An Impartial Relation of All the Transactions BETWEEN THE Army of the Confederates And That of the French King In their Last Summers Campaign in Flanders With a more particular Respect to the Battle of Fleury The Character of the Generals and the Reasons of that most unhappy Miscarriage With a List of the Great Officers Slain Also Observations on the grand Consultations at the Hague and the New Measures that are taking for the Opening the ensuing Campaign compared with Those of the Last To which are added Brief Instructions and Encouragement to those English Gentlemen that are going over to Serve in the approaching Campaign Also A short Description of the Spanish Netherlands By W. Sawle Chaplain to One of Their Majesties Regments in Flanders Licensed JAMES FRASER And Entred LONDON Printed And are to be Sold by Randal Taylor at the Stationers-Arms 1691. The PREFACE I Never did design that these Papers of mine should be made Publick or be put into the Press They were only Written for the Private Satisfaction of a particular Friend but by his means unknown to me were almost all Printed before I came to understand it However I assure the Reader That this little Pamphlet contains nothing but what was asserted to be True by the best Officers of the Army and what may conduce to encourage the Soldiers of my Country to be Brave against the Common Enemy of the best part of Europe especially of our Nation who was never well Beaten but by the English and which Honour is still I hope reserved for Vs the next Campaign However if the Men of War may not think it worth their while to read it over yet 't is very probable it may afford some Diversion to those who love to be at Quiet at Home and settle Kingdoms over a Dish of Coffee and Beat Armies with a Whiff of Tobacco 'T is not Here in the least my Design nor yet my Capacity to lay open the Faults of the Dutch Cavalry I am almost perswaded those Troopers Man for Man would be too hard for the French And the Saying of a Great Man of War was somewhat severe upon them when he declared That if he had a mind to take a Lease of a Man's Life it should be a Dutch Troopers But I don't doubt but that the last Summers Error will give them more Courage and Skill in This which follows And their a little too hasty Retreat at Fleury will be but as a Recoyl to Rush on upon the French again with greater Violence this Campaign As for the French notwithstanding their outward Boastings and brave Pretences I am sure they are almost at their last Prayers and 't is very hard with them at Home as well as 't is in the Army And notwithstanding their Balls their Masks their Gayeties and Triumphs at Versaile yet Sir Charles Sidley's Speech will reach them There too and that with a Witness viz. That although they seem to look at Court so well in the Face yet the Kingdom in general is Sick at the Heart and though the Courtiers charge those hard Times Arm'd Cap-a-pe yet the poor Countrymen who maintain those Habiliments and can have them are Shot through and through And indeed their Deserters and Refugees which very often come to our Garrisons give a Melancholy Description of the Hardships which their Troops often suffer and would be very well contented to stay with us and take part in our Army but that they can never fashion themselves to live well at ease out of their own Country unless it be at London In a word if there was ever any probability of reducing the French Insolencies it must be now when so many Princes will push so vigorously against them with all their Force this following Campaign And without doubt the Army of Britains which this Year we shall have against them will give them the greatest concern they have met with this long time and I am confident the other Confederate Princes will follow them so close as they will find them to be truly in earnest for the time to come In the mean while let us take notice that Arms and Armies Stores and Arsenals fenced Cities and great Fleets can signifie very little unless Providence shall Bless our Endeavours and there is but one way of obtaining the Aid of the Almighty Arm and that is by Believing in Him with an Obedience to his Will and Holy Laws 'T was an excellent and brave Description which Ovid gives of the Great Hector when he supposes the whole Greek Army to be disordered at his Presence in this Verse Hector adest secumque Deos in Pratia ducit That when Hector came to Battle he had the Gods present with him And truly if so and those were True Gods he had no need to doubt of a Victory for he could not chuse but Conquer So true is that which the Warlike David knew by the best Experience and deeply to be considered by all Christian Soldiers That Blessed are the People whose God is the Lord. A True ACCOUNT of all the Transactions of the last Summers Campaign in the Spanish-Netherlands c. 'T IS none of my business at this time to write the Reasons why so many Princes should be now Armed against the French King Any one who has but little Judgment in Human Affairs or is any way concern'd for the good of his Country must needs know And indeed 't was high time for us of this Nation to take the Alarm and to look to our selves seeing the great Storm which so much threatned others if not timely provided against would fall at last more heavily on us though we seem to be at a greater distance The Emperor the Duke of Savoy the Princes Electors the Princes of Hannover and Lunenburgh the States General the Spanish King and which is more considerable than any one of the rest the King of Great Brittain I say all the Forces of these Princes by Land or Sea have as yet bin so far from making any great Impressions on that one Monarch that he seems as yet to be greater than at first and his Arms thus far have had the Advantage but the first Winners are generally the last Losers And I don't doubt but that their late Braveries and little Successes will be as so many Alarms to awake the Fury of the Confederates and prick them on to early vigorous and pressing undertakings this next Campaign The French indeed are at the beck of one They are very quick and alert for Execution and the great Fortune of their Grand Lewis both open and fraudulent for so long a Time against so many Princes their making War in their Enemies Countries the raising of vast Contributions their burning of Villages and daily Plunders have raised such a Vain-glorious Spirit in their Men of War as to think that nothing can stand before them and that they are as it were born to be Lords of Europe but I am very confident should their
prosperous Sun-shine look but once a little Cloudy and they were but well beaten in a Battle or two their insolent Temper would soon shrink into a slavish Fear and the miserable consequences of Distrust Mutiny and Cowardliness would crowd thick upon them Now I hope this Honour is reserved for the Subjects of my Nation who have bin the only People in the World that have best talked with the French with Sword in hand and given the greatest Checks and Corrections to their daring Confidence And seeing then that the King of England as he is Prince of Orange is Captain General of all the Forces of the United Provinces and hath several English Regiments now actually in the Service of the States seeing we of this Nation are so much interested in the War and because the business of this last Campaign was of the greatest moment little being done in the first against the French but what was done by the English seeing the Hollanders notwithstanding all their pretentions to Hardiness and Valour have scarce bin yet able to oppose the French without most obliging helps from the good-natur'd English and because we British Regiments last Summer had not the Honour to be at the Battle of Fleury which was the great business of the last Campaign but was chiefly managed by the Dutch Army I shall come to the main thing which I here design to wit to give you a particular account of the Transactions of the last Summer for the better performance of which I have made my chief business to know the particulars from the best most able and most skilful Gentlemen who had not little share in those Grand Affairs The Prince of Waldeck who is a German and Related to the King supplies the Place of His Majesty of England and Commands the Forces of the States General is about the Age of Seventy very little inclining to Fat and of a handsome Stature but somewhat stooping under the great weight of Age and War A Prince second to none in Military Affairs and is worthily esteem'd one of the greatest Captains of his Age He hath not had the Reputation of a very Fortunate General but this ought rather to be imputed to the Forces which he Commanded than to any deficiency in his Skill or Courage His great Age doth not in the least hinder him from the most Toilful Cares He very seldom goes to Bed till Twelve at Night and is commonly dressed and ready by Five in the Morning either to send forth Scouts and Spies or to receive them or to examine Draughts and Maps and Grounds and Passes or for Council or to give necessary Orders to his Army His Parts are as fresh and vigorous as ever he gives the best Reasons for what he doth of any Man living If he hath any Fault 't is for having somewhat in him of the old Roman Fabius and sticks too close to his Art and Rules Under him in the last Spring the Campaign began to be opened about the 14th of May towards the Country of Namur and after three or four Marches and about the 12th of June his Forces being about 25000 Fighting Men he Encamped his Army nigh a Village called Fleury on a great and a plain Corn-Field than which there is scarce a more Fertile spot of Ground in Europe and now made more Luxurious by the Blood of one of the greatest Battles according to the number of Men that hath bin Fought in these Parts this great while Not much above Four Miles from this Place is the River Sambre Fordable in most Places in the Summer but bounded very much on both sides with craggy Banks and thick Woods on the other side of this River lay Encamped the French Army Commanded by the Famous Monsieur Duke d' Luxemburgh the number of his Army not much exceeding that of the States He is of the Ancient and most noble Family of Montmorancy about the Age of Fifty prodigiously ill-shaped and deformed in his Person but Skilful Haughty Politick and Brave Now besides the main Bodies or standing Forces on each side there are also Two Camp-Volants or Flying Armies consisting of Eleven or Twelve Thousand Men each that of the French Commanded by Marschal D' Humiers ours of the Confederates sometimes by Prince Vaudemont but commonly by the Marquis D' Castanaga Governor of the Spanish Netherlands in his own Person These Flying Armies are for sudden Onsets or for seizing of Passes or Towns or else for joyning the main Army on all occasions They consist generally of good Horse and Dragoons and are seldom Encamped above ten or twelve hours March from the main Body Now D' Humiers being not above ten Leagues or hardly so much from Monsieur Luxenburgh Castanaga was to observe his Motion The Forces of England in this Country the first Campaign were considerable but the Horse and five Regiments of Foot being called for Home we had only Six Battallions left which except one which was at Mechlin were all in Garrison at Ghent the Regiment of Schonberg Commanded by Sir Robert Douglas Two Battallions of the English and Scotch Guards The Regiment of Hodges and the Regiment of D' Offerel Our Commander in chief was Major General Tolmach We had Orders to March and joyn Prince Waldeck above a Fortnight before the Battle but our Money coming not timely enough from England and we having contracted some Debts in that City could not conveniently be permitted to March till our Money came Indeed if we had bin at the Battle we could have done no great good 't is very probable in having our Post of Honour we might have bin all cut off in an Army which was left immediately without Horse The Army of the Duke of Brandenburgh down towards the Moselle had the Year before taken the strong Garrison of Bonn and was now Marching to Besiege another Cittadel called Mont Royal whom our Army was to cover Affairs standing in this Posture and Monsieur Luxenburgh knowing that without a Battle their Towns would be pick'd away by degrees one after another was resolved to Fight or else the Brandenburgh Army could not be hindered yet he would be sure so to order his Business that he would not Fight unless with an advantagious Policy He therefore sends a strict Express to Marschal D' Humiers to this Effect My Lord I Have no need to tell you my Design I desire that immediately on sight hereof you would send your Baggage that you can conveniently spare into our Neighbouring Garrisons let your Camp stand in the same manner as it is leave only 3000 Foot to Guard it and give Orders that no Person whatsoever shall pass in or out upon pain of Death till you have Hors'd all the Men that possibly you can and have joyned with my Army I hope you will March without any delay Do this and the rest you shall know when you come to my Camp According to these Orders Marschal D' Humiers Equips his Detachment on a
Wednesday Even and a Thursday Afternoon joyned Luxenburgh just as his advanced Horse began to pass the Sambre In the mean time the Spies and Scouts of Castanaga being careless and not going farther than in sight of the other Camp having often seen it and not dreaming of the Policy in hand might see their Tents pitched and standing as before in the same order as when they first Encamped so that the Spies returned well satisfied that all things were at quiet and that the Enemies posture was even as at the first But on Friday about Noon when the dismal noise of Cannon and the uncessant Vollies of a mortal Engagement had Proclaim'd the Design Castanaga was too late Alarmed the rest of the French Camp removed in the Night and the Battle was over and lost before 't was in his Power to Arrive half the way Indeed in this Adventure Monsieur Luxenburgh run'd a great Risque and yet such as 't was necessary for him to do for if Castanaga as he had with him excellent Regiments of Lunenburgh and Hannover Horse with the young Prince of Hannover himself I say if he had known the motion of D' Humiers and Marched after him so as to come at that time when the Battle was begun and have fallen on the Rear or else if he had come in to Prince Waldeck when the Dutch Horse began to run it would soon have Rallied the Loping Dutch Horse unless they were possessed with more than a pannick Fear turned the day upon the French and must needs have given them a great Repulse It is reported That none can have better Intelligence than the French Generals because they give more to Spies than usually others do they Fee them after an extraordinary liberal manner which as I have bin told is somewhat neglected in the States Army Prince Waldeck had either very few Spies out or else they who were sent were not skilful enough to give warning of the great encrease of the French Army The Prince indeed was not surprised as to the main he had sufficient notice that the Duke D' Luxenburgh was passing the Sambre and would not be perswaded to oppose his Attempt He thought his Army as good as that of the French and indeed to outward appearance they always were Few Soldiers having better Aspects than the Dutch Troopers if their Hearts were but so good The Prince knew his Army to be well rested free from fatiegue in Health and to look well and promising He had the advantage of Sun Wind and Ground and if his Army would but do as Soldiers ought he could not well be beaten but if Soldiers won't Fight 't is no fault of the Generals if the Victory be lost The Troops that could best be spared were left with D' Humiers in case of necessity to Guard the Passes and make good the Retreat again over the River Their Army having all passed very early in the Morning put themselves in Array as the Ground would give leave to March to the Dutch The States Army was drawn skilfully up in two Lines The Holland's Horse on the left being most in number were Commanded by the Brave Prince of Frizland the Grave Van Nassau Lieutenant General Aylna and Count Fladorf all said to be brave and experienced Men of War The Right was mostly Spanish or Flanders Horse Commanded by the Brave Count D' Tubee than whom 't is said there is scarce a better Horseman living The main Battle was guided by the Prince himself The Battle began first on the Right The Spaniards had the Post of Honour and did what Men of Honour ought to do They first of all received the French Fury and then Charged through them with such Courage and Bravery three or four times that they soon brake them though more in number by far and made themselves Masters of Eight Pieces of the French Cannon But here comes the misfortune of all The French who pretty well knew the Dutch Horse had placed against them their Gens d' Arms the choice of the Kings Houshold and as 't is said 2000 Gentlemen Volunteers than which they say unless among the Germans there are scarce their Equals They advanced against the Hollanders with Sword in hand at the sight of which without so much as Firing of Carabin or Pistol maugre all the Threats and Perswasions of their skilful Generals and great Officers they turned tail and ran all away which gave leisure enough to some of those Conquering Squadrons to go and help their Brethren on the Right so that Tubee with his 2000 Horse for he had no more was soon over-powered so that soon the States Infantry were left all naked both on Right and Left without any Horse to cover them However they were resolved to do like Men of Honour and to sell their Lives at the dearest rate they could and accordingly cast themselves into the most requisite Postures so that the Enemy by their close and punctual Fire were so often Galled and Shattered they knew not what to do the French Infantry could not so much as dare look them in the face could the Dutch be left alone to them they would esteem them as nothing The Carnage the mean while was great on both sides The French Horse were forced to rally their Foot several times and to bring them up under their Covert till at last being over-powered by too vast Bodies both of Horse and Foot and some of their own Cannon being turned upon them they were at last Beaten and forced to yield to unequal numbers The Regiments which defended the Cannon were almost all cut off and whole Battallions scorning to turn were cut down almost Rank and File as they stood so that the Foot fighting so brave though the French had almost two Horse for one if the Dutch Troops had but again Rallied and but in a manner only shewed themselves about again in Order the French had bin really dismayed and would have made their best shifts to have quitted the Field but they were gone and scattered and rather than helping fell to the Plundering of the Vivandeers of their own Army The Battle began on Friday the 13th of June as I take it about One a Clock in the Afternoon and the Evening drawing on the General with his best Skill endeavoured to bring off what Battallions he could and Marching away by Night towards Nivelle by hard Passes he came and Encamped on the other side of the Canall of Brussels which looks towards Machlin or Holland The French lost in the Battle notwithstanding their Conquest nigh 5000 Men a great many of their Officers being Buried in the Church at Fleury as I was informed by the Priest of the Parish and the heaps of their Dead lay very thick over all the Field The Dutch had as many Killed and a great many Wounded besides above 7000 taken Prisoners They lost their Cannon and Copper Boats all their Artillery Waggons and most of their Baggage and left
the Spoil and Plunder of the Field to the Conquering French And now a great Consternation was presently spread over all the Netherlands and People began immediately to fear what great Progress the French might make in pursuit of their Victory some thought they would March and Besiege Charleroy which was reported at that time to be but ill Stored Others thought they would press on and follow the broken Army of the States General and most that they would try to force Castanaga but none of these surmises happened the French Army stay'd nigh Three Weeks near the place where they won the Battle They had receiv'd a severe Blow in getting the Victory their Army must be again refreshed and recruited which would take up some time that the Camp-Volant of Castanaga was strong and firm consisting of 13000 strong and could in spight of them retire and joyn Waldeck Immediately upon the Loss of the Battle the States had sent a Passionate Express to the Duke of Brandenburgh who with his Army lay towards the Moselle That he would be pleased to March with all speed and joyn their Army or to lye nigh them to be able to assist on all occasions and those all joyned together would make a Formidable Body The French indeed assay'd if they could to hinder their joyning but it came to nothing the Elector Marching another way than what they imagined In the mean while we the British Brigade were Ship'd on Bilanders at Ghent on the River Scheld and in three or four days came to a place called Vilvord on the Canall of Brussels about two Leagues from the City and not above a Mile and half from the Camp of Prince Waldeck It was not thought convenient for us to take our Posts and to Incorporate in the Army in one Camp but we were alotted a Piece of Ground by our selves at a Village called Park towards the said Castle of Vilvoord This is an Ancient Palace or Cittadel now very Ruinous especially on the Inside and by its Ruines Height Compass and Scituation shows it was the Place of great Personages but in these latter Times 't is very Famous for being the Noble Prison of the Spanish Netherlands If any great Courtier or Lord or any Governor of a Town or considerable Officer of an Army shall be suspected of Falshood or Betraying his Trust he without any noise is presently seized and sent to this Castle where he must undergo strict Imprisonment and a stricter Tryal In former Times they had there a strange Contrivance for a strange suddain and barbarous Execution having a great Wheel in the bottom of the Prison so that the Prisoner being brought into a Room just over it not thinking what might happen perhaps as he sate at Dinner and not at all knowing of his Condemnation the Chamber like a Scene would on a suddain be opened into Two Parts and immediately the Condemned would fall into the under Engine and in a short time be torn to pieces and never be more heard of But this way of Proceeding and Punishment is now left off though still this State Inquisition is very severe and there is but small hopes of any one that is cast into it Here it was that I first saw the Dutch Army this Campaign about five or six days after the Battle The Battallions of Foot looked thin and grievously changed and Brussels was crowed up with Wounded Men The Horse indeed look'd as they were wont and pretty well gathered together as having a far better way of Self-preservation Here we Encamp'd above four Weeks till Prince Waldeck had sent off the shattered Regiments and had received new from the Frontier Garrisons with Cannon Boats Artillery and Waggons as was necessary The Country all about Brussels is exceeding Pleasant and Fruitful the City is large very thick Peopled and full of Coaches and all sorts of Gallantry a la mode of France and the French Language is spoken there by the meanest Tradesmen 'T is very Hilly which in these Countries is a great Rarity The Pallace and the Park stand on the highest Ground and seem to overlook the rest the Park is but little but sweet and beautiful besides Adorned with some of the finest Water-works in Europe There is also the Royal Armory which most Travellers that come into those Parts desire to see wherein are curious rarities and devices in Armour and Trophies and Banners and Standards of the Ancient Earls and Governors of Flanders and Kings of Spain When the Army was recruited and all necessaries made up and every thing put in order about the 23d of July we had orders to March and Encamp'd that day at a place called Overiisk where we of the English joyned the Dutch in order had our Post of Honour on the Right and made a very pretty addition to their Lines Here it was that one might well perceive a very good alteration in the face of our General He look'd sad discontented and pensive after the Battle and was heard to say That he wish'd he also had fallen among so many Brave Men as he had lost at Fleury but that he hop'd GOD had spared him for a greater Revenge so that nothing could have pleased him more at that time than to see his Army again look Vigorous and Strong and himself put into such a condition as to be able once more before the Summer was over to return Monsieur Luxenburgh his former kindness We stayed in this Camp but one Night we Decamped the next Morning and came to a Place a pretty Village called Wauvre where in a most delightful Valley about Three in the Afternoon we came to the Camp of his Electoral Highness the Duke of Brandenburgh and joyned our Armies His Forces consisted of about 5000 Horse and 13000 Foot and Thirty Pieces of Cannon all looking Brave well Cloathed and Warlike a finer Army not to be seen according to their number The Duke with his Dutchess and Two Brothers with the great Officers and Ladies of his Court were with the Army He is very short and crooked as to his Person he is about the Age of Thirty his Face indeed is fine and comely His Brothers Prince Charles and Prince Philip are both Tall and well Shap'd Gentlemen His Court was exceeding Splendid Besides his Guards he hath an hundred French Gentlemen Refugees all well Mounted and Clad in Scarlet with a broad Gold Lace on the Seams every one looking like a Captain They are called his Grand Musqueteers and always attend his Person He had also with him several Ministers of Forraign Princes amongst others was the Honourable Mr. Johnson Envoy from the Court of England Here it was that Prince Waldeck received a Letter from our King that he was Conqueror at the Boyne and was immediately going to Besiege Lymerick and hoped to be with us at the head of our Army in Twenty days upon which news the English Envoy made a most splendid Feast for the Duke and his Dutchess
reported is too much enclin'd to hearken to his General who is said to be now nigh Ninety years old and to be too much decay'd in his Abilities of Mind which were never very Famous therefore our General went but seldom to Council as loath to have a passionate positive Dotage to take place of his Oracles Besides the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands was loath to venture a second Battle and it could hardly be agreed about our Posts of Honour so that after we had staid here about three Weeks and had made the Country look like a Desart which we found almost like a Garden we Marched and came a little nigher the Enemy at a place called Wanbeck not far from hence is the most delightsome Palace and Garden of Enghien belonging to the Duke of Arescot a Place which Art and Nature have both contrived in a most Luxurious manner to make lovely wonderful and almost a Paradice from hence 't is said the French King took his Pattern for his prodigious Contrivances at Versaile Here we staid a considerable time I think above three Weeks and having Eaten up all the Forage that we could possibly get the Winter coming on and the Rains beginning to fall which continues usually this time of the Year almost a Month together The French as well as we thought 't was high time to break up which we did about the middle of October within a little while one of the other Thus our mighty Army which was enough to Fight almost all Europe for a day was broken up for this Season without any other Engagement than that of Wind Rain and bad Weather and we went to our Winter Quarters wet and weary And thus ended the Campaign And here now we may see the great difference that is betwixt an Army the Subjects of one King and under the Command of one Captain General and another which is compounded of several National Interests and under divers Princes which are not subordinate one to another for the one is still ready to Moove to Stand to Execute even at the very Nod and Sign of their Commander whilst the others are disputing about their Posts differing in their Councils and endeavouring to promote their own Interests and Affairs so hard is it to Order so many different Nations to promote one common Good and publick Design This is the only great advantage that the French have against us That Force must needs be very strong and vigorous which is so truly united And I hope the Confederate Princes from the mistakes of the Last will so order their Councils against the Next Campaign that with one Heart and firm Resolution we may Early and Briskly push the War upon the French or else I fear little Progress will be made against so Skilful Politick and well compacted an Enemy Indeed if the King of Great Britain had been able to come at that time that he designed to be with us when he Writ to his General out of Ireland and had Headed our Army we might have made the Enemy look about them for all Disputes would soon be composed by a Crowned Head and all the Generals would easily submit to be Led on by a Great Monarch And I doubt not but this will be our Honour and Happiness this Summer for we shall have an Army of Brittains this following Campaign in Flanders to the number of Twenty Thousand Horse and Foot which with the States Army and the Reputation we have always wone against the French will make a Force Formidable and Glorious and if we are Conducted by our own Warlike King we shall put Monsieur Luxenburgh to his last Shifts notwithstanding all his Skill in Magick or Conjuration And indeed this is the thing which the French King this long while mistrusted The Wisdom Skill and Courage of our KING when but Prince of Orange always gave him a secret Concern and he has bin heard to say as I have been credibly Informed That he more feared the Petit Baron of Breda as his Pride was pleased to Stile him than the Emperor or all the Confederate Princes besides Indeed to our great Scandal and Misfortune we have a sort of People here in England who are Mutinous and Abusive under any Government who are Brave and Daring at Play-Houses and Taverns but would rather see their Country turned into Ruines than honestly Fight for it against an Invading Enemy That rejoyce because Turks and Infidels are helpers of the French That value neither Liberty Religion or Laws nor Honour so their Pockets might be fill'd to satisfie their Lusts These are the Enemies of our Brave King and would pretend to sully the Actions of the best of Princes by their Impotent Railings but let them breath out their black Murmurings till Hemp will permit them to breath no longer 'T is impossible they should hurt his most Glorious Name which long ago has bin Famous over many Nations and Loved Honoured and Esteemed by the greatest Captains and Generals of the Age. He is every where known to have all those Vertues which tend to make a most Renowned Hero He is Just Sober Temperate Wise and Valiant He is such a Prince as a Philoscpher would delight to represent to the World for a Pattern and has not one Quality but what tends to the Greatness Prosperity Honour and Reputation of a Christian Nation He never saw Fear but in the face of an Enemy He has often stared Death in the Face even in its most terrible Postures and has grasp'd at his Laurels through streams of Blood It is not to us alone I mean to the English Nation to whom he hath done the greatest Good The States General the Spanish King the Duke of Brandenburgh with all the other German Princes nay the Emperor himself are all preserved by him and do declare it to the World by the most grateful Testimony that they really are so For if our late King had kept his Post till this time and carried on his Designs with the French King as he had contrived it nay though he had stood neuter or only a Spectator whiles the other should pour his Legions into the Spanish Netherlands we should soon see how like a Deluge they would run into the Provinces swallow up all before them and then what the Neighbouring Princes might expect is easie to be imagined our turn here in England would soon come after our Religion and Laws would first suffer a Convulsion and what might become at last of our Kingdoms in general is easie to be guessed when King James should have trusted him so far They are not only Protestants whom he hath obliged but many other Princes of the Roman Catholick Religion And His Excellency the Marquis d' Castanaga Governor of the Low-Countries when he had receiv'd the News of the King's Success in Ireland was heard to speak these Words with the greatest Affection viz. That he was perswaded King William was Born to be a Scourge to the French