A NARRATIVE Of the Great and Bloody Fight BETWEEN THE Prince of Orange AND THE Duke of Orleans The King of Frances General, NEAR THE City of St. Omers,  
On Sunday the first of April 1677. with the Numbers of the Killed and Wounded Men. BEING AN Impartial Account.  
Licenced according to Order.  
LONDON, Printed for T. M. 1677.   

A Narrative of the Great and Bloody Fight between the Prince of Orange and the Duke of Orleans, the King of France's General, near the City of St. Omers on Sunday the first of April, 1677.  
THE disapointment the Prince of Orange met with at Maestricht the Last year, occasioned by the Duke de Villa Hermosa, not impeding the Count Schomberg from Relieving the said place, which he had brought to such extremity, that they were not able to defend the Town much longer without relief, and not having then the Sole Command, and other Confederate Princes being joined with him, made him resolve upon something that might vindicate his Honour and Courage, (and afterwards to act distinctly) in order to which the last Winter he recruited his Army, not only taking care to furnish them with all necessaries and increase their numbers, but like a discreet General well disciplined them. And therefore with all diligence brought them into the Field to prevent the progress of the French, and so to that purpose at Ipres on the 8 Instant Newstile, drew his Army up in Battalia, from whence the next day he marched to the first opposition which was at the River Peene, which was posted by the French, whereupon the Prince Commanded an Attack upon them which proved with good success, and made the French retreat, and give way to the Dutch after some hours dispute, after which the Prince caused several Bridges to be throne over the River for his Army to pass, using all means to get to the relief of St. Omers before the Detachement arrived there from Cambray for the Enemy's reinforcement, but the ways proving very deep and heavy, much Retarded his Highness March. On the 11. ditto. his Highness came in view of the French Army commanded by the Duke of Orleans being strengthened the Evening before by the Duke of Luxemburghs Army from Cambray; the Prince notwithstanding the odds and the want of Count Nassaus' Presence, on Sunday about nine a Clock in the Morning engaged the Enemy till Evening with great Courage and Gallantry, beating down the left-wing of the French Army for some hours, but continual supplies, and the Courage of the valiant Duke of Orleans turned the Seals and made the Dutch Retreat in some disorder.  
Till such time as they Retreated to a narrow Pass and a graft, where the Prince's Artillery and Baggage was placed, who disputed it till it was quite dark, and where the Prince was Resolved to maintain the fight the next day, but his Scouts bringing intelligence the Count de Nassaw was not come in, nor any hopes in Reasonable time, made him take a Resolution to march off with as much Honour as the exigence of the business would allow, which was excellent well performed, for though the French were far Superior to him in Horse, his Highness taking the advantage of the ground which was most Enclosures and Ditches, made his retreat more easy by lining the Hedges and maintaining the Passes, which cost the French much Pains and blood, but the French pressing very vigorously upon the Dutch, and their want of Cavalry made it impossible for them to bring off their Guns and Baggage, and therefore were forced to leave them behind; the Prince between this and Ipre the next day marched in good order, having the night before taken care of all the wounded men, so that if the French had over taken them, they would run the hazard of another Battle, but they were more intent upon the taking in of St. Omers as is supposed, in this dispute there was much Resolutions on both sides, the Dutch, though worsted, was much to be commended, and 'tis thought had not the badness of the ways Prevented them, had carried off their Guns and Artillery.  
We have not as yet an exact Account of what Persons of Quality are Killed or taken on either side, but what is uncertain, and therefore think it not prudence to declare it, though Letters say people of Eminence on both sides.  
The French having defeated the Prince, remained Masters of the field. In this encounter, by the best computation, the Dutch have lost 4000 men and 2000 wounded, which were carried off, besides others that were able to March off; The French loss supposed not so considerable by some hundreds, however the Gentlemen at Arms and the King's Musketeers suffered so much upon this occasion, as being the people that opposed the fury of the Enemy most, Charged the Prince's Guards and choicest of his Infantry, who were at Push of Pike and Swords Point for ne'er an hour together, before either gave way, neither were the Courage and endeavours of the besieged wanting who made several brisk and Resolute Sallies upon the Forts, which the Duke had ordered to be filled with men, to prevent any mischief from the Town upon the Rear of his Army, whilst the Enemy was in the Van, and had certainly carried des Vaches had not a Regiment of Horse and Dragoons come into the relief of the Fort, who made the besieged return twice as fast as they came out, Leaving behind them several Dead bodies and some Prisoners. The Garrison in St. Omers are full of Courage and Resolution beyond any of the Spanish Garrisons, the French have sat down before as yet, but how long they shall be able to withstand the French after the Prince's retreat, without further supplies, a little time will produce.  
FINIS.