A JOURNAL OF THE War with Holland, SINCE His most Christian Majesty's departure from PARIS, until His Return. With a continuation of what happened after the King's 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 MAJESTY'S Armies in Holland. Officers of the King's 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 Hors● M. the Count de Soissons, Colonel General of the Suisse. M. the Marquis de Ranes. Colonel General of the Dragoons. M. the Chevalier de Fourille, Camp Maste● of the Light-horse. Quartermaster 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. the ●illoys. M. de Koniksmarck. M. the Caluaut. M. de Rovuray. 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 ●re others that belong to each of the Lieutenant 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. the Magalotty. M. de Choiseul. Major General of the Army. M. the 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 judgement 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 Governor of Douai. And whereas the Marshal 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 gone Lieutenant General to M. the Archbishop of Colen, and bestow on him the command of that Army, with two Mareschals the 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. the Pierrefitte. Last of all M. the Duke of Luxembourg, was sole Commander of all the Forces of the Allies of Munster and Colen. Campmaster 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 KING'S Forces, for his War with Holland. Forces belonging to the King's House. The Horse. THE first body of horse, belonging to the King's house, is at present the Guards du Corpse, since his Majesty hath declared for them against the Gendarmes, who formerly held the first rank. And the first Company of the Guards or Archers du Corpse, is the Scotch Guard, under the command of M. the Duke de Novailles, and M. the Count d' Again his son in reversion. It consists of 360 Mistress, 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 King's 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 King's Guard, under the command of the Duke de Cheureuse, 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 Mauleurier, at present commanded by M. de Monbron, of 300 men. Scotch Company of Gendarmes, under the command of M. the Chevalier de Haut●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 King's Gendarmes, of a 100 men. Company of the Queen's Gendarmes, under the command of M. the Marquis du Garot, of 150 men. Company of the Queen's Light-horse, commanded by M. de Velliers, of 150 men. Company of Monseigneur the Dauphin's Gendarmes, under the command of M. the Marquis de la Trousse, of 200 men. Company of Monsieur the Dauphin's 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 Guards de la Porte, under the command of M. the Count de Valsemé. As also Cent Guards de la Prevosté, commanded by the Marquis de Sourches; but these do not fight. The Foot Guard belonging to the King's House. French Regiment of Guards, consisting of 30 Companies, 100 men each, M. de la Fevillade 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. Picardy, 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. Normandy, under the command of M. the Marquis de Meil●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 mixed with the others, and are distinguished only by seniority. Of which here follows a List. Auvergne, under the command of M. the Marquis de Coevures, 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. Bandeville, 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. Montaig●, 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 Marshal de Grammont, 18 Comp. Grancé, under the command of M. the Marshal de Grancé, 16 Comp. La Rhine, 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. Chasteauneuf, under the command of M. the Marquis of Chasteauneuf, 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 Foreign 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 Glass, 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. the 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 Quartermaster. Campmaster 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 Foreign Regiment. Another Foreign Regiment. Cravates du Roy, under the command of M. the Count de Talar. La Rhine ....... Dauphin ........ Orleans, under the command of MONSIEUR, the King's only Brother. Condé, under the command of Monsieur the Prince. Anguyen, under the command of Monsieur the Duke. Rovuray, under the command of M. de Rovuray. 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 command of M. de Calvaut. Chazeron, under the command of M. de Chazeron. And so of the following Regiments, which bear the names of their Colonels. Cabinet. Coulange. Merlin. S. Loup. In this Regiment there are nine Troops. Cachan. Saint Aoust. Derdelin. Douget. Du Condé. Tilladet, under the command of M. the Marquis de Tilladet. Sourdis, under the command of M. the Marquis de Sourdis. Saint. Rut. Hislez. Bligny. La Fabliere. Lambert. Humieres, under the command of M. the Marshal d'Humieres. Caberel. Proville. Bartillac. Beaupré. Paulmy Beaufort. Carendo. Sanzay. Chenuet. Novart. Sommieure. Anjou. The following Regiments consist but of three Troops of 50 Mistress, besides Officers. Coislin, under the command of M. the Duke de Coislin. Estrades, under the command of M. the Count d'Estrades. Bethune, under the command of M. the Marquis de Bethune. Montgeorge, under the command of M. de Montgeorge. Busenval, under the command of M. de Busenval. Basleroy, under the command of M. de Basleroy. Thiange, under the command of Monsieur de Thiange. Longueville, under the command of M. the Duke of Longueville. Ragny, under the command of M. the Marquis de Ragny. Bovillon, under the command of M. the Duke de Bovillon. Auvergne, under the command of M. the Count d'Auvergne. Grignan, under the command of M. the Count de Grignan. Vantadour, under the command of M. the Duke de Vantadour. Laurieres, under the command of M. de Laurieres. Granville, under the command of M. de Granville. Du Roulle, under the command of Monsieur the Count du Roulle. Meré, under the command of Monsieur de Meré. Tury, under the command of M. the Marquis de Tury. Valavoir, under the command of M. de Valavoir. Arnolfiny, under the command of M. d' Arnolfiny. Harcourt, under the command of M. the Prince d'Harcourt. Armagnac, under the command of M. the Count d'Armagnac, Grand Escuyer. Saint Aignan, under the command of M. the Duke de S. Aignan. A JOURNAL OF THE War with Holland, From His Majesty's departure from Paris, until his return. According to the order of Action and Time. THE States of Holland were raised in a short time to such a pitch of Pride and Insolence, that 'twas impossible they should maintain it long. Their Irreligion was so great, that Heaven could no more be deaf to the just complaints of the Oppressed. They were so blind, as to take no notice of the Favours of that Monarch, who had, as it were, raised them out of nothing: and they pretended to give Law to those Powers, from whom, not long before, they had had petitioned to receive it. In fine, their Ambition, their Tyranny, and their Ingratitude did exceed all bounds: and they were so puffed up with the thoughts of being Princes, and understood withal so little what Sovereignty was, that they imagined all the World ought to stoop and pay Obedience to them. There was then a necessity that some one or other should charitably interpose to disabuse them; and none could undertake that Work more effectually, than our Great Monarch. That care was his particular concern, and none had so great an Interest in it as Himself. He had the Power, and nothing was wanting but a Will; which he is always ready to exert, whensoever so just an occasion offers itself. As being The most Christian King, He was obliged to undertake the defence of the Church: as one that had raised them, 'twas His Interest to chastise their Ingratitude▪ and as being the most absolute Monarch in the World, it became His glory to maintain His Sovereignty. 'Twas this that obliged Him to declare War, and to put Himself at the head of a Hundred thousand Men, to teach them such Lessons, as they should never forget. His Majesty parted from S. Germains, on Thursday the 28. of April, in the Year 1672, and having taken the way of Soissons, He arrived at Rocroy the second of May ensuing, where the Troops, that were to compose his Army, began to rendevouz; as those, which were to make an Army for Monsieur the Prince, did at Sedan. The same day we came also to Rocroy, by the way of Fymes, Rheimes, and Retel. The third of May in the Morning, His Majesty parted with all His Forces from Rocroy, and came to Mariemburg, where we were scarcely encamped, but he commanded the Marquis de Ranes to advance towards Philipville; which we presently did, and found there several Troops. The fourth, His Majesty came to Philipville, and we, with the Troops that we found there, marched to Charleroy, where all the Army gathered into a Body, during seven or eight days that His Majesty resided there. The fifth, the King arrived at Charleroy: And having had intelligence, that 3000 Horse and 600 Foot were marched out of Maestricht, and run along the , with design to plunder the Boats that brought our Provisions from Hue to Liege; and that they were come up to the Gates of Hue, and being denied entrance there, had threatened to pillage and burn the Town, unless the● would thrust out our Commissaries: Ther● were dispatched 2500 Horse, and 200 Dragoons, under the Command of Monsieu● the Chevalier de Fourille. Thereupon w● marched to Gyblou, and in our way gave a● alarm to Namur, which thought we wer● coming to besiege it. The sixth, whilst His Majesty stayed a Charleroy, where his Army increased ever● day; we encamped at Bonneff. The seventh, we marched to Mosey. The eighth, His Majesty tarried still a● Charleroy, and we thought to have continued our Quarters at Mosey: But about 9 i● the morning, the Commissaries, that ha● care of the Provisions at Hue, came an● acquainted Monsieur de Fourille, that they could not convoy the Provisions with safety unless we advanced up to the Passage Whereupon we changed our design, an● marching towards the Gates of Hue, encamped in a Meadow over against the Village of Chouquiere, at the foot of the Castle of Berloc, upon the edge of the , about the midway between Hue and Lieger where the Enemy two days before had refreshed themselves, and plundered the Boats We learned, notwithstanding, that they wer● in so great fear, that their Horse had take● the alarm at the arrival of their Foot, who could not come up so soon; and that mistaking their own Forces, and thinking them to have been French Troops, they had secured themselves by flight, if some had not run and acquainted them with the mistake. At length our Provisions passed on guarded with 100 Horse, that marched along the River on the left hand, and secured with a 100 Dragoons, that were placed at the avenues on the right hand: and being arrived over against the Castle and our Camp, the Guard of Dragoons was made to enter the Boats, and that of the Horse was doubled, which marched all night as far as Liege, and returned again. The ninth in the Morning, we went back, and encamped at Fallais, a Village of Br●bant, belonging to the Spaniards, where Monsieur the Marquis de Louvois joined with us, who came 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 Liege. 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 tarried a little behind the rest. The same Evening two others, who had been 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 marched to Bierzey, and came near again to Liege. The same day Monsieur de Turenne left the King (who tarried still at Charleroy) and advanced with one part of the Troops, of which he form an Army for himself. The Troops that had convoyed Monsieur de Louvois, rejoined with us, and he himself tarried at Liege. 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 , on the right hand. The twelfth in the morning, Monsieur the Marquis de Louvois returned from Liege, and we being joined 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 Hue, where he had been before. The thirteenth, Monsieur de Turenne stayed at Greville, but he sent away the Foot Regiments of Alsace and Languedoc, that made six Bodies, three Companies of Dragoons of the Regiment Royal, 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 summoned 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 denred to Treat; whereupon the Count de Chamilly, and the Sieur de Ranes went in again, and came not back till the Town was surrendered; 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 encamped with his Army pretty near ours, and himself retired into one of the M. de Ranes' Houses, who went back immediately into the Town to Count de Chamilly and thence they both returned to Marsha Turenne. This Action gave occasion to some Dutch Raillery, who thereupon told that the French had taken Maestricht, no no, I mistake would they say, 'tis Maesiick: but this was the last time they were in a ralling humour; 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 Satirists. 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 Abbey 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 marched 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 seemed to turn off towards Monsieur Vanbrun's Camp, and the other to advance towards us. The Sieurs T●renne, and de Ranes, made up towards them, but they thereupon nimbly retired, 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 encamped 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 outworks of the Fort ... which belongs to the Spaniard, and lies on the right from the , 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) returned to his Camp. The 20. the King's Army, as also that of the Prince, rested. The 21. They rested again, and a Bridge of Boats was begun upon the below Vizè. Monsieur Vaubrun went and joined his Troops to those of Monsieur de Chamilly, who have since been employed, 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 marched. The twenty third, His Majesty rested again, the Bridge was finished, and the Colonel Regiment of Dragoons left Vizè to go and join with the Army of Monsieur the Prince, under whom it served during the rest of the Campaigne. Three Companies of the Regiment Royal, which had been left about Maestricht, came back. The heavy baggage past the River all that day. In the evening some were drawn out of the King's Household to go and get Intelligence of the Enemy toward Maestricht: it fell to the lot of the Marquis of Saurebeuf, a younger Brother, one of the King's Guards, to be first picked out to go, and see what might be discovered at the palisado. He brought back word to the Brigadier of Musqueteers who commanded the Party, that he had seen a Sentinel without the palisado, and within many lighted matches, which made him think it was well man'd. The Commander not being satisfied with this account, told him, That would not serve his turn, and that the King would know whether any body had gone out of the place or no, wherefore he must return and do his utmost to learn that; which he presently did, and going straight to the Sentinel, asked him, If the Party that went out that day, were yet returned; to which, he received no other answer then a Musket-shot in his throat, that was followed by at least forty more, which however missed him; but the first wound was in so dangerous a place, that he immediately fell, and was altogether unable to make his Escape; so that the Enemies carried him into the Town, where he was long kept Prisoner and ill of his wound. The 24. His Majesty passed the Maes upon the bridge of Boats, with the whole Army, except only Five hundred Foot, which were drawn out by lot to be left in Garrison at Vizè, a little Town lying on the right side of the Maes, between Maestricht and Liege; so we went and encamped at Biernaw upon the little River Berwine, in the Country of Limbourg. The same day in the morning, Monsieur the Viscount of Turenne, and the Marquis de Ranes, marched with some Horse and Dragoons to the Fort called Fouquemont, (otherwise Fauquenton, or Valkemborg.) This is a Castle three hours' Journey from Macstricht, on the other side of the River, built on a steep Rock; at the Foot of which there is a great Town, bearing the same name, and depending on it. There was in it a Garrison for the Hollander, but upon notice of the march of the foresaid Persons, they retired into Maestricht, and quitted the Castle, though it be inaccessible and impregnable without Canon. There are within it Caves of a Prodigious depth and bigness, wherein a whole Army might be hid: there was little Provision in it, for which reason the Sieur de la Roüillardiere, Captain of a Company of Dragoons, who was left there with One hundred men, was forced to buy some from the Town, and other neighbouring places; the King having ordered, That he should take nothing but what was paid for. The 25. His Majesty rested. The 26. the King's Army still rested, and nothing extraordinary passed. Monsieur the Prince still marched forward toward the Rhine, upon the resolution which had been taken not to set upon Maestricht, but to go strait on and take the places which lie along that River, and so drive strait forwards into Holland. The 27. at night, the Wether grew very bad, and in the morning it was very cloudy and louring, but we departed notwithstanding, and came to Willers, where the Rain did not a little incommode us. The 28. The Wether being good again, the King went and encamped at Rolduc, and upon some Intelligence, a Council was called, where it was resolved, That Monsieur Turenne should march on with 15000, or 16000 men, which he did: but this Order not having been foreseen, many of those who were commanded to accompany him having marched before, went on with the King's Army, till being told of their duty, they were forced to march all night to overtake the Army of Monsieur de Turenne, who went and encamped at Erkelens'. The 29. the King came within half a League of Juliers, and Monsieur de Turenne encamped at Telns, a little Village between Nuis and Keiserwort, in the Country of Colen. The same day the Prince's Army passed the Rhine upon a certain Float of Wood, which carried 2000 Foot and 200 Horse, with all their baggage at a time: and his Highness and the Duke of Newbourg treated them so well at their arrival at Keiserwort, that they were all very merry, which yet hindered not the Duke of Newbourg from coming in the Evening to see Monsieur de Turenne, and to invite him to Dinner the next day. The 30. We stayed at Telns. Monsieur de Turenne dined with the Duke of Newbourg, and in the Evening at his return he had 96 Prisoners brought him, sent by Monsieur de Montal, Governor of Charleroy, who commanding a Party of our Troops, had fallen into an Ambush of theirs, and with five or six more had born up against all their Firing, amongst whom Monsieur the Chevalier de Marsillac was mortally wounded. In the mean time, forty Dragoons lighted off their Horses, and with 30 Musqueteers, did so bestir themselves, that before the Enemy could make a second discharge, they had quite routed them, killed eleven, and took their Commander (who defended himself so manfully, that they were forced to use him worse than they desired) with all the rest, excepting 2 or 3 who at first betook themselves to their heels. Afterwards, the Captain being known by some of the Officers of our Party, had quarter given him; & being not yet dead, all possible means were used to save his Life. He was carried off into a Castle, where Monsieur de Turenne sent him his own Chirurgeon, but to little purpose, for he died soon after. The rest of the Prisoners were brought to Nuis, where Monsieur de Strasbourg arrived the same day, and was saluted with the great Guns of the Town. The 31. in the Morning, Monsieur de Turenne took with him a party of the Corpse de Guard, all the Light Guards of the King's Household, three Companies of the Regiment Royal of Dragoons, a part of the Regiment of the French Guards, and some Light Horse; who, after having wintered in the Country of Colen, came by order of His Majesty to encamp and entrench themselves upon the banks of the Rhine, on the left side near Keiserwort, where they encamped & fortified themselves very commodiously. Afterwards we marched all day, and encamped under a great Hill above Orsoy. The King marched on to Nuys, and Monsieur the Prince advanced by the side of him in equal marches. The first of June, the King left Nuys and besieged Orsoy, a little Town of a reasonable strength, situate on the left side of the Rhine. As soon as His Majesty came before it, He caused it to be summoned, but the Governor refusing to yield it up, we were immediately employed about making of Faggots, and putting ourselves into a condition to attaque it. The next day Monsieur the Prince came before Wezel, and did that day only encamp and invest the Town, which seemed strong and considerable enough to make us proceed cautiously in our attaque. Wezel is a very great Town, situate on the right side of the Rhine, at the Mouth of the River lip. It hath a great Ditch faced with good brick, and is divided in the middle by a great Trench, and very good Fortifications, so that if one half of the Town were gained, one should be put to the trouble of a Siege to get the other. Monsieur de Turenne with whom we were, came before Burick, which we invested; and after the Camp was settled, he sent for some Foot to raise a Redout between this Town and Wezel, which are over-against one the other, on each side the Rhine. Burick is two good Musket-shot distant from it, but not so far, but that they might give one another mutual assistance. For this reason it was thought necessary to make this Redout, as well to hinder their communication, as to cut off the Passage between Burick and the River, from whence the Enemy might have mischieved us in the Trenches, which we were about to begin on the other side, so to make our approaches to Wezel. At the same time we were employed in raising a Battery on the bank of the River, to hinder the Dutch Vessels going to and fro upon the River, and assisting the Besieged. At our first coming thither we took two of them, which we manned with Dragoons, and placed in the middle of the River. The Duke of Luxembourg, who commanded the French Troops belonging to the Bishops of Colen and Munster, besieged Lokem. The second, the King commanded an Assault to be given to Orsoy, whereupon we presently made ourselves Masters of the Counterscarpe, and gained all the outworks, which made the Governor desire to come to composition; but no other Articles being offered, but, That the Garrison should surrender themselves upon discretion, He would not hear of that: so the King sent him back, threatening, That if they discharged but one Canon more, He would have no mercy on them. But this hindered not their firing much more freely than they had done before, which greatly incensed the King. Monsieur the Prince caused the Fort of Lip to be attaqued that Evening, which was carried by the Count de Nogent by Assault. This very much terrified those of Wezel, because that Fort was near, and did in some manner command the place. The Governor was there killed, with his Pike in his hand. In Monsieur Turenne's Army, they were all busied in making their Lines of Circumvallation, and blocking up the Town. The Battery, begun the day before upon the bank of the River, was finished, and nine pieces of Ordnance mounted on it. Monsieur the Prince raised also another on his side of the River, consisting of 6 Pieces; and in the Evening we were busied in repairing the Redoute, which had been almost beat down that day by the Guns of the two Towns. The third, Orsoy yielded. For the Governor seeing himself unable to make any longer resistance, was fled with his Family, and all that was most dear to him, in a small Vessel, designing to gain Rhineberg; but His Majesty having intelligence of it, and being incensed against him for his stubbornness, caused the Canon to play so hard upon him, that at last, seeing one of his Wives Women cut off in the middle by a Canon shot, he was forced to come ashore, and yield himself up to the mercy of the Conquerors. The Plunder of the Castle was given to the Soldiery, and the Garrison made Prisoners at discretion. The chief Persons whom we lost in the Action, were the Sieur de Valens, and the Chevalier D'Arquien, which last was killed by a Canon-shot near the King's Person, who presently afterwards commanded Rhineburg to be invested. At the Prince's Army, the whole day was spent in parlying, for the Inhabitants would by no means hear of standing it out; and the Garrison, though finding themselves so weak as not to be able to undertake any thing, could not resolve to yield themselves upon discretion, so that the whole day passed without any Action. As for us who were before Burick, we prepared ourselves to attaque it so vigorously, as not be behindhand with the other Armies. We made Faggots, and in the Afternoon carried them almost as far as the Pallisado's, not without the loss of some Troopers and their Horses, as well there as in our Camp, which lay level with the Canon of the Town. In the Evening, that part of the Regiment of the King's Guards which was in our Army, and the Regiments of Burgundy and Artois, opened their Trenches. The Marquis de Ranes, with 150 Dragoons which he commanded, was to attaque a Halfmoon, and intending to make his way forwards, resolved himself to be at the head of them. A like number were drawn out of the Regiments of Castelneau and Turenne, to do as much on the other side; which returning all safe, could not properly be said to have gone upon the Forlorn. But just as we were about to fall on, we heard a Trumpet from the Town, and assoon as we had answered it an Officer came forth, & after him a second, so that the Soldiers of the Guards, without staying for the issue of the designed Conference, began to cry, That they might leave off working at their Trenches, seeing the Enemy yielded, and desired quarter. But the last Officer seeming a little more fierce and resolute than the other, because he had not a ready answer; we prepared to fall on immediately if they did not yield without delay; which the Enemy perceiving, and having discovered some Scaling-ladders just ready to be made use of, they opened their Gates, and the Regiment of Guards entered the Town just about Midnight, and feasted themselves with the Provisions which they found were bringing to the Soldiers that were upon Service in the Outworks. All the Garrison were made Prisoners at discretion. Burick is a reasonable great Town, situate upon the left Bank of the Rhine, within two Musquet-shot of the River, in a fine even fertile Soil. The space that is between it and the Rhine, is a great Marsh, and delicate Fields and Meadows, which are nothing near so boggy and wet, as the most part of the rest of Holland, Zealand and Frizeland. It lies over-against Wezel on the other side of the Rhine, which is a very fair great Town. Burick is none of the least Towns which the Dutch have in these parts; its Fortifications are good, and it hath good Bastions and Halfmoons, almost wholly of earth, but their Outworks are too big. The C. de Chamilly speaking of this Town, said, It might well have held out 3 Months: From whence 'tis plain, that in the confidence of its strength the Hollanders had been negligent: and not having taken care to keep their Fortifications in good repair, we found them labouring day and night in making Gabions for the 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 Barks upon the Rhine, and by that means we doubled the Guard we had placed in the middle of it. As soon as Burick was yielded, M. de Turenne received a Packet from the King, upon which he immediately hastened to wait on His Majesty. The fourth, nothing was done at the King's Army, nor at Monsieur Turenne's; but at the Princes they opened 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 resolved to set on then vigorously, sent the Keys of the Town, and yielded themselves up to mercy. At the same time we were informed, that the Duke of Luxembourg had taken Lokem. The fifth, the King's 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 entered Wezel, and visited the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrison, where he searched for Frenchmen, and finding 10 or 11, had them hanged. The Duke of Luxembourg turned 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 performed, but the Garrison at Rhineberg finding themselves too weak to resist a Victorious Royal Army; and being likewise out of hope of receiving the Succours were promised them by the States, resolved to yield. The Officers of the Garrison came, and laying themselves at his Feet, begged 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 performed. His Majesty considering the falsehood of the States Promises, even to their own Soldiers, was moved 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 marched toward Maestricht, the King having given them a Convoy, and Provision for four days. The Regiment of Guards entered the place about one of the Clock in the Afternoon. Rhineberg is a pretty large Town, belonging to the Archbishopric 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 proposed to give it him back, on condition he might keep a Garrison there: But this condition not pleasing the Elector, they at last promised, without any reserve, to put it into his hands; but how instant soever the Elector was with them, he could never persuade 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 fortified 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 Halfmoons, good Ramparts, and very broad Ditches: but their Outworks 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 labour. 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 joined 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 encamped 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 besieged 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 lies 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 caused a bridge of hurdles to be made, by which he passed over and entered the place himself, and commanded the Governor and his Garrison to be beset, who at last yielded. Afterwards we turned the Canon of this Fort upon the Town, and much shot past on both sides. Many of the Enemy's Guns were dismounted, and the whole Town so tired out that the next day they were forced to carry the Keys of their Gates to M. the Prince, who came up as we did, and made a show as if he would also have attaqued it, though his design was to go straight on towards a party of the Enemies which kept the Passage of the Isle of and of the Yssel, that the King might go and besiege that Town and Emerick. As soon as the Fort had yielded, 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 Enemy's Horse had passed the Wahal, with a design, as 'twas thought, to set upon us, we went to meet them. To that purpose we went and passed the River near Calcar, a little Town (in the Country of Cleve) defended by a Citadel, whose fortifications are all of earth without any other facing. We were saluted in our passage by at least 100 great Guns, and thence passed to Cleves, where our Army was victualled gratis. It is the capital City of the whole Province, but is a place of no defence. Afterwards we encamped a quarter of an hours riding from that City, by a park, which belongs to a House of pleasure of the Duke of Brandebourg. The ninth was wholly spent in passing the King's Army from the left to the right side of the Rhine. The town of Rees quite spent and wearied out by our Canon from the Fort, brought in her Keys, and yielded as the rest had done. Rees is a fair great Town situate on the right side of the Rhine, 3 leagues below Burick and Wezel, and 2 leagues above Emerick. It is strengthened by a good Fort of its own name, separated from it only by the Rhine, whose waters on the right side wash the walls of the Town, and on the left those of the Fort. This Town is very great, her fortifications very complete and good. It hath good Bastions, Horn-works, Halfmoons well strengthened with good Pallissadoes, large ditches, and covered ways, all very regular. In fine, when M. de Turenne entered the Fort, he told them that were near him, that their friends that knew Reés, and heard they laid Siege to it, would certainly be very much concerned for them: and thereupon having sent for the sieur Paul, a Fleming Engineer, to ask his opinion of it, he answered him, that if any body would have an excellent Model of a regular Fortification, they need not seek it any where else, but might take it from Rees and its Fort; which is a Pentagone, whose outworks were a little out of repair, but within there was a Redout which they call the Castle, which is very well and in good case. It is separated from the Body of the Fort by a great flat broad ditch, which is deeper than it is broad, over which there is a little Draw-bridge, and a good Gate on the other side, and a high rampart well palisadoed and Gabiooned, which at each corner hath two little Horn-works, which flank upon the bridge and ditch. At the same time M. the Prince advanced towards Emerick, which made no resistance, the Dutch having withdrawn their Garrison some days before. Emerick is a pleasant town, seated on the right side of the Rhine, a league above that place where the river divides, and makes the Rhine with its right branch, and the Wahal with its left. 'tis a reasonable good town, and its fortifications, that are all of earth, are well enough maintained. However the Dutch some few days before the Prince's arrival, withdrew themselves and quitted their Garrison; either because they thought it could not endure a Siege, or for some other reason, that I am ignorant of, & cannot imagine what it should be; for since that time we have taken several Towns not so strong as that, wherein they had made very good Garrisons. That morning M. de Turenne with some Officers, and a small Guard, went to take a view of Skinksconce, and came so near as to be within hearing of the Garrison: from whom we received about 40 musket, and several Canon shot, but they did no execution. Thereupon, having learned the retreat of the enemy, we returned back, and joined with the rest of the Army, near the Fort of Reés, in the mid way between Calcar, and another place called Hompel. The same day M. the Prince advanced above Skinksconce, the Rhine lying between him and it, and discovered the enemy on the other side, guarding that passage. In the mean time the Dragoons of the Colonel Regiment were commanded to attaque Demecum; but that place held out so little a while, that they had time enough to come back, and share the Glory of that passage, that was made two days after. The 10 his Majesty came to Reés, we stayed with M. de Turenne's Army, where we received the news of the taking of Grol by the Bishop of Munster's Forces. That Town, if not the strongest and most considerable that the Hollanders were masters of, was yet of great consequence to them, as lying on the Frontiers of Germany, and being excellently well seated; on which account 'twas fortified by Charles the Fifth. It hath five Bastions, fair and good Ramparts, besides a great ditch, that cannot easily be emtied, by reason of the river Sling, that discharges itself into it. The 11 his Majesty being advised that M. the Prince intended to swim the Rhine, and endeavour to force the enemy from the other side, though they appeared to be considerably strong, resolved to be present in person at that Enterprise, which never had any equal, nor attended with like success, and, as it were, divest himself for some time of his Title and Dignity, to share with his Soldiers, under the quality of a Feild-Marshal or private person, the honour of a day, that was almost to decide the fortune of all Holland. To this intent he left his Army in their Quarters; and having taken with him his house Guard, and 2000 lose horse, he encamped on the side of the River, on the right hand of Tolhuys, a small Fort about a league below Skinksconce in the Isle of Betaw. The enemy, that lay entrenched on the other side, in number about three or four thousand, gave fire, and skirmished all that day. We on our side caused some Foot to advance, whilst we raised a battery of five pieces of Canon. In the mean time the Army of M. de Turenne approached to pass over the Rhine, over against Reés, on a float of wood: who after he had conveyed over his Majesty, with his Army and the baggage to Wezel, came down to do the like with his own Army: but the water being low, and no great wind stirring, they encamped at Nerdmormter, and began not to pass till the evening: and so the foot continued to pass all night, and afterwards the horse. The 12 in the morning, his Majesty having expressed he should be glad to have the passage of Tolbuys sounded, to try if it were not too deep before they ventured on it, M. the Count de Guiche went immediately, and sounded it himself. Thereupon command was given to horse; and his Majesty, vexed to see the enemy pretend a desire to engage, and not being able to endure those outward signs, that were so contrary to their inclinations, without staying to draw up, and not considering whether his Guards, Gendarmes, and light horse were present or no, who were to make the first onset, having found the Cuirassiers near at hand, he commanded them to fling themselves into the water and cross the river; which they did so briskly, that the poor M. the Marquis de la Salle, whom they happened to meet in their way, received from them five or six dangerous wounds, as if he had been a Hollander (for indeed they took 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 Majesty's house were commanded to pass next, and to swim the river; which they immediately did with so much courage and resolution, as struck a terror 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 Horse's 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 drowned. 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 entered 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 Horse's 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 Enemy's 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 yield, and fearing the youthful 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 haste, he came up to the trenches as soon as the rest, and cried 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 passed, and desiring to free that Post, found a passage too soon; and falling upon the first Officer that he met, killed 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 cried, no Quarter, being immediately 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 King's 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 engaged 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. the Brovilly died 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 Beaumond, 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 Majesty's Conquests: for his name alone made the Enemy tremble, and they began not to make resistance, till they had learned 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 rencontre three or four hundred men, that were killed upon the place, besides a great num●e● that were taken prisoners. After all this ●laughter the Forces of the King's H●use draw up on the edge of the Rhine, and the s●de of the Island, and quartered at Bih●va●. Th● Awny 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 always 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 piece 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 Movables, some persons also, that had retired thither in hope that we would not have attacked 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 skirmished a little with the Vanguard, the Dragoons lighting of their horses, set upon them so vigorously, that they gave them the rout, and forced them into Arnhem. And finding themselves well enough at the end of a bridge that lies 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 than men. His Majesty having called a Council before the departure of M. de Turenne, as soon as it was ended began to march towards Emerick, to join 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 Majesty's 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 Bovillon 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 affairs 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 begun 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 terror 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 haste, 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 leisure, and returned loaded with so great a booty, that they had enriched themselves by it, though they had not joined to it the two other of, which they had also the spoil, which amounted to no less than forty thousand Francs. The same day M. the Cardinal de Bovillon consecrated anew the great Church of Emerick. The 15. The King's 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 threatened 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 immediately 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 ourselves 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 Majesty's 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 'tis 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 ourselves 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 immediately 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 Privileges, 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 Boars 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 Freestone, 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 been 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 looked upon as one of their best Towns. At nine in the Evening, M. the Count de Guiche brought thither the Regiment of Navarre, 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 itself 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 rendered 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 repassed the Yssel with his Dragoons, upon a Bridge of Boats which he made over it, and went and joined with the King's 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 besieged 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, returned immediately, and caused us to march towards Skenkssconce, which since our passage over the River had been blocked 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 threatened to forsake the Town if they would not agree; which made the State's consent to give him his liberty freely, together with a Pass to return to the Army. The 18. The King summoned 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 Succours from being put into it that way. M. de Turenne caused Trenches to be opened 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 received 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 swum our Horses over the Yssel, and marched 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 disheartened, and despairing of any succour, 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, compassed with five good Bastions, and watered 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 swum the Yssel, and marched all night, continued still his march all this day, so that we were almost 23 hours continually on Horseback 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 Vanguard discovered a Body of Foot; which assoon as we went about to pursue, saved themselves in the neighbouring 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 obtained the free use of their Religion and preservation of their Rights and Privileges, opened their Gates to the Marquis de Ranes, who entered the Town with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons which he had brought with him, and stayed 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 Mistress, and the Sieur de Bonneval Captain of Dragoons, with 100 Mistress of the same Body) to go forward and get intelligence of the Enemy, marched 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 summoned the Town; which being terrified and surprised, 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 opened their Gates and admitted 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 caused 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 immediately caused the Gates to be opened, and went out in pursuit of them; and at the same time ordered his Lieutenant, with some Horse, to follow the Enemy's Horse, who were not yet out of sight; and were some a Horseback, 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 summoned 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 Horse's strength to follow them. But the third time as he swum, 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 Captain's Prisoners. This day the Inhabitants and Burgomasters of Vtrecht, and the Towns depending on it, being frighted by the sudden Conquests and Erterprises 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 dependants, viz. Amersfort, (which we had unknown to them already taken) Ewick, Rhenen and Montfort. The same day we were informed, 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 pitiful condition to which Count Maurice and his Army were reduced, (who some days before had fled beyond Vtrecht, they having refused 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 forsaken him and fled to divers parts: That when they were near Amersfort, a Boar having in sport told them, he had seen a great party of French thereabouts, immediately upon hearing of it, they took their heels and ●●ed above 2 leagues, without stopping. The D●ke of Luxembourg came now, and laid ●●●e to Deventer. The 20 the King's Army opened 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 marched 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 marched 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 desired they might send Deputies to the King to Capitulate for them, and that their Governor would not be against it: the Marquis de la Trousse presently informed his Majesty of what had passed, whereupon Monsieur prepared to march thither, and in the mean time the Marquis de Ranes sent some Dragoons to the Castle of Em, who possessed themselves of it. This Castle takes its name from the little river Em, which runs from Amersfort, and discharges itself into the Zuiderzée, after it hath run by this Castle which lies 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 hindered 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, summoned it, but they absolutely refused to yield it up, which so much the more incensed his Royal Highness, because the day before they had sent to propose the yielding it. The Marquis of Ranes arrived at Naerden about 2 of the clock in the morning, he reinforced 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 hours, and went to fetch more men to put into it, when he came back, found the Enemy possessed of it) and had now retrenched himself on the other side of the stream of Wesep. Monsieur de Turenne at last made himself Master of Skenksconce, and then turned 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 Possessors, because of its situation, which is just on the point of the Island Betaw, just where the Rhine divides itself into two great arms, whereof one retains its own name and runs towards Arnhem, and the other takes the name of Wahal, and leads to Nimegen. No Vessel can go up or down either River without their leave, who are Masters of this Fort; so that it is the Key which either opens or shuts up all communication between Holland and Germany. This makes it of very great importance; for no Merchandise as Rhenish Wine, Timber, and chief Firr-trees, which continually come down that way from Switzerland, Suaveland, and other places of Germany, and bring a great income both to those who send for them thence, and also to those who sell them again at second hand to other Nations, who come thither to buy them; so that the trade both of these Commodities, and a hundred more, cannot go on without the leave of this Fort. And as its situation is most advantageous, so is its strength proportionable, for on 2 sides Nature hath so strengthened it with the defence of this great River, that it is not to be set upon that way, and on the other, which is that that faces the Isle, Art hath fortified it with a great ditch full of water, good Bastions and half Moons, and a strong Rampart, which make it in a manner impregnable. The Inhabitants of the Country round about, who can still remember former Wars, do assure us it was always thought impregnable, and in History we never find it ever was taken above twice, the first time in the year 1636, when a certain Captain of a Garrison in Guelderland for the King of Spain, called Enhoolt, being very much incensed against the Hollanders, for putting divers of his friends and kindred to death, took it by surprise, so that this can hardly be called a taking of it: the second time was after a Siege which will be remembered many ages to come, since it lasted 8 months, and consumed so many men before it, that in many places it is yet known by the name of the French burying place, for they had then taken part with the Dutch, and did with their blood purchase there both Glory and Victory. It is likewise reported that when it was taken, there were left in it but 12 men, who did even then maintain the place. Deventer, at last being tired out by the Bishop of Munster's Granados, yielded, and its Garrison marched out with their arms towards Nimegen, with a Convoy, but so weak a one, that when they came near Zutphen, the Hollanders in spite of the Convoy, cast themselves into it, and this recruit it was which made the Governor change his mind, and deny to yield up the Town to Monsieur, as he himself had proposed the day before. The Marquis de Ranes having visited Naerden, and left good directions for the preservation of that Place, departed thence about 6 of the clock for Amersfort, and left the Burgomasters of Muyden not a little confounded for having proffered the Keys of that Town, when it was no more in their power to let him into it, and even themselves were shut out of it. The same day Deputies from the States left Amsterdam to come and find the King at Doesburg, whose Garrison attempted to make a sally, but without any success, for they were presently repulsed. The 22 the Sieur Martinet Campmaster to the King's Regiment, appointed Governor of Emerick, and Camp-Marshal in this Campagne, imagining that some persons did daily watch him out of a suspicion, that he had not so much courage as he pretended to, did all that day and night run himself upon all dangers, and so fortunately, that without receiving any wound, he advanced with his party much further among the Enemy's Posts then could be expected; so that by ill fortune the Count of Soissons, who commanded the Isle of Yssel, and was ordered to shoot cross way upon a Post of the Enemies, not being ware that the said Sieur Martinet had already gained it, played upon it, so that Martinet was killed by a Canon shot; the same ill fortune took away the Sieur Sourry a Swisser Captain, and the Sieur Cyron, who was appointed Governor of S. Menehould. This gave occasion to some who delight in raillery, to say, that Doesbourg, which the Hollanders had taken such pains to fortify, and had 4500 men in it (who yielded themselves up to mercy) had cost the King but one Swallow, one Mouse, and one Worm, from the signification of the French names, for indeed the Place yielded upon it. Doesburg is a Town which hath not been long famous, and indeed was at first very inconsiderable, but since the Hollanders have found the possession of the Yssel to be so necessary to the preservation of their Country, they thought fit to fortify all the Places that lie upon that River, and chief this which is situate just where the Channel of Drusus mingles its waters with those of this river. So that at present it is in a very good condition, having good Fortifications, which for the most part are coated on the outside. It is strengthened on one side by the River, and on the other by a great Marsh, which lies between it and Arnhem, which altogether hinder it from being any way accessible, but by one neck of Land. This place yielded notwithstanding this day upon the same terms as did the rest. Afterwards his Majesty sent Monsieur a recruit of 4000 foot and 1500 horse, because he had with him but 6000 foot and 200 horse before. His Majesty sent him likewise the particulars of the Capitulation at Deesburg, wherefore Monsieur caused Zutphen to be again summoned, and sent the Governor a sight of the Articles of the Capitulation at Doesburg; but this taking no effect, his Royal Highness caused many faggots to be made, and in the evening had the Trenches opened by the Regiments of Normandy, Turenne, and Orleans. Monsieur de Turenne continued battering Nimegen from the Fort of Knotzembourg, without attaquing it on any other side; but sent and took in Worm. The Sieurs de Rochefort and de Ranes went to Naerden, and drew near to Muyden, to take a view of the Enemy, who appeared in great numbers upon a Bastion, but never offered to sally out. From thence they returned to Amersfort, whither came also a party of Musqueteers and 1800 horse from the King's Army. The body of Monsieur the Count de Nogent, who had been killed by a musket shot, as he swum the Rhine, was found about 3 leagues lower, and buried in the great Church at Zevenaer with all possible State. News was brought to the King of Deventer's being taken by the Confederate Armies of Munster and Cologne, and that Swol, Campen, Elburg, Alderwick, Hasselt, Hattem and Ommen had upon the single summons of a Trumpet, drove out their Garrisons, and received those sent them by the Confederates. The 23 Monsieur de Turenne sent news to the King, of the taking of the Forts of S. Andrew and Worm's, which are the Keys to the Island of Bommelle. Before Zutphen the Canon was in a condition to play by break of day, and did the Enemy considerable damage. An hour before day, the besieged tried to give a false Alarm, but it succeeded not as they hoped: for the Chevalier de Lorraine, who had not stirred from that Trench, discovered their design, and kept the Soldiers in due order. At 2 in the morning Monsieur de Rochefort, who had returned to Amersfort, left it again to go with all his horse, as well those who came the last night, as those which were in the Town before, and encamped at the Gates of Vtrecht, between the Town and the Enemy. The Marquis de Ranes stayed at Amersford with his Royal Regiment of Dragoons, and in the evening caused all things necessary for an Assault to be carried upon the works, that they might be ready in case of need. About nine in the morning the same day, the Sieur Hotain, a Colonel of the Munster Troops, who then commanded a flying Party, came before the Town, and summoned it, but understanding it was already possessed, he commanded his Army to make a halt, and gave order that 800 horse and 500 Dragoons, which he commanded, should refresh themselves. Afterwards he desired he might come in and salute the Governor; which he did, and breakfasted with him, he, and 3 or 4 more of his Company. He confirmed the news of Deventer, and of the deaths of M. de Gerzey, and M. de Beaufort, Camp Master to a Regiment of horse, who in a sally which the Enemy made, beat them back into the Town, but having engaged himself beyond possibility of retreating, received a great many wounds, of which he died on the place, as well as the sieur Mallet, a Captain of horse in the same Regiment, and the sieur Mauvoisiniere his Lieutenant. The same person affirmed he had newly made himself Master of Elbairg and Harderwick, which are two little Towns above Campen, near Zuiderzee. After breakfast, as he took leave, he said he was going to raise contribution of all the places that depended upon those two Towns, and that he had taxed the Peasants at a Patagon (which is equal to a French Crown) for every Hearth, and then was returning to Harderwick. A party of the Colonel Regiment of Dragoons being sent to Waningen, took it, and stayed there some days, as well to refresh themselves, as to stay till there should come thither a body of foot. Waningen is a pretty Town about the bigness of Meaux in Brie, situated in an uneven Country. On the upper side of it there lies a heath of 4 or 5 leagues extent in the narrowest place, on the other side there are very good Pastures, intermingled with some Arable land, which is very fruitful. This town lying in the midst of many others, the States thought it unnecessary to fortify, but left it in its ancient condition, so that it hath hardly any Fortification besides its rampart. The same day a Swiss Drummer, who had been at Amsterdam to carry news of some Prisoners to their Relations, and to desire them to send them money to pay their ransom, brought back word that he had been brought before Count Maurice, and mightily questioned by him: that his Army within their Retrenchments did not seem to contain above 4000 men, that they seemed much dismayed, and that all the fierceness which he strove to put on, could not hid his concern when he heard in what condition the King's Army was, and that the Count had taken order to let him see as little as might be of the disorder and slenderness of his Army. Let us therefore give them a little leisure to take heart again if they can, and leaving a while the continuation of our Journal, let us rejoice with the whole Kingdom of France, at our Great Monarches fortunate Progress, and the Birth of a Prince, which GOD hath now sent Him. A JOURNAL OF THE War with Holland. THE SECOND PART. ALTHOUGH Men naturally love change, and novelties carry still with them somewhat of delight, yet there are some things that immediately disgust us, particularly those that are forced upon us. As God at our Creation made us free, so is there nothing more repugnant to our natures, then to be forced or constrained to any thing, or deprived of that loved liberty, to which we were born. This it was which made the Philosophers say, that nothing which is violent or forced could be of long continuance, because such things directly oppose our nature, whose power cannot long be withstood, it being nothing but the Will of God impressed upon his Creatures. We ought not then to think it strange, that those who have from their youth been brought up under one kind of Government, should find a great deal of difficulty in weaning themselves from that, and accustoming themselves to live under another, seeing it is natural to us so to do, and the very irrational Creatures do as much by instinct: as we see every day in Horses, who if they have been used to the Saddle cannot without much difficulty be brought to draw; and Dogs that have been used to hunt, will not without much trouble be brought to couch when their game is in view. It is a common saying that a Monkey will never leave his Apish tricks, and that a Fox will ever love Geese to his last: and so it is with Men, for those who have lived under a Monarchical State, are very hardly brought to be contented with Democracy, and all men think that kind of Government best, under which they themselves have been brought up. So that, though the French yoke be much less grievous to the Subject then that which the States have laid on the People of Holland (amongst whom the very Servants pay Taxes out of their wages) yet we had great reason to watch very carefully over those whom we had now lately conquered, upon the account of what we mentioned before, least Nature should prevail in them, as it usually doth in other Creatures. But good Fortune, which hath always attended the French Arms, and that peculiar blessing which Heaven hath bestowed on our King, of being equally both feared and beloved where ever he goes, had taken care to make our suspicions groundless, by inspiring into the People of those Countries as strong inclinations, and as much love towards his Majesty, as was to be found in the hearts of his most Loyal French Subjects; and we did very remarkably discover in many of them so greedy and earnest a desire of seeing us, that in many places they were even afraid, lest we would not come and take their Towns; and I have been told they desired nothing so much as to become his Majesty's Subjects, and feared nothing more than not to be so. The timely course that all the Province of Vtrecht took, doth sufficiently justify what I have said, and it is likewise certain that had not the States gone in good time to Amsterdam, the Inhabitants of that great Town were thinking of delivering us up the Keys: But those blood sucking Leeches, whose power would by this means have come to nothing, and who could no longer have fed upon and enriched themselves with the spoils of the poor Subject, hindered their design, inspiring into them a false and imaginary kind of courage, which they took from despair, and by which they let themselves be misled, never thinking of that happiness and quiet which their neighbours did now enjoy under the French Government, and how much they were pleased with the change. Their rejoicing at it did visibly appear, when they first heard the news of the birth of the Duke of Anjou, which every body with one voice did congratulate; and for Joy Bonfires were made in all places, every body striving who should with most zeal show his resentment of so welcome news. But it will not perhaps be impertinent here to inform the Reader how that this kind of Ceremony is by them performed in a much different way from what we do on the like occasions in France: for whereas we do generally assemble ourselves together to some Public place, where a great Fire is made on the Public charge, no man contributing any thing more to it then he needs must, though he desire never so much to be thought a good Subject; with them on the contrary, every Housekeeper makes a fire before his door, and the greater the fire it is the sign of the greater zeal; neither do they make their fires by piling of wood up, but fixing a stake, at the top of which they fasten pitch barrels and such like combustible matter, which being lighted, they make merry and sing about it in the same manner as we do. The 24 his Majesty sent a supply to Monsieur, that he might hasten the reducing of Zutphen, where the same day we made ourselves masters of a Sluice which did us good service in draining the ditch. The besieged made a sally hoping to regain it, but they were beaten back into the Town without being able to do any thing. The Chevalier de Lorraine behaved himself bravely on that occasion, and used them so severely that they have not since dared to show themselves. The Regiments of Piedmont and des Vaisseaux were in their turns relieved by those of Castelnau and de la Rhine, who gained the Counterscarp, which put the Enemy into no little fright, so that they now began to reflect upon the desperate condition they were in. M. de Turrenne seeing that the playing of the Cannon from Knotzemburg did not so work upon those of Nimegen, as to make them think of a surrender, prepared himself to lay a formal Siege to it. As for Monsieur de Rochefort, when the Inhabitants of Vtrecht, who had refused to admit a Dutch Garrison, or give Count Maurice passage, had put two of their Gates into his hands, he caused them to be kept by his Musqueteers, and backed them with all the other forces he had with him, which were encamped over against S. Catharine's Gate, on the border of the channel that goes hence to Leiden and so to Rotterdam, and then sent to give notice of what had passed to the King, on whom the Bishop of Stratsbourg waited the same day. The 25 the Bishop of Munster made the King a visit, and after having made his appearance with the ordinary solemnity on such occasions, he had a private conference with him, which lasted a great while; and having dined he returned, having been presented by his Majesty with a Cross of Diamonds of great value; afterwards his Majesty gave audience to an Envoy extraordinary from the Elector of Tiers. The Duke of Roannez was ordered to go to Vtrecht with 3 Batallions of the French Guards, as many of the Swissers, and two Companies of the life Guards, to relieve the Musqueteers who kept that place, and the horse who backed them. The same day Monsieur de Turenne, came and dined with the King, and informed him of the obstinacy of the Garrison and Inhabitants of Nimegen; afterwards he returned back to give such further orders as should be found necessary. At last Zutphen was reduced to that condition, that the besieged began to beat a Parley betimes in the morning, and desired to capitulate. The Articles of Capitulation at all the places which have been won from the Hollander were in general the same, and therefore here as in other Places the Garrison was made prisoners, and the place yielded up without any other conditions. The Chevalier de Lorraine went to receive their Hostages, which were a Burgomaster and two of the Officers of the Garrison, whom he brought to his Royal Highness; who granted the Inhabitants as well here as in other places liberty of Conscience, and their Privileges, and presently gave notice of the business to his Majesty: acquainting Him withal, that the number of his Prisoners was increased by 3000 foot and 250 horse, besides the Governor. I cannot but take this opportunity of doing Justice to Monsieur, in letting the World know that in this Siege he performed all that could be done by an expert General, and a valiant Soldier; he was very circumspect and watchful, looked after every thing himself, and was always where there was the hottest service, going with an undaunted courage to the most dangerous place in all the Trenches, where many were killed round about him, both with great and small shot, he remaining all the while fearless; so that the Chevalier de Lorraine was at last forced to beg of him by all means to retire from so evident danger, or at least to give him leave not to be in the same place with him, lest if any harm should befall the Prince, he should be called to account for it. Zutphen is one of the chief Towns of the Duchy of Guelderland, and the Capitial of Zutphania, otherwise called the County of Zutphen, to which it gives the name. It is situated on the right bank of the Yssel, as it runs towards the Zuiderzee, just by the mouth of the river Borkel. It is one of the best and the strongest places the Hollanders had, it hath 9 Bastions almost all coated on the outside, 4 half Moons, 2 horn works, and without all this a very broad ditch, besides the inner one, which is twice as broad and flat bottomed; it hath also treble Ramparts, which make it strong almost beyond belief. Ysseltein, Oudewater, Buren, and Croanamburg, opened their Gates and received Garrisons from Monsieur de Rochefort. The Count Maurice seeing himself so straitened, and closely pursued, imagining he should ere long be set upon, and not thinking himself strong enough to stand to it, resolved at length to retire still further: and that he might be in some place where he might sleep safely a while, he got on the other side of a great Channel, which runs on the other side of Wesep, and quited Myen to our mercy, but because from thence there was a near way to Amsterdam, they let out the waters all thereabouts. We heard of the wounds which the Heer de Wit, the imprisoned counsellor, received 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 Counsellor in the Court of Justice, who was likewise one of the States, called Ʋander Graef, who had given him divers stabbs in the head, neck, shoulder, and side, leaving him for dead; but that the Surgeons notwithstanding affirmed 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 departed. The 26. The King left the Camp at Doesburg, and went to a place called Biloin. The Sieur Groot (commonly called Grotius) who came to mediate Peace between the King and States, returned without doing any thing. Monsieur scent Father Zocoli a Jesuit, and his Confessor, to Zutphen in the Morning, there to say Mass in a Tent which was pitched for that purpose in the middle of the Town, and about 3 of the clock, after Dinner, made his entry into it, and viewed 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 seemed not to intent any resolute resistance. The 27. The King left Biloin, and advanned towards Wagemingen, after having lef● orders that the Regiment de Vendosme should go and secure Arnhem. About 8 in the Morning, the second Bataillon of the Dauphin's 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 join with the Marquis de Rochefort at Vtrecht, where the Duke de Roannez likewise arrived with 4500 Men of the Regiment of Guards, and two Companies of the Life-Guards, but they entered 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 dispatched the Sieur Grotius back to the King in all haste, with new Orders, and a more ample and unlimited Commission. The Towns of Dort, Goud, and Rotterdam, began openly to proclaim the Prince of Orange Captain-General of the United Provinces, misusing and Imprisoning some Burgomasters, who went about to oppose them in it, which made others more wary how they ventured to displease an incensed 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 People's Acclamations on this occasion seemed a very unwelcome sound, contrived to divert it. Woerden also opened its Gates, and received 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 entrenched 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 enterprise any thing against us, though he should have desired it. The Castle belonging to this Town is very strong, and the whole Town secure from any sudden assault. The 28. the King raised 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, ordered Faggots, Gabions, and other like Preparations to be made, resolving the next day to open his Trenches; and caused 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 played upon it from this. The Duke de Roannez entered 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 Rivulets which run through many of their Streets, do not a little contribute to the beauty of the place. The outparts & skirts of the town are likewise very pleasant, having many Canals; & the entry into the town is very fine. There are many pleasant Houses scattered about, and the Suburbs are large and convenient; about which lie many rich Meadows and Pasture Grounds (stocked with abundance of all sorts of ) as far as one can see every way. Because the Burgomasters, when they came to yield up their Town, had desired to have no Garrison forced upon them, promising to defend the place themselves for his Majesty; and being they stayed not till they were summoned, but of their own accord had yielded up the place, it was resolved they should be thereupon considered and kindly used. And that they might have no reason to complain, M. de Roannez pitched his Tents upon the Rampart, where he still continued, as did likewise the rest of the Officers and Guards after his example. The Musqueteers, who had kept the place ever since the Surrender, retired and encamped 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 entered the Town, and dispersed themselves into divers quarters of it, where they lay upon the Guard; and afterwards the Horse-Guards belonging to the King's Household 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 confirmed 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 King's Pleasure, he prepared for his departure the next day. Monsieur de Turenne opened his Trenches before Nimegen, where the besieged 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 marched 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 King's 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 returned to Vtrecht, and thence to Amsterdam, to acquaint the States with the King's pleasure as it related to a Treaty of Peace, which was now diversely 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 Povange, came to Vtrecht after dinner. The King in Person reviewed 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 hanged, 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 Bovillon came to Vtrecht, where he was almost crowded to pieces by Roman Catholics, 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 desired it of him with much importunity, in the name of all the People; but he desired to be excused, till he should have order to do it from the King. The Marquis de Ranes, and the Chevalier de Bouflers, Campmaster to the Regiment Royal of Dragoons, going over from Vtrecht to His Majesty's 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. the Bouflers return post to Vtrecht, from whence he sent two Companies, that of de la Say, and that of de la Rovillardiere. Monsieur, who 2 or 3 days before had joined with the King's Army, after the taking of Zu●phen went to Vtrecht, where he dined with the Chevalier de Lorraine, who treated him very splendidly. The night following there chanced to be a Fire in the Town, which burned 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 between Ruremonde and Grave, had formerly belonged to the Duke of Brandenbourg; but having been taken from him, and long possessed 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 gone 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 moved at this Threat, the Count de Chamilly made his Troops immediately 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 than disgrace his Family with being hanged, 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 reckoned 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. the Chamilly, that lest he should be hanged 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 threatened to hang him before he yielded it up; which having been granted him, he retired 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 retired, 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 Mistress. The third, the Marquis de Louvoys went and visited the Townhouse 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 compassed the Prince of Orange's Camp; that being beforehand instructed in these matters, he might be ready to go and attaque him in case a Peace were not concluded. It must be confessed, that the prudence and conduct of the Marquis de Louvois are almost incredible; he hath managed things in this Campagne, as he doth all things else, with marvellous vigilancy, care and success. The King's Troops, the care of which lay wholly upon him, were the best ordered 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 established 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 Countries where they lay. There were every where continual Fairs and Markets, to which Merchants, Victuallers, and Country people resorted, with as much security as to St. Laurence's Fair. In a word, he so well contrived all things, that we never wanted any thing. After Dinner the King came to the Camp, and having walked about it and viewed his Troops, without causing them to take Horse; he also rounded the outside of the Town, and then went into it likewise, but incognito. Monsieur de Turenne continued still battering Nimegen, which did still courageously defend itself. Notwithstanding, he dispatched a Courier to the King, to tell Him, he hoped 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 labour 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 confirmed 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 prolonged 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 happened in the King's Army, which continued resting and refreshing itself 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 Enemy's care and pains to hinder it, almost finished 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 kind of Service, and how dangerous it is to fall into their hands) resolved at last to come to a Composition. The Count de Saulx had a piece of his Breeches shot off, and one of his Servants killed with him by a great shot before this place, which gave occasion to the spreading of a rumour, that he was dead, and made him as much lamented in the King's Army, as if he really had been so. The fifth, at break of day, 2 Horsemen 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 stopped 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 dispatched 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 King's 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 possessed. 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 cowardice, who dared not stir out when they might have cut the whole Party to pieces: and though they had feared some ambush, yet might they have come round in their Barks, and set on them behind without any danger of being any way surprised, being sure of a safe retreat when ever they desired 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 departed 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 furnished with Towers, Bastions, and Halfmoons of an excessive bigness, and upon that account they need more Men to defend it then we do in our Towns, who are more concerned to have them well lined and flanked. Those who have Travelled in Holland, may have observed 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 marched 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 causelessly 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 Buss to give him all possible assistance in case of need. Wherefore, upon this Order he was forced 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 easy for him who came before in haste with 100 Mistress to enter the Town, whilst the Foot followed softly after; though as it proved, they made too much haste 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 was discovered, and he withal gave notice of his coming, which was but ill news for the new Conqueror, who by this means was not like to wear his Laurel long. Hereupon the Townsmen began to change their note, and declared they would not suffer themselves to be plundered by us, and therefore bid the Governor shift for himself, which he could not otherwise do, then by sending to desire a Pass from M. Chamilly, that he might come and capitulate with him, which he did, and was suffered to return again to the Buss with his 100 Horse; he mentioned not the Foot in the capitulation, which he thought was so far behind, that he might easily give them notice to retire homewards and none of us the wiser. But to their misfortune he was out in his calculation, for M. de Joyeuse met with them, who though he had then with him but a small party of the Brigade of Horse which he commands (the rest being gone before under command of the Marquis de Tury, to recover the Town) he fell upon them so furiously, that they had only time to make one discharge at us. In this Encounter most of the Enemy were killed, and the rest taken, so that there hardly escaped one to carry home the bad news: we got at this bout 33 Colours. The night that followed, and the sixth day, there happened a Fire in the King's Quarters, which began in the Duke of Monmouth's House, and burnt down together with some others; the damage the Duke had by it was computed to amount to 100000 Crowns. The fire reached the King's Stable, and destroyed many Horses and their harness, and at last grew so dreadful, that the King was forced to rise, lest the fire should also come to his Apartment; many of his Pages having had their burnt. We heard of the ill success of Monsieur de Nancrud's attempt upon Ardemburg, which had failed by his guides and spies saults, these having misinformed, and the other misled him. The Particulars of that business were as follows; Word was brought to him that the Garrison was both very small and also negligent, which made him resolve to try if he could surprise it; and to that purpose he ordered his march so as to arrive before the Place at midnight, with a design to attaque it in four several places at once, but it so happened, his Guides either not being sufficiently acquainted with the Country, or mistaking their way in the dark, that his whole party met at the same place, and so were forced to make their attaque all on one side of the Town; which being performed very courageously, they beat out the Enemy and gained a half Moon, which Post designing greater things they cared not to secure from the Enemy's shot; but day at last beginning to break, the Enemy who had received supplies from Sluice, now made more vigorous resistance; and having discovered our men, who lay levelly and open to their shot, killed many of them, so that they were forced to retire with loss of 1000 or 1200 men. The Marquis de Ranes went to Isselstaing and Monfort, leading thither some Dragoons to reinforce those Garrisons. The same day about evening, the King came to visit Vtrecht; and he was scarce gone thence when the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington, Ambassadors from the King of England arrived, hoping to have found his Majesty there, to whom they were sent by the King their Master. The 7 the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington went from Vtrecht to the Camp at Zeist, where the King presently gave them Audience, after which a Courier was dispatched to the King of England, who was mightily solicited by the Dutch Ministers to a Peace. The Enemy came and attaqu'd Oudwater, and beat back our horse Guard, after having killed 5 or 6 of them with the like loss on their side, but the Alarm being straight given to Monsieur de Rochefort, he presently went to their assistance, as did also the Marquis de Ranes with his Regiment Royal of Dragoons, but they at their arrival found the Enemy retired, so that all these supplies kept a guard all that night upon the Place. The Musqueteers, who ever since the surrender of Vtrecht had been either within the Town to secure it, or encamped just before it with Monsieur de Rochesorts Army, returned now to the King's Camp at Zeist, a part of whose Guard they were. The three Bataillons of the Regiment of Guards, which the Duke de Roannez had with him in the same place, did the like, and in their stead were sent thither, one Bataillon of the Kings, and another of the Queen's Regiment, the Regiment of Castelnan, the Royal Regiment de la Marine, and that of Suitzers, whose Colonel is the Sieur Stouppe, who also commanded the Place, as belonging of right to him whilst that the King had yet appointed no Governor of it. The rest of the Regiment of Turenne was sent to Naerden, to relieve those of the Dauphin's which lay there, and many foot were sent to reinforce M. de Rochefort's Army, which his Majesty intended to leave about Vtrecht, as well to keep all that part of the Country quiet, as to hinder the Hollanders Arms, which lay not far off, from attemting any thing upon the new conquered places that lay that way. The eight in the morning, Monsieur de Rochefort ordered some powder and shot to be sent to Oudewater, with a Convoy of horse, and then he returned with the Troops he had brought the day before. The Marquis de Ranes came back also with his Regiment Royal of Dragoons: The King prepared to leave Zeist; and the Cardinal de Boüillon went and consecrated the Church of Vtrecht, which was performed with great pomp, to the great Joy of an infinite number of Roman Catholics, who impatiently expected that day. The 9, the Duke of Luxembourg returned to the King's Army, with the Marquis de la Valiere, having left his Baggage and Equippage near Emerick, and the command of his Army to the Bishop of Munster, who came likewise to give the King a visit, and then returned towards Frizeland, where since he hath done the Enemy much harm. The Marquis de Ranes, who during all this Campagne had commanded the Regiment Royal of Dragoons, left that, and took the command of the Regiment Colonel, and went to the King's Camp to follow his Majesty. The next day, the Prince who had been conveyed to Arnhem, and continued there ever since his Majesty left that place, found himself worse than he had been of his wounds, and was much tormented with a fit of the Gout. The King gave 8000 livres, among those who had lost their horses in the late fire. The 10 the King left Zeist (which lies within 2 leagues of Vtrecht) where he had lain 8 days, and went back to encamp between Rhenen and Wageningen. The Duke of Luxembourg went to the Camp before Vtrecht to command that Army, which M. the Marquis de Rochefort left to follow the King; which Army was found to consist of between 15000 and 16000 men. The 11 in the morning, the King went and encamped in the Suburbs of Arnhem, the Government of which, together with those of Nimegen, the whole Isle of Betaw, and Grave, he bestowed on the Count de Lorge, with a pension of 1000 Crowns monthly, M. de Turenne, who had marched with his Army towards Grave, came to wait on his Majesty soon after his arrival, and having assisted at the Council which was held, returned and lay at Nimegen. The weather which had some days threatened a change, at last became very fowl, and from this day forward, rain, wind, and cold did as much trouble us, as if it had been the middle of Winter, till we returned again into the Climate of France. This stormy weather was very to many Towns, which otherwise would certainly have been taken as others had been. The 12, the King left Arnhem, and having passed the Rhine, over a Bridge of Boats made for that purpose a little below the Town, marched through the Isle Betaw, and passed the Wahal also upon a Float over against Nimegen, where he lay that night. All the former night and this day we wrought hard in making a Bridge, to pass over the Army, Artillery, and Baggage, but not being able to sinish it time enough, one part of the Army was forced to stay in the Isle till the next day. Monsieur de Turenne left Nimegen betimes in the morning, and went to Grave, where he found his Army passing the , over a bridge of boats which had been, made above the Town, and the Marquis de Ranes met there a part of the Regiment Colonel of Dragoons, which had stayed there for the defence of the Place, whilst the rest were gone to join with the Count de Chamilly's Army, which lay beyond the Buss, between that Town, Heusden and the Fort Crevecoeur, at a place called Vlymen. As soon as the whole Army had passed the River, we marched on and went to encamp at Bergen, which is within three leagues of Grave. We must not forget to let you know, that Grave, though it be but a little Town, yet is one of the prettiest, pleasantest, strongest, and easilyest defended places, that I have seen. It is situated on the right bank of the , which does very much strengthen it on that side, and on the other side it hath a great marsh, always full of water, which makes it inaccessible at all times, besides it hath excellent Fortifications, and in good repair, but above all a great Horn-work very well secured with a covered way, which goes to the very Gate, with excellent Ravelins, besides a good Counterscarp, and a palisado which is but newly made, and is in very good order, and strong Bulwarks: so that I may truly say that I have not seen in Holland a prettier Town, better in order, or in a likelier condition to defend itself. It hath been often taken and retaken, the first time was in the year 1586, when the Prince of Parma besieged it, and had it surrendered to him upon Articles; and than it was again retaken in 1602, by Prince Maurice of Nassau, and since hath continued in their possession. The 13, because of the Bridges not being time enough in readiness the day before, the King kept at Nimegen, whilst the rest of the Army all that day passed over from the Isle of Betaw. Monsieur de Turenne passed from Bergen in the morning, and encamped at a Village called Hempel, within a league of the Buss, and half a league from Crevecoeur, and immediately set his men to work about making a bridge over against his Camp, and at the end of the bridge raised a Redout to keep the Enemy from putting any succours into Crevecoeur, which he intended to besiege. The 14 the King left Nimegen, and marched towards Grave, where he passed the , and encamped on the left side of that River. Monsieur de Turenne went and viewed the Fort of Crevecoeur, and though news came that the Inhabitants of Bommelle had sent to the King to capitulate, he notwithstanding sent a Trumpet to summon it. M. de Montauban advanced on the other side of the Buss with 4000 horse. The weather began to make the Country almost unpassable; the cold, rain, and wind grew very troublesome, so that we could hardly find the Causseys, though there be no going any where else, the whole Country being nothing but marshes and dikes. The 15 his Majesty left Grave, and came within a league of Boxtel, a little Town near the Buss, but of very great importance, because it commands the Sluices, which either keep in, or let out the waters, all over this part of the Country. But at this time they had no great need of them, the rain having already so plentifully fallen, that all about the Town was overflown, which hindered us from besieging it, as we before designed. The Bridge which Monsieur de Turenne had ordered to be made over the , for communication between his Camp and the Isle of Bommelle, was now finished; he ordered 10000 Faggots to be prepared, and viewed the Fort again, which he found to be a very good one, and that it commands the Sluices below the Buss, as Boxtel doth above it. It hath 5 good and large Bastions, though they be not coated: the Garrison consisted of 800 men, who might well defend the Place, which was secured on one side by the River, and on the other by a great unpassable Marsh, and which (had we not provided against it by setting a guard on the passage) might have kept correspondence with the Buss, and been relieved and assisted from thence as oft as they would. The 16 the King went to Boxtel, where he found no resistance. Monsieur de Turenne as soon as the Faggots he had ordered were ready, made the horse carry them, and in the evening caused the Trenches to be opened by the Regiments de Champagne, Lyonnois, and de Louvigny, who advanced them very far, and raised a Battery on that side where the Champagne Regiment was, whereon were planted two pieces of Canon, which were ready to play by day break. They likewise very much forwarded another, which was begun in the Lyonnois Regiment's quarter's, to plant 8 pieces on. The besieged, who were certainly by the ill season lulled a sleep, and thought it not possible we should work in such tempestuous weather, discharged not above 7 or 8 Guns at us, which hurt no body. The Duke of Luxembourg, who, as we said, stayed at Vtrecht with 15 or 16000 men, encamped without S. Catharin's Gate, changed his quarters, and passing the Canale which runs from thence to Rotterdam, went beyond a part of the Suburbs which lies on the other side, and encamped not far from the Town, between it and Naerden, after having defeated a party of the Enemy, who had set upon his vanguard. The 17 the King rested with all his Army at Boxtel, and departed not thence till he returned for France. In the morning as we said the Lyonnois Regiment's Battery began to play upon Creuccoeur, and beat down a Redout which lay on the left side of the Fort toward the River, so that some Soldiers which were in it were forced to abandon it, and retire to their fellows in the Fort itself; afterwards 100 Grenadiers were placed upon the Channel that comes from the Buss, to hinder the communication of the Enemy with that place, and a Serjeunt with 20 men lodged about 30 paces from the declivity of the works, behind the ruins of a Redout, which the Enemy had quitted and fired some days before. The Grand Master of the Artillery came and brought with him 16 pieces of Canon, 8 of which were sent to be mounted on the Battery finished the night before in the Champagne Regiments quarter. The Marquis de Ranes took with him all the Dragoons that were in M. de Turennes Army after dinner, and went with them to the Count de Chamilly's, with whom was the rest of the Vlymen Camp: this Army was likewise now busied in carrying Faggots, to set upon Crevecoeur on their side also. The 18 his Majesty kept at Boxtel, where nothing extraordinary happened. The Battery of 8 pieces of Canon which was begun the night before by the Lyonnois Regiment before Crevecoeur, was finished and ready to play by break of day; and the Enemy soon were made sensible of it by having 6 of their Guns dismounted in a little time; on the Count Chamilly's side, Trenches were likewise opened, from which they gave a false Alarm. M. de la. Forest Lieutenant Colonel of the Dragoons, went in the morning, and caused all the Trees about the Avenues of his Camp to be felled to hinder the Enemy, who was very strong in Heusden, from setting on him behind, but they attemted no such thing; on the contrary the Marquis de Ranes, after dinner accompanied by some of his Dragoons, marched towards them, and beat back their Guards, and made them retire within their palisado, on purpose to entice them out to fight, but none of them stirred, only some volleys of small shot were let fly at us from their works. In the mean time, the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington, the English Ambassadors, having dispatched their business, took leave, and returned by Brussels, that so they might require the Count Monterey, the Governor of the Netherlands, to withdraw all the Spanish Forces from the Dutch service, or upon his refusal to denounce War against him in the name of the King of England; and tell him that he would immediately fall to acts of hostility against the Spaniard. Monsieur de Villacerre accompanied them to be a witness of their Conference, and the English and French Fleet came up as far as the Texel, with design to land, if he refused assent to the proposal: but the Count de Monterey made answer, that the business was of such importance as he could not answer till he had acquainted his Superiors with it, and therefore desired time till he might send to Madrid, and then he would act according to the instructions he should receive thence. An Officer that went a pickering with a party of Horse towards Breda, met with a party of the Enemy, and though ours was but 30 against 80, he made them give ground, and after someresistance wholly routed them: but 500 Peasants, which had gathered together, and strongly entrenched themselves endeavoured to cut off the retreat of our men, so that they were feign to force their way, which they did happily enough through their first barricado, but when they came to the second, the case was altered, for the Peasants had sent to the routed party of the Enemy, to bid them rally and set on our men behind, whilst they would oppose them before, and stop their passage. The project took so well that they defeated our party, and though there were not many killed upon the place, yet it fared the worse with them that scaped; for falling into the hands of the Peasants, there was no sort of cruelty which they endured not from them; but they were not long unrevenged, for the King hearing of their barbarous usage the same evening, presently ordered a party to go and put all those Villages to fire and sword. On the 19, which was the day following, the Chevasier Fourille marched out by break of day with the Brigades de la Fevillée and de Roye, and 200 Dragoons which M. de Ranes had sent him, under the command of the Chevalier de Tilladet, Camp master to the Regiment Colonel, with orders to burn, plunder, and put to the sword all that they should meet; and accordingly they burned and plundered the Villages: but the Peasants having heard of the design, were for the most part fled, so that few of them fell into our hands; but being very near Breda, some Dragoons who were commanded to set fire at any place where they could, went up to the very Gates of the Town, and there fired some houses whilst the rest of the party and the Horse defended them; this troubled the Town a little, who thought sure thereupon that we were coming to besiege them. The Governor of Crevecoeur, finding we should now soon be in a condition to assault the Place, resolved to stand out no longer, and that he might get the better conditions, went himself to make them; so he came forth and desired to speak with M. de Turenne, who gave order he should be civilly entreated, but would not see him. He only disarmed the Garrison, and because we had more Prisoners than we could well tell what to do with, he had them all conducted a league from the Place, and there gave them their liberty, as he had done before to those of Nimegen, among which he had found 500 or 600 Citizens of Vtrecht, whom he sent to their own homes. Hinkel which is a little Fort between the Buss and Crevecoeur, was taken by the Count de Chamilly, with more ease than he himself did expect: for the Garrison either being frighted, or having heard that we intended to assault them, quited it after having set fire on their powder and the houses of the Fort, a part of which were notwithstanding saved. The 20, the King, who continued still at Boxtel, having heard of the surrender of Crevecoeur, came and viewed the Fort, and afterwards returned, whilst M. de Turenne passed over the Island of Bommelle, and sent and summoned the Town which bears the same name. The Inhabitants were at a stand what answer to make, on one side they found not themselves in a condition to hold out a long Siege, and despaired of being relieved; they likewise saw that many Towns better fortified and Garrisoned than they, had not been able with all their strength to defend themselves; and that all the Country round about them was already in our possession; but on the other side also they remembered that they had formerly born up against all the 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 Colonel, who had before been in Nimegen whilst we besieged 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 yield 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 proceed, we therefore went and encamped at Stelst; which is a little Village lying upon the River, within Canon shot below the Town. Whilst the King's 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, perceived the ground had lately been turned 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 killed, 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 ordered 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, ventured out of the Town, without any opposition, filled a Frigate, which carried 4. or 5 pieces of Canon, with Soldiers, and coming down the River ere we were ware of them, arrived 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 killed 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, showed them so much vigour and courage in the Skirmish, that they retired 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, forced 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, fling themselves into the water, where they all perished, being either drowned or killed by our men, who were skirmishing on the shore, this accident frighted them so, that from that time forward they dared not venture out. At the same time Monsieur de Turenne ordered Faggots to be made, and sent a Trumpet to summon the Place once again, the besieged 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 inquire what was become of the first, the Governor desired M. the 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 lose 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 besieged sent back the Articles signed. An hour or two after dinner, a Frigate with men to put into Bommel, came up the River from Worcum, (or Gorcum) but having been made more cautious by what happened in the morning, we had placed a Corpse de Garde on divers places of the Banks, so that they could not pass, and were forced 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 killed, one half of his head having been taken off. At length, the Place being yielded 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 Swissers 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 advantageous 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 chief cares. It is surrounded with good Cortin's, Bastions and Towers, a double Rampart, and a double ditch. It was besieged in 1599 for the Spaniard by Don Francisco 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 possessed by our Dragoons, Monsieur de Turenne departed hence with his Army, and came back to Hempel, where being to march through the Town he dined. 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 Mistress 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 arrived at Boxtel an Envoye from the Prince of Orange, with many Propositions for a Peace; 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 brussels, 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 Buss, 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 arrived with their Convoy, they were sent on a league forward of the next day's journey towards the King's 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 toil he endured in the Campagne) Monsieur de Turenne should stay behind in Brabant with 20000 men, and should have for his Lieutenant's 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 lie below Maestricht, and the Marquis de Rochefort with the greatest part of the King's Household above it, that so betwixt them they might wholly block up that Town; that M. de la Fevillade should go with his own Brigade, and some others which he should have given him to the number of 4000 horse, and lie 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, advanced towards Beerlicon within 2 leagues of the King's Quarters, and remained 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 thrcatened with upon refusal, packed up bag and baggage, and made themselves ready to departed, 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 Buss, and assured us they had seen the said Troops there, who were very weary of the service, and complained 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 belonged 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 ordered them to follow him into France. The 26 in the morning, the King departed from Boxtel, and came to lie at Borkel, which is a great Abbey of white Friars in the way from Boxtel to Tongres. His Majesty lodged 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 stayed behind, to join with M. de Turenne's Army, as did all the rest of the Foot which was in the King's retinue, because they could not keep pace with the King, who intended thence forwards to take great Journeys; only 12 Companies were ordered to follow softly after him to Paris. Monsieur de Turenne returned 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 lodged a league beyond that Town. The 28 in the morning, the Light-horse which had hitherto accompanied the King, returned to join 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 King's Household, 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 stayed to dine in the middle of his Journey, he was informed that all the heavy Baggages had been taken and plundered, some said by a party which sallied out of Maestricht, and others by the Cravates we met at Hannuy. His Majesty thereupon sent in haste to know the certainty of the business, but the Courier brought back word, that only M. Brancas' Baggage had been taken by some horse of the Enemy's who being ware 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 entering 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 ordered 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 setting out by break of day, arrived 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 travailed on horseback whatever weather it was) and road on all night accompanied by a strong Convoy, which had been drawn out of the Life Guards, Men at Arms, Light Horsemen and Musqueteers, who accompanied 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 marched on with them all the night following. Almost all the Court stayed at Quesnoy to come leisurely after, because the King had horses laid 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 belonged to the King's Household encamped before the Gates of Quesnoy. The first of August the King arrived 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 Governor 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 queen did not expect him till the Thursday following. The Troops which had stayed behind at Quesnoy, marched this day to Landreby, whether the party that had conveyed 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 lip. 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 deceitful 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 passed 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 confirmed 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 passed in our Armies. You will find here some Particulars and Circumstances, which 'tis likely you have not heard of before, and which I promise myself 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 weakness: and unfitness to be an Author. As I never valued myself upon appearing in Print, so what I have done now, was only in complaisance to some who desired it. A CONTINUATION Of what happened in the Dutch WAR, After the King's 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 mentioned. His absence a little raised their spirits, so that they ventured out of their Intrenchments and marched towards Woerden, Croanembourg, and some other small Towns, which we had left ungarrisoned 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 possessed them awhile quietly enough, and it may be we should not have concerned ourselves so far as to drive them out, had not the Prince of Orange designed 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 itself, glad to find an opportunity of doing something for his King's Service, took the Field, and straight marched 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 entrenched 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 marched to Woerden, which fared no better than Croanembourg, and the Count de la Mark was left there with the Picardy Regiment. These proceed did more trouble the States than one can well imagine: for besides the confusion it put them in, the loss of this last place, though it be little, and in itself 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 called a Council of War, and very earnestly desired the Prince of Orange presently to besiege it, who, thinking it a business of no difficulty, the Town being but slenderly fortified, closed 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 request, 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 departed, 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 join, he went and encamped at the head of a Pass between Wesep and Naerden, where he caused a strong Entrenchment to be raised 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 talked of them; and because it seemed probable, their designs were either against Naerden, which they had long threatened, or Vtrecht, towards which their march seemed to incline, he presently drew out to prevent them. This happened on the 8th of October, for though they had long known of the King's return into France, yet were they 2 or 3 months before they could so recollect their spirits as to think upon attempting any thing. The Duke therefore by 4 in the morning, leading with him 4000 Foot, and all his Horse, went and took up his post near the Pass through which the whole Dutch Army was to march; but this he did so suddenly, that he surprised them; so that their Vanguard, without staying to discover who we were, betook themselves to their heels with as much haste as if they had been already beaten, which gave our Vanguard occasion to laugh at them sufficiently: yet with all their haste they could not escape some of our Dragoons, who fling themselves into the Cannel, which served them as a Baricado, and swimming over killed divers of them, and took 40 Prisoners just before the Entrenchment within which the whole Body of their Army lay, not one of them daring to stir out to bring off their Companions; only they let fly some Volleys of Shot from their Canon, notwithstanding which, our Men encamped themselves there. The next day being the ninth, our Army, which had purposely taken this post to observe their motions, was very intent all day upon that, and getting together some Forage, without enterprising any thing else: But the Hollanders lay not so quiet as we, for they had been too long upon the defensive part already, and therefore resolved now to enter upon the offensive; 20 or 30 of their bravest Fellows seeing us lie still, had a great mind to take our Foragers, who were as securely at their work, as if they had been at the Gates of Paris, not thinking any body would dare to come and disturb them. This their confidence gave the Enemy the better opportunity, who thereupon enclosed both the Men, Horses and Forage. The truth is, the Sieur de la Rovillardiere, Captain of a Company of Dragoons, and the Sieur Vieuxpont his Cornet, had been ordered to be their Convoy; but because the extent of the Country, which they were to defend, was somewhat large, they had divided themselves, each taking 15 Mistress which they commanded; so that they could not hinder the Enemy's design, neither did they oppose it, but suffered all to be taken. Yet the Hollander had no reason to brag of the Exploit; for our Captain and his Cornet, instead of coming towards them, left them masters of the Field awhile, and wheeling a little about, joined, and took up their post in a narrow passage, by which they saw the Enemy must come with his prize, and there waited for them; where, after having stood their first discharge, they made them all Prisoners, not one escaping, and brought them, and all the Foragers, back to our Camp. In the Evening, the Duke of Luxembourg gave order to his Men to be ready by the next Morning, resolving, seeing they stirred not, to approach them nearer, and try if he could entice them out: and at the same time ordered a Captain of the Piedmont Regiment, with 12 Granadiers, to go and attaque them within their Barricado, and try if any of them sallied out, to take some Prisoners, whilst he would be ready, in case of need, to bring them off. The Captain performed what he was commanded very courageously, past their first Barricado without any resistance, and marched on to the second, where he found as little opposition; and seeing nothing but Men that fled, he advanced to the third, which chanced to be a House, so he set fire on that, and went on with intent to take some Prisoners if he could, as he had been ordered, but he lost his labour; for the Dutchmen, notwithstanding their pursy fat bulk, plied their legs so nimbly at this time, that it was not possible for him to overtake one. Wherefore he returned, and being to give account of what he had done, told the Duke, He had forced & fired their Barricado's, and ran after the Enemy, but without being able to catch any, because they flew, fear having put wings to their feet. The truth is, they never left running till they came to Bodengrave, so that M. de Luxembourg finding there was likely to be no more action, returned to Vtrecht, where he was not long idle; for the Hollanders prepared more Laurels for him, as you shall hear. The tenth in the Morning they set forward, and embarking upon the River to the number of 14000, came and took up their post before Woerden, which the Prince caused presently to be blocked up, hoping to surprise the Garrison, who indeed had no notice of their coming; but they not having been negligent in their duties, the business was not likely to be effected so soon as the Enemy hoped, who now began to fear this little paltry Town would cost them more than they imagined, wherefore they spent the rest of this, and all the following day, in Entrenching themselves, and fortifying all the Avenues to their Camp, especially that part of it which lay towards Vtrecht, imagining if any succours came to the Town, it it would be from thence. In the mean time, the Count de la Mark took care to give notice to the Duke of Luxembourg, and not doubting but he would speedily come to his assistance, was still upon the watch, ready to sally forth and set upon the Enemy on his side, as soon as he should find some succours come to second him. Upon this Intelligence, which came in a very ill time (because the Duke of Luxembourg was then in the Field with so small a party as could not be able to attempt any thing of themselves, any one but he would have been sufficiently puzzled; but it was not then a time to stand considering, wherefore he commanded those that were with him to march on toward the besieged place, whilst he went post to Vtrecht, where he ordered the Marquis of Genlis to take all the Horse he had, and some Foot, and follow after with all possible speed, ordering 2000 which were then ready to march immediately, because the danger being great required a like remedy. These Orders were given most prudently, and if they were not accordingly executed, I can give no reason for it; but this I can certainly affirm, That the Duke, being impatient till he got to the Enemy, left all these Forces to be brought after by Monsieur de Genlis, and put himself at the head of those he had sent before, when he first received the news of the Siege; and the other 2000 Foot which he found ready, resolving with this small party to set upon the Enemy, and venture all, rather than suffer the place to be lost so under his nose, without ever attempting any thing to save it. It must be acknowledged that this Enterprise was strangely hazardous, and the happy issue of it beyond belief. For it seemed morally impossible, that our party should swim over 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 flanked and pallizadoed. Yet notwithstanding all this, the Duke of Luxembourg having stayed 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 Volunteers, and at last the whole party to do the like, and so they passed over upon the very mouths of the Enemy's 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 ware of the Duke of Luxembourgs arrival and attaque, lost no time, but sallied 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 tried the Enemy's 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 sheltered 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, Sluices, 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 forced 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 drowned, 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 succour 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 attained 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 Volunteer of Normandy likewise, in the same Body. The M. de la Meylleraye, Colonel of the Piedmont Regiment. M. the Lardiniere, Lieutenant Colonel of the Navarre Regiment, and the Chevalier de Boufflers, Colonel of the Regiment Royal of Dragoons were dangerously wounded; besides divers Volunteers who did wonders. As the success of so perilous an Enterprise could not but be very glorious to the Duke of Luxembourg, so upon that account it did reward itself; but neither proved it less advantageous to him, then glorious. For the generous Monarch, for whose service it had been undertaken, no sooner heard of it, but with many Commendations bestowed on him, He presently thought how he might recompense it; and besides a great sum of money, 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 followed by its recompense; 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, resolved 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 forced to be always doing nothing, to which he was here reduced 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 something to more purpose, if leaving Holland he went toward Liege, either against Tongres or Fouquemont, which were neither fortified, nor like to be succoured by any Army that lay near them: for M. de Turenne was marched after the Imperial and Brandenbourg Forces, or else against Maesiick, whose Fortifications not being yet finished, would more easily be taken. In this resolution he chose out his best Troops, and most experienced Commanders, in whom he chief 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 named Town, as well as those of the Buss, Berguen-op-Zoom, and Maestricht, to augment his Army; but did not execute what he intended, either because he changed 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 marched thither, and began to make his approaches; but going in Person to view it, he chanced to bleed at the Nose; which seeming ominous, he would not obstinately stay any longer before it, but marched strait on to Tongres, with design to set upon that. But the Sieur Montal, Governor of Charleroy, having had Orders from the King, who had intelligence of their design, to put some Soldiers into it; having done accordingly, spoiled their design. Maesiick would have been a better bit for them, but they were too dainty to stoop to such course fair, and therefore went on towards Fouquemont, upon which the Prince vented all his fury, and took it with as much greediness, as it had been defended generously, by the Lieutenant Colonel of the Jonzac. Regiment, who was in it only with 200 Men, endured four Assaults very bravely, but at last was forced to yield it up. After this, the Prince resumed his design against Tongres, and marched towards it; but let us leave him awhile to see what was done in the mean time in his own Country. The Hollander had not so much reason to rejoice at the taking of Fouquemont, as they had of being sorrowful at the success of our Arms, and those of the Bishop of Munster's in Friesland. The Count de Saulx, having been told by a certain Captain in his Regiment, who had learned it from some Germane Fugitives from the Dutch Army, that the Bampfield Regiment lay at Hylestein in very ill plight, and that there was a way to come to them which was not well guarded, and whose Fortifications were not capable of giving us any stop, the Guard itself consisting but of 40 or 50 Men, which lay a great way from the rest within an Entrenchment beyond the Canale of Gorcum; and that their retreat might be cut off, not to lose any time, sent some to take knowledge of the Post, and in the mean time gave intelligence of it to the Duke of Luxembourg, who was very glad of the news, but however expected the return of those who were gone to take an account of the place; who soon returning, confirmed almost all that the Germane Fugitives had related. Hereupon the Count de Saulx received the Order which he had desired of marching thither; he had given him to that end 300 Men of his own Regiment, and 200 out of that of Castelnau, 50 Dragoons, and as many Horse, with Commission only to take all the party that were guarding that passage, and not to venture, for fear of being lost in going to the Enemy's Quarters. The 15 of November was the day which conferred on him the glory he gained in this enterprise. He set out about 3 of the clock after dinner, having at least 100 Reformades Officers that followed him as Volunteers; and the first thing he did, was to send a Captain of his Regiment to go before and secure the Avenues, that no intelligence might be given to the Enemy of the march. But he was but just got beyond a place called Lexmende when he saw the Captain return, who brought word, That the Enemy had certainly smelled the Design, being since they were sent, the number of the party was increased, and they had made up a Barriere before their Entrenchment, where they had placed some of their new comers, whom he had seen relieved by others, and that the outward Guard seemed to consist of about 10 Men. This news increased the joy of our brave Commander, who now saw, that though he was confined to do nothing but carry away all that guarded that place, yet he now should carry away at least twice as many; and that if he afterwards marched on to the Enemy's Quarters (as he intended) he should with more ease master them, since they had weakened themselves by sending this party to the others assistance. Wherefore he commanded the same Captain, with his Company, to take only their Swords and leave their Fire-arms behind, that so they might, if possible, make the other party yield without noise, lest the Alarm should be thereby given to the Enemies main Quarters. This was very well contrived, but the party proving to be Horse (which he knew not of his Scouts, who saw none of their Horses) some of them gave notice to the rest time enough for them (who had received very considerable succours upon the intelligence they received 2 hours before of the Design) to prepare themselves to receive us. So great an alteration was enough to have sent the Count back as he came, but it did only heighten his courage, who thought himself now too far engaged to leave off so, wherefore seeing all his men desiring nothing more than to engage, he continued his march, and within a little while came within Pistol-shot of the Entrenchment. There were two ways which led to it, and gave him an opportunity to attaque it in two places at once, but one of them was hardly passable upon the account of a Sluice five or six foot deep; yet notwithstanding he resolved to make use of them both, and to that purpose mended the other a little first, and then immediately commanded the Grenadiers to advance and cut down the Pallisadoes; but they not being able to perform it, because of their thickness, he commanded the Officers to climb over, which succeeded so well, that the Enemies, after a short resistance, betook themselves to flight, and gained their Quarters where they stayed not long; for seeing themselves pursued, they stole away without any noise of Drum or Trumpet, though they were 1000 or 1200 Men. It must be confessed, that as the Enemies were always very vigorously set upon, so was their Cowardice extraordinary, otherwise it had not been possible 1200 Men should suffer themselves to be routed and beaten out of a Fort, which on one side was strengthened by a great Canale that ran at the foot of it, and on the other by two rows of strong Pallisado's 7 Foot high, a Parapet Canon proof, 8 foot high, with two pieces of Ordnance, which they had placed there upon notice of our Design; besides 3 Frigates upon the Canale, who with their Canon were to defend the Entrenchment. The Marquis of Castlenaw, who was one of the Volunteers, after having killed three with his own hand, in the heat of the Action had his hand lifted up to have done as much to a fourth, but was prevented by a Musket-shot, which so shattered his Arm, that it was fain to be cut off; and afterwards, notwithstanding all the Surgeon's care, gangrend, so that he died of it some days after at Vtrecht, and was much lamented by all, as one of the most courageous and brave Men we had: but his death was soon revenged by that of him that had shot him, and 50 of his Companions, which were killed on the place, and 100 more who were taken: the Fire destroying the rest of them. The same day being the 15th, the Marquis de Moussis, Colonel of the Queen's Regiment, having been ordered to go and beat up a party of the Enemy Quartered near Wesep, went accordingly with 300 Men, drawn out of the Garrison of Naerden; but he found no body, for they had retired upon notice of his march, so they fired the Village which they had quitted. At the same time the Enemy took a fancy to attaque a place in Frizeland, whether they went with 5000 Horse and 300 Foot, and not having been able to surprise it as they hoped, they laid so formal a Siege to it, that it lasted too long to their misfortune. For the Marquis Reinel, Campmaster to a party of Horse of the Confederate Forces, hearing of it, got together all the Men he could in haste, and went to its relief, where he broke through their Lines, getting into the Camp among them, killed many, routed the rest, and gained all their baggage. The Elector of Brandenbourg, their Protector, had no better fortune than they, or the Imperialists that he had with him. Monsieur de Sainfandaux at this time Foraging about the Country with 20 or 25 Mistress, was betrayed 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 overpowered by numbers, wounded, and carried 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 passed over the Main, sent 150 Mistress of the King's household, 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, advanced towards the Commander in chief, and after having asked who they were for, demanded free passage, which was granted him: afterwards he demanded Quarters in the neighbouring 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 turned out of them; this satisfied him as to that point, he having no design to quarter there, wherefore M. Brizac asked him if he would send for some Wine, saying, They must needs drink a Bottle together: but the Germane smelling a design of making him speak more in his drink then he was minded to do now he was sober, replied, He had already drunk his Morning's 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 killed 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 Honour: it being the way by which he was to retire, in case of ill success; and he having bragged and promised 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 labour, 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 setting a strong guard there, disposed 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 neighbours, 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 King's Household, and marched towards them with all speed, to take cognizance of them himself, being resolved once more to beat them from that post. He had not marched far, when being yet above three quarters of a mile short of the Bridge, passing thorough 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 followed our party, and were hunting in the Wood, he followed the Cry till he came near our Vanguard, and hearing a noise of Men and Horses, came on towards us, but found other kind of Hunters than he was ware 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 asked who we were for, let fly at us first; who returning the same salute, wounded him in five or six places, whereof he died 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 Partisans performed at home, whilst the Prince of Orange ranged about in the Country of Liege, with intent to surprise some place on that side. He went to set upon Liege itself, but stayed not long before it: but because Tongres, and the Garrison there had done him much mischief, he had a great spite at it, and was always framing some design against it. After the taking of Fouquemont, he resolved 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 returned sooner, for though he came thither with intent to sit down before it, yet Count Marsin made the project miscarry, who (seeing 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 win 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 Governor he was, and out of which he had drawn those men, might easily be gained, both upon the account of the Governors' absence, and thinness of the Garrison, which they imagined was much weakened by the party that M. de Montal had thence carried with him to Tongres: upon these grounds, they resolved 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 informed of the design by some prisoners, and by 50 Mistress, whom he had ordered to follow the Enemy at a distance and observe their motions, (though he could hardly believe 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 immediately 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 than 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 proffer, and without any farther delay, disposed 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 Mistress, 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, arrived all three one after another to Versailles, were their Majesties then were. The news they brought, was so extraordinary, and it seemed 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 laughed at as mad men, rather than believed; 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 believed, 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 immediately to Lisle, of which he was Governor, and there to expect farther orders. As M. the 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 Colic, set out immediately for Lisle. As to Monsieur de Montal, he took the same way along the Caussey, by which the Enemy had marched 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 stripped and hamme-stringed their horses, that they might not follow nor give notice of his march. The ●8 before day he came pretty near the Enemy, 1500 or 1600 of whose foot were quartered in a Village called 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 ware 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 done 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 relieved, lest when he would have forced his passage, all the whole Army should be upon his back, which succeeded as he could have wished. 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 ware 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 cloaks. 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 outhouses thereabouts, some body having spied their naked swords, cried to Arms, saying they were Enemies, and thereupon they shot at them from every part, because they still marched on, not minding what was done; 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 Enemy's Horse-guard, which consisted of 150 Mistress, 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 called Floris Major, who was in great repute amongst them. 13 or 14 of our party were either killed or taken, whom we stayed not to relieve, lest by so doing we should have lost the opportunity of getting into Charleroy, for if we had obstinately stayed to disengage them, it may be the whole Army had fallen upon us. We therefore presently gained 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 outworks: The truth is M. de Franclieu, the King's Lieutenant in that Place, who commanded in chief during the Governor's 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 stayed 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 show most zeal for his Majesty's and their Country's service, there being no body who deserved 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 Forage begun to fail, he sent out 50 of them to defend 150 Musketeers, commanded by the Sieur Desbonnais, whilst they should get together all the Forage they could find all along the Sambre, in the most remote houses, this was 3 hours doing, and had been sooner performed had not the Enemy strove to oppose it, and so hindered 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 losing but 2 Soldiers in all the Action. Whilst all this went on so gloriously, every body was severally 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 not to be coated, nor quite finished; he judged they would make their chief attaque on that side, which made him particularly provide for the security of that quarter, that h● might defend it to the last. Now Monsieur de Franclieu, having before foreseen how the business would go, had drawn a traverse across 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 fenced with Pallisadoes, 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 ● 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 outworks 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 Enemy's out-guard, enticed 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 relieve 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 leisurely 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 played so well that many of them were cut off by it, and among others 3 Cornets, one of which belonged to the Prince of Orange's 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. in Say. 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 lose their labour. if they stayed 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 lined 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 Queen for Compeigne, left St. in Say, and went and lay at the Lovure in Paris. Monsieur de Montal, who had all the night been upon the Watch, expecting that the Enemy should attaque his Outworks, or open their Trenches, was frustrated in his expectation; for betimes in the morning, Count Marsin sent away all his Woolpacks, Baskets, and Sacks to put Earth in, together with twenty pieces of Canon, and two Morter-pieces, to be carried 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 raised their Siege, and about daybreak all their Troops, both Dutch and Spanish, discamped and marched 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 marched 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, returned thither. The 23. Their Majesties arrived at Compiegne, which the King intended to leave and pass on further, according as he should hear from the Courriers; but those who arrived that night, bringing news of the Enemy's 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 talked 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 retired 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 ventured 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 used to retire, when ever they had ill success, as to an assured place of safety. So that the next day, in spite 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 called Wells, where the Enemy was quartered, and had cast up two Intrenchments, which he easily forced, with the loss of one only Soldier, who was killed 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 than it had been hitherto, he met with six hundred more at a Village called Swammerdam, where they were entrenched in all the Houses, from the windows of which they were very liberal of their shot, and portholes 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, leapt into the Water, and waded through it to beat them down, showing 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 advanced to skirmish the Enemy, which they performed so well, that they forced 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, forced the Doors of all those Houses, and made himself master of them. The Duke of Luxembourg immediately commanded them all to be fired, not sparing so much as that of the Prince of Orange, in which many Men, Goods and were burned, to be revenged of him for assaulting the Castle of Marimont, one of the King's 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 denied it. But it is to be admired, that the Soldiers marched 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 Majesty's being certified of the Prince of Orange's retreat, resolved to return to St. Germains. The 29. Orders were given at Compeigne for their Majesty's departure, and preparations made to set forward on the 31. The Duke of Luxembourg, who stayed awhile at Bodengrave, to give his brave Soldiers a little rest and refreshment, found himself necessitated to march on yet further: for being informed that some of those whom he had routed the day before, had not dared to stay at Niverburg, and by their fright so infected all those that kept the Garrison (which was most advant giously fortified) that they had all forsaken it; he thought himself obliged 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 secured 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 possessed all the ways by which the Prince was to return, he was forced 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 Lovure in Paris, from whence they went to St. en Say. FINIS.