The Paris relation of the Battel of Landen, July 29th, 1693, between the French, commanded by the D. of Luxemburg, and the confederates, by the K. of Great Britain publish'd by the French King's authority, with his letter, ordering the Archbishop of Paris to sing Te Deum, and a private letter from a very good hand in Paris, with another account of the battel : as also reflexions upon the King's letter, by a very learned French pen and observations by another hand here, proving the French king and his gazeteers account to be inconsistent with themselves, and one another, as well as contrary to truth, and that though the French kept the field, yet they were really loosers by the action.

2016-02

THE Paris Relation OF THE Battel of Landen, JƲLY 29^th. 1693, Between the French, Commanded by the D. of Luxemburg, And the Confederates, by the K. of Great Britain; Publish'd by the French King's Authority.

WITH His LETTER, Ordering the Archbishop of Paris to sing Te Deum.

AND A Private Letter from a very good Hand in Paris, with another Account of the Battel.

AS ALSO Reflexions upon the King's Letter, by a very Learned French Pen.

AND Observations by another Hand here, Proving the French King and his Gazeteers Account to be inconsistent with themselves, and one another, as well as contrary to Truth: And that though the French kept the Field, yet they were really Loosers by the Action.

Publish'd for Vndeceiving the Publick, who are so much Abus'd by Seditious Relations.

LONDON, Printed for H. Rhodes, at the Star, the Corner of Bridelane, Fleet-street: And I. Harris, at the Harrow, in the Poultrey, 1693.

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This may be Printed,

Aug. 26. 1693.

EDWARD COOKE.

There is lately Published,

AN Exact Relation of the Battel of Landen, July 29. 1693. between the Army of the Confederates, Commanded by the King of Great Britain, and that of the French King, under the Command of the Duke of Luxemburg. With His Majesty's Letter to the States-General, from his Head Quarters at Eppegem, Aug. 12. 1693. With a Description of the Order of Battel, in a Copper-Plate. Price 6 d. Printed for H. Rhodes, in Fleetstreet: And J. Harris, in the Poultrey.

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THE PREFACE.

AFter so many Falsifications made by the French, as King William's Death and Defeat at the Boyne, which gave them a Sham Subject of Triumph throughout their Kingdom; their huge Victory which they pretended to have had over us at Tinmouth, and others of the like sort, it might reasonably be thought unnecessary to prove them Liars at any time after; but their Mercenary Scriblers at Home, and their Pensioners and Bigotted Well-Wishers Abroad, having Magnified their Late Victory beyond all manner of Expression, contrary both to Reason and good Sense; We hope it will not be unacceptable [Page] to the Publick, that we have Exhibited a Faithfull Translation of the Paris Account, and the French King's Letter, the very reading of which is sufficient to Confute them; but for the V;ndeceiving of all wellmeaning People, even those of Ordinary Capacities, there are Reflexions added to prove the Falshood of what the French and their Friends assert, and by Comparing of Our Account with Theirs, I doubt not but it will be found as demonstrable as any thing of that nature can be, that their Loss can be probably little less than 20000, and ours not much above 6000; for the Proof of which, We referr to the following Account and Reflexions.

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THE RELATION OF THE VICTORY Obtain'd over the CONFEDERATES At Nerwinde, in Brabant, by the King's Army COMMANDED By the D. of Luxemburgh.
Faithfully Translated from the Original, Printed in the Louvre, by the Paris Gazetteer: With the King's Authority. Aug. 12. 1693.

(1.) IMmediately after the taking of the Town, and Castle of Huy, the D. of Luxemburgh went to view the Intrenchments which the Enemies had made before Liege; and being informed that the Confederates Army was return'd to encamp between the little River of Geete, and the Brook of Lande [Page 2] Fermé; and that on the News of his March, they had weakned themselves by sending Ten Battalions to Liege, he resolved to attack them, according to the King's Order, to find them out, and give them Battel.

(2.) But the better to cover his Design, he commanded his Troops to amass a vast quantity of Fascines, as if he had designed to march for Liege. He intended to have broke up on the 27th. of July in the Evening, but a great Rain (which lasted all that Day, and most part of the Night) oblig'd him to deferr it till the next Day: So that on the 28th. about Five in the Morning, he left his Camp at Hellich, which was Seven Leagues from the Enemy, and marching in Four Columns, the Infantry in the middle, and the Cavalry on the wings, he passed the Jarr near its Spring-head, betwixt the Villages of Borchiworm, and Latine. Luxemburgh himself was at the head of the Left Wing, which in this March composed the Column on the Right; and arriving at the Mill of Warem, he understood by his Scout, that the Enemy continued in the same Camp. When he made a halt to give the Column time to pass the Defile of the Jarr, and committing them to the Conduct of the Mareschal de Joyeuse, he put himself at the head of the Right Wing, commanded by the Duke de Villeroy, who was advanced between Lens-les-Beguines, and Avernas.

(3.) While the Infantry passed the Jarr, under the command of the Prince of Conti, the Sieur Rubantel, and the Duke of Barwick, Lieutenant-Generals, upon several Bridges made for that end, Luxemburgh advanced at the head of the King's Houshold, followed by the rest of the Columne, and made hast to come in view of the Enemy, designing either to keep them in their Camp, or charge their Rear, if they endeavoured to re-pass the River. About Four in the Afternoon he arrived near the Village of Racou, and forthwith put Two Regiments of Dragoons into the Villages of St. Gertrude, and Hautwinde, [Page 3] backing them with the Battalions which were designed for the Lines, under the conduct of the Count de Montchevreuil, Lieutenant-General, who having encamp'd that Day a-part from the Left of the Army, was farther advanced than the rest of the Foot.

(4.) On the appearance of this Body, the Confederate Generals being perswaded, that the D. of Luxemburgh had still a Design upon Liege, they could not believe that the whole Army was marching toward them, but supposed it to be only a Detachment sent by the Mareschal, to conceal his March; but the Prince of Orange, and Elector of Bavaria, mounting on Horseback, quickly discovered the truth, and put their Forces immediataly in Battel-Array at the head of their Camp.

(5.) Mareschal Joyeuse arrived with the Left Wing at Six a Clock; and the Infantry, which the Prince of Conti had caused to march from the Passage of the Jarr in Four Columnes, for the greater dispatch, arrived at Eight a Clock with a great part of the Artillery.

(6.) It being then too late to Engage, the D. of Luxemburgh contented himself to put his Troops in order; for which end he commanded the Marquis de Crequi, Mareschal de Camp, to possess the Village of Lande Fermé, with his Right, and the Brigades of B [...]urbon, and Lyon, to whom the Marquis de Feuquiers, Lieutenant-General, join'd that of Maulevrier: With these Brigades, and betwixt that Village, and St. Gertrude, he posted those of Navarre, Anjou and Arras, conducted by the Count de Solre, Mareschal de Camp, with the Dragoons of Caylus, Finmarcon, and the Two Regiments of Asfeld.

(7.) To the Left, he ordered the Sieur de Rubantel, and the D. of Barwick Lieutenant-Generals; the Baron de Bresley, and my Lord Lucan, Mareschals de Camp, with the King's Brigade, those of Piedmont, Crussol, Orleance and Reynold which join'd them of Salis, and Arbouville, [Page 4] that were already posted in the Village of Haute-Winde.

8. Betwixt those Two Villages, thus possessed by the Infantry, the D. of Luxemburgh caused a Line of Cavalry to be form'd, consisting of Seven Squadrons of the King's Houshold, with the Regiment of the Camp-Master-General, the Dauphin's Foreign Regiment, and that of Bourbon, having at their head, to the right, the D. de Villeroy, with the Sieur Rosen, Lieutenant-General, the D. de Roquelaire, Mareschal de Camp; and to the left, the Mareschal de Joyeuse, the D. of Bourbon, Lieutenant-General, and the Count de Marsin, Mareschal de Camp.

(9.) He formed a Second Line, consisting of the French, and Swisse Guards, and those of Guiche, commanded by the Prince of Conti.

(10.) He formed a Third with the rest of the King's Houshold, the Brigade of Bolen, the Carabineers, and Praslins Regiment, having at their head, the Marquis de Feuquiers, and the Sieur de Buscha, Lieutenant-Generals, the D. d'Elbaeuf, and the Count de Nassaw, Mareschals de Camp.

(11.) Then he Composed a Fourth, consisting of the Brigades of Vermandois, Zurbeck, Zurlaube, Nice, Royal Roussilon, and La Sarre, with the rest of the Cavalry, Commanded by the Sieur de Vatteville Lieutenant-General, who formed also other Lines, according as the Ground would allow. All the Cavalry were put in order by the Duke de Chartres, who Commanded them.

(12.) The Chevalier de Bezons, Mareshal de Camp was posted with a Reserve behind the Village of Haute-Winde, and the Sieurs de X menes and Pracontal, with some Brigades of Horse, drawn from the Right and Leit, were also placed there.

(13.) The Army passed the Night thus in Battle Array, and in the mean time, the Enemies did Fortifie themselves with all possible Diligence.

[Page 5](14.) On the 29th. by break of day, we perceived the Confederates also in Order of Battel, having on their Right the Villages of Laer and Nerwinde, which they had Intrench'd, and possessed with a great Body of Foot: Their Left reacht to the Brook of Landen, along which, they were posted towards Leewe, and they had cast up a Great Entrenchment before them, upon the height, from the Village of Nether-Landen to Nerwinde.

(15.) Behind that Retrenchment, which was Mounted with Eighty Pieces of Cannon; their Infantry was posted, sustain'd by Two Lines of Cavalry, and having also on their Right, from their Entrenchment, to the River Geet, Three other Lines of Cavalry, facing towards the Villages of Laer and Nerwinde.

(16.) About half an hour past Four in the Morning, the Cannon began to Play on both sides, and continued till the Fight was over.

(17.) The Duke of Luxemburg, having viewed the Posture of the Enemy, judg'd, that it behov'd him in the first place, to make himself Master of the Villages of Laer and Nerwinde, on which he conceiv'd the Success of the Battel to depend; and therefore, order'd the Attack upon the latter, at 8 a Clock.

(18.) The Sieur de Rubantel Commanded the Right of that Attack, with the Brigades of the King, and Crussol; The Count de Montchevril, that of the Left, with the Brigades of Salis and Arbouville; and the Duke of Berwick, that of the middle, with the Brigades of Piedmont and Orleans; and those Three Lieutenant Generals had under them the Baron de Bressey, and my Lord Lucan, Mareschals de Camp. The Sieur Reynold at the same time, had Orders to make himself Master of the Village of Laer, with his Brigade, and a Regiment of Dragoons▪ The Sieurs de X [...]menes and Prac [...]ntal, with the Le [...] W [...]g of the second [Page 6] Line, and the Chevalier de Bezons, with the Reserve, being Commanded to sustain him.

(19.) The Village of Nerwinde we carried with a great deal of Vigour; but the Enemy returning with fresh Troops, regain'd it after a long and bloody Fight: However, they were not long there, till they were Attack'd by the Brigade of Guiche; with the Duke of Bourbon at their Head, who retook the Village, and beat the Enemy into the Valley, where their Cannon was planted: but the Prince of Orange, having immediately detach'd new Troops, and used his utmost Efforts, to repossess himself of that Village, which was of so much Import and Consequence to him, we were obliged to retire again to the uttermost Hedges of the Village, and the like befel our other Troops, which had taken the Village of Laer.

(20.) While we were Masters of these two Posts, the Sieur de Pracontal, with the Brigade of Montrevel, and the Chevalier de Bezons, with the Reserve, found means to enter as far as the Plain, and to defeat one of the Enemies Lines, but not being sustain'd soon enough, because of the Defiles, they were obliged after several Charges, to retire to their first Post.

(21.) While these things past on the Left, the Prince of Conti, seized the Hedges before the Village of Lande Fermé, with the Brigade which had pass'd the night on that side; and advancing further with the four Regiments of Dragoons, order'd to march on the other side of the Brook of Landen, they push'd the Enemy to the Flank of their Retrenchments.

(22.) The Marquis de Crequi, perceiving the Battel grew hot, sustain'd his Dragoons by the Brigades of Navarre, Bourbon, Lion, Anjou and Arras. And the Prince de Conti, who was at the Center of the Line, marching up to the Attack as soon as it began, the Enemies were beat from Post to Post, and we became Masters of part of their [Page 7] Entrenchments. But the Duke de Luxemburg, Mareschal de Villeroy, and Prince de Conti, having viewed the Ground, and found a great Ditch full of Water, which it was impossible for the Cavalry to pass, did not think fit to push that Attack any farther, but contented themselves to keep the Posts which they had taken.

(23.) The Duke de Luxemburg returning to the Left, carried the Brigade of Guards with him to the Village of Nerwinde, resolving to make his last Effort upon the Place. The Prince de Conti, put himself at the Head of the Brigade; and while those of Zurbeck and Zurlaube entred by the Left of the Village; he forced it on the Right, chas'd the Enemy entirely from thence, and maintain'd himself there against all their Endeavours to repossess themselves, and the five Brigades of Piedmont, the Kings, and those of Crussol, Guiche, and Orleans, rallying themselves, entred at the same time.

(24.) At that very Moment, the Mareschal de Luxemburg, went to view the Enemies Entrenchments on the Right of the Village, and there he found a Passage, where not above two Horsemen could pass in Front, and the Duke de Villeroy having undertaken to pass the same with the Cavalry under his Command, Luxemburg went to the Left, to seek out some other Passages.

(25.) The Duke de Villeroy, with all possible Diligence advanc'd five Squadrons of the King's Houshold, who defiling to the Right, and marching the Columne backward, entred the Retrenchment; the Light-Horse first, the Gens d' Arms next, and Three Squadrons of the Guards de Corps last.

(26.) The Enemies were so near, that those five Squadrons, had scarce ground enough to put themselves in order, by stretching a little to the Left: In the mean time, perceiving the Enemies begin to move toward them, they Charged them briskly, and broke through all that was [Page 8] in their way, but being at last over-powered by the Enemies whole Line, they were obliged to retire, and rally under the Fire of the Infantry. It was on this Occasion, that the Duke de Ch [...]rires, who charg'd at their Head, was now encompass'd by the Enemy, but fought his way out at last with a great deal of Valour, having many of his men killed and wounded on each hand of him.

(27.) At the same time, the Duke de Luxemburgh having found a Passage betwixt the King's Brigade, and that of Zurbeck, He, and the Prince de Conti, with the Count de Marsin, entred also into the Plane, at the head of the Carabineers, and many other Regiments, while the Mareschal de Joyeuse, and the Duke de Bourbon, who had posted himself again at the head of his Wing of Horse, did pass with the Count de Nassaw, betwixt the Villages of Nerwinde, and that of Laer, with the Camp-Masters Brigade, that of Royal Roussilon, and the Cuirassiers.

(28.) The Sieur Ximenes, Count de Guiscard, the Chevalier de Bezons, and the Sieur Pracontal passed on their Left, along the Hedges of the Village of Laer, with part of the Second Line, and the Reserve. The Marquis de Harcourt, who had march'd from Huy at the noise of the Cannon, with the 22 Squadrons under his Command, to take share of the Honour, and Danger of the Day, made part of his Dragoons to alight, beat the Enemies from the Village of Laer, and not only entred into the said Village, but also into the Morasse, betwixt it and the River Geete.

(29.) Our Troops on the Right of Nerwinde had equal Success, the Brigades of Vermandois, Nice, Roussilon, and Sarre, having fill'd up some part of the Enemies Entrenchments, the Duke de Villeroy, with the Sieur Rosen, the Marquis de Feuquieres, the Sieur de Busca, and the Duke de Roquelaure, made the rest of the Troops of the King's Houshold pass there.

[Page 9](30.) On their Right, the Duke de Elbaeuf entred with the Brigade of Bolen, followed by the Sieur de Vatteville, with part of the second Line on the Right, and the Duke de Montmorenci, who having followed his Father the Duke de Luxemburg, during the whole Action, did then take his Post of Mareschal de Camp, and put himself at the Head of the Brigades of Rottembourg, and Presle, with which he defeated several of the Enemies Squadrons; and amongst others, the Regiments of Galloway, where we are inform'd, the Prince of Orange fought in Person.

(31.) All the Cavalry being passed, there were many Charges on both sides, with a great deal of Courage and Obstinacy, and the Duke de Luxemburg riding perpetually from the Right to the Left, did form most of the Squadrons himself, and Lead them on to the Charge.

(32.) The Duke de Chartres did as much on his side, and did Animate all by his Presence and Example.

(33.) The Mareschal de Villeroy at the Head of the Right, gave all possible Marks of his Experience, and Courage.

(34.) The Prince de Conti, who had already Charg'd with the Carabineers, Charg'd again with the King's Grenadiers, at which time he receiv'd a Wound in his Head with a Faulchion, which yet did not hinder his Pursuit of the Enemy, having first killed the Horse-man who gave him the said Wound.

(35.) The Mareschal de Joyeuse, tho' also wounded in the beginning of the Battel by a Musquet Shot in the Thigh, signaliz'd himself in several Charges, with the Troops on the Left which he Commanded.

(36.) Into that same Wing the Duke de Bourbon with his usual Courage, did often throw himself upon the Enemies, and Charge them with Advantage. In fine, the General and Subalterne Officers, as well as the private Centinels, [Page 10] performing each their part with Bravery and Resolution, the Enemies were forced to yield to the Valour and Number of the King's Troops.

(37.) Their Right being broke by the Marquis d' Harcourt, the Sieur de Ximenes, and the Chevalier de Bezons, was driven head-long into the Geete, which in many places was filled with an infinite number of Men, and Horse, kill'd, or drown'd.

(38.) Their Left made no longer stand, so that there was Confusion among them throughout, and there were only 10 or 12 Squadrons, and 2 or 3 Battalions, which being furthest advanced in their Retreat, got out of our sight, and escaped without our being able to Charge them.

(39.) The King's Troops remain'd Masters of the Field, with 76 pieces of the Enemies Cannon, 8 Mortars, many Pontons, and generally all the Epiquage of their Artillery and Ammunition. We took also 66 Standards, 22 Colours, 12 pair of Kettle-Drums, and 1500 Prisoners, 200 of them being Officers and amongst others, THE COUNT DE SOLMES, Lieutenant General, the Duke of Ormond, Captain of the Prince of Orange's Guards, and Lieutenant-General, the Sieur de Zeuleystein, another Lieutenant-General, the Count de Broway, Serjeant Major of the Battel, the Count de Lippe, and many other Colonels.

(40.) All the Advices from the Enemies Country say, that their Loss exceeds 20000 Men.

(41.) In the King's Army we reckon 2000 men kill'd, and 3 or 4000 wounded: The Officers which we have lost, are the Count de Monchevrevil, Lieutenant-General, the Duke de V;ses, Prince Paul of Lorrain, Son to the Prince of Lislebonne, the Count de Gassion, the Marquis de Chanvallon, the Count de Montrevel, the Sieur de Lignery, the Sieur de Bolen, the Chavalier Rosen, the Sieur de Chastenay, the Sieur Gaujac, the Sieur de Vaurouy, Captains of the Guards, the Sieur de La Cosle, and some others.

[Page 11](42.) The Duke de Bourbon received several Wounds in his Arms, the Duke de Luxemburgh's Horse was also wounded, as were several of his People about him, the Duke de Montmorenci, and the Count de Luxe, his Sons were also wounded; the first on the Shoulder, and the latter in the Leg. The Prince de Conti, and the Duke de Villeroy, had each a Horse killed under them, with the same Cannon-Ball: the Duke de Roche-Guyon was wounded in the Foot, the Marquis de Villequier, and the Marquis de Rochefort, my Lord Lucan, the Chevalier de Sillery, the Sieur de Tracy, and the Sieur de Saillant, Captain of the Guards, and many others, were also wounded.

(43.) After this great Victory, so glorious to the King's Arms, the greatest part of the Enemies Troops threw down their Weapons, that they might the better escape the pursuit of the Conquerours, so that all the Fields and Ways, till they came to such places where they thought themselves in safety, were strew'd with Arms; and the Remains of their Army were so scattered, that they have not hitherto been able to rally them.

(44.) In fine, The Loss which the Allies suffered in this Memorable Battel, together with the taking of Heidleberg, Roses, and Huy, and the greatest part of the English and Dutch Smirna Fleets, makes it evident, that God always favours the Justice of the King's Cause, and that if his Enemies be so blind, as to prefer the Continuance of the War, so fatal to them, before an honourable Peace, his Subjects will at least have the Satisfaction to see his Glory, as well as the Limits of his Kingdom, augmented by his New Conquests; and a Chain of Prosperity, which will sufficiently compensate for whatever they have been obliged to Contribute for the Maintenance of Religion, and the Good of the State.

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The French King's Letter to the Archbishop of Paris, ordering him to sing Te Deum, for the above-mentioned Victory.

COUSIN,

THE Army which my Enemies had in Flanders, composed of the choicest of their Troops, and commanded by the Prince of Orange in Person, was attacked in their Camp the 29th. of the last Month, by my Cousin the Duke of Luxemburgh, according to my Order: The Enemies who had foreseen his Design, omitted nothing that could be done for their own Safety; and although their Camp was very advantageously posted, they did, nevertheless, fortifie the same by redoubtable Intrenchments, and incredible Labour. However they were forced, and put to the Rout in the same; part of their Army being killed on the Spot, part of them drown'd in their flight, and the rest dispersed; many of their general Officers, and a great Number of others were killed and taken Prisoners; 76 Pieces of Cannon, 8 Mortars, and 9 Pontons, left in the Field of Battel; 12 Pair of Kettle-Drums, 60 Standards, and 22 Colours taken from them by force, or abandoned by those who were breathing out their last. There is Nothing which [Page 13] my Enemies have not Reason to fear after such a terrible Defeat, and Nothing which I have not a Right to hope for; but I level all my Wishes at the Wellfare of my People, and I desire to reap no other Fruits from such a Glorious Victory, but that my Enemies would open their Eyes, perceive their own true Interests, and entertain Thoughts of a solid and durable Peace, which I have always offered them in the midst of my greatest Prosperities. It is therefore to desire the same from God, and to thank him for so many Favours, that I would have you to cause Te Deum to be sung in the Cathedral Church of my good City of Paris, on such a day, and hour, as the Grand Master of the Ceremonies shall give you Order from me. Hereupon, Cousin, I pray God to take you into his Holy and Gracious Protection.

Given at Marli, August 7th. 1693.

LOUIS.

Phelypeaux.

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The Extract of a Letter writ from Paris; with Reflexions upon the Te Deum.

WE knew not at first what to think or believe concerning the Battel, the News then brought being Equivocal both as to the Loss and Gain; so that we were doubtful whether we had most reason to rejoice, or to be sorrowful: But the next News did magnifie our Advantage, Joining therewith the Rumour of a Second Action, less Equivocal then the first: But however, this did not hold true. In fine, an entire Victory is publish'd by a Letter under the Royal Seal, the Standards were carried in Procession, and Te Deum sung; so that here was enough for the Publick, and the Firstfruit of the Victory which we must not lose. But let's come to Particulars. The Letter is of Mr. P. R's Stile, who had orders to trumpet out our Victory on the highest Note, wherein he hath acquitted himself to Advantage; witness his Redoubtable Intrenchments, and Incredible Labour, which neverthless, were but the Work of one Night, and must needs have fatigu'd the Enemy before the Battel; another Evidence is such a terrible Defeat, after which he brings the King in declaiming like an Orator, There is nothing which my Enemies have not reason to fear, and nothing which I have not reason to hope for. If this be not enough to frighten the Allies, it's their own fault; for this Figure is proper enough for the Purpose, but the King's Design is only that They may open their Eyes, and perceive their own true Interest, This is so fine a Turn, that our Court-Zealots have not fallen short of their Devoir, to exalt the Charity of our Monarch, which is so great, as to make him more sollicitous [Page 15] about the true Interests of his Enemies, than they are themselves, but those who want Faith, in their own Breasts (and you know their Number is great) do very much doubt whether the All [...]es will have enough to believe it, or accept of a Peace accommodated by us to their true Interests, which they won't understand, tho' we are willing to beat it into their Brains by Cannon-Bullets. Nay these Infidels say, That the Peace which we demand from God, resembles the Deliverance which Charles V. demanded for the Pope, whom he himself did hold in Prison; that is to say, We would have God to confirm to us, by a durable Peace, what we have taken from our Enemies in Peace, or War, and have no mind to part with. But farther, we understand, that this Victory in Flanders, though Glorious even to the Superlative Degree, hath not inspired the Dauphin with Ambition enough to purchase another at the same rate, from Prince Lewis of Baden, and to try the Second Touch at forcing Entrenchments. This Letter under Seal, does prudently hide our own Loss, but insists on that of the Enemies. It makes a thundring Report with the Confederate Cannon, but does not tell us how many Men they cost us: It displays their Ensigns, and Standards with Triumph, but says nothing of those which they have taken from us, tho' more in proportion than what we took from them, because we use fewer in our Battalions and Squadrons than they. That would not have been meet for a Te Deum; which is to make Mirth for a Victory, and encourage the People to pay the Piper, but not to be wail the Dead, which is the Office of those that manage Funerals, or sing the Irish Corronach. Our Gazette (which does religiously imitate this Silence) says, The Enemies have lost Twenty thousand Men, and could scarcely m [...]ster Ten thousand after the Defeat; but where were Luxemburgh's Fourscore thousand then; that they did [Page 16] not entirely swallow up that Mouthful, and give us a Peace on their Terms? Is it because he would not have the War so soon at an end? Sure he is too much the King's humble Servant for that. It must then follow, that he did it not, because he could not; and seeing it is so, We have reason to fear, that the Twenty thousand slain will be found on our side: But however, it is certain that there's a terrible Butchery which has more need of an Apology than Commendation, and hath produced nothing yet, but a Te Deum. But Luxemburgh is not to be blamed: The Letter tells you, that he obeyed his Orders, and he would rather have sacrificed all than not have done that. May God preserve us from such another Te Deum.

Another LETTER from the same Hand, on the Te Deum. Dated at Paris, Aug. 14th.

IT was not without Reason that we sung Te Deum here for the last Fight, as I mentioned in my former; for according to an exact Calculation in the printed Account, we have only Two thousand Men killed, and Three or Four thousand wounded, whereas we swell the Enemies Loss to above Twenty thousand, and those which remain are entirely defeated, and scattered, that they cease any more to be an Army. We doubted of the truth of this formerly, because other Relations gave other Accounts; but this being published by Authority, removes all Difficulties, and confirms our staggering Faith; and indeed, how can we call the truth of it into question any more, seeing it is supported by Three or four Miracles, the least of which is sufficient to convince [Page 17] the greatest Infidel? The First is, The Resurrection of many Thousand of our own Men, whom we have restored to Life by this Relation. It's a Thousand Pities that the Count de Montchevreuil, Prince Paul of Lorrain, and so many other brave Warriours of infinitly more worth then a croud of obscure Centinels, had not the Benefit of this Miracle. It may perhaps be answered, That they have made too much noise in the World to be conceal'd in the Resurrection of such a multitude of mean Fellows; but that Reason's not worth a Farthing: For here's another Miracle of an illustrious Personage on the Enemies side, who fell by the hand of death, and yet our Relation hath restored him to Life again; that is Count Solms who had his Leg shot off by a Cannon-Ball in the beginning of the Fight, and is since dead of his Wounds amongst the Allies, and his Corps carried to Lovain, to be transported from thence into Holland; and yet our Relation makes him a Prisoner among us, so that the Confederates have no Reason to complain of our augmenting their Loss, since we raise their dead to life again. The Third Miracle is, That our Army hath done nothing since the Battel; for seeing we took Hay while their Army was in being, a fontiori; we ought with much more Reason, now that they are defeated, to take Liege, Louvain, and Brussels, and in our way, destroy that small handful of the Enemy which is left; but it seems they have got Wings to fly, and we have none to follow, except it be by retreating towards Waren, where it is said our Army is Encamp'd, in the bottom of a Bog, to solemnize a Triumph for the late Victory. Now if this be not a Miracle, Reason is lost. But the greatest Miracle comes last, and is indeed most difficult to be comprehended, viz. That all our Conquests, and the Money which we contribute, are only for the g [...]od of the State, and maintenance of Religion. We can very well [Page 18] understand, how that all that we have despoil'd our Neighbours of, both in Peace and War, augments the King's Glory, and the Limits of his Realm, but it cannot be reckoned any thing else than a Miracle, that this War, or (much less) our League with the Turk, can any way subserve to the maintenance of Religion, except we understand the Religion of the strongest side, and if that be the case, the Allies are not very much in the wrong, to endeavour to stop its Progress in their Territories.

A Letter from a Gentleman in Paris to his Friend in London; with an Account of the Battel at Landen, according to the best Information there, on the 3d. of August, being Five Days after the Battel.

THE Mareschal de Luxemburgh, being willing to improve the Opportunity of attacking the Confederate Army, while weakned by a Detachment of 15000 Men to the French Lines, and 10000 to re-insorce Liege, did send to his Majesty for Orders to fight them, and promis'd to give them a total Overthrow. Accordingly, about Eight Days agoe, a Commission was sent him to act as he pleased. On which he gave out, That he would march for Liege: and calling a Council of War, they dislik'd the Proposal; but the Mareschal silenced them, and deceived the Enemies Spies, by telling them it was the King's Order, and so he commanded 50000 Fascines to be got ready. On the 26th. and 27th. he went to view Liege, on the 28th. the Army had Orders to march, which should have been thither as every body thought; but they were soon undeceived, when on a sudden he changed his March, and went directly toward the Enemy, hoping to surprize [Page 19] them. After Nine Hours march, their Centinels discovered our Vanguard, possessing themselves of all the Avenues, to a Village called Vangrez, not far from their Front. The Duke of Luxemburg spent the Night in drawing up his Army in Battel Array, and disposing the Order of the Attacks. The Enemy made also good use of their time, sending away their Baggage and Tents to Louvain, and casting up Intrenchments mounted with 60 Cannon, and defended by Eight Battalions of English which flankt the Trenches. About Five next Morning, the Duke of Luxemburgh commanded Monsieur de Montchevreuil, Lieutenant-General, and Governour of Arras, with Twentyfour Battalions, to begin the Attack, and force that Village. Our Troops advanced with all imaginable Bravery, but were so warmly received by the Enemy, whose Cannon play'd upon them with Cartouches, and made so great slaughter, that they were oblig'd to retire in Disorder, leaving their General dead upon the Place. The Mareschal de Joyeuse who was order'd to support them, advanc'd with Twenty four other Battalions, and attackt the Enemy with such Vigour, that he possess'd himself of their principal Posts: but some fresh Troops coming upon him, he was beaten back with a great Slaughter; So that the Duke of Luxemburgh began to despair of Success; and calling on the Prince de Conti, told him, That the King's Glory depended only upon his Valour, and gave him Twentyfour fresh Battalions composed of the French and Swisse Guards, supported by the Troops of the Houshold, and the Brigades of Surlaube, and Renold. The Prince fell upon the Enemy very furiously, and though he was repulsed with great Vigour, yet at the Third Charge he beat them out of their Intrenchments; and taking the Colours belonging to a Company of the Dutch Regiment of Foot-Guards, filled up the Ditch with Fascines. Being got into the [Page 20] Enemies Entrenchments, he put his Troops in Order of Battel, as well as the narrowness of the ground would allow, and fell upon the Bavarian Cuirassiers, Three Troops of the Gens d'Arms of Flanders, and the English Lifeguards lead on by the Elector of Bavaria; who receiv'd them with so much Courage, that the Troops of the King's Houshold were forced to give ground twice, and retire behind the Brigade of Surlaube to Rally. They charg'd a Third time, and then Monsieur de Lignery who commanded them, was killed. In the mean time, the Duke de Chartres who commanded the Horse, came to re-inforce the King's Houshold: whereupon we thought that the Enemies having now lost all their advantageous Posts, could not have fail'd of receiving a total Overthrow; but we soon perceiv'd that they had got over the River Geete, and broken the Bridges after them, so that we could pursue them no further; our Men besides being so much harrass'd by their march the Day before, standing all Night in their Arms, and having had such a desperate Fight all that Day, that they were not able to pursue with any vigour, especially when both the Enemies Wings retired fighting, so that the Victory was wholly owing to our Numbers. We possessed our selves of their Camp, and some Artillery, but without any Baggage. The Eight English Battalions, who defended their Batteries, suffered very much. The Duke de Chartres was taken Prisoner by Four Men of that Body, and kept for Two Hours, but rescued again by some of his own Officers, and the Life Guards. The Enemy were never known to behave themselves with greater Bravery. The Duke of Luxemburgh sent a short Account of the Action to the King abought Eight a Clock in his Table-Book, in these few Words, That he had obey'd his Majesty's Orders in taking Huy, and in beating the Prince of Orange. And the King rewarded Monsieur Artagnan the Bearer, with the Government [Page 21] of Arras. Our Loss is greater than that of the Enemies, especially in Officers, whereof we have not yet a true List. The greatness of our Loss is attributed to the want of our Artillery at first, having been engaged Four Hours before we could make any use of our Cannon, by reason of a shower of Rain, which was a great hinderance to the raising of our Batteries; and however it be, it's said, That the King is not much pleas'd with the Victory.

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REFLEXIONS UPON The French King's Letter; Manifesting, How He, and his Gazetteer, Contradict one another, as both of them do the Truth.

THE King in his Letter to the Archbishop, to make his Victory appear Glorious indeed, tells you, That the Enemies Army consisted of their choicest Troops, in a Camp advantageously situated, and fortified with redoubtable Intrenchments, and incredible Labour; and that they foresaw Luxemburgh's Design: Yet his Gazetteer, Paragraph 1. 2, and 4. says, That Luxemburgh knew the Enemy to be weakned by Detachments, deceived them, by pretending a Design upon Liege, mustered up some Th [...]usands of Fascin [...]s, the better to cover the Cheat; and that the Allies did not believe he had any D [...]sign upon th [...]m, till the P [...]ince of Orange, as they are pleas'd to call him, and the Elector of Bavaria took Horse, and discovered it, when the advanced Guards came in view; which mightily derogates from the Glory of Lewis's Victory: For this is a plain Confession That they took Advantage of us when weakest, did in a manner surprize us, and give us no time to make redo [...]btable Intrenchments; but whether Louis XIV. or the Abbé Renadaut, his Gazetteer, be in the Right, let them determine [Page 23] it betwixt them, as also, whether the Abbot deserves not to have his Pension curtail'd, for publishing his Lies with so little Precaution.

The King in his Letter tells us, That part of the Consederate Army was slain in the Field, part was drown'd in the Flight, and the rest were dispersed. Yet the Gazetteer, Paragraph 38 says, That Twelve of our Battalions, and Three of our Squadrons, escap'd without so much as being once charg'd; so that the Abbot contradicts his Master again, in saying they were all dispersed; for so many Battalions and Squadrons, will merit the name of a Body.

But further, We may observe on the King's Letter, that it was no less than Nine Days after the Battel before it was writ, which may justly fill us with Wonder, that Louis, XIV. who is so ambitious of his Glory, should have conceal'd so long from his Subjects, the Particulars of a Victory, which did so much advance it: but the Reason is explain'd by the Author of the private Letter from Paris, they knew not whether to mourn, or to rejoyce, the case appear'd so doubtful; and in truth, by the King, and the Abbots justling together in their Advice, it would seem they were but then beginning to recover from their surprize, and therefore no wonder they should stagger. However the Subjects wanted a Cordial, or perhaps a powerful dissuasive from a Revolt, and therefore Louis emits his Letter, which thunders upon his Enemies in the Front, but fawns upon them and his Subjects both in the Rear, and modestly protests, That he desires nothing more than the happiness of the Last, and a solid and durable Peace with the First; so that by Louis's own Confession, the latter depends on the former; and that he might drive the Argument as far as it would go, he tells us, That he hath always offered Peace to his Enemies, even in the midst of his greatest Prosperities; a fair Confession that his good Luck is now on the Declension, Then where's all the Glory of this wonderful [Page 24] Victory? But that this Letter was calculated on purpose to keep up the Spirits of his disheartned Subjects, will appear plain enough, by the manifest Falshoods which it so confidently advances; as, That the Confederate Army was totally dispersed, when he himself did acknowledge, That the Prince of Orange retreated like Turenne, and could not be ignorant of both the Wings drawing off in good order, and that before the Date of this Letter, the Confederates were at least as strong, as on the Day of Battel; and had, by their own Confession, Twenty five thousand Men at Liege, and under the Duke of Wirtemberg. Which Lewis knowing to be true, thinks fit to join Prayers with his Praises, and therefore demands a Peace from God, tho' he pretends already to have it in his own Power to give.

Then as for his Pensioner Abbot, let's Examine his honest Relation. In his Fifteenth Article he says, That our Infantry was drawn behind an Intrenchment, and sustain'd by our Horse. Whereas he told us in the Fourth, That our Army was drawn up in Battel Array, at the Head of our Camp; which was the Truth, and conformable to our own Gazette, which gave the First Account of the Action, as also to the Relation printed in Holland, and re-printed here with the Plane of the Battel. In the Third Paragraph he says indeed, That part of our Foot were posted behind the Intrenchments, which were cast up because the Ground was open; so little Reason had Louis to magnifie his Victory, because of our advantageous Encampment.

But to return to the Abbot, he says, Art. 16. That the Cannon began to play on both sides by Four in the Morning; whereas the private Letter says, That they were engaged Four Hours before they could make use of their Cannon: And the Dutch Relation above-mentioned, says almost the same.

[Page 25]

The Abbot in Art. 13. says, The Allies fortified themselves all the Night long, with great diligence, having mounted their Trenches with Eighty Pieces of Cannon, Art. 19. That they were beat from Nerwinde with great Vigour, and re-took it after a long and bloody Fight; That the French took it a Second time, and were again beat off to the utmost Hedges; and that the like befell those who attacked Laer. Art. 20. That Praconta [...] and Montrevil, were beat back from the Plain, and oblig'd to retire after many Charges. Art. 26. That the Gens d'Arms, and Troops of the Houshold, were obliged to retire under the Fire of their Infantry, to Rally; and that the Duke de Chartres was surrounded (he ought to have said Prisoner) and many of his Men killed, and Art. 31. That the Confederates made many obstinate Charges against their whole Cavalry. Then if it be so, as the Abbot says, that we were strongly intrench'd with Eighty Pieces of Cannon before us, and repulsed the French four or five times at least, after many Charges in the several Conflicts; I appeal to any Man of Common Sense, whether it hath the least Shadow of Probability, that the French should not lose above Two thousand Men, when their Battalions and Squadrons were so often repuls'd, and had Fourscore Cannon thundring upon them, besides small Fire-Arms, from Five in the Morning till near Five in the Evening, as he owns himself in one of his Gazetts.

Nor is he less unhappy in diminishing their own Loss, than he is in augmenting ours: For Art. 40. he says, That All the Advices from the Enemy's Country, make their Loss to exceed Twenty thousand, which is a manifest Untruth. No printed Advices, (and I hope they may pass for some) did ever affirm any such thing; but as for what Intelligences he may receive [Page 26] from the French Spies, and his fellow Pensioners from the Confederates Country, I know no body will think themselves oblig'd to believe them, but those who pay for them, and would have them to be true. But he may easily be convinc'd of the Improbability of this himself, if he will be pleased to consider his own 37th. Article, where he mentions only, that the Confederates were pursued to the River Geete, and will also observe how near to their Camp the said River was by his own Relation, together with the Note in the Private Letter, That the toil of the March, and fatigue of the Battel, rendred the French unfit to pursue, if they could have passed the River Geete. But to conclude this Point. I know nothing better to demonstrate the Impossibility of the French's having so little, and we so great a Loss, as the Abbot says, than to view and consider the Plane of the Battel, and the situation of our Camp, as engraven in the above-mention'd Relation beyond Sea, and reprinted here by Mr. Rhodes, and Mr. Harris.

Then for the Abbot's Conclusion, That the taking of Heidelberg, Roses, and Huy, his Advantage over the Streights Fleet, and the gaining of this Battel, are Evidences of God's having always own'd the Justice of his Master's Arms; Careat successibus opto quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putet. It seems he has forgot that since the beginning of this War, his Master hath been beat out of Rhemeberg, Keyserswart, Bonne and Ments; that his Troops were defeated in the Diocess of Cologne, by the Elector of Brandenburg, and in Flanders, at Walcourt, by the English and Dutch: that he hath totally lost his footing in Ireland; his Partisans are wholly subdued in Scotland: that his Royal Sun was eclipsed at La Hogue; and that his Troops were beat off from before Rhinefield and Liege: So that by the Abbot's Argument, his Master's Arms were not engag'd in a just War then, [Page 27] and he will have need of all his Philosophy to prove it juster now: But farther, He would do well to remember that Pignerol is besieged, Belgrade invested, King William at the Head of a formidable Army, as well as his Allies, Prince Louis, and the Duke of Savoy; that their Privateering Fleet dares not make Head against ours at Sea, and that the decisive Blow is not yet given; so that he had not best sing the Triumph before the Victory, nor feed himself so much with the hopes of seeing his Masters Glory encreased, and his Dominions enlarged, who adores Venus, and Debauches his Ladies, while the God of War destroys their Lords, of which Latter, the Parisian, are so sensible, that the very next Day after the Te Deum, a Paper was found upon Louis's Statue, in the place of Victoire, representing him with the Words of his Predecessor Louis XII. in his Mouth, after the News of his Victory at Ravenna, where the best of his Officers fell on the Spot. Would to God (said he with a deep sigh) that I had lost the Battel, so my brave Captains were alive; and may my Enemies have always such Victories, where the Vanquish'd are victorious, and the Conquerors overcome.

Nor will it appear unreasonable for Louis XIV. to express himself thus, if we consider the Account given by a Person of no less Honour than Lieutenant-General Scravenmore, That Twelve hundred wounded French Officers were brought into Namur, while he was Prisoner there, and Four hundred of them died e're he came a way; which doth also demonstrate the Falshood of the Abbot's Relation, that they have not lost above Two thousand Men, Four hundred Officers dead of their Wounds, and Eight hundred still in the Surgeons hands, bear proportion to a much greater number of slain: and besides, we have no Account yet, how many French Officers were slain in the Field, nor [Page 28] how many are dead, and under Cure in other Places, as at Mons, Maubeuge, Dinant, and other Frontier Towns, which there is no Reason to doubt would quickly swell to Two thousand; so that it seems the French Officers fought All, and their Souldiers None; but it's well for the last, if they have found it so.

One word for our Protestant Jacobites, and then I have done. On all Occasions they magnifie the Veracity of the Paris Gazetteer, and therefore I hope they believe him now; and if so, pray let them reconcile the Interest of the Protestant Religion, which they profess, with the Interest of that which he averrs, is the French King's Design to maintain, by enlarging his Conquests: But let them understand this as they please, I think we are beholding to him for such a piece of Ingenuity, or rather for speaking so much Truth at unawares. However, we have hence a very fair Warning what we are to expect, if the late King should ever be re-established by the French King's Power: For he has assured his Subjects, on the word of his Abbot, that they may expect the Augmentation of his own Glory and Limits, and the Maintenance of Religion; which is, in plain English, That he will establish his own Tyranny, and Popish Idolatry, where-ever he can. Then seeing the Case is so, We know not what to think of those Mens Zeal for the Protestant Religion, who wish for his Success on any Pretence whatsoever.

FINIS.

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