1600 of whose foot were quartered in a Village call'd Perruis and all the horse who conveyed them were disposed of in other Villages along the Caussey as far as Giblow all these he passed without being discovered but coming nearer Charleroy was aware of other Troops whom to avoid he was forced to turn out of his way and fetch a compass on the right hand to gain the Woods All this was don in the night and at day break he arrived within sight of their Camp but there made a halt not being willing to appear till their guards were releiv'd least when he would have forced his passage all the whole Army should be upon his back which succeeded as he could have wish'd The first body of Men he came at after coming out of the Woods was a Regiment of Spanish foot amongst whom he intruded so far before they were aware of it that though they began to suspect him yet they dared not give the Alarm but on the contrary saluted him civilly and he returned them the like If Monsieur de Montal had found all the Spaniards and Hollanders of the same obliging and civil temper he would certainly have ever after commended their good breeding and found no use for the swords which he and all his party carried ready drawn under their cloakes But that would not be for as he came near a Glass-house where a great many were quartered as well as in all the out-houses thereabouts some body having spied their naked swords cryed to Arms saying they were Enemies and thereupon they shot at them from every part because they still marched on not minding what was don but by this time the Alarm was every where spread and it was time for our men to think of defending themselves which they did so much the more easily because the Enemies Horse-guard which consisted of 150 Maistres and were posted between the Town and Camp had newly unbridled their horses so that not above 70 or 80 were found ready who came upon us and were most of them killed amongst whom was he that lead them call'd Floris Major who was in great repute amongst them 13 or 14 of our party were either killed or taken whom we staid not to releive least by so doing we should have lost the favorable opportunity of getting into Charleroy for if we had obstinatly staid to disengage them it may be the whole Army had fall'n upon us We therefore presently gain'd the Town in number 100 horse besides the Officers and got into it on Brussels side where at our coming M. de Montal found every one doing their duty and very watchful against any thing the Enemy should attempt The Place was close beset by the Enemy who lay within Carrabine shot of
it yet without attemting any thing upon the out-works The truth is M. de Franclieu the Kings Lieutenant in that Place who commanded in cheif during the Governors absence had done every thing that was possible and applied all imaginable diligence to put all things in the best posture that could be in case they should be attaqu'd Monsieur Desbonnais a Brigadier of foot who by good chance had staid there did likewise much contribute to it as did the Sieur Terrade an Engineer who took on him the care of the works so that every body strove who should shew most zeal for his Majesty's and their Country's service there being no body who deserv'd not much commendation on this occasion As soon as Monsieur de Montal was arrived he took care that all things should be ordered to the best advantage and finding that the party of horse which he had brought with him might be very serviceable to him against the Enemy and likewise very troublesome to the Place if their Forrage began to fail he sent out 50 of them to defend 150 Musketeers commanded by the Sieur Desbonnais whilst they should get together all the Forrage they could find all along the Sambre in the most remote houses this was 3 houres doing and had been sooner perform'd had not the Enemy strove to oppose it and so hinder'd our men from returning so soon as otherwise they might And yet we lost nothing by the bargain for our men beat the Enemy on this occasion from a Post which they kept with a considerable guard of horse and foot and killed many of them we loosing but 2 Soldiers in all the Action Whilst all this went on so gloriously every body was severaly employed in the Town M. de Montal betook himself to discover the designs of the Enemy and having observed a Battery which they were raising upon a rising ground that lay before the two little ponds where the works chanced no to be coated nor quite finish'd he judg'â— they would make their cheif attaque on that side which made him particularly provid for the security of that quarter that hâ— might defend it to the last Now Monsieur de Franclieu having before foreseen how the business would go had drawn a traverse acrosse the whole length which though it was not yet quite perfected yet was forward enough to be capable of sheltering those Soldiers which M. de Montal immediately commanded to be placed there together with some horse which were ordered to take up their station in the ditch which was not fenc'd with Pallisados that they might have the freer passage in and out The Sieurs de Franclieu and Desbonnais placed themselves where they thought they might do the best service in their own persons But the Enemy who by this time discovered from their Camp which lay very near that they should not easily carry the Place began to flinch and abate much of their fury so that the night following instead of assaulting the Town as they ought to have done they discontinued their Battery so that on the 19 in â— he morning Monsieur de Montal observing this resolved to send out all his Horse with orders to sally out upon the high ground that lay towards Brussels and to line the Counterscarpe and out-works with all his Musqueteers that so they might get some prisoners This succeeded according to his wish and indeed all was ordered with admirable courage and conduct Twenty Horse were first sent out who falling in with the Enemies out-guard entic'd out their main Guard consisting of 150 Horse commanded by the Baron of S. John with three Colours but Monsieur de S. Cla who was ready with all the rest of the Horse upon the first onset to follow and second them came just in time to fall on those who came in a greater number to releive the Enemy he utterly routed them killing many among which was the Sieur de S. Jean who received two mortal wounds there was a Lieutenant and some others taken prisoners and carried into the Town whilst the rest of our men retreated leasurely towards the Counterscarp on purpose to draw on the Enemies that way who pursued but faintly but were set forwards by the Prince of Vaudemont and the Count of Louvignies who hearing the Alarm which had by this time been spread over their whole Camp were come to their relief with many others of the most considerable persons in their Army They came near enough to receive a salute of small shot from a small party of our foot which hurt many of them and a discharge from our Canon which plaid so well that many of them were cut off by it and among others 3 Cornets one of which belonged to the Prince of Oranges Guards the Prince of Vaudemont lost his horse and his heel which had like to cost him his life and they were all so roughly handled that they afterward kept at a greater distance and not dared to make any approach though we did all we could to invite them to it but on the contrary they placed a party of foot behind their Horse-guard to second them in case we should sally out again All this while our indefatigable King whom neither the time of the year nor the ill weather nor any other difficulty could ever fright being accustomed to expose himself to as many dangers as if he were a private person resolved to go himself to provide for the defence of the Place and the Queen being sensible how impatient she should be of his absence if she could not constantly hear from him resolved to go as far as Compiegne that she might be nearer him so their Majesties the same day left Versailles and went to S. Germain in Laye The 20 was spent at the same place in giving order for their Majesty's progress The Enemy before Charleroy whether it were because they began to be sensible that they should loose their labour if they staid any longer or that they apprehended some design against them from Monsieur Louvois who was at A the giving orders for every thing that might any way inconvenience them or from the Marshal d'Humieres who was there likewise and had by this time gathered together a body of 15000 or 16000 men or that they had intelligence of the Duke de Duras his marching with all speed towards them whatever it was I can't determine but they began to prepare for a retreat and without offering to stir a foot forward whatever sallies we made upon them were content to stand on their own defence All this while Monsieur de Montal not knowing of their design and understanding they had ready great numbers of Faggots and wool packs and 2000 Barrels besides all other necessary's for making an assault kept all night on the Guard and lin'd the Counter scarps as thick as he could that they might be well defended The 21 their Majesties continuing in their first design the King for Charleroy and the