NO sooner had those puissant Parties, who were ingaged in a war, that had divi­ded almost all Europe, seen the conclusion of the Campagne 1676 and the beginning of the Year 1677, but they began [Page 4] with equal heat and diligence to put their Armies into a con­dition to enter upon action, and to give Life to those Ne­gotiations on foot, which might be advantagious to them.

The Estate of the Courts of Europe.The Imperialists being re-as­sured by the Peace made with the Rebells of Hungary, and the Circles of the Empire be­ing full of hopes for the carry­ing the War on the other side of the Rhine, every one for their parts formed very strong Armies. The Spaniards, to shew the Vigour of the new Government of Don John, seemed to cover the Mediter­ranean with Ships, and all Ca­talonia with Soldiers: and mak­ing them in the low Countrys to expect mighty summs for their releif. The Hollanders vex­ed at the evil success of the last Campagne, did not only under­take [Page 5] to recrute their Troops, but also to encrease them by new Levies. France who alone re­garding these preparations of so puissant Enemies, was not a­sleep, but put it self into a con­dition to resist all their endea­vours. The chance of Arms on the other side being against the King of Denmark, the King of the Sweeds at the head of his victorious Army thought of nothing else but of reconque­ring those places which they had taken from him.

In the mean time the Assemb­ly at Nimegen for the general Peace came together slowly, and though the Ambassadors from all parties had waited on his Majesty the King of Eng­land, who was chosen for a Me­diator, it might be easily judg­ed, that for the most part those Princes who had sent them, [Page 6] had several Interests in pro­spect.

The Voyage of Flanders resolved on.Things being in this conditi­on, after the French King had order'd a considerable part of his Armies for the Rhine, for Catalonia, and for Sicily, he for­med out of the Troops that were left a flourishing army for Flanders, and resolved to command it himself in person. He declared at the same time the general Officers which he had chosen to serve him in the several Provinces. The names of the Com­manders of the French Army. He gave to Marshal Crequi the command of the Armie in Germany. To the Marshal Duke de Navailes that of the Army of Catalonia. The Marshal Duke de Vivonne was continued in Sicily. And the Marshal de Humieres, de Schomberg and Luxemburg, Feuillade and Lorges were no­minated to Command in Flan­ders [Page 7] under the Kings Orders.

The resolution of the French Kings departure was published on the 25th of February, The Kings resolution surprises e­very body. and equally surprised both the Court, the Officers of his Ar­mies French and Strangers. The Season so little proper for Military Actions, the Cam­pagne unfurnished of Forrage, the Feasts and divertisements, which the King had made pub­lique, to hide his secret designs, had deceived them all. He had no Equipage ready and yet he must have it, and would depart within three days.

The Duke de Villa Hermosa Governour of the Spanish Ne­therlands, Chiefly the Duke De Villa Her­mosa. seeing so great plenty of Forrage and provision which they had made on the Frontiers, did not amuse himself with the rigours of the Winter, and not at all doubting but that the [Page 8] French were about to come thundering down upon him all on a sudden, he aforehand re­enforced his Garisons, and pro­vided what was necessary in all places which he was able to suc­cour, and which he thought lay most in danger of Siege. He also employed with great in­dustry and indefatigable care and pains those Summs of Mony which they had remitted him out of Spain to put his Troops in good condition, and he ex­treamly pressed the Hollanders to joyn themselves with him, that they might joyntly op­pose what ever the French should go about to enterprise.

The French Kings de­parture.The Sunday Morning being 18th of February, the King de­parts from the Castle of St. Ger­mains where he left the Queen and Monsieur the Dauphin: The most parts of the Princes, [Page 9] Dukes and Lords of the Court following him, in the quality of Volunteers. The same day he arrived in Champaine, the first of March he lay at Chau­ny, the second at St. Quintin, the third at Cate-cambresis, Arrives at Valencie­nes. and the fourth he came to the Camp before Valenciennes, before the Equipage was arrived there: and then it was that he first be­gan to discover a part of his In­tentions.

The French King the last year had laid the foundation of the Enterprises, which he since so gloriously atchieved. Those who did not penetrate into the business of the Con­quest of Conde and Bouchain, and who condemned the endea­vours which had been made on Flanders, because they believ­ed it more necessary to conserve our Frontiers on the side of the [Page 10] Rhine, now were able to per­ceive die weakness of their reasoning. For indeed these two places did incommode those of Hanault and Cambresis and hindred them from all kind of communication: the Baron of Quincy with a flying Camp re­ducing them to extremity. He being a native of the Country, knew perfectly all the Coast, and understanding War so well as he did, he not only hindred all commerce between those places, but so opposed those Spa­niards on that side, that they were not able to make any in­roads into Picardy, nor receive those contributions they had e­stablished there; nor subsist in their Garisons without much trouble. These courses of the Baron of Quincy, and the Ma­gazins which they had made on the Frontiers in divers places [Page 11] shewed plain enough the de­signs that France might have upon Mons, Valenciennes, St. Guilain, and Cambray; but be­sides, Ypres and St. Omer being also menaced by the grand pre­parations of Arms and Munition which they made on the side of Artois and of Boulonois, it was difficult to judge the true inten­tion of the French, and they never imagined that they would enterprise more than one Siege at one time.

The Marquis de Louvois Se­cretary of State, The activi­ty of the Marquis de Louvois. and chief mi­nister for the carrying on of the War, had so ably managed all things to forward the designs of the King, and had joyned to his Counsels so much care and pains, made voyages, and gi­ven orders so to the purpose, that assoon as his Majesty arri­ved in the Camp, all things [Page 12] were in readiness to begin the Campagne.

The Marshal the Duke of Luxembourg, who was depar­ted from Court with this Mi­nister some daies before the King, had inverted Valencien­nes the twenty eighth of Februa­ry; and the better to hide the de­sign of the Siege, the Marshal de Humieres held Mons blocked up at the same time.

The disposi­tion of the Siege.The King immediately cau­sed the Lines to be drawn him­self, visited the Posts, view'd the Place, and gave all necessa­ry orders for the shutting up the passages to hinder them from all manner of succour. The Camp encreased immedi­ately by the arrival of several Troops and their Equipages, and by the provisions which were continually brought thi­ther from the Magazins, where [Page 13] they had been stored up: So that within the space of eight daies there were no less than 50000 Combatants, which in­deed appeared an incredible thing, considering the rigour of the season, and the ill condi­tion they might expect to find themselves in, where a Coun­try was desolate by the War. In the mean time Monsieur Le Mot Marshal de Camp, and Monsieur de Mommont Brigadi­er of the Infantry with these Troops which they comman­ded, did incommodate St. O­mer in Artois and gave a jealou­sie to Ypres. The Baron de Quincy Marshal de Camp and Monsieur de Fitte Brigadier of the Cavalry were at the Gates of Cambray. The esta­blishment of the Quar­ters. The gross of the Ar­my being come into the Camp, the King distributed their Quar­ters. He took his own neer to [Page 14] Famars, which was on that side where they made the Attacques, and he chose the Marshal de Humieres and Feuillade to com­mand under his orders. The Duke of Luxemburg had his Quarter at Launoy. The Mar­shal de Lorges at Mount Azin. These Posts were in so many Villages situate on thee eminen­cies the most neer to the place.

The situati­on and strength of the place. Valenciennes is a place so im­portant, that it may well de­serve all these grand preparati­ons of an Army royal for the taking it. Its situation is very advantageous, and the Empe­rour Valentinian found it so well fortified for defence that he be­stowed on it his Name. It's al­so considerable for the people which inhabit it, for its great commerce and for the reputati­on it has had for having resist­ed great Armies. Besides its [Page 15] fortifications it is encompassed about with two Rivers, the Es­caut, and the Ronnel, with an inaccessible marsh, and Sluces to drown all the country round about it. In fine, it is one of the most important places not only of Hanault, but of all the low Countries. Besides, the ta­king of it secures a part of Pi­cardy and of Champaine and the Countries of the French Con­quest, takes away from Cambray all hopes of succours, and ad­vances the bounds of France e­ven into the heart of Flanders. All these thing being well known to the Spaniards as well as to the French, they forgot nothing which might serve to save Valenciennes. The Duke de Villa Hermosa endeavours its defence. The Duke de Villa Hermosa had sent away this Commissary General to­wards Dendermond with money to furnish the Magazins for [Page 16] the subsistence of his Army, and for the furthering the ad­vance of the Hollanders, who assembled together about Ro­sendal with a design to march a­gainst the French.

The Garison there.They had in the place a 1000 Horse, an Italian Regiment of Foot commanded by Silva. Two Regiments of Walloons, one commanded by the Count de Solres, the other by Mon­sieur de Ostils sometimes Gover­nour of Conde. Two Regiments of Germans of the Marquis of Ledens, and 2000 select Bur­geses; to whom they had given Arms and Officers able to com­mand them. It was abundant­ly furnished with Artillery, and with all sorts of munition for War and provision for men: and a great many both of the Nobility and of the country Paysants had put themselves [Page 17] within it for its defence. The Count de Solres being it seems abroad when it was invested, was fain to use his skill to enter again. The Marquis de Richebou­ry, Brother to the Prince of Es­pinoy a man of Experience and Courage commanded there in quality of Governour. He had inspired both the Soldiers and the Inhabitants with a strong resolution to defend themselves to the very last extremity, and had caused Gallouses to be set up in the cross Streets to ter­rifie the people that they might be no hindrance to their de­fence, and might not dare to spread any Intelligence that might cause any mutiny, and in fine, he had so well disposed the Garison without and the Militia within, that he might promise to himself a vigorous defence. All this they came to [Page 18] understand by an Italian Officer of the Garison who was taken in the Camp.

The continual Rains had stopped the Canon on the way, and hindred the King that he could not give order for the o­pening the Trenches. But on the eighth, they being come, he deferred it no longer; and gave order to attaque it in the weak­est places, which appeared to be at the Port of Cambray and that of Cardon: The Attaque resolved. but the difficul­ty of bringing thither their Ca­non made him resolve to com­mand the attaque to be made on the side of the Port of Azin, although the better fortified. To this end they must first take a Crown Work, The Horn work de­scribed. defended by two Demy-Bastions with their Halfmoons advanced and with a strong Palisado, a large ditch, and a good Counterscarp. But [Page 19] besides all this there was a well furnished Halfmoon, which had Works on Front and a great ditch betwixt two others, and a little before it an irregular Fort named the Pie or the Horshooe, to which one Arm of the Escaut serv'd for a ditch. They must cross over the Escaut which ran with great rapidness along the ramparts of the Town, sepa­rate by a little Fort. In spite of all these obstacles which ap­peared not to be surmounted, they believed if they might be able once to render themselves masters of this Crown-work, then to prepare their Batte­ries and place their Morterpie­ces to fire the body of the Town, that they would be obliged to capitulate rather than to see it reduced to ashes without cost­ing the King any thing but pow­der. So then his Majesty gave [Page 20] orders for the opening the Tren­ches on the ninth or tenth of March, The opening of the Tren­ches. and would needs assist in it himself to animate his Sol­diers by his presence.

The Marshall Schomberg was the first that mounted the Guard with Count Bardi Ma­golotti Lieutenant General, The ground of M. Schom­berg. the Count of St. Geran Marshal de Camp, the Marquis de Angeau Ayde de Camp, three Battalions of the Regiment of Guards of Picardy and Soissons: followed by Monsier Javil Brigadier of the Cavalry with six Squadrons, two of the Companies of the Corps du Guard of Noailles and Duras, one of the Gens de Arms of Scotch and English: and the others of the Collonel General master de Camp and of the Kings. This last Body consisted of two thousand Soldiers drawn out of divers Regiments, who [Page 21] carried the Trench above six hundred paces towards the Counterscarp. The besieged fail'd not to fire stoutly, but with little effect, for there was but a few Soldiers and two Officers killed. The Marquis of Livourn had his Horse killed under him by a Canon shot as he went to visit a certain Post. The Gover­nour is wounded. The Mar­quis of Richbourg Governour of the place, being advanced to the out Works was wounded that night in giving out orders, and his wound putting him in a condition not to act, Monsieur Despres was put in his place, with full and absolute power by the consent of all the Officers: this was not then known in the Camp.

From the tenth to the twelfth at night they put a Blind at the head of the Trench, The Guard of M. de Feuillade. and made a place for their Arms. The [Page 22] Marshal de Feuillade was that day with the Marquis de Renel Lieutenant general, the Mar­quis de Tilladet Marshal de Camp, the Prince de Harcourt Aid de Camp at the head of two Battalions of the Guards of Switzers, two of Navarre, one of Harcourt-Beuvron, and ano­ther of Artois under Monsieur de Aubarede Brigadier of the Infan­try sustained by the Marquis de Revel Brigadier of the Cavalry at the head of the Squadrons of the Corps du Guard of Luxembourg and Lorges, of the Gend'armery of the Collonel Master of the Camp and the Regiment of the King.

The Guard of M. de Luxem­bourg.At the beginning of the e­leventh night the King went himsels to see the Guard moun­ted by the Marshal Luxembourg, the Marquis de Cardonnierre Lieutenant General, the Che­valier [Page 23] de Sourdis, Marshal de Camp, Monsieur de Bartillade Brigadier of the Cavalry, Mon­sieur de Tracy Brigadier of the In­fantry, the Marquis de Chiver­ny Aid de Camp, with the three last Battalons of the Guards, and the two of Auvergne com­manded by the Marquis de Coeu­vres, one Lemayn, and the Squa­drons of the Corps du Guard of Nailles and Duras, one Gens d' Arms and the others of the Col­lonel master de Camp and of the King.

On the morrow being the twelfth, The Battery. the Artillery began to play. Monsieur de Vauban who had the direction of the Works made them to continue a Demi­sap to favour the Canon, whilst the first shots dismounted ma­ny pieces of the besieged. Mon­sieur St. Cathern Commissary of the Artillery was killed in the [Page 24] Battery where he commanded The provisions which they had made on the Frontier, Provisions in the Camp. for the subsistence of the Army arrived by Bouchain and Conde and made plenty in the Camp.

Monsieur arrives.Monsieur the only Brother of the King who had left Paris the seventh, arrived at the Camp this day and was lodged in the King's Quarter.

M. de Lor­gis his Guard.The Marshal de Lorges moun­ted the Trenches with Count Plessis Lieutenant general, Mon­sier de Albert Marshal de Camp, Marquis de Livourn Brigadier of the Cavalry, the Marquis of Cavois Aid de Camp, the Mar­quis of Bourlemount Brigadier of the Infantry with three Battali­ons of the Kings Regiment, two of the Royal and one other of Freezelier assisted by two Squa­drons of the Guards du Corps of Luxembourg and Lorges, one of [Page 25] the Gend' Arms, and the others of the Curassiers of Sourdis and Tilladet. They approached neer the French on the edge of the Counterscarp, and the Mar­quis de Sevigni Ensign of the Dauphins Gend' Arms was there wounded. They seized on some Spanish Officers in the Camp, who would have entred the place either to carry them some intelligence or to have joyned themselves to their Companies.

The same night they took one Redout and the Fauxbourg No­stredame without much resistance on the besiegeds part. They take the Faux­bourg of No­stredame. As more than thirty pieces of Canon, a great many Morterpieces, and of Bombes pour'd down upon the Town, a continual tempest of Fire, Lead and Iron, one would have thought that the be­sieged had enough to do within the place and that they had not [Page 26] time to think of succouring them without. But there was yet a reason for their small re­sistance, which was that they hoped to be able to drown the Besiegers in the same places without, when they should seize them, in letting go their Sluces, and so revenge by water the ravage they had made by Fire. They then let them loose in the Fauxbourg, but to little purpose, for there the fifth part of the Guard did not quit the place but lodg'd themselves there, and made many places of shelter be­cause the Defences and Palisa­does were overthrown by the Artillery.

M. de Hu­mieres Guard,It was the Marshal De Hu­mieres who mounted the fifth Guard on the thirteenth with the Count de Auvergne Lieu­tenant General, the Chevalier de Tilladet, Marshal de Camp [Page 27] the Chevalier Nogent Ayde de Camp, the Chevalier Grignan Brigadier of the Cavalry, Mon­sieur St. George Brigadier of the Infantry, two Battalions of the Regiment of Lyonnois, two of the Dauphins, one of Harcour Bauvron, one of Fuziliers, and the Squadrons of one quarter of the Gens d' Armes, and the light Horse of the Guards, one of the first Companies of the white Musqueteers, one of the Dauphins Gens d' Arms, one of the Cuirassiers, and the other of Tilladet and Sourdis.

The fourteenth the Guard was relieved by the Marshal de Schomberg, M. de Scombergs Guard. the Duke de Ville­roy Lieutenant General, the Prince Palatin de Birckenfeild Marshal de Camp, the Marquis de Montrevel Brigadier of the Cavalry, the Marquis Pierre Brigadier of the Infantry, and [Page 28] the Marquis de Arcy Ayde de Camp with two Battalions of the Queens Regiment, two of the Fleets, one of Piemont Genoways, and one also of Saluces of Pie­mont, and those Troops which the Court of Savoy sent for France, and seven Squadrons of the second company of black Musqueteers, the Dauphins light Horse, the Gend' Arms of An­jou, and the Cuirassiers of Sour­dis, of Tilladet, and of Bartil­lat.

M. de Feu­illades Guard.The Guard was mounted the fifteenth by the Duke of Feuil­lade, the Count Montbron Lieu­tenant General, Monsieur Stoup Marshal de Camp, the Prince de Elbeuf Ayd de Camp, the Marquis de Revel Brigadier of of the Cavalry, the Marquis de Uxelles Brigadier of the Infan­try, with six Battalions of the Regiments of Alsatia, Saluces and [Page 29] Salis, and six Squadrons of Bar­tillat, Grignan, Leomare, Konis­mark, and Gassion. This day the Works were very much advan- and divided into three branches, being more than two 200 yards in length, and two in height. They being fortified in very ma­ny places, and encompassing the Angle of the Crown Work which we described before, gave shelter to most of the Infantry, and favoured the approach of the Batteries.

All that we have told you was done by the Kings orders, which he gave forth himself every day. He was every where he commanded, he animated the Officers and Soldiers with his presence, and was with them often on the least occasion.

The sixteenth the Marshal de Luxembourg mounted the Trench with the Marquis de M. de Luxem­bourgs Guard. [Page 30] Trousse Lieutenant General, the Count St. Geran Marshal de Camp, the Chevalier de Ven­dosme Ayd de Camp, and three Battalions of the French Guards conducted by Monsieur de Ru­bentel Brigadier of the Infantry and Captain in the Regiment, and three other Battalions of Picardy and of Soissons under the Marquis of Boulemont and le Pierre.

All this while the Besiegers lost but very few men, and the besieged did not shew all that vigour that they expected. Whether it were that the Trench was so good that it ren­dred unprofitable the shot of the Besieged, or that they were so exposed to the Batteries that it was impossible to fire stoutly from the Redouts: or that in­deed they did not think that little Fort important enough for [Page 31] to hazard their Soldiers, which they might be willing to con­serve for the defence of the Town. For at last when they should have lost that Post, the River which separated it from the Town, gave shelter enough to that side, and two other pla­ces, the marsh and the Water Sluces which they having let loose, hindred well enough their approaches, so that they did not fear any assault.

The King whom success ani­mated, The King attaques the Crown works. and who measured his designs by the progress of the Siege, resolved to attaque the Counterscarp on the morrow being the seventeenth. He vi­sited the Posts that night, he wrot with his own hand the orders of that attaque, and put them into the hand of Monsieur Rose Secretaty of the Cabinet to coppy them forth, which [Page 32] were distributed presently to the General Officers whose day it was, and to the principal offi­ces of the Troops designed for that enterprise. His Majesty commanded sixty of the Guard of the Body to a light in the Fauxbourg armed with their Carabines, and to observe all the night the countenance of the Besieged. He caused to be made ready in the same Fauxbourg Nostredame a Battery of six pie­ces of Ordinance, and some Mortars which might annoy the backside of the Crown Work. The Troops which he had chosen for this enterprise, beside those which were already on the Guard in the Trenches were the two Companies of white Musqueteers command­ed by the Chevalier Fourbin, and the black by Monsieur Jau­vel, Captain Lieutenants, the [Page 33] Company of Granadiers of his House under Captains Riotot, and twenty four Companies of Granadiers drawn out of all the Battalions of the Army. All these Troops went into the Trench the sixteenth at night. The Granadiers of the Kings Regiments lodg'd amongst the white Musqueteers, and the Guards and the Granadiers of Avergne and Navarre, among the black Musqueteers, and the Battalion of Burlemont, the Marquis de Angeau the the em­ployment of Aid de Camp. The Chevalier de Vendôme would not be relieved on this impor­tant occasion, for Which he pre­pared himself, and obained leave to fight, and the Marquis de Angeau carried him orders from the King to observe exactly all things that should pass in that action, that he might be able [Page 34] to send the news with speed to his Majesty.

The order of the At­taque.All things being thus disposed for the Attaque, on the seven­teenth in the morning about nine or ten of the clock there was heard nine shots of Canon, which was a sign for the Besieg­ers to come forth of the Tren­ches to attaque the Crown Work.

The King being ready on the bank of the River, and the report of his presence being spread tho­row the commanded Troops, they prepared themselves for the exe­cution of the enterprise with an incredible order and undaunted­ness. The Granadiers of the Kings house back'd by the Che­valier Fourbin at the head of the white Musqueteers and by Tour­nelle and Davejan Captains of the Guards, with one of their Battalions assaulted the right side [Page 35] of the Work, the Granadiers of the Regiment of Picardy fol­lowed by Jauvelle with the black Musqueteers and by the Marquis of Bourlemont, with a part of the Regiment af Picardy assaulted the left side, and the Marquis de Trousse Lieutenant General, and the Count St. Ge­ran Marshal de Camp, with the rest of the Regiment of Picardy, and the commanded Troops, fell upon the Front.

Despres, The besieged vanquished. the Count Solres and the other Officers of the place, Who were assembled in the same Work to consult of the means to defend it, hearing all on a sudden the shot of the Canon after a great calm and a pro­found silence on either side for some time, and perceiving the Troops of the King to advance, they immediately separated and ran to the places where they [Page 36] were about to make the Attaques and there to ani­mate their men to do well. But their Soldiers being terri­fied by the Artillery, exposed to the shot of the Carabines in the Fauxbourg and to the conti­nual Tempest of the Bombs, and gall'd in the flank, their half moons on the sides not being a­ble to help them, they gave themselves for lost, and that the assailants, which on every side encompassed them about, would throw down Heaven upon them. Fear having seiz'd upon them, they abandoned all with­out, Counterscarp, Pallissadoes, Ditch, and the Work it self, which they should have defen­ded, and their Arms also: and in the end their courage wholly forsaking them, they cast them­selves into a croud and without Order or Rank fled out of the well [Page 37] furnished half Moon. The Valour of the assai­lants. The Musqueteers and the Granadiers mingling themselves with those who fled, stop'd them in the pas­sages of their retreat, and killed all those they encounter'd on the way. But those of the French party who had pierced even into the half Moon by a wooden Bridg, which was laid over the Ditch, perceived that to favour the retreat of the Besieged, they had let down the draw-Bridg which gave entranee into the Pie: but for that the wicket was barricadoed with dead bo­dies, the wounded, and the croud of those who endea­voured to save themselves not being able to do it all at once, flung themselves into the Arm of the River which served the ditch of the Pie, others lay down on the ground counterfeiting themselves dead, to avoid that [Page 38] way the first fury of the Con­querers. This disorder of the Besieged animated the most har­dy of the French, and gave them no leisure to make any reflecti­ons of any Ambuscade which they might have laid for them, or of the resistance which they might find, they push'd on their victory to the end, and carried on by a point of honour so deli­cate among those Musqueteers, of which none would yield to his companion the glory of being the first in those so dan­gerous occasions, so that they flung themselves one after ano­ther thorow the Wicket. It had been no hard matter for a few Officers and Soldiers which were in the Pie, to repress the ardour of the most furious: But whether they could no longer distinguish Foes from Friends, or that they were of the number [Page 39] of those that fled the vigour with which they saw themselves pur­sued, had made them utterly lose their judgement and their cou­rage, they flung down their Arms, and some of them who were afraid of falling by the edge of the Sword demanded their lives on their knees. The Conquerors advanced towards the Gate of the Town, but they found the draw-Bridge up. They were aware that on the left side of the entry of the Pie, there was a litle ladder placed in the wall, which served as a crust to the Pie, by which one might ascend upon the Terrace that cover'd it, and from thence pass to the rampart of the Town by the means of certain vaults which reached from the side of a little Sluce-house, to the place of the draw-Bridge.

The Granadiers enforcing [Page 40] then a little Port which shut up that ladder, They get in­to the Town. they mounted upon the Terrace, where they found but two or three Soldiers, and passing the Terrace upon the vaults which were fastned there, they went on even to a­nother small Gate, which gave entrance to the Rampart. From thence they advanced to­wards the draw-Bridg, and ha­ving chased away certain Soldi­ers who guarded it, they got down to give a free passage to their companions, and they ad­vanced all together into the first Street even in sight of the stone Bridg over the Escaut which crost the Town in that place.

The Musqueteers and the Granadiers who were advanced into the Town under Vinche­guerre, and followed by Moissac, and le Barre chief Officers, and under Molinneuf Lieutenant of [Page 41] the others, seconded by the Mar­quis of Beaumont Volunteer, not being above thirty men in all, when they perceived the people running to their Arms, and saw a party of the Cavalry who be­gan to rank themselves upon the stone Bridge, they at first thought good to shelter them­selves under the porches of the houses. But their number pre­sently, increased by the arrival of some under Maupertuis, yet by reason the little door of the Pie by which they must pass, was troublesome, there could come but a few at once, they fortified themselves as well as they could in the same Street, and there stood firm for some time. Cer­tain Cavaliers and Dragoons of the Enemy and some Soldiers also advanced still on this side the Bridge to drive them back, but the most forward of them [Page 42] being kill'd, their Cavalry left the Bridge to put themselves in Battel aray in the grand place. The Militia, who had run to their Arms on the report being spread of the entry of the Enemy, were surprised, yet made a show as if they would dispute the pas­sage of the Bridg, and to make fast the chains cross the Streets. But the Chevalier Fourbin, Ja­velle, Riotot, with the rest of their companies, and all those who had been willing to follow having wholly defeated or taken prisoners all that withstood them without, and having dis­engaged the Bascule or hanging door they entred the Town like a Torrent.

The Town taken by as­sault.The principal Burgers at the first brute of the Entry of the French into the Town ran to the Alarum bell at the Council house and made their deputies [Page 43] to come forth to the Troops which were already in Battalia and to tell them that they would capitulate. But Moissac and the other Officers told them that it was not time now, and that it was not the Custom that they should capitulate with their Masters. Then one of the Deputies desired at least that they would let them go to implore the Clemency of the King, which they permitted them, who meeting the Duke of Luxemburg at the gate of the Town, accompanied with Mon­sieur Dumetz Leiutenant General of the Artillery, Hostages sent to the King. he put them into the hands of the Marquis de Angeau, for to conduct them to his Majesty. He then commanded the Musqueteers to stand in Battalia in the grand Place, and their Officers made those of the Garison whom they found there, to lay down their [Page 44] Arms and those of the Caval­ry to dismount. He ordered the Granadiers to seise the Market place, where was a small Court of Guard of the Enemies, and disposed of the rest of the Troops and of the Artillery as he thought con­venient to assure himself of all quarters of the Twon.

The King can hardly beleive the Report.This great Action was per­formed with so much rapidity and was accompanied with so much Valour and good Fortune, that the King who had only order'd the taking of the Coun­terscarp could very hardly be­leive the testimony of his own Ears when he heard the Cry of Vive le Roy, and the noise of their Granadoes and mus­quets in the middle of the Town. But the Chevalier de Vandome who among the first had enter'd this placed posting [Page 45] with all diligence to his Majesty, drew him out of his incertitude, and he was no sooner assured of the verity but he went to the place of the Attaque, and met in the way the Baron of Langia­met and presently after many other persons of quality, who confirm'd that they were masters of the Town. At this certain News the King sent a­way the Marquis De Louvis to hinder the pillage of the Town and other Desolations of Conquest made by Assault, Marquis Louvis sent into the Town. and to give Orders as he should judge necessary, and according as he should find the disposition of things. His Majesty was but just past the Bridg which he had lay'd over the Escaut for Communication of his Quarters, when he met with the Marquis de Angeau who conducted the Provost of the County of Hanault [Page 46] and the chief of the Inhabitants which they had sent for Hosta­ges. They Implored the Clemen [...] of the King, and demanded a Confirmation of their Privi­ledges. By the right of war the Town ought to be left to be pil­laged by the soldiers, which the King let these hostages know, The Kings Clemency. yet such was the natural bounty and sweetness of his Majesty, which equalled his Valour, that he compassionated the misery of the People, and made his Victory and Force to give way to his Generosity, and would not permit the least displeasure to be done to the Inhabitants, and made them to hope in his mercy.

The Marquis de Louvis being arrived in the Town bid the Musqueteers to mount on the horses of the Garison which appertained to them of right, [Page 47] and commanded the vanquish'd to withdraw themselves into a Church, till they should receive new orders. Certain squadrons of the Guards of the Body and certain Batalions of the French Guards relieved the Musque­teers and the Granadiers: And thus Valenciennes by one only assault as sudden as unheard of submitted it self to France.

The Town obliged them­selves to pay the sum of 400000 Crowns in acknowledgment of the grace which the King had done them in conserving their goods, The Town ransom'd. the honour of their wives and their Lives, and for preser­ving their Town from fire and pillage. Eight hundred souldiers of the Garison stay'd upon the place, The Garison made priso­ners of war. all the rest were made prisoners of war. The principal Officers were the Marquis of Richboury Governour of the [Page 48] place who was wounded at the beginning of the Seige, Despres who was substituted in his place and also wounded. The Count de Solres. The Marquis de Leu­ven. The losse of the French. Taxis. Montigni, &c.

On the French side the Mar­quis Bourlemonnt Brigadier of the Infantry master de Camp of the Regiment of Picardy was kill'd. He was a young Officer of great merit, and of very great hopes, he was but newly cured of those wounds which he had received in another occasion in which he had behaved himself very gallantly. They lost also three Captains of foot and one of Horse, seven inferior Offi­cers, eleven Musqueteers and a­bout fifty soldiers from the be­ginning of the Siege. The Duke of Luxembourg and the Count St. Geran were slightly wound­ed at the attaque with some [Page 49] pieces of Granadoes, the others that were wounded were Champigny, Ferraut, and several Officers of the Regiments of Guards. Cailleres Captain of that of Navarre, the Marquis de Charmel Voluntier, about twenty five Musqueteers and thirty Soldiers more.

The King visited the fortifi­cations, The King visits the Fortificati­ons. and designed the buil­ding of a Citadel with the 40000 Crowns which was imposed up­on the Town: and for that the place was of that Importance as to require a person of an appro­ved Fidelity, great Courage, and deep Prudence to be entru­sted with the Government; his Majesty chose the Count Bardi Magalotta a Florentine by Birth, but more than thirty years in the French Service, in which time having passed through the employs of Cap­tain, [Page 50] of Lieutenant, of Collo­nel, of the Regiment of the French Guards, of Master of the Camp of a Regiment of Italian Foot, he was come to be Lieu­tenant General. The Lieute­nancy for the King was given to Monsieur Foucaut Lieutenant Collonel of the Regiment of Burgundy, and the Majoralty to Monsieur de Chazerat Captain in that of Navarre. The Baron de Quincy in recompence of those services which he had done, and which he still conti­nued to perform before Cambray, was made Provost of the Coun­ty, that is to say, chief of the In­habitants.

Praises pub­lickly and recompen­seth his Sol­diers.The King publickly commen­ded the Officers and Voluntiers, who had signalized themselves on this occasion. He recom­pensed Jauvelle Captain Lieu­tenant of the black Musque­teers, [Page 51] with a Commission that made him Marshal de Camp. The Marquis de Vains Captain Lieu­tenant of the same Company with Commission and pay of Brigadier of the Cavalry, Mau­pertuis under Captain Lieute­nant of the white Musqueteers had the like. Hoguete, Barrieri, Rigoville, and Moissac, Cornets of those two Companies had commissions and pay of Collo­nels of Horse. The Marshals of Logis had their Brevets and appointments of Captains of the light Horse, and also all the Of­ficers of the Musqueteers were recompensed either with mo­ney or with commissions of fa­vour or nobleness: Monsieur Vauban had the gratification of 25000 Crowns. His Ma­jesty ordered to the Duke of Lude grand master of the Artil­lery to be divided among his Of­ficers [Page 52] and Soldiers 3000 pistols to heal their wounds. He made mony to be distributed among the Troops, and particularly to those Soldiers who had taken prisoners. He gave the Regi­ment of Picardy to the Marquis of Harcourt-Beuron, and that of Harcourt-Beuron to the Marquis de Humieres Son of the Mar­shal.

Rejoycing at Paris.The news of taking this place was carried the eighteenth to the Queen at Paris, who had been there since the fourth with the Dauphin, which gave them great joy and caused rejoycings thorow that great City. The Te Deum was sung in the Church of Nostre Dame. The Queen as­sisted there with Monsieur the Dauphin, and were accompani­ed with all the Princes and Prin­cesses of the Blood, and all the Nobility, the Archbishop, Cler­gy, [Page 53] Parliament, Magistrates, Ambassadours, and Ministers, Strangers. At night there were bonfires made thorow all the Streets. The Queen complemen­ted by the Ministers. Monsieur Varesi the Popes Nuncio, Contarini the Venetian Embassadour, Count Ferreri the Savoyan Embassa­dour, the Abbot Gondi Resident for the Duke of Florence, Count Baglioni Resident of Mantua, and all the other Ministers of the Potentates and Princes friends to France came to congratulate with the Queen and the Dau­phin for the important Conquest of the King.

At the same time they recei­ved the news that the Count de Estree Lieutenant General, De Estree's Conquest in America. and Vice Admiral of France with the Fleet he commanded in the American Seas had retaken in December the Isle of Cayenn from the Hollanders, and had made [Page 54] the Garison prisoners of War. So great and happy successes all at once gave no less terror to the Confederates, and astonishment to the most puissant Neuters, than confidence to the Conque­rours to design new enterprises.

Monsieur commands the Army in Artois.After the King had given all necessary orders concerning his great designs, and had put a strong Garison into Valencien­nes for the most part drawn out of the Regiments of the Suitzers, he decamped on the twenty first of March, and the same day he gave to Monsieur his only Bro­ther the command of an Army for Artois of four Squadrons and twenty Battalions. His Majesty chose to serve under his Royal Highness the Marshal de Humieres: For Lieutenant Generals, the Prince of Soubise, and the Count de Plessis: For Marshals of the Camp Monsieur [Page 55] le Mott who had block'd up St. Omers, Monsieur de Albert, the Chevalier de Sourdis, and Stop­pa: for Brigadiers of the Caval­ry, the Marquis Gourney, and of Bordages: for Brigadiers of the Infantry, Aubarede, Chy­menes, Souvroy, and Phiffer: for Major General, Monsieur de Montmont Captain of the Guards: for chief Engineer Monsieur de Choisy: for Com­mander of the Artillery, the Marquis de Frezeliere: and for Intendant, Monsieur Roberto.

The King kept with himself to serve him in his Army, The Troops and Officers about the Kings per­son. the Marshals Scomberg, Luxembourg, Feuillade, and Lorges: for Lieu­tenant Generals, the Duke of Lu­de, the Marquis of Renel, Cardon­niere, the Count de Avergne and the Duke of Villeroy: For Mar­shals de Camp, the Count St. Geran, the Marquis and Chevalier de [Page 56] Tilladet Brothers, and the Pala­tine Birkenfield: For Aides de Camp, the Chevalier Vandôme, the Princes d' Harcourt and d' Elboeuf, the Marquis d' Angeau and d' Arcy, of Chiverni, Ca­vois, and the Chevalier Nogeut: For Brigadiers of the Cavalry, Jauvelle la Fitte, Nonan de Au­ger, Buzunvil, Rose, and Tal­lart: for Brigadiers of the In­fantry, Rubentel, Salis, Tracy, de Uxelles, ville Chauve and Jos­seaux: for chief Engineer Vau­ban: for Intendant of the Ar­my Monsieur Bretevil in the ab­sence of Monsieur St. Ponaüge.

The Siege of Cambray.The King incamp'd that night at Haspre, and on the twenty second he sate down be­fore Cambray. He took a turn a­bout the place, and would view it within musquet shot. He made them draw the lines of circumvallation and contravalla­tion. [Page 57] Assoon as the news of the Siege was spread abroad, the Peasants from all places of Pi­cardy ran thither according to the orders they had received, and they the more willingly o­beyed because they had been for a long time oppress'd by the contributions and continual in­rodes of that Garison. This made them very earnestly wish for the Siege ever since the be­ginning of the War, and it was the end of all their desires which they expressed in the ac­clamations which they gave the King in his return from the last Campain.

Cambray is the strongest place, Its fortifi­cations. and the most important of all the Netherlands. The Escaut runs thorow it and fils all its ditches: it is also regularly for­tified with Ramparts, Bastions, Halfmoons, and with two Forts: [Page 58] and commanded by a Citadel of a square form, which is separa­ted from it; and besides its Ba­stions, Halfmoons, and ditches, is placed in a most advantagi­ous scituation. The place is the more considerable for being the capital City of Cambresis, and the Metropolitan Seat of the greatest part of the low Coun­try Catholicks, and for having a Church fil'd with many rich Gifts and of great Revenue and ecclesiastical Dignities. They say that it was very famous even in the time of the Romans. It got a great reputation under Clodion King of France, when he rendred himself master of it with the loss of 50000 men who were sacrificed at the taking of it as well of the Besiegers part as of the besieged: The parti­cular care which Charles the fifth took to fortifie it, very much [Page 59] augmented its reputation, and in­deed it has been so well established in the Wars of our Age, that it hath always passed for the most formidable place in the whole seventeen Provinces. Be­sides, it was a mortal scourge to the sides of France, gave no repose to Picardy, threatned the Sein it self, and in the times of war gather'd so great contribu­tion, that it not only suppli'd it self but was in a condition to furnish with necessaries all the Catholick places in its neigh­bourhood, and to give subsi­stence to abundance of Troops, serving also in the mean time for a Refuge to all sorts of crimi­nals. The King being sensibly touch'd with the evils caused by this place to so great part of his Realm, would by all means give a remedy thereto, and therefore he then shut his eyes against [Page 60] all the assaults of the Imperia­lists as we have marked, and formed the project of taking of Cambray, as well as Valenciennes by getting into his hands Conde and Bouchain. After the taking of those two last named places, he never left the Garisons of the former to be in any quiet, he put a stop to their inroads, and hin­dred his subjects from paying the contributions. He made the Ba­ron de Quincy to keep the field, to take or scatter their Con­voies, and so placed his Troops when the Winter was far ad­vanced in quarters that they might be in a readiness, by the Siege of those places and by taking them in, to put an end to the causes of so many troubles.

By this means he establish'd the repose of his own Realm, put himself in a condition of carry­ing [Page 61] the War into his Enemies Country. He dismember'd one of the most considerable parts of the Monarchy of Spain, and facilitated the progress of his Arms.

Don Pedro Savala a native of Biscay was Governour of the Town and Cittadel. And Gari­son. He was a man that had spent forty years of his Life in the service of the Ca­tholique King, and whose Age and experience gotten in the wars made him to be very much esteemed. The Garison was composed of about one thousand horse and of the Regiments of the Infantry of Vaudemont, Mo­lenbery, Tilly, one of Hollanders, two Spanish of the old Body and one of Walloons.

His Majesty made both the City and the Cittadel to be shut up within the lines, The disposi­on of the Quarters. and caused divers Bridges to be layd [Page 62] over the Escaut for communica­tion, and then he thus ordered the Quarters. He chose his own at Avain on the side of the Citadel, and kept with him the Marshal Feuillade. The Mar­shal Lorges had his on the right side of that of the Kings in a place named Escaud'auvers on the other side of the Town and citadel towards the Gate of Va­lenciennes. Marshal de Luxem­burg took his Quarters on the left hand on this side St. Sepul­chres neer to Chantigneute, and Marshal Schomberg took up all that part which is on this side the Escaut from new Town to Cantimpre.

Succours hindred.His Majesty sent the Baron de Quincy with a Body of Horse on the side of Bavay in Hanault in the neighbourhood of Mons as much to oppose all succour as to trouble the Commerce [Page 63] of those places and there to ob­serve the enemy.

The Prince of Orange and the Duke de Villa Hermosa seeing Valenciennes taken, Preparati­ons to relieve Cambray. and all there de signs which they had for to succour it rendered unprofitable, they formed new ones together, to oppose the enterprises of the King. They did not all doubt but that his Majesty would be­siege St. Omers, and on the o­ther side they determined not to succour Cambray, whether it were that they imagined that place, being one of the strongest of Europe, would of it self render all the Endeavours of the King vain, or that they despaired to be able to releive it, being en­compassed about as it was with Valenciennes, Conde, Bouchaine, Dovay, and other places of the like Importance. However it was, they rendesvouz'd their Troops [Page 64] in the Territory of Asnest neer to Gaunt, and published that they would oppose the designs the French might have against St. Omers, or to revenge them­selves for the loss they had re­ceived by besieging some place of the French upon the River Lys or in the French Flanders. The places on the fron­teers secu­red.

These menaces of the enemy caused the King to write to Monsieur his Brother to suspend the siege of St. Omer till he should receive new orders, and sent in the mean time Marquis Lovuis and the Gens de Arms in Walloon Flanders and upon the Lys to provide for the security of those places.

The besieged sally forth.In the mean time the Govern­or of Cambray began on the twenty fourth of March to give some proofs of that vigorous resistance which he intended to make. He caused three hun­dred [Page 65] horse to make a Sally by the Gates of Selles and Cantim­pre upon the Quarters of Mar­shal Schomberg, separated in many Bands to the end that they might view the besiegers without being perceived, and also give them a means to ad­vance further, if occasion should offer. They were not come for­ward above an hundred and fif­ty paces, but they were encoun­ter'd with a small number of Cavaliers under the Conduct of Collonel Rose, who pursued them even to the Palissade, kil­ling some and taking others prisoners, where he himself was wounded.

The lines being perfected by the continual labour of the Soldiers and of the Peasants of Pi­cardy, the King resolved to open the Trenches on the twenty eighth at night. At that time ar­rived [Page 66] there a great number of Voluntiers, The arrival of the Prince of Soisons. among which were Prince Thomas of Savoy Count of Soissons; Prince Philip Chevalier of Savoy, The Prince of Mourges &c.

The Trenches Opened.They resolv'd to make the Attacque on the Quarters of Marshal Lorges, against two Half­moons, one of which covered the Gate of Valenciennes, and the other was on the left side of the same Gate. Marshal Schom­bergs Guards. His Majesty caused the first Guard to be mounted in his presence by Marshal Schomberg, the Marquis Resnel Leiutenant General, the Count St. Geran Marshal de Camp, the Prince de Harcourt Ayde de Camp, Monsieur Rubentel Briga­dier of the Infantry, with three Battalions of the French Guards and six Squadrons under Jau­velle Brigadier of the Cavalry, followed by one of the Guards [Page 67] of the Body of Noailles, one of Luxemburg, one of the white Musqueteers, one of the Croates, one of the Dauphins Regiment, and one of Orleans. The King comes into the Trench.

The King getting away from his Train would needs see the beginning of the works accom­panied only with the Cheva­lier Vandôme and the Prince d' Harcourt. The besieged fired ex­ceedingly; but they kill'd but four soldiers which were cut off with one shot of a Cannon the next day in the morning. M. Fivilia­des Guard;

The twenty ninth at night the Guard was releived by Mar­shal Feuillade: Cardonniere Lieu­tenant General, Marquis Tilla­det Marshal de Camp, Marquis Chiverny Ayde de Camp, Salis Brigadier of the Infantry, with two Battalions of the Guards of Swisses and one of Salis sup­ported by Monsieur Le Fitte [Page 68] Brigadier of the Cavalry, with two Squadrons of the Guard of the Body of Duras and Lor­ges, and four others of the black Musqueteers, of the Dauphins, Orleans, and Croates. A Battery raised. The morn­ing and all the day following a Battery which they had raised on the River on the side of Newtown, and which had let them see plainly the fortifica­tions they were to attaque, began very much to incommode the Besieged. From the thirtieth of March at night, to the first of April the Trench was carried within an hundred and fifty paces of the Counterscarp with­out any loss. M. Luxem­burgs Guard. Marshal Luxem­burg was there that day, and with him the Count Auvergne Lieu­tenant General, Chevalier Tilla­det Marshal de Camp, Marquis de Cavois Aide de Camp, Tracy Brigadier of the Infantry, with [Page 69] three Battalions, two of the French Guards and one of Salis, and six Squadrons under Auger Brigadier of the Cavalry, two of which Squadrons were of the Guards de Corps of No­ailles and Luxemburg, one of the Musqueteers, one of St. Aig­nan, one of Heaudicourt, and one of Bligny. In the mean time the besieged performed very well their parts. They caused e­very night great fires to be made upon the plain of the Counterscarp, to discover and overthrow the enemies works.

They every day fallied forth, A Sally of the Besieged. which they would have still continued without doubt, but that the Rains made the earth so slippery that hindred the Guard in the Trenches from working, so that they had no­thing to do. However they lost five prisoners and one Engineer, [Page 70] who being discontented with the Spaniards came and render­ed himself in the Camp.

The 2 of April the Trench being finished the King was re­solved to attacque the two half­moons. M. Fuil­lade his Guard: The halfmoons attacqu'd. It was the Marshal Feu­illades day, with the Count de Auvergny Lieutenant Gene­ral, the Marquis Tilladet Mar­shal de Camp, the Prince de El­boeuf Aide de Camp, the Mar­quis de Uxelles Brigadier of the Infantry at the head of four Bat­talions of the Royal Regiments and of the Dauphins, susteined by the Marquis of Bu [...]enval Brigadier of the Cavalry, with a Squadron of the Life Guards, and five Squadrons of Light Horse. These Troops not only carried the two halfmoons but they also siezed an angle of an Horn work on the side of the Fort of Selles. The Besieged de­fended [Page 71] themselves very manful­ly, and the taking of those posts cost the French an hundred soldiers and as many wounded.

The Commander and Officers of the Town seeing on the thir­teeth that the mines were fixed to the Body of the place, The Garri­son capitu­late. and fearing the like inconveni­ence of that of Conde, and that so lately of Valenciennes, be­lieving they should not stay the springing the Mine, nor that they should be able to with­stand the assault, they sent out a party late at night, and de­manded to capitulate. The Go­vernour thought it was pru­dence to conserve for his Prince a Garison composed of so ma­ny good Troops, and he also flat­ter'd himself with the hope that he might be able to keep the Cittadel for a long time, and make them to draw out the [Page 72] Siege so long that it might give time to the Confederates to suc­cour them, and to put some stop that way to the Torrent of the Designes and Conquests of the King, or at least to destroy or considerably to infeeble his Army. Assoon as the Capi­tulation was demanded, A Truce. his Majesty agreed to a Truce for twenty four hours, and the Count de Auvergne receiv'd the hostages.

M. Luxem­burgs Guard.The Guard was releiv'd that night from the third to the fourth by Marshal Luxemburg, the Duke de Villeroy Lieute­nant General, Chevalier Tilla­det Marshal de Camp, Chevalier Vandôme Aide de Camp, the Counts of Tallard and Ville­chanver the one Brigadier of the Cavalry, and the other of the Infantry, with four Battalions, half of Alsace and half on Fuzi­liers, [Page 73] and six Squadrons, one of the Guards de Corps and five of Light Horse.

The fourth the Marshal Lux­emburg was advertiz'd that Mon­sieur de Ris Commander of the Cavalry in Cambray, and Monsi­eur Couaruvias Master de Camp of a Spanish Tirce, demanded to speak with the King. The Mar­quis de Angeau introduced them into the Kings Tent, who gave them Orders for the retreat of the Garison into the Citadel. They first of all abandoned one Gate of the Town, then the Ram­parts and the Streets, and left Cambray in the power of the French.

It was on the fifth that this or­der was executed, They possess the Town. which passed ve­ry peacebly. Two Battalions of the French Guards, one of the Guards of Swisses, one of Salis, and a Squadron of the Guards of the [Page 74] Body possessed themselves of all the Posts assoon as the Garison were gone to secure themselves in the Cittadel. Then the Ho­stages on either side were sur­rendred and the Truce ceased.

His Maje­sty grants the privi­ledges to the Town.The Clergy and the Magi­strates of the Town came to render their Homage to his Ma­jesty, who signed to the Capi­tulation and granted to the In­habitants the same priviledges which he had granted to those of Lisle on the like occasion, and to the Clergy the same Fran­chises which those of Tournay had obtained in 1667, permit­ting the Archbishop to reside at Cambray, provided that he would take an oath of fidelity, which he did. He is com­plemented by the Em­bassador of Savoy.

The Count Ferreri Embassa­dour of Savoy, who that day ar­rived at the Camp to reside neer his Majesty, testified to him in [Page 75] the name of their Royal High­nesses the part which they took in his happy successes, and he was received with all the marks of a particular esteem.

The Cardinal d' Estree came thither also and was lodged with the Cardinal of Bouillon, And by the Cardinal de Estree. ha­ving rendred his Devoir to his Majesty: and after a few days that he had resided there he was nominated to go to Rome to re­lieve his Brother Embassadour there.

Monsieur being arrived on the twenty fourth of March in the Camp of his Army at Blandeck, The Siege of St. Omers. and having made every thing ready, he disposed himself for the Siege of St. Omer. It is one of the principal places of Artots and of the Spanish Ni­therlands; considerable for its situation, for its fortifications, for the inconvenience it gave to [Page 76] France, and for the contributi­on it raised from thence. It trou­bled the Commerce of Calais, and divided the conquered Countries betwixt Arraes and Dunkirk, and desolated all Bou­lonnois. The King had the year past proposed to him­self to deliver these Countries from all those evils which this place caused. The King disposes things for the Siege. To which effect he took the occasion of advan­tage from the Siege of Mastricht, where the Army of the confe­derates were engaged, and ha­ving ordered Marquis Louvis to assist at the Siege of Aire, which Marshal de Humieres had enterprised, and which place was carried in few daies, his Majesty cover'd his designs which he had against St. Omers in taking of that, publishing that he did it to be revenged for the Siege of Mastricht, and it [Page 77] was under the same pretence that at the same time he caused Linch to be taken by the same Marshal. Having at last cau­sed the Siege of Mastricht to be raised by Marshal Schomberg, his Majesty order'd the Marshal de Humieres as Governour of the Countries conquer'd in Flan­ders, to make himself master of all the Posts that encompassed St. Omers, and to take from it all manner of communication by sending certain Troops into the field. All this was punctually executed. The Marshal caused the Castle of Cassel to be forti­fied, sent in the month of March, the last year Monsieur de Mommont Captain of the Guards, and Brigadier of the Infantry, to siese on Nieulet, Bac, Momelin, Clair-Marais, and other parts round about. It was in this Action that Count [Page 78] Genlis was kill'd in forcing a Re­doubt at the head of the Regi­ment of the Crown, of which he was Collonel. Having at last left the command of his Troops to la Motte Marshal de Camp, he came to the Kings Camp, where he let his Royal High­ness understand under whom he commanded, the condition in which he had left all things.

The fortifi­cations of St. Omers.St. Omer is the chief City of the Spanish Artois, situate on the River Aae, fortified with walls, Bastions, Halfmoons, Ditches, Marshes, and Lakes, where there are little floting Islands. They believe by tradition in this Country that this is the famous Road of Iccius, where Caesar em­barked his men when he went to war upon the Britains, and they would have the sand and gra­vel which is found thereabouts to be an assured mark that the [Page 79] Sea did heretofore flow so far as it. The place was first cal­led Sithien, it chang'd its name, and from a simple Castle as it was became a City in the time of St. Omer Bishop of Terroü­ane. The people that inhabit it, the riches in which they abound, the Canal for commerce named the New-Foss, and the Abby of St. Bertin, render it as cele­brous as its Arms, and its for­ces.

It had within the place a Ga­rison of 2000 foot and 500 Horse: The Garison. besides the Militia and the Burguesses. St. Vegnant com­manded there. But the Prince of Robeck as Governour of the Spanish Artois had there the chief place.

Monsieur having visited the Posts and invested the place, The quarters taken up by Monsieur. he distributed the Quarters. He took his own called the Generals [Page 80] Quarter at Blandeck, and re­tained with him the Marshal de Humieres, Count dis Plessis Lieu­tenant General, Stouppe Marshal de Camp, with two Battalions of Navarre, one of Humieres, and two of Phiffer; and two Squa­drons of St. Germain Bauprie, and one of Vaines. He posted the Price of Soubise Lieutenant Ge­neral in the way to Arques with Monsieur de Alber Marshal de Camp, de Auberade Brigadier, with two Battalions of Anjou, and two of Vaisseans. At Clairmarais one Battalion of Conty under Mon­sieur Lare Master de Camp. At old Castle upon the old Canal, six Companies of the Dauphins Dragoons. At Nieulet la Motte Marshal de Camp, with two of Greeders Battalions, and one of Phiffer, six Companies of Dra­goons of the Collonel Generals, and one Squadron of the Regi­ment [Page 81] of de Aumounts. At the Fort of Bac a Battalion of Gree­ders, at St. Momelin a Battalion of the Crown under the Cheva­lier de Genlis, the King having gratified him with his Brothers Regiment: At Tilque the Mar­quis de Trousse Lieutenant Ge­neral, the Chevalier Sour­dis Marshal de Camp, the Mar­quis Bordages Brigadier with a Battalion of the Royal Regi­ment of Roussillon, and two of Italians. At Ovatte one Battali­on of the Crown. At Tattinghen Frezelier Lieutenant General of of the Artillery with the Regi­ment of Tourain which he com­manded, and Bordages Regi­ment of Horse. At Visque six Companies of Dragoons of the Dauphins under Monsieur de Longueval. At Viserne two Squadrons of Gournay, who as Brigadier of the Cavalry com­manded [Page 82] all those who served at the Siege.

The Siege not pressed.Thus without drawing the Lines St. Omer was invested, and Monsieur would presently have fallen to attaque it, but that his Army being yet weak and the great circuit of the place, and the Marshes, requi­red a far greater number of men, so that he was fain to stay for the coming of other Batta­lions and the orders the King would give; besides, the Artil­lery was not yet come into the Camp being hindred by the rains, till just then. However in the mean time they carried the Redout of Colear and some other Posts, and endeavoured to assure the communication of their Quarters to hinder all suc­cours.

Recruits. sent to Mon­sieur.On the twenty eighth of March the Duke de Aumont Go­vernour [Page 83] of Bullonois sent him a great convoy, and after a little time came himself into the Camp of his Royal Highness with all sorts of munitions and with a­bove 2000 Foot and 500 Horse of the Militia of War within his goverment. Monsieur en­forced the quarters of Clairma­rais and Nieurlet with the Infan­try, and that of Tilque with the Cavalrie.

These succours being come, Attaque of the Fort Vaches. and the arrival of the Artillery made Monsieur take a resolution to assault the Fort Vaches, or the Cow, which secured the most feeble places of the Town. This Fort is on the side of the Gate of the high Bridge, which was defended with 400 Wal­loons. On the twenty ninth they raised a Battery of four pieces of Canon to batter a ruin, and to make a lodgment to su­stain [Page 84] them there. At night the same day the besieged made a very vigorous sally with a design to nail up the Canon and so o­verthrow their Lodgment. The besieged sally. Monsieur de Albert Marshal de Camp with 400 of the Regiment of Navarre conducted by his Lieutenant Collonel, the Che­valier Souvray, after a very ob­stinate dispute forced the besieg­ed to reenter the place, pursuing them even to the Counterscarp, d' Albret had one horse killed under him in this Action and lost about twenty men. The Besieged lost double the number both killed and wounded, the most considerable prisoners were an Ayd Major and another Officer of a Walloon Regiment, who were taken prisoners with­in twenty paces of their Coun­terscarp.

At that time Monsieur recei­ved [Page 85] ten Battalions and some Squadrons which the King sent him, Recruits sent from the King. and the second of April the King sent to them to open the Trenches. His Royal High­ness designed two Attaques, one at Tattinghen against a cor­ner of an horn Work the strong­est place of all the Works, and the other on the Fort Vaches.

From the fourth to the fifth at night Monsieur made the Guard be mounted for the o­pening the Trench by the Count du Plessis Lieutenant General, The Trenches opened. Guard of du Plessis. Monsieur la Mette Marshal de Camp, Monsieur d' Aubarede Brigadier of the Infantry with two Battalions of Navarre who were placed on the right side of the Trench, and two of Freze­lier or Tourain and Phiffer on the left side back'd by four Squa­drons of Gournay and Vaines, and at the same time the Trench [Page 86] was also opened at the Fort Va­ches. Collonel Vaine kil­led. The Besieged did not per­ceive these attaques till the mor­ning, when they failed not to ply us with their Canon, and to shoot into our Camp, where Collonel Vaine was killed doing his duty at the head of his Squa­dron.

Marquis la Trousse hes Guard.From the fifth to the sixth at night the Guard was relieved by the Marquis la Trousse Lieu­tenant General, Stoup Marshal de Camp, with the Regiments of Anjou and of the Italian Maga­lotti. Frezelier had that mor­ning made ready ten pieces of Canon at the quarter of Tatting­hen which played with very good success, and he disposed another Battery of four pieces against the Cow-Fort.

From the sixth to the seventh was the day of Prince de Soubise Lieutenant General, Prince Sou­bises Guard. with the [Page 87] Chevalier de Sourdis Marshal de Camp at the head of four Batta­lions, The Fort ta­ken. two of the Queens Regi­ment and two of Vaisseaux.

From the seventh to the eight night Monsieur de Albert was on the Guard of the Trench till the Attaque of Tattinghen. On the other side Count du Plessis with the Battalions of Navarre and Anjou and the Italian, se­conded by the Dauphins Dra­goons invested the Cowfort on the side of the water Gate. Mon­sieur thought good to attempt that attaque, for that the fort was already in an ill Condition by the Canon, and incommod­ed by a certain Lodgment which they had made there. The Besieged who beleiv'd them­selves yet in a Condition to de­fend it, imagined that it was but a false Attacque. But the Dra­goons commanded by Monsieur [Page 88] Longevall and by the Cheva­lier Quevilly his Lieutenant, a­lighted, and with their Swords in their hands kill'd all that resisted, and making prisoners some of the Enemy, who de­manded Quarter. Collonel Fair­fax with one of their best Officers were kill'd upon the place, and Quevilly fighting was there wounded. In the mean time Count du Plessis with those Bat­talions which we nominated as­saulted the side of the high Bridge: but the Cannons which were placed there opposed his passage. Without this Obstacle he had put a terror into the Town by taking from them all hopes of Releif by Nieurlet and Bac, and had reduced them to the same Extremity as they were in at Valenciennes in the attaque of the Crown work.

[Page 89]The Chiefs and the Generals of the low Countrys did not loose a moment in resisting the torrent of the Conquest of France. The consul­tations of the Confede­rates. The Prince of Orange having assembled his Infantry and Cavalry of the Hollanders in the Dutch Flanders he re-in­forc'd them with the Regiments of Holstein, de Orsbeck and other Hollanders which serv'd in Tre­ves, and with an Army of about 12000 horse and of forty Battali­ons, the least of which contained 800 men, he came to Anvers with the Duke of Villa Her­mosa to consult with him the means of saving those Pro­vinces from being wholly over-run, and to put the Flemings out of that Consternation they were in by some considerable Acti­on.

The King, who was not igno­rant that the forces of the Confe­derates [Page 90] were much greater than those of his Army, The King sends Suc­cours to Monsieur. which he had given to Monsieur, and that they might easily be able to under­take some Siege or else to cause Monsieur to raise his Siege about St. Omer: to prevent all their enterprises he caused Car­donniere Commissary General of the Cavalry and Lieutenant Ge­neral, to leave his Camp with twenty six Squadrons with design to refresh themselves for some days in new Quarters, his Ma­jesty sending presently after them Marshall Luxemburg with two Companies of Musqueteers and nine Batalions under Tracy, and gave the Marshal order to joyn all those Troops together with the Gens d' Arms which had already past to Lisle and other reinforcements, to make head against the enemy, and to cover Monsieurs Siege, and to [Page 91] give time to Marquis Louvis to provide for the surety of the places on the Frontiers, as Lisle, Courtray and others, in all which he so disposed things that they might be able to make a long de­fence in case they were attaqu'd.

On the other side Monsieur sent also for precaution one Ba­talion to Bergue, and another to Dunkirk to put those two mari­time places in a condition to de­fend themselves.

All these precautions of the French did very much thwart the Council that was held at Anvers. The Confederates con­sidered that the King being master of Cambray, which Siege was very much advanced and Monsieur of S. Omer, his Ma­jesty might then reunite all his forces, and force them to a Bat­tel or raise their Siege if they should undertake any, assoon as [Page 92] they should be arrived in the same Province under Oudenard, although they were much more strong, by reason that the Im­perialists had joyned them. The deliber­ration of the Confede­rates against theirs own maxims. Thus the Council could not but agree to the advice of the Prince of Orange, who would presently oppose them in their Enterprise against St. Omer, flattering themselves to have found an occasion of revenging themselves for being forced to raise their Siege at Maistricht by the French, of which Town they had made themselves sure. And since Sieges had not been so prosperous to them, they re­solved now to try the Fortune of a Battel, in which they pro­mised to themselves better suc­cess.

Why they consented to a Battel.The Spaniards, contrary to their ordinary Resolutions a­gainst hazarding a Battel, were [Page 93] at this time perswaded that the Prince of Orange should give Battel if he found a favourabla oportunity. For he thereby ha­zarded nothing of theirs if he did it, neither the Reputation of their Arms nor the loss of their Troops; and they might by this means of a Battel con­serve their own estates at an­others charge, or put a stop to an entire overthrow. The Hol­landers also did not oppose it, supposing that in case of ill Fortune, they ought always to defend the Catholique Nether­lands, against which they very well saw the King must carry his Arms, before he could come to them.

But not to forget too long what passed before Cambray, Sa­vella who had retired out of the Citty with the Garison into the Citadel caused part of the [Page 94] horse to be lodg'd in the Ditches, the place not being able to contain them all, and he caused all those as were useless to be killed, and so disposed himself and Garison for a vigorous Re­sistance. He found himself also very well provided of all sorts of ammunition as well as of soldiers, and in a place that both Nature and Art had rendred very formidable to the Vulgar, so that they believed this for­tress would be the Chruch yard of all the French that should endeavour to take it. And Ris who commanded the Cavalry told the Marquis de Angeau with much confidence when he presented him to his Majesty to capitulate about the Town, that the Cittadel would cost the King that Summers work How­ever he durst not accept the Challenge the Marquis made [Page 95] him that he would lay with him ten thousand Crowns, that it would not hold out to the middle of the Spring, which was already far advanced. The Truce ceases.

On the fifth of April the Hostages were rendred and the Truce ended, and the King caused the Town on that side towards the Cittadel to be bar­ricaded, and those streets that adjoyned neer it, Batteries raised. and raised two Batteries one on the rampart of the Town and the other in the Camp at the Quarter of the Marshal Lorges. The Attaque disposed. These two Batteries were seconded by two attacques which they made, the one by the plain, the other on the side of the Gate of Valenci­enes against two Bastions and two halfmoons of the Citadel which look'd on that side of the City. The Trench opened. The same night they opened the Trench after the same manner [Page 96] as they formerly did, with this only difference that the King would not permit but one Ge­neral Officer to each Guard. The Army being now not so nu­merous by reason of the detach­ment which he had sent to strengthen Monsieur, The King spares his Soldiers. and the place besieged look'd on as a murtherer, the King took all the ways he could to spare his Soldiers, and therefore would not press the enterprise, being more desirous to sacrifice Time in the Siege than his Troops. the first night the Besieged wit­nessed great vigour and briskness, killing or wounding with their Artillery above twenty five Soldiers in the Guard in the Trench.

M. Louvis returns to the Camp.On the sixth the Marquis Lou­vis returned to the Camp from visiting the conquered places, after he had put all things in [Page 97] such a condition that they need­ed not to fear any surprise from the Confederates. And the Duke of Villeroy. The Duke of Villeroy under Marshal Scom­berg possessed the Quarter of Marshal Luxemburg, who was gon to favour the enterprise of Monsieur as had been said. That night the Besieged made two sallies to overthrow the Works, Two sallies, but were still beaten back, and they could not hinder them from carrying on the Trench even to the side of the Counterscarp.

On the seventh in the morn­ing the Count d' Avergne was wounded with the blow of a Ca­non on the head. Count A­vergne wounded. Vigny Cap­tain of the Bombardiers having made ready many mortars, flung the night following an in­finite number of Bombs and Ca­reasses into the Cittadel, The effect of his Bombs. which as if it had been thunder-strook beat down all the top of it, and [Page 98] falling into a Magazin of Grana­dos consumed it. Those of the Cit­tadel endeavoured to answer them in the same manner in flinging great quantity into the Town and into the Camp, but whether the matter was not good, or that they were ill pre­pared, they had no great effect. On the eight the Bombs and Mortars continued to batter the Cittadel and ruined the other Magazins, beat down their Corps du Guard, which was to­wards the Gate of the Cittadel, and forced the Besieged to retire into their casements or loop-holes: and on the ninth they finished the communication of their Works.

An other Battery.On the tenth there was ano­ther Battery raised upon the Ramparts on the left side of the Town, M. de Rey­nel slain. where it began to draw towards the Cittadel. The Mar­quis [Page 99] de Reynel Lieutenant Gene­ral Camp-master General of the light Horse, a man of an illu­strious Birth and of great repute for his good service, and parti­cularly esteemed for his experi­ence in warlike Affairs, was killed with a Canon shot as he was discoursing with the Duke de Villeroy.

On the eleventh the lines of communication and the courts of Guards being finished, they prepared themselves for an At­taque on a Halfmoon, which cover'd the Bastion opposite to the corner of the Town towards the Gate of Valenciennes. The besieged prevented the attaque by a brisk and vigorous sally both of Foot and Horse, A sally. but were repulsed by the Marquis Tilladet Marshal de Camp and d' Uxelles Brigadier, who were on the Guard in the Trench. The [Page 100] Marquis of Harcourt-Beuvron at the very same time by the or­der of the King and the Gene­ral Officer who commanded, The Half­moon taken. fell upon the Halfmoon of Picardy and carried it: Champereux and Courtine with a good many Sol­diers of that Regiment lodged themselves in the neck of the Halfmoon. The Ground was very well disputed and the Be­sieged lost then above 100 men kill'd and wounded.

The Counter­scarp taken.On the eleventh at night to the twelfth the Marshal Scom­berg relieved the Guard. He attaqued the Counterscarp by the Kings order with the Batta­lions of the Guards and theo­ther Regiments, and lodged themselves there. The Fight was obstinate and cost a great many Officers and Soldiers lives on either side: the French lost among others six Officers of [Page 101] the Guards. Rouvray Baron of Arcancy, Arnoue, the Chevalier Courtenay, Sautor, Reger, and Parfate; the Chevalier Boin and Constantin were wounded.

The day after they began to pierce the Bastion with their Canon on the left side of the Town, Another Battery. that they might be able to approch with their mine. They also raised another Batte­ry to ruine the flanks and Ca­ponniers. They also made an­other lodgment and certain places for their Arms, that they might put their miners under covert.

In the mean time the King was in great pain for to know the success of the enterprise at St. Omers; The news of the battel of Cassel brought to the Camp. from whence he received news by the Couriers every hour, who had brought him word that the Prince of Orange at the head of the most [Page 102] flourishing Army that ever yet the States General were masters of, approached Monsieur with great diligence, but that mor­ning the Marquis d' Effiat, the first Esquire to his Royal High­nesse whom he had expresly dis­patched to the King, brought him the news of the Victory which they had had over the Hollanders.

Monsieur having rendred himself master of the Cowfort, the seventh as we have already mentioned knew by those par­ties which he had detached from his Camp, to observe the Prince of Orange, that the Prince had quit Ypres with his whole Ar­my, and that he was come to Po­pering­hen. He resolved to go and encounter him with his Troops, and though he seemed to be less strong, he would not however loose the ground he [Page 103] had gain'd in that place. He left then to guard the Cowfort and to continue the Attaques on that side, Monsieur leaves the Lines. the Marquis la Trousse Lieutenant General, and Stoup­pa Marshal de Camp with one Battalion of Burgundy, one of Languedoc, and one of the Sea-Royal, one of Roussillon, and some Squadrons of Bordages and the Cavalry of Boulonnois. He sent to Bac, Nieurlet and Ouattes, one Battalion of Phiffers, and one of Greeders Dragoons, and the rest of the Militia of Bou­lonnois. And so being assured of divers Posts about the place, he left the Lines on the ninth in the morning. He presently sent away to Bergue to adver­tise the Duke of Luxemburg to joyn him, He meets the recruits. and within half a quarter of a league from the Camp upon an Eminence neer Arque he found Cardonniere with [Page 104] twenty six Squadrons and with him Monsieur St. Poüange. He continued his march to an high place which is between Cassel and the Abby of Ovattine, where he encamped. On the tenth in the morning his Army was re­enforced by the Marquis of Li­vourn with the Gens d' Armery, Revel with his Brigade of Horse, and at night by Tracy with nine Battalions.

Ranges his Army in Battalia.Monsieur found himself now at the head of 25000 Comba­tants 16000 Foot and 9000 Horse. He began to view his Camp and his Posts, and under­stood with what diligence the Prince of Orange came towards him, he put his Army in Bat­talia on this side of a little River called the Pene. He gave the command of the right wing which he had placed between Cassel and Ovattine in the field [Page 105] of Ablinghen to the Marshal de Humieres, and placed neer him for Lieutenant General Cardon­nier and the Chevalier Sourdis for Marshal de Camp. He gave the left wing which had its sta­tion on this side the Buscure to Marshal Luxemburg, who had for his Lieutenant General the Count du Plessis, and for Mar­shal de Camp Monsieur d' Albret, and the second line of the left wing he gave to the Prince of Soubise with order to make use of the opportunities that should offer themselves in the Battel. But you may see the order of the Battel drawn in a scheme better than in a long discourse, which shall be annexed to this.

The Prince of Orange had re­ceived advice from the Prince of Robek, that assured him that Monsieur had not with him a­bove 14000 men, and that he [Page 106] had not made any Lines of Cir­cumvallation and Contravallati­on, and that if his Highnesse de­ferred the time longer to suc­cour St. Omers, it would be too late, because there would come from the Kings Camp great store of Troops to enforce that of Monsieurs. All these reasons obliged the Prince to part from Ypres with his Army which consisted of 30000 fighting men, The Armies face one an­other. and encamped that night being the ninth at Marie-Capel. He there understood that the French were not above a league from him, he put his Army in­to Battalia, and on the tenth a­bout noon his Army faced that of Monsieurs in five divisions, it was drawn up on the left side of Cassel and on this side of the River of Pene. He then caused his right wing to make an hault neer to Moulins a post contigu­ous [Page 107] to the village of Pene, and his left wing towards the village of Bauvincourt. It would be difficult to describe the fair show that this Army made, The Princes Troops and chief Offi­cers. it is cer­tain it was composed of above 12000 Horse and 20000 Foot, besides an other gross Body of 5 or 6000 horse which attended continually under the leading of the Count of Nassau, the States General of the Cavalry. The other chief Officers under his Highness were Count Waldeck Camp Marshal General, Count Horn General of the Artillery: Vanweblen Major General, and Mountpovillan Serjeant Major.

The first thing that the Prince would undertake, Their enter­prise. was to relieve St. Omer on the side of Back, which seem'd to be the only way left to do it. For this end he commanded his Dragoons to sieze on the Abby of Pene, by [Page 108] which action he would cover his march which he intended to take on the right hand.

Opposed by Marshal Luxem­burg.Monsieur who perceived the Enemy to stretch himself forth towards the right side, ordered Marshal Luxemburg to post his Dragoons at Sainsandoux, and the Cavalry of the second Line at Moulin, Balamberg to cut off their way to Ovattes in case they should advance on that side, and then understanding that the Prince of Oranges Dragoons had siezed on the Abby of Pene, he sent the Dragoons of Listenoy and the Regiment of Lyonnois to chase them thence: but the Prince having reinforced them with some Foot, there began in that place a skirmish which lasted till night, A skirmish. till the Marshal Luxemburg forced them to re­tire and remained master of that Post, leaving there Soldiers with [Page 109] Serjeant for to guard it. Monsieur would have at the same time made a general Attaque, Monsieur could not execute his design. but the advantage of the ground which the Enemies possessed, the passage of two Rivers and the day being almost spent ob­liged hin to defer it.

On the eleventh in the mor­ning the Prince of Orange very well perceived that he was en­gaged to give Battel. The day before he found all the pas­sages whereby he should re­lieve St. Omers fast shut up, and he thought that he was more strong than the Monsieur, for he was yet ignorant of the re­cruits that were come to his Royal Highnesses Army; and if he had known it, 'twould have been a shame for him and for the States General to have left his Post. The Prince resolves to give battel. He then resolved to take the occasion to engage, he [Page 110] passed the first River, and made his Artillery advance; and made the a new assault on the Abby of Pene, Passes the River. and lodging there a part of his Dragoons, he posted a­mong some thick shrubs neer to Moulin some Squadrons of his own Guards to back divers Bat­talions, Makes a new at­tempt on Pene. which by the favour of the Canon and the hedges, were to open the way for him to come to the second River, on the other side of which the French Army was encamp'd.

Why Mon­sieur accepts the battel.Monsieur, who observed all these motions, was in a great impatience to come to handy strokes, not so much in consi­deration of his own glory, and for the advantage that would thereby accrue to his Majesty. He very well foresaw that if the Prince were contented to make headagainst them without en­gaging in a Battel, he might [Page 111] so spin out the Time in length, and by that only means render their design against St. Omers unprofitable. He saw also that he had the disadvantage of the ground, and the fewer forces, but the forementioned Reasons made him shut his eyes against all others, carried on by his own courage, having great confidence in his Troops, who testified a very great desire of doing well. He presently prepa­red all things as a General that would not refuse the Combat. He then about nine in the morning opposed to the Hollan­ders who advanced, the two Bat­talions of Anjou right over a­gainst the Bridge of the River, and gave order that the right wing should guard the Artillery to the same place, which play'd upon the Enemies Battel till two a clock in the afternoon. He [Page 112] also ordered Marshal Luxemburg to retake the Abby of Pene, which was on the left side where the Marshal comman­ded. This Post was an assured passage for the Enemies advance, and was of very great impor­tance. The Marshal executed that order with the Royal Re­giments and that of the Crown, one Battalion of Stoppa's, the Dragoons of Listenoy and other Troops, Pene reta­ken. and with four pieces of Canon. The Hollanders after a long resistance were compelled to dislodg, which they did after they had put fire to the place and rendred it unprofita- to either party.

An ill moti­on of the Prince.In the mean time his Royal Highness understood that the enemy had left with the better part of his Army the Height which was on the other side of the River of Pene with an ap­parent [Page 113] design to pass over and to fight. This oblig'd him to send away presently the Chevalier Clinvilliers with some Officers to take a view more neerly of the front of the enemies Army, Monsieur views the passages. which appeared but weak on the place where they faced the right wing of the French. The Chevalier brought him word that there was in that place a stone Bridg, by which they might pass over, for that it was not guarded at all, and that he had seen on the other side of that Bridg some Squa­drons sustained by Battalions ill drawn up and easie to be broken. This movement of the Prince of Orange and the Condition of these Troops offer­ed too fair an occasion to over­come to be neglected; and Mon­sieur presently made use of it.

His Army had changed some­thing [Page 114] the Order of battel by these movements; as also by the disposition of the Ground and the occasion that had engaged him to it, some of the Dra­goons on the Right having pas­sed over to the left, and many Battalions of the second Line being advanced into the first. Monsieur did not only make use of the Officers of the Army and the Aids de Camp to carry Orders and to observe the mo­tion of the Armies, but he also employed the Gentlemen of his house, some being order'd to go to divers places, others to stay fixed in certain particular posts, and another part to be about his person. The most considerable of these were the Chevalier de Beuvron Captain of his Guards, the Marquis d' Effiat first Esquire, the Marquis Pluvault, the Chevalier Nanto­villet, [Page 115] Monsieur de Grave and many others which we shall mention hereafter.

It was about two a Clock in the afternoon when Monsieur who had resolv'd upon the busi­ness, M. Hu­mieres has order to begin the battel. sent word to Marshal d' Humieres to advance towards the enemies Front, with order to fight if he found a favourable occasion. The Marshal having perceived the stone Bridg and divers places on the River easi­ly to be pass'd, he let his Royal Highness know by Chanly a good Officer of Marshal de Lo­gis, and who very well under­stood the business of war, that he thought good to send the Dragoons of the Collonel Gene­ral which he had ranged, to be­gin the fight, for that there could not be offer'd a better opportunity. In passing the River he presented himself before the [Page 116] left wing of the Prince of O­range, having with him the Gens d' Armerie and the Kings Musketeers, having order'd to follow him two Battalions of Navar with a design to gain the height and the Gardens in the middle of the enemies first Line. He fell immediatly within two gross Battalions of Hollanders, A dangerous business. seconded by nine Squadrons of Brederodes, Kins­kell and others. To disintangle him­self from them he commanded the two Battalions of Navar and the Musketeers to attacque them, The valour of the mus­keteers. making the later to a light. When the Hollanders saw before them the Red-coats, for so they called the Musketeers, they heard the commander of the Battalion of Oalkembourg to a­nimate his soldiers to sustain manfully but that shock, and the Victory should be easily [Page 117] theirs afterwards. But neither the perswasion of the enemies Officers nor the Tempest of two vollies of their Muskets, which they answered with their pistols, could hinder these Musketeers from overthrowing by dint of Sword the Regiment which opposed them, whilst those of Na­var routed the other. After the defeat of these foot the Muske­teers seeing the Horse coming towards them, which back'd them, returned to mount their Horses with so great precipi­tation for fear of loosing the opportunity of charging, that Chevalier Sourdis and divers o­ther Officers and Troops which followed them imagined that they had been beaten back, which caused the Chevalier Sourdis to say to them that they should not press so, as to cause those that were advancing to [Page 118] believe they were routed. The Marshal seeing the Enemies Squa­drons to advance after the rout of their two Battalions, he opposed them with the Marquis de Livourn with the Gens d' Armery, who af­ter they had endured the brunt of two discharges, at the nose of the muskets, with their swords in their hands passed over the bodies of all these of the first Line. But being willing to push on the victory farther, it was impossible for him to make them keep their Ranks in the heat of the Combate, so that the Enemies Squadrons falling on a sudden upon them, put them into disorder. But Revel with his Brigade succour'd them ve­ry opportunely, giving them the means to put themselves into a Body, and to divers others of his Troops to advance as far as a great space where there were [Page 119] yet two Battalions sustained by all the Prince of Oranges Caval­ry. In the mean time Cardon­nier advertised the Marshal that they saw above fifteen Squa­drons to descend from the hill, The hazard of Marshal Humieres. who were coming to fall upon the flank of his wing, who or­dered the same Cardonnier Lieu­tenant General to make head against them with the Squa­drons of Conismark, and the Chevalier de Sourdis to bring on the Musketeers who had reco­vered their horses.

It was then that Monsieur began to engage himself on his side. Monsieur en­gages. He caused the Infantry to advance, and ordered Mar­shal Luxemburg to cause his lest wing to advance.

Marshal Humieres was still in all the dangers and perils, M. Hu­mieres beats the Enemy. finding new obstacles. The two Battalions which were in the [Page 120] great space, one of which was the Prince of Oranges Guards, standing firm before the Squa­drons of Curasiers and of Tilla­det, and could not be broken without the Infantry. He then commanded Crevaut with the Queens Battalions, and Desbour­des and Raousset with those of Navar to chace them, which was executed after a most vi­gorous resistance. Having put to flight those Battalions, he met within a large plain all the Enemies Cavalry who had pre­pared themselves for to receive him, there being among others one Squadron of white Horse of the Princes own Guard, and for that Revel's Brigade had suffer'd much, he caused the Gens d' Armerie to advance, who being rallied and having liberty to ex­tend themselves on every side, they began to charge.

[Page 121]Monsieur who was in the midst of it, Monsieur en­courages those that fly to return to fight. seeing some Batta­lions, and some Squadrons fly­ing before a great Body of the Enemies Foot in the same place where he begun to fight he ran to them crying. Do you see me, and fly? where is the honour of France? By his Ex­ample and Valour. At the same time he made the Battalions of Greeder and Phiffer to march, to which he joyned his own company of the Guards, and kept none about his person but his Gentlemen and Domesticks. After these orders he rallied those that fled, and sent them back to the fight, encouraging them by his Ex­ample, and overthrew all the Enemies Infantry, who having prevailed in the disorder of the French, had almost took their Camp. Monsieur exposed him­self very much in this occasion, receiving one Shot from a Mus­ket [Page 122] upon his Arms. The Che­valier of Lorrain was wound­ed in the front, The Cheva­lier of Lo­rain woun­ded. and divers other Gentlemen and Domesticks belonging to his Royal High­ness were wounded by his side.

M. Hu­miers knows that Monsieur is victorious.Marshal de Humieres seeing at the disorder of the Enemies In­fantry, very well perceiv'd that Monsieur had gotten some con­siderable advantage. And find­ing he had nothing to fear on that side, and having assured himself on the other side with the Brigade of Moutrevel of the second Line, which was in very good order, he reinforced the Gens d' Armery once more which had suffer'd much, with the Brigade of Revel and other Squadrons which were neer it, Puts the left wing of the Hollanders to the rout. and charged the gross body of the Hollanders Cavalry, which after an obstinate fight began at [Page 123] last to repass the River, and then to disband and fly. Monsieur at the same time was ready with his Infantry on the left side of that victorious Wing, and met the Marshal who came from conquering with the Cavalry the left wing of the Enemies, where were their greatest forces, and where fortune seemed to dispute with the bravery of his Troops.

The Duke of Luxemburg, who with his left wing had not found that resistance in the Enemies right, and who had wholly broken them, had order from his Royal Highness to pursue the victory with divers Squadrons of the Collonel Ge­nerals and some others, who were drawn from the right wing of Marshal d' Humieres, and which the Count Plessis had the charge to conduct to him.

[Page 124] The dangers and bravery of the Prince of Orange.The Hollanders Army in the confusion gained the height and the way to Cassel and la Belle. The Prince of Orange after that he had exposed himself divers times, and had received seve­ral shots upon his Arms, see­ing the Battel lost without reco­very retired after all his cares sad and followed by few peo­ple, hardly knowing whither to go. He went first to Steenwood and thence to Poperinghen, find­ing at this time that fortune was not answerable to his courage.

Monsieurs march.Monsieur advanced as far as the hill, which was on the o­ther side of the second River, with the Brigades of d' Auba­rode and Villechauvis to stay for the Marshal of Luxembourg, or to sustain him in case that Count Nassau should have attaqued him with those Troops which he led. The Marshal scattered [Page 125] many of the Troops who had rallied to save their Baggage, Luxem­burgs Act­ions. and took many Officers and Sol­diers prisoners, even two leagues on the other side Cassel. The Hollanders lost all their Bag­gage, Food, and Prisoners, The Hollan­ders loss. thirteen pieces of Canon, a great many Mortarpieces, fif­teen Standards, one and forty Ensigns and above ten thousand men, that is to say 3000 slain, as many wounded or taken pri­soners, and the rest run away or rendred incapable of service.

The chief of quality that were there lost of the Hollanders were Walstein Commander of his Highnesses Dragoons. Hollanders of quality slain. Collo­nels Scaep, Arembergh, Greames, Grime, Holfwege, Hornby, Truxes, Majors of Brederods Foot, Wal­deck, Kloostet the eldest son of Col­lonel Kilpatrick Governour of Bosleduc, Everwyn Lieut. Col. of [Page 126] the same Regiment. Collonel Slaneberg, the Baron of Lotthen and 150 Officers more.

Wounded and priso­ners.Those that were wounded and taken prisoners were Rys­with Cornet of the Guards of the Body, Hortman Lieutenant of the Cavalry of Valdek, Croon­main Lieutenant Colonel of the Guards, Siber Major, Laer Cap­tain, la Noy Lieutenant Collonel to Prince Maurice and Major Salis Lieutenant Collonel of Holstein with the Major of the same Regiment, Haude Lieu­tenant Collonel of Horn with two Captains, Schaep Major of Girickel, the Count Warfusce and Collonel Vergne wounded, and prisoner, as also Collonel Witttenhoue, Lieutenant Collo­nel Oalkemburg, Collonel the Count of Lippe, Poeduvel Lieu­tenant Collonel of the Branden­burgs, Major Grime, Collo­nel [Page 127] Collonel Zobel, Collonel Ma­regnault wounded, and about an 100 others as well Chief as under Officers.

The defeat of this Army had been entire but for the inequa­lity of the Ground, the Mar­shes, the Hedges, the Forrests, the Shrubs and the coming on of the night.

The Troops of the enemies that behaved themselves re­markuably were among the Ca­valry those of the Regiments of the Life Guard and the Dra­goons of his Highness, The Troops that did well. those of Valdek, Brederods, Kinskel, Skaep Krouemburg, Aremberg, Greams being Scotch. Among the Infan­try, the Regiments of his High­ness Guard of Foot, that of Prince Maurice, the Duke of Hosteins, the Prince of Bran­denburgs, Courland, Ringrave, Waldeck, Horne, Girikil, Van-Eppe, [Page 128] Lavergne, Kilpatrick, Wit­tenhove, Oalkembourg, Toursay, Lippe, Klooster, Grime, Hoffwege, Zobel, Albrunsvart, Slaugembur and three of Zeland.

This Victory cost Monsieur about two thousand men kill'd or wounded and some prisoners. Slain and wounded of the French. Among those that were slain were Moissac Cornet of the Mus­keteers l' Grange Cornet of the Scotch Gens d' Armes Maker Cornet of the English, Bossier Captain of the Guards, the Chevalier Beauveaux Cap­tain Lieutenant of Monsieurs Gens d' Armes, the Marquis of Villaserre, and Benese Captains of Tilladet, l' Estoille Captain under the Marshal Logis of the Dauphins Dragoons, Mardoliers, Tlei and Villairs Captains of Burgundy, Sebastier Captain in the Queens Regiment, Crean, Humiers Lieutenant Colonel, [Page 129] Sigoville Major and Gozon Cap­tain in the Regiment of Le Main. Du Chelar Major, Lantil­lac and Meschatin Captains in that of Anjou, Brisset Captain in that of Geneva a Peimontois. Villars Lieutenant Collonel in the Royal Italian Regiment. Piequemont Colonel of the Regiment of Walloons. The Chevalier Silly a Gentleman be­longing to his Royal Highness.

Prisoners, Count Carces En­sign. in the Scotch Gens d' Armes dyed of his wounds. The Chevalier La Guetle Captain Lieutenant of the English also wounded, Refuge Captain and Bourru Lieutenant of the Guards.

Wounded: the Marquis of Li­vourn, the Count de Luc Muske­teer. In the Scotch Gens d' Ar­merie Livry and Passage, Quar­termasters. In the English, the [Page 130] Chevalier Estoges under Lieu­tenant, The Chevalier Crolly Ensign, Obrieu Quartermaster. In the Gens d' Armery of Bur­gundy the Marquis of Montgon under Lieutenant. In that of Flanders two Quartermasters and one Brigadier. In the Regi­ment of the Queens Light horse, the Marquis Sequille Captain Lieutenant. In that of the Dau­phins light Horse the Marquis Vallarceaux under Lieutenant. In that of the Gens d' Armerie of Anjou Lanion under Lieute­nant. In that of the Collonel Generals Captain Blot. In that of the Campmaster General the Chevalier Lussau Captain, and Ferriers Cornet. In that of the Curassiers Mouces Cap­tain. In that of Tilladets Catin Aid Major and the Chevalier Narbonne Captain. In that of Sourdis Caille Captain. In that [Page 131] of the Dragoons Collonel Ge­neral Paynae, Chemin, Grand-Val, and Cussan Captain. In that of Listenoy Baudet; Lajanie and La Font Captains. In that of the French Guards Malissey and other Captains, Sage, Va­rennes and Fouilles Lieutenants, Jolley, Beaumont under Lieu­tenants, and Nonaut Ensign. In that of Navar Lurcy, Boisti­roux, Castillon, Harlier, Denot and Riotot Captains. In the Royal Regiment Villechauve Lieutenant Collonel and Briga­dier of the Infantry, Biseiux and Valle-sablon Captains. In that of Conty the Chevalier Fris­sinet, Marvel and St. Seve Cap­tains. In that of Burgundy the Chevalier Villairs, Talleures, St. Cloy, Beaureguard and Thomassin Captains. In the Queens Regi­ment Farges Lieutenant Colo­nel, Grimpier, Val Crosseau, Duval, [Page 132] Montgrain and Bonnet Captains. In that of Vaisseaux Lauzier Ma­jor, La Tournelle, Boissiere, Arbou­ville, La Mare and Renoir Cap­tains. In that of Lyonois L' Estolle Lieutenant Colonel, Sercave, Dapinat, Bellegard, Montbrison, L [...]ntival, Montagny, d' Enonom­ville, and Bony Captains. In that of Humieres Dames Major, Codere, Francalliere, Moncabau, Fon­taines, L' Hospital. Normandy La Seine, Milon and Gosse Cap­tains. In that of La Maceyns de La Haye de La Motte and du Tiel Captains. In that of Anjou Melonnier Lieutenant Colonel Desnac, Clerac, Boulay, Boulac, Scal­berg, Chautezerce, Ferriere, Palli­vil, Du Long and Le Comte Cap­tains. In that of the Crown the Chevalier Betancourt Gen­lis Colonel, Servey, and the Marquis of Aire the eldest son of the Count Tavanes Cap­tains. [Page 133] In the Genevian Piemon­tois du Clos, St. Luce, Chosil, Ma­tovet and St. Seriel Captains. In the Royal Italian Regiment the Count of Serraville the Mar­quis Orsucci, and Rossa Captains. Griffi, Surgilli, Validini; Mar­chetti and Buzzoni under Offi­cers. In that of Phiffer Borgilli Margdossi and Aet Captains. In that of Greeders Zegber Major, Fabri, Courtent, Burent and Wat­teville Captains. Volunteers who signa­lized them­selves. that of Stoup­pe Benselle Captain, and some of the under Officers of each Regiment.

There were beside very ma­ny persons of Quallity who on this occasion signalized them­selves in the quality of Volun­teers, as the Prince of Isenghin; the Brother of the Count de Sol­re, the Marquis of Thury, Da­ranantum, La Vallerie and o­ther Gentlemen of the French [Page 134] Flanders. Monsieur St. Poüange, known very well for his employ which he dispensed with to ex­pose himself to the peril and dangers of War, not failing by by an excess of zeal and courage to be in the first of the Troops that fought, and did great ser­vice in retaining those who be­gan to be disordered and in ral­lying those again who were dis­persed.

This is the third Battel struck in this place.The heat of the fight lasted three hours and an half, that is to say from two a clock in the afternoon to half an hour after five in the evening. This is the third Battel which hath been struck under Cassel by three Ge­nerals bearing the names of Philip. The first was advan­tagious to the low Countries through the ill fortune of Philip the Fair, but the other two were as glorious to France through [Page 135] the courage of Philip of Valois, and throgh the valour of this Philip Duke of Orleans.

The news of this Victory be­ing published in the Camp of the King, it was solemnised by three vallies of all the Canon and all the Musketeers. His Ma­jesty giving to the Marquis d' Effiaut a Diamond worth two thousand Pistoles, The King sends to com­plement Monsieur. and sent a­way Monsieur de Gesvres the chief Gentleman of his Cham­ber to the Monsieur to testifie his Joy. The news in Paris.

Merille chief Groom of the Chamber to his Royal Highness brought this welcome news to Madame on the twelfth at night. The next day Monsieur the Dau­phin accompanied with the Princes of Conty, Madame complemen­ted. the Duke of Montausier his Governour and many other young Princes and Lords of the Court, came from [Page 136] the Castle of St Germains to Pa­ris to rejoyce with her for the prosperous success of the Kings Arms under the conduct of Monsieur. His Majesty wrote to her and sent Monsieur de Gombaud one of his Gentlemen in ordinary to compliment her, and all the Princes and Princes­ses of the Blood, Ministers, Stran­gers, and the chief persons of the Realm came to testifie their Joy to that Princess. They made Bonfires for joy before the Palace Royal and also thorow all Paris by the people. Rejoycing.

The Citta­del of Cam­bray is pres­sed.After this victory they began to press upon the Cittadel of Cambray. From the thirteenth to the fourteenth at night they enlarged the places for their Arms, and their Lodgment to put their Artillery under covert, and the descent into the ditch. They raised new Batteries and [Page 137] sprung some mines, and they prepared and charged others.

The fourteenth in the morn­ing the Duke of Villeroy Lieu­tenant General, being on the Guard with Rubentel Brigadier of the Infantry, and the Mar­quis d' Angeau Aid de Camp, two Battalions of the Dauphins ma­king an attaque on the plain and of the Kings Battalions from without the Town, An Half­moon taken and reta­ken. they took the halfmoon being on the left hand being wholly ruined by the Canon. The Governour of the Cittadel not being able to suffer them so to carry it at noon day, knowing of what consequence it was in giving courage to the French by such easie success, he detached some of the best Offi­cers and Soldiers, and made them retake it before the French had begun to make any Lodg­ment. The same Soldiers being [Page 138] willing to continue their poynt, and to proceed to overthrow their Works, the Duke of Vil­leroy repulsed them vigorously and had almost retaken the half­moon if they had had any Tools and Workmen to have lodged there, and if they had not consi­dered, that they had attaqued it more out of an Importment of Bravery than out of any reason of War.

Taken a­gain.From the fifteenth to the six­teenth the Count St. Geran, Marshal de Camp, Josseaux Bri­gadier and the Marquis Chiver­ny Aid de Camp, being on the Guard of the Trench, with two Battalions of Picardy, they car­ried entirely the same Fort, and there made their Lodgments, whilst that two Battalions of the Guards guarded the works on the right hand. His Majesty had ordered St. Geran not to be [Page 139] too wilful in the taking it, in case that he should find any great re­sistance, for that post being on the left side and without the at­taques, the taking of it appeared unprofitable and he had a mind to preserve his Soldiers. But the out Centinels, and the small Guards being on the point of the Halfmoon, at the only menaces which a Serjeant of Picardy made something boldly, they which guarded the place aban­doned it.

The sixteenth the Marshal Feuillade being in the Trench with the Marquis of Cavois Aid de Camp, The Gover­nour sum­moned. the King commanded a cessation of Arms, and let the Governour understand by the Chevalier Nogent Aid de Camp, also to the King, that he had de­fended the place according to all the Laws of War, and that could be expected from a man of va­lour [Page 140] and reputation; that the Army from which he might have expected relief was wholly defeated without hope of get­ting together again, that the halfmoons and all the out places were taken, that there had been many breaches made, and mines sprung to enlarge them, and in conclusion he ought not to be wilful in any longer defence of the place, which would only serve to destroy a great many valiant men on either side, which he might avoid, whilst he was in a condition to make an honora­ble and advantagious Capitula­tion.

His answer.The Governour answered by a letter sent back by the same Chevalier Nogent, that he was yet in a condition to defend the place, that when his mines should have ruined those Basti­ons they would attaque, there [Page 141] was still one where he could lodg himself in safety, and that at last when he should be forced to yield to his power, he hoped that his Majesty would use his ordinary generosity towards those Soldiers which had done but their duty.

Nevertheless on the seven­teenth in the morning seeing two Bastions almost overthrown by the mines and by the Canon, their best Halfmoons lost, the the ditches wholly filled up, and guard in the Trench in a condi­tion to give a general Assault, he thought it no part of his duty to stay for it, and more to the pur­pose to preserve for his party the the rest of the Garison, and some riches, which he saw very well could not be saved but by a capitulation, knowing as he did the valour of the Besiegers, and that the victory would be easily [Page 142] atchieved in the presence of the King, who knew to come by it through ways so short and sur­prising. The King also treated him as favourably as he could wish. He permitted him and his Garison to come forth at the breach with their Arms and Baggage, two pieces of Canon, and guarded as far as Brussels. His Majesty immediately sent Marquis Louvis into the Citta­del. The Governour presen­ted himself to the King sick and wounded, who praised his brave carriage in the defence of the place. The Garrison went forth in good condition, except the Irish Regiments of Molem­by and Tilly, who as they had performed the most vigorous Actions, had been also the most ill treated.

The King then caused Te De­um to be sung in the Metropoli­tan [Page 143] Church, The King enters the Town and gives thanks. and as if Heaven would concur with Earth to fill up the measure of this Mo­narchs prosperity, the Siege was finish'd the same day that his Majesty had finished in his Camp the stations of the Grand Jubilee. The Archbishop of Pa­ris, and the Father de La Chaise Confesser to the King, upon the Question which had been form­ed whether his Majesty could obtain the Jubilee in any other place than that which was set down in the Bull, decided that there was no place limited for the person of his Majesty, since he was not in the same Capacity as simple Travellers.

Lent also was concluded at the same time, which was now a time of mortification to the Confederates as well as to the Catholiques. And distri­buted em­ployments. The King gave the Government of Cambray [Page 144] to Cezan Major of the Regiment of Guards, the Lieutenancy to Dreux, the Majorality to Pari­sot Engineer, the Command of the Cittadel to Choisi one of the cheif Engineers, and the Lieuten­ancy to du Fresne. And for that Cezan was Governour of Con­de that Government was given to Lerretiere. The King then gave order for to repair the Breaches, and to raise up the walls both of the Village and of the Cittadel, to put the fortifi­cations in a good Condition, and to fling down their works.

The news carried to Paris.The King sent away Count Grammount to carry the wel­come news to the Queen and to the Dauphin. The twenty se­cond Te Deum was sung in Paris in the Church of Nostredame The Queen and the Dauphin accompanied with the Prince and Princesses and Ambassadors [Page 145] of Sovereign Princes, that were used to assist there; being pre­sent; and Bonfires were made at night thorow the whole Town. The Queen sends to complement the King and Mon­sieur. The Queen sent to testi­fie her joy to the King first; and to Monsieur, for the prosperity of this Campagne by the Vi­count Nantia her Esquire in ordinary.

The King departed from Cambray on the twentieth in the morning; The Kings departure. passing through Bou­chain and lay at Douay. The twenty first he went to Lens and lay at night at Bethune. The twenty second he went to Te­rouanne, whither Monsieur came to see his Majesty.

Monsieur after the Victory against the Prince of Orange stayed some days in his post, Monsieurs Actions af­ter the Bat­tel. as well to observe the condition of the Enemies Army, as to hinder any of those Troops from get­ting [Page 146] into St. Omers, and also to give time for his Cavalry to take the benefit of the Forrage which they had found on the other side of Cassell, and for his Infantry to make use of the provisions which the Hollanders had abandoned, and was enough to serve his Army for ten days at least. His Royal Highness sent presently into the Feild where the Battel was struck, Carts and other Carriages with Physitians Chirurgians and necessary pro­visions to succour those Enemies who had need of it, and com­manded no difference to be made at that time, betwixt those unfortunate people and those of his own Men. Monsieur did not fail to press on the Siege in the mean time. Every day four Battalions and some Squa­drons had order to enter the Trenches and to attack the [Page 147] Cow-fort. A Sally. On the tenth of April the Besieged perceiving that Monsieur had quitted the Siege to meet with the Hollanders Army, they resolved to endea­vour to retake that Fort by a brisk and vigourous Sally which they made. But the Marquis La Trousse who was upon the Guards gave them a repulse. Afterwards in the Quarter of du Bac and of Nieurlet, where Phif­fer commanded, they intercept­ed the Letters which the Go­vernour and the Magistrates of St. Omers wrote to the Prince of Orange which contained the sad estate they were in, being as yet ignorant of the defeat given to the Prince. Monsieur caused a coppy of them to be taken to shew to the King, and thought it convenient to per­mit the original to pass, that the enemy might be informed [Page 148] of their straits. A new Bat­tery. His Royal Highness caused the Artillery to be advanced against St. O­mers, and raised a new Battery of twenty pieces of Canon be­fore the High Bridge. The At­tacque of Tattinghen being left the same instant that Monsieur quitted his quarters, for that he found he had not forces enough to keep that post, M. de Hu­mieres re­turns. but Marshal de Humieres returned before the place to put all things in a condition to redouble the At­tacques. The Besieged frequent­ly sallied forth, taking several prisoners. On the seventeeth they made one in which Cardon­niere was wounded, Frezelier the son killed, and a good num­ber of Soldiers; but all those endeavours of the Besieged, how brisk soever they were, were but like the last glimmering of a Lamp going out. For in fine [Page 149] Monsieur having given his Army a refreshment and time to get in the forrage and mu­nition of the enemies, and be­ing assured that the Prince of Orange with the reliques of his Army was retreated between Bruges and Gaunt, returned into the Camp at Blandeck on the nineteenth and put the greatest parts of his Troops in Battalia on the Hill of Arques. Monsieur re­turns to the Camp.

On the twentieth at night the Prince de Robeck and the Magi­strate of the Town not being able longer to resist the Artillery being now no longer ignorant of the loss of the Battel, despaired of being succoured, apprehend­ing the Consequence of a Gene­ral Assault and believing they had done all things that Honour required of them for the defence of the place, The Town capitulates. they demanded to capitulate. Hostages were giv­en [Page 150] on either side. Surrenders it self. Monsieur sent Collonel Villars into the Town and the Spaniards sents into the Camp Collonel de Fey Col­lonel of Foot and d' Harnon­court Collonel of Horse. They had yet one Counterscarp left, one large ditch, and one Rampart of Earth furnished with Gabi­ons, Stakes and quick Hedges; so that they might have been able to hold out for some days longer; but seeing themselves without any hope of relief, and being threatned that they should have no quarter if the Town should be taken by assault, or be made prisoners of war, if they should defer the time longer ere they rendred themselves, were perswaded to come to a conclusion, and which they must be forced to do within a few days at the least, and also find­ing that the French were not [Page 151] at all moved by their long re­sistance, hoping thereby at last to destroy the Troops of that Garison, which would be a great lost to Flanders, and which might yet render them good service. All these things consi­dered made them resolve to ca­pitulate. Their demands were strongly debated, and they were resolved not to receive them but as Prisoners of war; but Monsieur having seen the King on the twenty second at Terouanne, return'd to his Camp with orders to agree to their Capitulation upon honorable Terms. They left the place with Arms and Baggage, two pieces of Canon and a Guard as far as Ypres and Gaunt. The Prince of Robeck and the Count of St. Vignant at the head of their Garison made their Re­verence to his Royal Highness, [Page 152] who received them with much Civility.

Monsieur­enters the Town.Monsieur entering into the Town caused the Te Deum to be sung, visited the Rampart, and having given the necessary Orders for the putting the place into a good Condition, and also provided for the necessities of the prisoners and for those that were wounded, he went to joyn himself to the King.

The Govern­ment dispos­ed of by the King.His Majesty had given the Government of the place before he had left his Camp be­fore Cambray in the Favour of the Marquis St. Genles Com­mander of Douay and gave the Lieutenancy to Raousset Cap­tain of Navar, and made Ro­chepierre Engineer the Major, and the command of Douay to the Marquis Pierrefit an ancient Chevalier of Lorraine.

It hath been a Custome be­tween [Page 153] the Kings of England and France, Complements betwixt the King of England and the French King. when there has been amity betwixt them, that when ever either of them ap­proaches neer each others Coast, to send mutual Complements each to other. The French King therefore sent to his Majesty of great Britain the Duke de Crequi Peer of France First Gentleman of his Chamber, Duke Cre­qui sent in­to England. Chevalier of the Orders and Governour of Paris. He parted from Court with a Train of above an hundred Gentlemen. The Princes who joyn'd them­selves with him to pay their re­spects to their Majesties of great Britain in particular were the Count of Soissons, the Duke of Boüillon and the Prince of Mo­naco. The King of England sent into France the Earl of Sunder­land, and the Duke of York sent my Lord Duras Captain of his Guards.

[Page 154] The King de­sires peace.The King might probably have encreased his Conquests by a fourth Siege, and all the low Countries were in such a consternation, and their Troops in so ill an equipage that it was no hard matter for him to have improved his victory, but his Majesty had a mind to let all Eu­rope understand that whatever advantage he had got by the continuation of the War, that he had yet a stronger inclination for Peace, and in order thereto, he wrot to the King of Great Britain as a Mediator, that he was ready to sign the Articles of Truce, to give leasure to ob­tain the means for a conclusion of Peace. After this the King distributed his Troops into their Quarters, breaking in the mean time the course of his victories, to let them see the disposition which he had to give repose to [Page 155] Europe, and to put himself into a condition to enter upon new enterprises, if in case the Confe­derates should not yield their helping hands to a proposition so reasonable.

The King retain'd about his Person a part of the Troops of his Horse, The King visits the conquered places. and went to visit all the places on the Frontiers and his Conquests in the low Coun­tries. He gave to Lieutenant General Cardonniere the charge of Camp master General of the light Horse, vacant by the death of the Marquis of Reynel, and made a Detachment of six thou­sand men under his conduct, for to march on the side of the Meuse till further orders. The charge of Commissary General, which he had before, was given to the Marquis Montrevil Bri­gadier of the Cavalry.

The twenty fifth his Majesty His voyage▪ [Page 156] came to Gravelin and that night to Dunkirk. The next day he visited the Port, Ramparts, and all other places of the Town. The twenty seventh he went to Bergues, the twenty eighth he returned to Callis, where he gave a private Audience to Griffen­dal Envoy extraordinary from the Sweed. There he also re­ceived the compliments made him from his Majesty of Great Britain and from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, Receives en­voys from England. by the Earl of Sunderland and the Lord Duras, who on the twen­ty ninth had their Audience of taking leave introduced by Mon­sieur Bonnevil.

Mounsieur returns to Paris.Monsieur having left the King at Callis, arrived on the third of May at Paris with those Gentlemen who followed him. Madame, Madamoselle and ma­ny other Princes, Princesses, [Page 157] and great ones of the Realm, came to meet him there and to receive him. The next day af­ter his arrival he went to render his visit to the Queen in the Covent of the Carmelites in the Street of Bouloir: and the fifth he went with all his Family to St. Germans, to see again the Queen and Monsieur the Dau­phin. The same day Te Deum was sung in the Church of Nostre­dame for the conquest of St. Omer, and at night Bonfires were made for joy. The Popes Nuncio and all the Embassadors and Mi­nisters and very many of qua­lity of both sexes made their complements to his Royal High­ness both for the taking St. O­mers and for his victory at Cassel. Is comple­mented.

The King having taken a turn about all the Sea places, went into Artois with the Court, and staid some days at [Page 158] St. Omers. From thence on the ninth of May he made his entrance into Valenciennes, and staid a while in the County of Hainault. The fourteenth he went to Conde, where he recei­ved news of the Sea fight which the Count d' Estree had gained over the Hollanders in the Port of Tobago in America.

In the mean time the Confede­rates established their head quar­ters in the Country of Vaes. They had assured themselves of the Troops of Osnabruck, Munster and Newbourg. The brave Prince of Orange had projected great enterprises, as well with the States General as with the Spa­niards, and the Confederates in all their marches made appear that they were contriving to revenge themselves of so many affronts they had received by the execution of some great design.

[Page 159]The King rallied all his Troops from their quarters of refreshment, The King takes a re­view of his Troops. the 22th of May took a general re­view of his right wing in the Fields of Thulin, and the 23th he review­ed his left wing under Bossu in the Territory of Keeuvrain. He found his Army more flourishing than ever, being about forty Battalions strong and fourscore and ten Squadrons, not comprehending those Troops which he had detached to reinforce the Ar­my of Marshal Crequi, nor those which were sent into the service of the Marshal Schomberg between the Meuse and the Moselle. His Majesty left the command of those in Flanders with Marshal Luxemburg, and went on the 27th thorow Quesnay, and the 28th to Cambray, the 29 to Chaune, the 30th to Lioncourt where he was received by the Prince of Marsillas the grand Master of his Ward­robe. The 31 in the morning Mon­sieur met the King at Bourget, and at noon the Queen, the Dauphin, and the Princes, and Princesses of the Court met his Majesty at Clichy, from whence they went to Versailles.

The third of June the Marquis of [Page 160] Siegnelay presented to his Majesty the Messieures of Parliament and of the other Sovereign Courts and Magi­strates of Paris, Returns and is comple­mented. who did make their set Speeches on the felicity of his Arms in that glorious Campain. The fourth Monsieur Bonnevil intro­duced to his Majesty the Nuncio and all the Embassadors and Mini­sters, Strangers who testified their admiration and joy for the swift­ness and greatness of his conquests.

The Cam­pain ended in three months.And thus the King ended his Cam­pain in three months, of which he em­ployed two in his Conquests and the other in disposing things to assure what he had got. Time will shew the Im­portance and consequences of these things better than we can. All that we may say, is that after the three most considerable places in the low Countries both for their repute and fortifications, carried with so great promtitude, the hardest part of the work was over. By these he had co­ver'd all his former conquests, and put the frontiers of his Kingdom in a condition to suffer no longer from the inroads of those Garisons, nor to suffer any Incommodity from the War.