A FULL ACCOUNâ— OF THE LATE Siege and Surrender OF THE City of Monâ— WITH THE Number of the Slain and Woundâ—â— As well within the City as in the French 〈◊〉 To which is added The Articles of Surrendâ—â— WITH The Dauphin and Monsieur Vauban's Entrâ— the City The manner of the Governor's March and his Speech to the Dauphin With the French Behaviour â—…ment of the Inhabitants of Mons and the Towns and Villages And several other Material Occurrences that has happened since LICENSED J. Fraiser 1691. LONDON Printed for Robert Hayhurst at the Axe in 〈◊〉 Brittain 1691. An Impartial Account of the Late Famous Siege and most Noble Defence of MONS c. MONS as it hath been the Miracle of the Age and Wonder of its Enemies for unparalled Courage and Resolution ought now to be the Work of each Ingenious Writer and Discourse of every Martial Man Fame has already spoke sufficient in the praise of that undaunted City whose Actions I now mean to particularize But before I enter upon the particulars of the Siege I shall give the Reader an Account of the Province of Hanault and scituation of Mons. Hanault is so named of the River Hayne which runs through it It is the chief of the Walloon Provinces it bordereth on the North with Brabant and Flanders belonging to the King of Spain on the South with Champain and Piccardy two Provinces belonging to the French on the East with the Province of Namur and on the West with the Sheld and part of Flanders Gallican It is twenty Leagues long and sixteen broad the Air is wholsome and the Soil good by reason that the Country is watered with many Rivers as the Scheld the Sambre the Tender and many other small Rivulets There are also in it many Lakes Marshes Ponds Pools Fountains goodly Woods and pleasant Forests It aboundeth with fragrant and fair Pastures and Meadows for all kind of Cattle with good Fruits and profitable Trees and is replenished with great plenty of good Corn. In some part of it are Iron-Mines Lead and Quarries of Stone for all kind of Buildings with great Store of White-lime and Coal In this Country are Twenty Four Walled Towns namely Mons Valenciennes Bouchain Quesnoy Conat Landressy Amesnes Chimay Mariemburg Segny Brain le Compte Eughien Halle Lesme Cheure At h St. Guisline and Leaze There are also 950 Villages with many Castles and Signiories Many of the Villages are great and fair and have Titles of Honour annexed to them as Pequicourt Fontayn Laling Montigny Antonig Barlamon Barbauson Aimeries and many others The City of MONS or Berghen receives its Name from its Scituation which latter in their Language signifies a Mountain or Hill but the rise of the Earth there is so gentle as it cannot be said to be Mountainous The City is strong as well by natural Scituation as the mutual Industry of Fortifications It is cut through on the lower side by a little Rivulet called Trulla which as soon as it goes out of it falls into another somewhat bigger called Hayne which crossing through the Province before it be gotten quite out falls into the Scheld and on this side is a Moras the Earth here being very Spungy It 's Fortified likewise round about with strong and excellent Walls Turrets and Gates to which are joyned many Regular Works according to the Modern way as Horn-works Half-Moons Counterscarps Bastions Redoubts c. there are likewise three large deep Ditches or Moats with a strong Castle or Cittadel very good Ramparts and a River running by the Fortifications The Buildings of the City both private and publick were very fair and beautiful here is the noble Nunnery of St. Valdrude their Churches are Built after the Ancient manner of Architecture with sumptuous Arches and goodly Pillars of Marble and Porphyry the Stadt Heuse or Town-Hall is of excellent Workmanship This City was surprised by the French Hugonets in the Year 1572. who got in great quantities of Arms in Fatts under pretence of Merchandize and having seiz'd on the Gates they let in the Army of Count Lodowick of Nassau Brother to a William Prince of Orange but it was soon after retaken for the King of Spain by the Duke of Alva The Prince de Bergh who was the late Governor has his Title from the Place and most or all his Estate lies in the Province he is related to the House of Nassau The First Letter THe French King having had a longing desire to bring this City to his Subjection resolv'd by an early Campaign on the attempting of it this Spring pursuant to which Resolutions he caus'd to be laid up this last Winter in Valenciennes Cambray and other Frontier Places vast and almost Incredible quantities of Hay Oats and other Forrage for a numerous Army of Horse And having given Orders to his Generals to draw his Troops from their several Quarters as well on the side of the Rhine as in Flanders sending the very Troops of his Houshold Grand Musqueteers Gens d' Arms and Light Horse c. On the 14 of March New-Stile the French Army Commanded by the Duke of Luxenburgh and the Marquis de Boufflers c. directed their March towards Mons. On the 15th their Cavalry consisting of 42 Squadrons began to Invest it in a formal manner The 16th and 17th was spent chiefly in the Marching up of the Foot and the Regular placing them in their several Posts On the 18th the Marquis de Boufflers sent a Summons to the Prince de Bergue to Surrender the Town on Honourable Conditions telling him The King the Dauphine and all the flower of France would be there to oblige him to it But the Prince rejected his Proposals telling him That he was glad to hear that so great a King would be there in Person to be witness of the Gallant and Brave Defence he was resolved to make at the same time as well Burghers as Regular Troops with an unanimous Voice and undaunted Resolutions resolved to defend it to the utmost of their Lives and Fortunes which Answers not suiting with the French desire nor the hopes they had of an early Surrender made them prepare for Action This Evening the Garrison made a Sally on the Enemy with 1800 young Men of the Town on Foot and Four Squadrons of Horse and Dragoons Commanded by Colonel Harcourt and in this Action they cut off 500 of the French The 19th the French began to work on their Line of Circumvallation having forced in near 20000 Boors or Country People that Inhabit in the Neighbourhood of Mons imploying them as well in working on their Lines as diging drains for the Marshes which render'd the Town inaccessible on the side towards France and for the morâ— effectual draining of the Moras theâ— brought along with them new Inventeâ— Machines likewise great Planks soâ— their Cannon They work'd very harâ— in their Trenches the 19th 20th anâ— 21st On the other side the Garrâ—son was not Idle On
three several Assaults â—s the Deserters give account above â—00 Men among which were many â—fficers of Note the first Attack â—ey made was with 4000 the second with 6000 and this last with 7000. By Deserters that lately Arriv'd in the Town we understood that the French Army were increased to a vast Body there being the chief Force and Flower of France as likewise most of the English Gentlemen and Officers who were Retainers on the late King James that the French were judged to be in the whole that is in the Trenches before the Place in their Camp and upon the Lines in Flanders about 85 Battalions and 200 Squadrons that is about One hundred thousand Men of which there was already killed Sick and Wounded about twelve thousand That the Marquis de Boufler's Head-Quarters were at the Abby of St. Dennis and those of the Marshal de Luxenburg the same he had in the year 1678 when the Prince of Orange obliged him to quit the Bloccus of Mons That the great Officers of the French-Army were mightily surpriz'd at the Vigorous Defence made by the Besieged for that when they first set down before it they expected to have carried the Place in few days That besides Bouflers and Luxenburg there was in the Camp the Marshal de Duras and la Fevillade who Commanded as Generals and under them Commanded the Prince de Soubize the Marquis de Foyeuse the Sieur du Rubantel the Duke de Vendesme and the Sieur Rose as Lieutenant-Generals and the Marquis de Villars the Marquis de Congis the Duke de Bourbon the Prince de Conti the Duke de Maine the Grand Prior of France and the Count de Mont Chevrevil as Marshals de Camp The Fifth Letter HIS Britanick Majesty having receiv'd an Account at Loo by an Express from the Marquis de Castanaga That on the 15th past the City of Mons was Invested by the French Cavalry prepared for his speedy Return to the Hague and in the mean time gave Orders for the drawing together with all possible diligence the Troops of Holland Brandenburgh Liege c. and that they should March directly to the Neighbourhood of Brussels On the 21st in the Evening the King Arriv'd at the Hague Prince Waldeck waited on His Majesty that Night and having receiv'd His Orders 〈◊〉 the next day to Brussels On the 26th the King left the Hague taking his Journey to Flanders by the way of Breda The Duke of Zell followed His Majesty on the 27th accompanied with the Baron de Chauvet of the Lunenburg Forces His Majesty before His departure from the Hague declared the Count de Solms General of the Foot the Earl of Portland Monsieur Overkirk Monsieur Opdam and Monsieur Zulestine Monsieur Holsoppel Count Tilly and Monsieur Ittersum Major Generals of the Horse and Count Walraet of Nassau Monsieur Zobel Monsieur du Tel and Count Noyelles Major Generals of Foot On the 26th in the Evening the King Arriv'd at Breda where he was receiv'd with all possible demonstrations of Joy Respect His Majesty continued there till Sunday-Morning at which time He set forward for Vilvoord in his way to Hall in order to put himself at the Head of the Confederate-Army that was Rendezvouzing there which Place is about six English Miles from Brussels in the Road to Mons. On Saturday the first of April the King set forward for Vilvoord and Arrived there late that Night On Munday His Majesty viewed and on Tuesday Mustered His Army and Encamped in the Neighbourhood of Brussels On Wednesday the Army Marched to Hall where they expected the coming up of the Troops that had not joyned them as well as part of the Artillery On Thursday the 6th about Three in the Afternoon at which time all the Troops and Artillery were not come up but the King viewed then 30000 Foot and 15000 Horse The Train of Artillery is composed of 71 Pieces of Cannon and 14 Mortars This Evening the Scotch Regiments of Infantry and the Spanish Cavalry Arriv'd in our Camp to the Number of about 7000 Men. Great numbers of Switzers daily Desert and come into our Camp from the French Army they give an Account of the hard Treatment they have receiv'd in this Siege from the French King That they were always forc'd on the most desperate Attacks and yet refused the Exercise of their Religion They likewise tell us that a most Malignant Flux raged much in the French Camp great number of Waggons with Sick and Wounded Men going daily from the French-Gamp to the adjacent Towns and likewise That the French had lost many of their best Officers and Engineers in the Siege The Sixth Letter BY Deserters that lately come into the Town from the French-Camp we receiv'd an Account That the Sieur Megrim a Famous Engineer having been Wounded in both his Arms the French King had given Orders for his immediate carrying to Tournay and given directions for some of his own Chyrurgeons to take care of him That the King had forbid all the great Officers of the Army to quit their Posts not being without his Fears that he should be Attack'd by the King of Great Britain He likewise Commanded the Duke de Chartres not to go into the Trenches without his Order That on the 18th some of our Deserters came into the French-Camp who assured them That we had abundance of all things in the City and that every day some entred the Town by the Marshes and that we were daily in expectation of Succours on which they ordered the Marshes to be more narrowly Guarded and that they would make their utmost Efforts for the more speedy carrying the Place that the Duke de Maine and the Grand Prior of France were killed in the Trenches and that the Marquis de Boufflers and the Duke de Vendosâ— were dangerously Wounded That it the several Attacks they made on the Half-Moon of the Horn-Work they had lost above 6000 Men. We cannot sufficiently express the Courage oâ— the Besieged the Parents could scarce keep their Children the Wives their Husbands and those of the most Wealthy of the Inhabitants from running into the greatest dangers through Fire and Power And as the Garrison consisted of divers Nations they strove with a kind of Emulation every one to signalize himself for the Honour of his Country Last Saturday Night the Enemy made a great Assault upon that part of the Counterscarp that lies between the Horn-work and the Two Half-Moons but were beat back with very great loss having besides 2000 private Sentinels and Subalterian Officers Fifteen Captains Killed out of Twenty that Commanded the Party The Seventh Letter WE doubt not but the News of the Surrender of Mons will be very Surprising to you considering the Vigorous and Obstinate Defence they for some time made and the many and great Successes they had gained on the Enemy particularly in the Attack they made on the Seventh at Night upon the Counterscarp that covers the Hotn-work
of Barlemont-Gate Mons Capitulated on the Eighth instant notwithstanding the Garrison was not in the least Distress wanting neither Ammunition nor Provisions the main Body of the Soldiers were likewise strong and hearty having not lost during the whole Siege above 500 Men of their Number and some Sick and Wounded and had baffled and grievously Slaughtered the Enemy in all their Assaults in as much that the French Officers were forc'd to drive on their Men with their Swords in their hands to the Attacks and the Switzers who were never used to turn Tail being Commanded to renew an Attack where the Garrison had Foiled them before refused the same and many of them Deserted into the Town and else-where Upon all which bad Successes as divers Deserters report the French King despairing of his Conquest designed in a day or two to Raise the Siege and March off with his Army besides his numerous Body of Horse had spent all his Magazines of Forrage c. But during this Success of the Garrison and Despair of the Enemy the French King's Plot took effect in the Town for the Priests raised a Mutiny among the Burghers by this Argument viz. That they being good Catholicks ought not to Defend a Town that was to be put into the Hands of Hereticks upon which the Burghers accompanied with their Wives c. got together and were headed by Two Prelates who without doubt are to be made French Cardinals or at least to have Fat Bishopricks given them in France who Marched before the Mob to the Governor who understanding their Errand refused to see them but Commanded them immediately to be gone Upon which the Burghers went forthwith upon the Walls and beat a Parley the Garrison Fir'd upon them and Kill'd Four or Five But the Disorder increasing and the whole Body of the Burghers being Allarm'd and more numerous than the Garrisons the Governor was constrained to Capitulate which was too surprising to the French that the King himself could not believe it until he had entred the Trenches to see the Flag of Truce which was hung out on Sunday the Eighth instant and a Cessation of Arms being agreed on and Hostages exchanged on both sides the Articles of Capitulation were Signed about Two in the Afternoon The Articles were such as the Governor desired The Chief of which was as followeth The Articles of Capitulation for the Surrender of MONS April the Eighth 1691. I. THE Garrison both Horse and Foot with the Persons thereunto belonging consisting of what Nation soever shall according to the Military Custom March out with Colours Flying Drums beating compleatly Armed with Bullets in their Mouths and lighted Matches Bag and Baggage and shall be Conducted to the Camp near Hall II. That for the conveniency of carrying away their Baggage and what else they please they shall be allowed Thirty cover'd Waggons Fifty Persons to March out on Horseback in Masques Six Pieces of Cannon and Two Mortars III. The Sick and Wounded that think fit may remain there till they are well and be accommodated according to their Condition IV. Every one may Bury his Dead where he pleases V. Those that fled into the Town from the Neighbouring Villages as well Gentlemen as Peasants may return to their Habitations and freely enjoy the same VI. That the Garrison shall be Conducted by a Convoy of Sixty Squadrons of French Horse to the Camp near Hall VII That the Garrison shall be allowed Forty Eight Hours to prepare for their March VIII Immediately after the concluding the Accord the Gate of Barlemont with the two Half-Moons and Counterscarp shall be delivered up to the French King IX This Accord shall be inviolably observ'd and Executeâ— in all its points On Tuesday the 10th the Garrison Marched out 4500 Strong As they passed by the Dauphin took a Review of them and observ'd that the Walloons and Spaniards were very ill Mounted and Equipt but the Troops of Holland and Brandenburgh were otherwise The Governor who was Magnificently Vested and Mounted made Three Salutes to Monsignieur with his Sword in his hand and declared his Trouble that the Burghers had obliged him to Surrender saying That he had much rather have trusted to the Courage of the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrison Brigadiâ— Fagel that Commanded the Dutâ— Troops refused to Sign the Capitulation and declared his Grief to thâ— Dauphin at their Dishonourable Surrender Monsieur Vauban the Famous Engineer first entred the Town and gave the necessary Orders Twelvâ— Thousand Men are ordered for to Gaâ—rison the Town and Monsieur Veâ—tillack a Swiss Colonel is made Governor The Inhabitants are Commanded to provide 12000 good Beds for the Garrison tho' they before would scarce allow Straw for 2000 of the Dutch they have likewise demanded of the Burghers 200000 Florens towards the repair of the Fortifications of the Place and the French King is resolved to Build a Cittadel on purpose to bridle the Inhabitants having already Disarm'd the Chief of â—he Burghers they have likewise begun to exact Contributions in the seâ—eral Towns and Villages in the Neighbourhood of Mons. The Prince de Berge the Goverâ—or at his Arrival in the Camp assur'd â—he King That he would have mainâ—ained the Town Eight or Ten days â—onger in spight of all the Power of France and that the Garrison wanted â—o manner of Necessaries for its Deâ—ence The King had drawn together an Army of 50000 Men and designed on that day the Place was Surrendred to have advanced so near the French Army as either to have immediately put in Relief into the Place or else to have given Battle the next Morning tho' the Enemy had broken up all the Roads and Fortified the Avenues that led to their Camp The French after they had Garrisoned the Town sepâ—rated their Army the one Part made a shew as if they designed 〈◊〉 Invest Charleroy but Marched off aâ— the French King went for Versailes His Majesty King William on Tâ—day took a Review of His Army â—mediately after which they went 〈◊〉 to Quarters the Foot in the Frontâ— Towns and the Horse in the Neighbouring Villages On the 16th the King returned 〈◊〉 the Hague in his way for England FINIS
the 20th the Inhabitants made a great Fire to destroâ— the Blinds of the Enemy And on Sunday the 21st they made a great Sallâ— in order to demolish a Fortified Miâ— near the Counterscarp in which Actâ—on 200 French were Killed and Drowned On the 22d the French Kinâ— came into the Camp in Person beinâ— accompanied with the Dauphin thâ— Duke de Charles the Prince of Condâ— c. and as the French gave out Thaâ— the King brought with him Seven Miâ—lions in Gold to distribute among sucâ— as should signalize their Valour in thâ— Siege It was thought that thâ— Trenches would have been opened thiâ— day but not being ready the Frencâ— King made very little stay in the Camp but returned to St. Guislain where hâ— has his Quarters and the Dauphin to his Quarters at Maubeuge The Frencâ— King thinking himself so sure of reducing the Place immediately that whilâ— he was in the Camp he gave the Government of it to the Sieur de Rubenâ—ton a Colonel of his Guards The Second Letter THe Garrison of Mons was Composed of 6 Regiments of Dutch of Germans 2 of Walloons one of â—paniards and 800 Spanish Horse â—â—aking in all about 6500 Men and â—he Burghers that bore Arms in the â—own were about the same Number â—ost of them Disciplined and well exâ—erienced Men the Garrison to preâ—ent their being incommoded by the â—nemies Bombs immediately applyed â—hemselves to uncover their Houses â—nd unpave their Street the Regular Garrison had generally the Command â—f the Out-Works and the Burghers â—hat of the Ramparts and in the â—own the Magazines it being their â—wn voluntary desire and there was â—â—ways a great Harmony and good â—nderstanding between the Burghers â—nd the Regular Troops there was a â—reasonable practice discovered in the â—own to have blown up the great Maâ—azine of Powder which was very â—ear taking effect the lighted Match â—eing found within few Inches of the â—rain several of the Conspirators were â—ized proving to be French Spies â—ut the Principal who was an Advoâ—ate and out of whose Garden the â—ine was made made his Escape to the French Army On the 24th Colonel Branaccio and several other considerable Officers got into the Town At the same time the Prince de Beigne the Governour sent a Gentleman to the Marquis de Castanaga Governour of Flanders to Inform him of the State and Condition of the Town On the 25th Monsieur Lovis sent a Bravado Message to the Magistrates and Burghers of Mons that in consideration the King had been there in Person for every day they held out they should pay One hundred Crowns On the other Hand A Gentleman got into the Town with a Message from the Governour of Flanders wherein he acquainted the Magistrates and Burghers that they should be freed from Taxes for twenty Years if they defended the Place till Relief came At a Councel of War in the French Camp at which were the Famous Monsieur Vaubon and four other Engineers they assured the King that he should take the Place in 10 Days from the time of his Troops first appearing before it Publick Prayers were made at Paris and in all the French Conquests for the Success of the French Army at this Siege The Third Letter ON the 26th about Eleven a Clock at Noon the French opened their Trenches with three Batteries with which they began to play on the Town their Lines of Circumvallation were of a vast Circuit extending at least four Leagues their Trenches were eight Foot deep and twenty two Foot broad In the Afternoon of the same Day the French began to play on the Town from three Batteries one near the Gate of Barlemont the other betwixt the Gates of Havery and Nimy they continued for three Days successively to Fire very furiously and threw into the Place great Numbers of Bombs many of which were of 500 l. weight they continued to Batter the Place with 150 pieces of Cannon most of which were 48 pounders The French King at his Arrival in the Camp on the 22th took a Review of his Army which was then increased to 48000 Foot and 20000 Horse without Reckoning the Army under the Marshal de Humeirs which lay 4 Leagues from Mons and consisted of 20000 Men being designed to observe the Confederates on the Coast of Lisle and if occasion were to joyn the French Army The French Bombs on the first and second days after the opening the Trenches set several Houses on Fire in the Town but by the indefatigable Industry of the Burghers they were soon Quenched one 〈◊〉 their first Batteries by reason of thâ— loosness of the Earth sunk in thaâ— their Balls could hardly reach the Walâ— of the City they kept playing froâ— Morning till Night and by Night sâ— forward their Approaches The Enemâ— on the 27th made several Attacks oâ— the Outworks but particularly on 〈◊〉 Wind-Mill Hill and a Redoubtâ— which stands near the Suburbs on thâ— River but were as often with greâ— Bravery Repulsed by the Garrisoâ— with the loss of 800 Men amonâ— which were several considerable Ofâ—cers But with their fourth Attack 〈◊〉 the Evening they made themselvâ— Masters of it But the next Morniâ—â— the Besieged retook it who not beiâ— able to keep it blew up the Mill aâ— retir'd into the Town In these foâ— Assaults the French lost 2000 Men. On Thursday the 29th early in tâ— Morning the Enemy made a greâ— and Vigorous Attack upon an Haâ— Moon which was the Outwork thâ— cover'd the Hornwork that 's next tâ— Gate of Barlemont on which 〈◊〉 chiefly they Attackt the Town 〈◊〉 were receiv'd by the Besieged wiâ—â— great Resolution and Bravery and â—ter a very sharpe Dispute the Freâ— were beaten back with a great Slaugâ—ter and soon after the Besieged made three very successful Sallies In which and in the Attack the French just before made on the Horn-work they killed above 1200 Men with little loss on the side of the Besieged The French were likewise observed to carry away above 60 Wagon-Loads of their Wounded Men to the Camp The Fourth Letter ON the 30th the French Troops were observed to be in a continual Motion from one side of their Camp to the other which plainly discover'd their uneasiness for fear Relief should come to the Town the next day they ordered a Camp to be Marked out for â—0000 Chosen Men Commanded by â—he Dauphin at the same time they ordered great Numbers of the Boars to â—e employ'd in Cutting down Timber-Trees to be assistant to them in baricading up the cover'd Road that â—ads to Brussells April the first the â—nemies Cannon having widened the â—reach in the Half-Moon of the Hornâ—ork that 's next to the Gate of Barâ—mont they gave order for the Stormâ—g of it a third time which they did â—ith 7000 chosen Men a great part 〈◊〉 which were Switzers and after a â—arp Dispute wherein they had kilâ—d a great many Men they carried â—e Fort the French had killed and â—ounded in these