as the peril and difficulties were the greater which he had to surmount He foarded the River that he might be able to assign his Souldiers their Posts on that side and he order'd Two Bridges of Boats to be made both above and below the Town After he had Lodg'd his Men also in Two little Villages on that side next Lorraine he appointed the Guards and mark'd out the Place where he would have the Line of Circumvallation drawn along which done he re-pass'd the River to give the same Orders on Luxemburgh side Immediately he divided his Army into Five Quarters The greatest Body of his Horse he encamp'd in a Meadow along the River on that side next Mets where Gassion was also Quarter'd to Command ' em The Head Quarters were taken up near Gassion's in a small Village almost a Mile from the Plain upon the Bank of a Rivolet which crosses it and which falls into the Moselle at the Foot of the Counterscarp of Thionville There the Duke Lodg'd himself with the Principal Body of the Infantry and extended his Camp into the Plain as far as the Foot of the Mountains and the Regiments of â—ambuzes and the Swisses under Molendin Posted themsâ—lves upon the rising Grounds near the Woods with which the Hills were cover'd There was one much higher then the rest which Commands not only all the Plain of Thionville but all the Hills that lie round about it The Importance of that place constrain'd the Duke to settle there a Powerful Quarter for which the Camp was mark'd out in the middle of the Hill and d' Aumomt had the Command of it Dandâ—â—â—t commanded the other Quarter Gesâ—res undertook with his little Army to Guard that side next to Cirque from the River to the rising Grounds Palluau and Sicot had the Care of all that lay beyond the River in regard Grancy was fallen Sick and had left the Camp So soon as the Quarters were dispos'd the Duke order'd the Line of Circumvalation to be cast up and large Forts to be trac'd out upon the rising Grounds which commanded the greatest part of the Plain At the same time he also secur'd his Line with Redoubts supplying the weakest parts with sharp pointed Piles of Wood and Pallisadoes All this while the Convoys arriv'd from all parts with Amunition and Provisions and for twenty days together that the Circumvaâ—lation was finishing the Duke caus'd to be brought from Mets thirty battering Pieces and order'd great provision to be made of Planks and Oken Timber Sacks of Earth and Baviâ—s to carry on the Trenches and for the service of the Artillery On the other side the Besieged prepar'd all things necessary for their Defence and while their Infantry was imploy'd in raising new Works and repairing the Old their Cavalry Sally'd out every day to annoy the Besiegers The Sally which they made two days after the Division of the Besiegers Quarters was so vigorous that they came on so far as the Duke of Enguiâ—â—'s Camp and the Count of Tavans had his Arm broken with a Pistol Shotâ— The Plain was every day full of Skirmishes and some of them happen'd to be such obstinate Conflicts that as many men were lost on both sides as in many more remarkâ—ble Encounters But the last was the most vigorous of all For at the time that the Duke was providing a great number of Gabions and Faggots near a Chappel in the midst of the Plain the Besieg'd resolving to see what he was doing â—allâ—'d out wâ—th the greatest part of their Horse to view those preparations near at hand which they could not so well discerne at a distance The Afternoon was almost spent in skirmishing when the Duke incens'd to see the Enemy keep the Plain so long commanded Dandelot to drive 'em into the Town Dandelot perform'd his Orders with extraordinary Courage but with great precepitancy for that he could not be follow'd but by a small number of Volunteers the Skirmishers also gave way upon the first Charge that he made and retreated under the Counterscarp of the Town but then the Squadrons that were to sâ—cond 'em advancing Dandelot found himself surrounded on every side and he had been taken but for a small Guard of thirty Troopers led by Moussaye who rescu'd him out of the hands of the Enemy However those Squadrons still prest upon Dandelott and Moussaye with so much vigour that they could never have made good their Retreat had not the Duke ran to the main Guard and brought it on himself in all hast to their relief Gerze and Dandelot were wounded and so the Spaniards retir'd after an obstinate Combat However all this could not prevent compleating the Circumvallation nor fortifiing the Camp with all things requisite the Duke being every where present as well to encourage the Workmen as to observe what places were most proper to make his Attacks And after due consideration he resolv'd upon two Both upon the Face of one of the two Bastions that lookt toward the middle of the Plain to the end that being near together they might the more easily support each other There was a wide space left between the two openings of the Trenches and that space lessend as the Trenches advanc'd toward the Town One of these Trenches cover'd it self to the Right and the other to the Left and the Regiments of Piâ—aâ—dy and Navâ—rre were the first that Mounted the Guard In the night time two Great Shouldrings of Gabions were rais'd which cover'd two places of Arms wide enought to contain each a hunderd Horse for that they stood in need of Horse behind the Trench to support it against the terrible Sallies of the Enemy The same Night the Duke order da long Line to be drawn and two Redoubts to be begun Spacious enough to lodge a hunderd Men and in all the returns of the Lines he order'd large places of Arms to be made and that that Trench should be carry'd on with all speed so that maugre the continual firing of the Besieged it was advancd the fourth Night within two hundred Paces of the Counterscarp In that part the Duke resolv'd to have a Communication between the two Attacks which were already in good forwardness And instead of making his Communications with the usual Line he joyn'd 'em together with a large Battery of four and twenty Pieces of Cannon The diligence of the Officers was so great that the sixth Day after the Trenches were open'd the Cannon began to play upon the Town In the same place of Communication also the Two Batteries took a different way and separated at some distance one from the other to turn themselves toward the Face of the two Bastions which were opposite to ' em On the right Hand of the Duke of Enguien's Trench stood a Mill upon the Rivolet already mention'd which was fortifi'd with a good Palisado and wherein the Besieged had planted some Musketeers who very much annoy'd the carrying on of the Trenches in regard they
The Spanish Infantry was quite Ruin'd terrour and dread had seiz'd the Enemies Forces the greatest part of the Cities of â—landers were in no Condition to hold out long and a General might do what ere he pleasd with good Success and the Duke of Orleance had taken upon himself to manage the War in those Parts In Germany the Service was not so easie for after the Duke of Enguien had led a Reinforcement thither the Marshal de Guebriant was Slain before Rowil and the Army had no other Chieftains but Ranzan and Roze Ranzan was a Person of great Courage and Wit he was also endâ—'d with a certain Natural Eloquence which was very perswasive in Councils of War and which drew others to be of his Opinion but his Conduct did not always answer his Elegant Discourses for Wine causd him to commit great Errors and many times put him out of being in a Condition to Command He had Quarter'd the Foot at Tutlinghen without taking any Care to prevent their being Surprizd and he had embroyl'd himself with all the German Princes So that the Bavarians and Lorrainers fell upon him before he had the least Intelligence of their March and Iohn de Wert having enforc'd him to Surrender with all his Men all the Officers were Prisoners of War The German Cavalry being dispiers'd into several Parts retir'd toward Brisack under the Command of Raze and took up their Winter Quarters in Lorrain and Alsatia As soon as the News of this arriv'd at Court Turenne had Orders to rally together the shatter'd Remnants of that Army and take upon him the Command of it and he spent all the Winter in bringing it into better Order but notwithstanding all his Care it was not in a Condition to oppose the Bavarians whose Army was become more Numerous after Ranzan's Defeat Mercy therefore who commanded it seeing himself Master of the Field invested Friburgh which was not in a Condition to hold out a long Siege The Duke of Enguien had Intelligence of it at Amblemont near Mouzon and receiv'd Orders from the Court to joyn the German Army and endeavour the Relief of the Town To that purpose he March'd the 20 tith of Iuly to Mets where his Forces past the Moselle and left their heavy Baggage Which done in thirteen Days he marchd threescore Leagues and came to Brisack with Six thousand Foot and Four thousand Horse By the way the Prince understood that Friburgh was Surrender'd to the Bavarians that Turenne was Encamp'd not far from em and that Mercy made no shew of having any design to change his Station Upon this Advice he March'd toward Tâ—renne with Marshal Grammont and gave Orders to Martin to cross the Rhine at Brisack with the Army which he did the 13 th of August The Duke stayâ—d no longer in Turenne's Camp then to observe the Post where the Bavarians lay and to consider where to attack ' em So that he returnd to his Army the same day that it crossâ—d the Rhine and the next day he March'd to put in Execution the Enterprize which he and Turâ—nne had consulted and contriv'd together Friburgh is Seated at the Fort of the Mountains of the Black Forest. They enlarge and open themselves in this part of the Country in the Form of a Crescent and in the middle of this space you may discover near to Friburg a Plain bounded on the Right Hand by very high Mountains and surrounded on the Left by a Boggy Wood. This Plain is watered with a Râ—volet which glides along by the Wood and afterwards falls upon the Left of Friburgh into the Hollow of a Narrow Valleyâ— interâ—nt with Woods and Marshes They that Travel from Brisack cannot enter into this Plain but through narrow Lanes and close Passes at the Foot of a Mountain almost inaccessible which commands it on every side and the other ways that lead into it are much more difficult Merâ—y was Posted in a place thus Advantageous and in regard he was one of the greatest Captains of his time he had omitted nothing to make the best of the Situation His Army consisted of Eight thousand Foot and Six thousand Horse He had extended his Camp all along the Rivolet but besides that Defence and the Advantage of the Woods and Boggs he had fortifi'd it toward the Plain with a large Entrenchment Nor was there any way to get at him but by the road that leads from Brisack to Friburgh and by consequence there was a necessity of passing by the Foot of that Mountain which defended the best part of his men And for that reason this great General had employ'd all his Industry to secure that part of his Camp from being forc'd Upon the sloping of the Mountain toward the Plain he had rais'd a Fort with Pallisadoes wherein he had put Six hundred Men together with his Artillery by which means he assur'd himself of that part of the Mountain which was most easie of Access From thence he carry'd on a Line a long a Wood of Firr-Trees still ascending to the top where it was impossible to be past This Line was defended by Redoubts at the distance of two hundred Paces one from the other and to give those that design'd to molest him still more trouble he had laid all the whole length of the Line a great Number of Fir-Trees the Branches of which were half cut and inter-twisted one within another and were as Effectual for the same use as Friesland Horses Between this Mountain which the French Army met with upon the Right Hand and another that lay nearer Friburgh there was a Hollowness which gave entrance into the Bavarian Camp but to come at it there was a necessity of going a great way about and to pass through Places which had never been view'd This part was naturally fortifi'd by a large and deep Innundation of Water and Mercy thought it sufficient to cut down a great number of Trees and lay athwart that Inundation In short never was an Army Encamp'd in a stronger Situation and better Entrenchd Nevertheless the Duke of Enguien was resolv'd to drive Mercy out of it and he prepar'd for his Attack in this manner He march'd with all his Army against the Line at the top of the Mountain that ran along the Wood of Firr-Trees leaving the Fort upon the Left hand and making it his sole business to carry the Redoubts that defended it to the end that having gain'd the top which commanded all the rest he might make himself Master of the Fort and so descend in Battel Array into the Bavarian Camp Turenne was to make his Onset where the Trees lay that defended the Vally and provided that both Onsets were made at the same time there was great Hopes that the Enemy being busied in two Places at once would be hard put to it to defend themselves and that if they should happen to be forc'd on that side next the Water the Duke coming down from the High
next Morning to see the Bavarian Entrenching themselves upon the Mountain next to Friburgh the Camp deserted and the Fort quitted The Duke seeing that Turenne's Men had spread â—hemselves over the Plain came down with his Army but no sooner had he a near view of the â—everal Places but the thundring from the Bavaâ—iâ—ns new Camp gave him to understand that they â—ad wholly possess'd themselves of the Mountain â—djoining to Friburgh Thereupon the D. not a little â—exed to have miss'd in his Enterprise order'd his Army to be drawn up in Battalia notwithstandâ—ng it had Rained hard all that Night But finding his Men wearyd with their hard Duty the day before and the bad Weather he deferr'd driving the Enemy from their new Entreâ—chments till the next day Soâ— that the Army had all that day and the next night to rest themselves Upon the Right Hand of Friburgh coming from â—â—isack lies a Mountain which is not so extreamly rugged for above the third part of the Highth but afterwards becomes very steep Yet when you come to the Top there is a wide space of level Ground sufficient for the drawing up Three or Four Thoâ—sand Men in good Order of Battel At the end of this little Plain stood also certain Ruins of a Tower at the Foot of which the Highest Mountain of the Black Forest rises insensibly But in regard that as it rises it runs very far backward the Highest part of it commands but very little over the Plain Mercy had posted the greatest part of his Infantry in the Parts adjoining to the Tower the rest was Encamp'd behind a Wood approaching to Friburgh His Cavalry was planted all along from the Wood to the Walls of the City In short that General had as well managd the Advantages of his Ground in that Place as the former He had also added for the Defence of it all the Inventions which the Art of War and the Conveniâ—â—cies of the Wood could afford him in so little time The Lines which he had cast up during thâ— Siege serv'd him in part to enclose his new Camâ— so that he had no need of â—ortifying any more 〈◊〉 that part which lookt toward the Vally where 〈◊〉 layd rows of Trees with their Bows entangleâ— one within another and his choicest Infantry laâ— behind this Entrenchment supported by his Cavalrâ— the Squadrons of which possess'd all the Ground beâ—tween the Row of Trees and the City So soon as it was Day the Duke advanc'd to thâ— Foot of the Mountain where Mercy lay entrench'd and in his March took in some Redoubts which were still guarded in the Vally by the Enemies Dragoons Turenne's Army had the Vanguard that day and was to make the greatest Onset D' 〈◊〉 Lieutenant General commanded the Infantryâ— L' Eschelâ—e march'd at the Head of all the rest with a Thousand Musketeers drawn out of both Armies and his Buâ—iness it was to attack the entrance that cover'd the biggest Body of the Bavarian Footâ— next the ruin'd Tower which was the place most easie of Access to get at ' em For which reasonâ— Turenne caus'd all the Canon of the Weymarians to be drawn on that side The Dukes Body of Infantry commanded by Espenan was commanded to force the Trees Between these two Attacks also there was a false Assault to be made with a few Men only to favour the real Onset Marshal Grammont had likewise Orders to keep himself drawn up in Battel array in the Plain with the Cavalry to act as the Success should direct him The Bavarians Camp afforded 'em great Advantages whither it were to defend themselves or attack the Enemy One of their Wings was supported by the Canon and Small-Shot of the Cityâ— the other was posted upon a Mountain the Heighthâ— of which alone was sufficient to secure the Forces â—â—at poâ—sess'd it But they had too large an exâ—â—nt of Entrenchment to defend that the Infantry â—â—ch weakn'd by the Hardships of the Siege and 〈◊〉 preceding Combats was not sufficient to guard 〈◊〉 Camp â— ' Eschelle began already to play with the Artiâ—â—â—â— of his Attack never staying for the Arrival 〈◊〉 the Rear-â—uard or the Signal of Battel tho 〈◊〉 Duke had commanded that all the Attacks and â—nsets should be given together Besides that â— ' Eschelle had Orders not to March up to the Eneâ—y till he heard the noise of the Musquets toward â—â—e Treâ—s and toward the false Attack in the midle But an Accident not to be fore-seen as freâ—uently it happens in the best consulted Contriâ—ances of Warâ— overturned all the Dukes Orders â—nd sav'd the Bavarians from a Total Defeat For while the Rear-guard was expected which â—ould not come up so soon by reason of the badâ—ess of the ways the Duke attended by Turenne â—nd Gâ—aâ—ment was got up to the top of the highest â—ountain to discover the Rear of the Enemies â—rmy and observe their Order of Battel In his â—bsence Espenan detach'd some men to make a â—alse Attack upon a small Redoubt that lay in hâ—s â—ay to the Enemy And tho he sent but very few â—en at first both sides were insensibly engag'd in a â—oody â—ight while the Bavarians seconded those â—hat defended the Fort and Espenan reliev'd those â—hat attack'd it insomuch that it came to a very 〈◊〉 Câ—nflict in that part Upon the noise of which â— ' Eschelle thought it high time for him to begin his â—ssault and his Errour ranvers'd all the Designs of â—he Day The Duke beholding the Enemies firing from the â—op of the Mountain rightly judgd that Espenan â—nd L' Eschelle had made a mistake and that his â—rders had not been obey'd So that he ran into the very thickest of the Engagement where 〈◊〉 found L'Eschelle slain and his men neither darinâ— to fight nor retreat â—or remedy of this Disorder he commanded Tournon to put himself at the 〈◊〉 of the astonish'd Souldiers and to assuâ—e â—em thaâ— he himself would second 'em with a Powerfâ—â— Succour Thus the Preâ—ence of the Prince giving new Lifâ— to the Souldiers the Baâ—â—rian Infantry began 〈◊〉 totter two Battallions and that which defendeâ— the Entrenchment began to Face about with theiâ— Colours and giâ—e all the marks of men that weâ—â— just ready to beâ—â—ke themselves to their Heels Buâ— they that were next the Line fir'd so furioâ—sly thâ—â— the Frâ—nch Infantry were quiâ—e dishearten'd they that were farâ—hest off began to retreat the 〈◊〉 were in a terrible fright and the Officers also began to give ground In vain the Generals told 'em of the Disorder which they beheld in the Bavarian Camp they press 'em threaten 'em and drag 'em back to the Fight But when a panick dread has once seiz'd upon a Souldier he neither seeâ— nor hears any longer either the Example or the Orders of his Generalâ— so that the Duke was forc'd to give over the Attack and draw off his Men and in this Action the Prinâ—e and all that attended him were in very great danger
Lamboy and Caracena and taken the City of Furnes he could not consent to retreate the Winter being yet at some distanceâ— but form'd designs befitting his Reputation and his Fortune For so long as the Spaniards who knew that the loss of a General Battle would be the total Ruine of Flanders refus'd to put it to the venture and that there was no other way to continue the War but by Seiges the Prince resolv'd to undertake one more this Year and to that purpose calld his Council together to consult which place he should fall upon and all opinions were reducd to two either Menene or Dunkirk Menene is a Town seated upon the Lis between Armentiers and Courtray in a Fertil and Pleasant Country famous for the Trade it drove formerly in Coâ—â— and â—eer and which boasts her Original 〈…〉 and we had fortunately won 〈…〉 Gassion afterwards thought fit to 〈…〉 and by his care it was put into a Condition able to â—â—stain the Siege of a great Army when Câ—â—â—cena surprizd it rather through the weakness of the Garrison then for any defect of the Place They who were for regaining it alledg'd That was absolâ—tely necessary to joyn those places which we held uâ—on the Lisâ— That Menene being in the Enemies hands 〈◊〉 Convoys to Courtray could never go saâ—e that it woâ—ld râ—quire a whole Army to bridle that one City On the other side that if we had it in our own hands Provisioâ—s might be â—arryd up the River with little danger and expenceâ— that we should be in a condition to make farther Proposalsâ— without leaving any thing behind to give us annoyance that Armentieres and Courtray would facilitâ—te the conveâ—iâ—ncies of the Siege that it was not fitting to suffer an Enemy in the midst of our strong Holds and lastly that it was for the Honour of the Nation to preserve by our Armsâ— what our Arms had acquir'd us These Reasons were plausible and solid in appearance but they who did not approve 'em argu'd after this manner That the Siege of Menene requir'd the crossing of several Countries and to undertake a hasty march to prevent the Enemies Diligence and to be at leisure to entrench themselves before the whole Army could joyn which appear'd the less feasible because their Forces encamp'd about Newport near Furnes they were always restless to know our designs and that they were ready to follow us which way soever we bent our march Moreover the Siege of Courtray accomplishd in view of the Enemy with continâ—â—l hardships the Succours sent away to the Hollanders during a violent heat beyond the Nature of the Climate in a Country open and without water unless that of Câ—nals and stinking Mershes bitter and noysome our qâ—ick march toward the Sea Coast the taking of Berguen the Siege of Mardike the Expedition against Furnes had almost render'd the Army unfit for Service On the other side the Enemy having undertaken no Siege keeping themselves the best part of the Summer under the shelter of their City abounding in all sorts of conveniencies and Provisions were as fresh as when they first quitted their Garrisons and were in a condition rather to get before us to Menene then to follow us but tho we were assur'd of getting there before 'em and putting our Lines in a posture of defence yet the River of Lis running round the Place would oblige us not only to make a large Circumvallation but moreover to divide our Army into two parts and this Army would be so lâ—ssen'd as it happens alwâ—ys at the end of a Campaign where the Souldiers have suffer'd great Hardships that we shall not have Souldiers anow to defend our vast Entrenchments much less sufficient to carry on the Siege On the other side the Enemy will have the Advantage with all his Forces to assail the half of ours and afterwards to defeat the remaindeâ— if their fiâ—st attempts succeed More especially since the Return of the Infantry which had repassd the Sea would not admit 'em the least hopes of any Diversion from the Hollanders tho the Prince had sent Tourville to 'em to perswade 'em if he could to sit down before some Town were it only to divide the Spainsh Forces consequently to dream of taking Menene considering the Condition they were in was visibly to hazard for a Town of small Importance the Honour of so many Victories the Reputation of the Prince and the Loss of the Army Add to this that after the Siege of Mardike the first Advice was to regain Menene which tho then it seem'd good nevertheless the Surrender of Furnes which was as it were a Blockade upon Dunkirk and opend a way to that nobler Expedition ought to make 'em alter their Counselâ— and therefore that of the two designs they were to make choice of that which promis'd most Profit most Honour These Considerations having made 'em lay aside that Enterprize which few People contested after the taking of Furnes they fell to examine the Attempt upon Dunkirk where they could not expect to meet with fewer Difficulties For tho the Situation render'd the Circumvallation more easie and that it were but a small March for the Army yet there were so many Obstacles to obstruct the Design that it was morally impossible to surmount There is a necessity said they that one part of the Army must Encamp upon some Hills and the other among standing Pools and muddy Grounds There was no Wood in all the Neighbourhood nor any Straw for the Souldiers Hutts no convâ—nience for Lodging the Cavalry no Forrage for their Subsistance One part of the Country desert and untilldâ— the War had ruin'd the rest So that there was no likelyhood that the Army could subsist there one day much less continue a Siege The trouble of procuring Victuals was also as great which could be brought no way but by Calais or by Sea But the Dunkirkers might easily drown so much Ground as to deprive 'em of any Communicatâ—â—n by Lâ—nd and the way by Sea was no less hazardous because of the Flaâ—s and Shoals and want of Ports and altogether impossible in stormy weather So that if it should happen to be bad weather and that chance to continue but a little we must either famish or be forc'd to raise the Siege with the Ignominy of having attempted it without foresight Moreover as it was a most difficult thing to force Dunkirkâ— so long as her Port was open so there was no probability that the great Dutch Ships that had lain in the Road ever since the taking of Mardike could be able to come to an Anchor near the Shoare if the Winds began to blow so furiously as they had done more especially in the Engl. Channel where the Waves are short and the Sea runs high in bad weather And when the Dutch are forc'd to keep out at Sea the Enemy with their small Vessels will run all hazards to fetch Relief for the Besieged They farther observ'd that during the
advanc'd and the Prince of Marsillac who chanc'd to be Twelve or Fifteen Yards behind the Squadron that gave ground turn'd back upon an Officer whom he â—â—â—â—'d between the two Squadrons The Prince of Conde as I have declar'd already stopt his and forc'd it to turn back upon his Enemies who had not dar'd to pursue it for fear of its being sustain'd by some Infantry During this Disorder Thirty Horse had cross'd the Defile The Prince of Conde plac'd himself immediately at the Head of them with the Duke de la Rochefoucault and attacking Marshal d' Hoquincourt in the Flank he caus'd him to be charg'd in the Front by the Squadron where he had lost the Duke of Beaufort This made an end of overthrowing the Enemies of which part threw themselves into Bleneau and the rest were pursu'd three or four Leagues towards Auxere without their endeavouring to Rally They lost all their Baggage and Three Hundred Horse were taken This Overthrow might have been greater had not the Prince been inform'd that Marshal Turenne's Army was in sight This News oblig'd him to retire to his Foot who had quitted their Post to Plunder and having rally'd his Forces he march'd towards Marshal Turenne who plac'd his Army in Battle in a very large Plain within less than Musquet-shot of a very large Wood through the midst of which the Prince of Conde was oblig'd to March to come up to him This Passage was large enough of it self to March two Squadrons a-breast But whereas it was very Marshy and that several Ditches had been made to drain it there was no coming to the Plain without making Defiles The Prince of Conde finding it possess'd by his Enemies threw his Infantry to the Right and Left into the Wood which border'd it in order to keep the Enemy at a distance from it and it succeeded according to his desires For Marshal Turenne dreading the Inconveniency of the Musquetry quitted his Post to take another at a little more distance and upon a higher Ground than the Prince's This Movement perswaded the Prince that he was retiring towards Gien and that it would be easie to beat him in the disorder of his Retreat before he could reach it To this end he caus'd his Cavalry to advance and made hast to make six Squadrons pass the Defiles in order to enter the Plain but the Marshal of Turenne being sensible how disadvantageous it would be for him to Combat the Prince in the Plain he having a Victorious Army that was much stronger than his resolv'd to turn back with Sword in hand upon those six Squadrons in order to defeat those that were past and to stop the remainder of the Forces that were still on the other side of the Defile The Prince guessing at his Intention caus'd his Horse to retire again and thus the Defiles hindring them from coming at one another without great disadvantage they only caus'd their Artillery to advance on both sides and fir'd a very considerable while at one another but with a very different success for besides that the Marshal of Turenne's having more Artillery and better Guns than his Enemy's it had the Advantage of a higher Ground over the Princes Forces which being very close in the passage which separated the Wood most of the shot did light upon them and they lost above sixscore Men and several Officers among which was Mare Brother to the Marshal of Grancey The remainder of the day past in this manner At the 〈◊〉 of the Sun the Marshal of Turenne retir'd 〈◊〉 Gien the Marshal of Hoquincourt who 〈◊〉 joyn'd him since his Defeat remain'd in the 〈◊〉 of the Army and going with some Officers 〈◊〉 draw out the Squadron that was nearest to the â—â—â—ily he was discover'd by the Prince who sent him word that he would be glad to see him and â—hat he might advance upon his Parole He did â—haâ— the Prince desir'd and advancing with some Officers he met the Prince accompany'd by the Dukes de la Rochefoucault and of Beaufort and two or three more The Conversation pass'd in Civiliâ—iesâ— and Railleries on the Prince's side and in Justifications on the Marshal's for what had happen'd to him complaining of Monsieur de Turenne 〈◊〉 in reality and Justice it might be said that he 〈◊〉 perform'd two brave and very bold Actions thâ—t day the success of which sav'd both him and thâ— Court For as soon as he receiv'd Intelligence thâ—t the Marshal of Hoquincourt's Brigade which waâ— to joyn him the next day was attack'd he march'd with a very small number of Men to the place where he was met in Battalia where he â—arry'd all the day for the remainder of his Forces exposing himself thereby to an inevitable Defeat had the Prince march'd up directly towards him instead of pursuing the Forces he had defeated in the Night for two or three Leagues He also sav'd that very day the remainders of the King's Army with great Valour and Conduct when he turn'd back upon the six Squadrons of the Prince that had past the Defily and by that Action stopt an Army which without doubt would have destroy'd hâ—â— utterly could it once have been plac'd in Order of Battel in the same Plain where he was The King's Army being retir'd the Prince march'd his towards Chatillon and that Night lodg'd in the Quarters upon the Canal of Briare near La Bruslerie The next day he repair'd to Chatillon with all his Forces the which he left two days after under the Command of Clinchant and Count Tavannes in order to go to Paris with the Dukes of Beaufort and de la Rochefoucault That Journey was of greater Consequence than it appear'd to him at that time and I am perswaded that the only desire of going to Paris there to receive the general Applause which the Success of so perillous a Journey and so great a Victory deserv'd made him approve Chavigny's Reasons who earnestly desir'd to be countenanc'd by the Prince's presence and Authority in order to fill up the place which the Cardinal of Rets held in the Duke of Orleance's favour He was in hopes as I have already declar'd to render himself equally considerable to those two Princes by perswading each of them that he was the real promoter of their Union besides he fancy'd that it was the easiest way to succeed in his Project with Fabert He therefore press'd the Prince to come to Paris in order to oppose the Progress the Cardinal of Rets made upon the Duke of Orleance's Mind and to improve the favourable disposition the Parliament was in at that time having made a Decree by which they had proscrib'd and put a Price upon Cardinal Mazarin's Head Whatever Impressions Chavigny's Counsels made upon the Prince it is certain that he follow'd them he was receiv'd at Paris with so many Acclamations and such Testimonies of publick Joy that he did not think he had any cause to Repent his Journey All things remain'd for a
as Victorious as he was over the rest of the Army could never have broken that stout and Courageous Infantry One extraordinary Action of the Regiment of Velandia was remarkable In the first Onset which the Duke made on that Regiment the Musketeers being cut in pieces and the Body of Pikes being surrounded on every side by the French Horse they made a â—low retreat in a Body to the Gross of the Spanish Infantry When the Left Wing of the French was broken Word was brought to Sirot that he should save the Body of the Reserve and make his escape that there was no other remedy in regard the Battel was lost To which he answer'd without being mov'd in the least 'T is not yet lost because Sirot and his Companions have not yet fought In short his Courage contributed very much to the Victory But by the report of the Spaniards themselves nothing appeard so worthy of Admiration as the Presence of Mind and Sedateness of the Duke in the hottest Fury of the Battel particularly when the Enemies left Wing was broken for instead of greedily following the pursuit he presently turnd upon their Infantry By which reserv'dness he kept his Men from breaking their Order so that he was in a Condition to assail the Spanish Cavalry who thought themselves Victorious Gassion won Eternal Honour and the Duke gave him great Marks of his Esteem For upon the Field of Battel it self he promisd to procure him a Marshal of France's Battoon which the King granted him some time after Of Eighteen Thousand Foot of which Melos's Army consisted there were above Eight Thousand slain upon the Place and near Seven Thousand Prisoners The Count of Fountaines Camp-Master General was found dead near his Chair at the Head of his Men. The Loss of him was a long time after bewaild by the Spaniards The French applauded his Courage and the Prince himself said That if he â—ould not have got the Victory he woâ—ld â—â—ve dy'd as he did Valandia and Vâ—lalva underwent the same Fate All the Officers were either taken or slain The Spaniards also lost Eighteen Pieces of Canon and Six Battering Pieces Two Hundred Colours of Foot and Sixty of Horse The Pillage was great for that besides the Booty of the Baggage there was the Money of a whole Mâ—steâ— which the Army was to have receivd after the taking of Roâ—roy Of the French were kill'd in all about Two Thousand but very few Officers or Persons of Quality The D. lodgd his Army in the Enemies Camp and after he had given Order for the wounded enteâ—'d a Victor into Rocroy The next day he understood that Melos retird out of the Battel upon the rout of the right Wing of his Army and never minded the rallying of the Fugitives till he was got under the Canon of Philipâ—ille His Cavalry re-join'd him in the same Place but the Foot were utterly ruind and the following Campaigns made appear the Vastness of the Loss which Spain could never yet repair So true it is that a good Army of Foot cannot be too carefully preservd whether in War or Peace seeing it is not in the power of the greatest Kings in a long time to recover a lost Body of Old Officers and Souldiers accustom'd to fight together and endure the Fatigues of War The Duke after he had stayd at Rocroy Two days led his Army to Guise the same way that he came There he rested some days during which the Prince prepard every thing ready to enter the Enemies Country For in regard the Magazines had been only provided for the Defensive part there was a necessity of Storing up Provisions and Ammunition in the most advancd Places of the Frontiers Flanders lay open on every side which way soever the Duke had a Design to Lead his Victorious Army there was nothing to oppose his Passage He might either attack Mets or the Towns upon the Scheldt or the Moselle There was also great probability that all these Enterprizesâ— might prove extreamly Beneficial But the winning of the Sea-Towns seemd the most Advantageous which would not only be an Assistance to the Hollanders but deprive the Low-Countries at the same time of the most speedy Succours which they receiv'd from Spain But the Duke of Enguien knew that the Hollanders were afraid of nothing so much as of having the French to be their Neighbours and that they would rather make a Peace and Confederate themselves with the Spaniards tho their Natural Enemies then endure that France should extend her Conquests over those Places which serve as Barricades between the Spanish Territories and those of the Vnited Provinces Moreover it was impossible to take either Gravelin or Dunkirk without a Fleet Nor were the Kings Fleets in a Condition to keep the Sea So that there wanted both Time Money and Negotiations to vanquish the Mistrusts and Jealousies of the States-General and engage em to lend their Ships so that the Duke gave over that Design There remainâ—d Two other Places the Scheldt and the Moselle The first was very difficult in regard the Remains of the shatter'd Spanish Army were got thither besides that the French had no Magazines on that side The last Design was of great Importance toward the Conquest of Flanders because Thionville and all the other places upon the Moselle opend an Entrance for the German Armies into Flanders So that the Duke not being in a Condition to take Sea Towns could not undertake any thing more Advantageous then the Siege of Thionville to the end that by possessing himself of this Place he might hinder the Enemies Communication between Germany and Flanders and by this Conquest settle the posture of his Affairs against the next Campaign for greater Enterprizes It was easie to furnish his Army with Subsistance on that side next Champaign All Preparations necessary for a great Siege had been Stord up there during the Winter The Deceasd King had caus'd Provision and Ammunition to be transported thither with a Design to carry the War into Frâ—nche Conte and Marshal de Meilleray was to have undertaken that Enterprize But the Kings Death having overturnd all those Projects and the Army in Italy being too weak to keep the Field Meilleray's Forces were parted into Two Bodies One part pass'd the Alps under Viscount Turenne and the other commanded by the Marquiss de Gesvres servd under the Duke Nevertheless it requir'd time to fetch out of Burgundy and Champaign all the Ammunition and Train of Artillety And therefore the Duke would not encline toward Thionville for fear General Beck should reinforce it with Men. The Prince therefore Marchd into the middle of Flanders on purpose to alarum the Principal Cities and to oblige the Enemy to strengthen the Garisons his Designs being to return the same way he came and to sit down unexpected before Thionville To this purpose he dispatchd away St. Martin Lieutenant of the Artillery with Order to bring Ammunition to the Frontiers of Champaign
Grounds and Turenne at the same time entring the Plain Mercy would not be able to withstand ' em So soon as the Forces were all arriv'd the Duke gave Order that they should prepare over Night to fight the next Morning and Turenne having a great Compass to fetch set forward before break of day but the Difficulties which he met with in his March retarded the Onsets which both Armies should have made at the same time The Duke dispos'd of his Men in this manner His Infantry was compos'd of Six Battallions each consisting of Six hundred Men. Espenan Camp-Marshal was commanded to make the first Assault with two Battallions of the Regiments of Persan and Enguien The Count of Tournon put himself at the Head of the Regiments of Conti and Mazarine to Second Espenan The Duke reserv'd two Regiments to himself to be imploy'd as occasion shall require and Marshal Grammont Martin L' Eschelle and Mauvily remain'd about his Person Palluau Seconded the whole Attack with the Regiment of Horse of Enguien and the Gentlemen were posted at the Entrance into the Plain in a very close Place to hinder the Bavarians from flanking the Infantry To come at the Enemy there was a necessity of clambring up a very steep side of a Place cross a Vineyard wherein were Walls at such a distance about four foot high that serv'd the Bavarians instead of Entrenchments However the commanded Men got up into this Vineyard and drave the Bavarians into their Entrenchments of Firr-Trees behind which they fir'd with more then ordinary fury Nor could the French Infantry force those Trees so entangl'd one within another as they were without loosing a great many Men and breaking their Body The Duke therefore who was advanc'd to 〈◊〉 the Effect of the Onset observ'd that the firâ—â— Line of his Men gave ground and that they weâ—â— got part within the Entrenchments of Firr-Treeâ—â— and part without neither flying nor moving forward They began also to slide along the Bavarian Camp toward the Right hand and fall upon â—em at the top of the Mountain But the Prince who had observ'd before that that same part was not to be forc'd rightly judg'd that the Success of his Enterprise depended more upon carrying the Enemies Line in the middle For that reason he resolv'd to renew the Assault with what remaind of the first Regiments tho he had no more then two with him self and those discourag'd by what they had seen then Fellowâ— suffer And indeed at first it seem'd a piece of Rashness with two thousand repuls'd Men to attempt the forcing of three thousand well Entrench'd and puft up with the Advantage theâ—â— had got But it was impossible otherwise to disingage and bring off those that had got beyond the Entrenchment of Fir-Trees For in abandoning them the Duke must have been forc'd to have retreated with Vexation to have fail'd in his Enterprise and Sacrific'd in vain the best part of his Infantry Besides that all the Bavarian Army would have fallen upon Turenne not having any other to oppose The Prince consider'd all these things in an Instant alights from his Horse and putting himselfâ— at the Head of Conti's Regiment march'd directly against the Enemy Tournon and Castelnau-Maâ—â—villiere did the â—ame with the Regiment of Mazarine Grammont Martin L' Eschelle Mauvilly La Moussaye Ierze the Chevaliers Chabot and Graâ—mont Isigny Meâ—lles La Baulme Tourville Barbantane Disbrotteaux Aspâ—emont Viange together wiâ—h all the Officers and Volunteers alighted 〈◊〉 this Action gave new Life to the Souldiers 〈◊〉 the Duke being the first that pass'd the Enâ—â—enchment of Firr-Trees all the rest following 〈◊〉 Example throng'd over the Entrenchment 〈◊〉 they that defended the Line fâ—ed into the Wood by the favour of approaching Night After this first Advantage won the Duke mounâ—ed into a Redoubt which he found quittedâ— but the Condition he was in was no less dangerous â—hen the Action he had perform'd One part of his Infantry was kill'd the rest had broken their Order in pursuit of the Fugitives The Enemy 〈◊〉 held the Fort where they had planted their Artillery and Mercy was in a Posture able to Charge the Prince in this Confusion but it may be the Night which drew on a pace hinder'd him from making the best of his Advantage Therefore while there remaind as yet some glimmerings of day the Prince rally'd his â—â—otâ— fortifi'd the Redoubts which he had won and notwithstanding the Diâ—â—iculty of the way caus'd his Cavalry to mount to the top of the Hill which he possess'd And after he had got all his Men together he order'd all â—is Trumpets to sound and all the Kettle-Drums to beat that so he might give Turenne notice that he had gain'd the Top of the Hill and then prepar'd every thing ready to renew the Conflict the next Morning Tiâ—â—nne on his side had with great Vigour attack'd the Trees that were layd in the Vally between the Mountainâ— which the Duke had carry'd and that which lay near Friburgh But Mercy not dreaming they could force his Camp on that side next the Mountain considering how it was fortifi'd hâ—d sent away his Principal Strength to defend the Vally and this is that which usually happens in the attacking of Lines that those parts which are deem'd to be the strongest are soonest taken The Place was wide enough behind his Entrenchment to draw up his Men in order of Battel so that when Turenne's Men had driven back the Infantry which defended the Entrance into it all the Bavarian Cavalry were ready and in a Capacity to second their Foot without breaking their Squadrons which was the Reason that Turenne meeting with so vigorout a Resistance could by no means force the Bavarians Sometimes he gain'd some Posts then he lost 'em again so that Turâ—nne's Attack was nothing but continual Skirmishing without being able to break into the Enemies Entrenchments thâ— he did all that the Courage and Conduct of a Great Captain could do to surmount the Disadvantages of Ground and Number The Duke of Enguien had heard from the Top of the Mountain the Noise of this Attack and prepared for another Onset the next Morning And his Design was to March over the High Groundsâ— to the Bavarian Camp on purpose to make the Enemy turn one part of their Fâ—rces against himâ— to â—acilitate Turenne's Entrance into the Plainâ— and every body prepar'd for this Enterpâ—ise as it they had been assur'd of Victory it being impossible that Mercy should sustain Two Onsets at the same time one from aâ—ove and in the Rear of his Army while the other assail'd him every where else Nevertheless Mercy would not run such a dangerous Risco but got away as fast as he couldâ— To that purpose he drew off his Men from the Top of the Mountain next to â—riburgh and before day sent away his Canon that was under the Dukeâ—s Armâ—â— ere the French Generals had notice of it So that they were surpris'd the
Orders vigorously and began to Skirmish with the Bavarians near St. Peter's Abbyâ— and so soon as he had overtaken the Bavarians â— he gave notice to the Duke that he was at their Heels In the mean while the French Army passd File after File through a very narrow Valley at the end of which they were to ascend to the top of a very high Mountain and withal so steep and cover'd with Wood that there was no going forward but for one single Man at a time Nevertheless the Duke surmounted all these difficulties and his Vanguard was no sooner got to the top of the Mountain but he discover'd the Bavarians in Battaliâ— and Roze close at the Heels of their Rear Now to go from the Mountain where the Head of Eâ—gâ—in's Army stopp'd to the place where the Bavâ—â—â—â—ns were posted there was a necessity of passing two Defiles in the midst of which was a space widâ— enough to contain four Squadrons but before â—ou could get at it there was a Descent through a â—ery narrow Hollow way and then an Ascent again more difficult then the former which gave an Enâ—rance into the Plain where Roze skirmisâ—'d with the Enemies Rereguard Mercy no sooner discover'd the foremost Battallion of the French Vanguard upon the top of the Mountain but he rightly judg'd that the whole Army was behind And in regard that Roze very much disturb'd the hindmost part of his Rear he resolv'd to make a push for it that he might rid himself of so great an Incumbrance before the Duke got any nearer to him and had Men â—now to second him and that he might do his Business all at once he whell'd about to the Right with his whole Army and marchd directly against Roze's Cavalry But Roze instead of retiring speedily into the Defile rally'd his Squadrons togeâ—her and daringly stood the whole Bavarian Army in the Plain He had the Enemies Army and the Plain before him on the Right Hand the Great High Road to â—â—lingâ—en crowded with the Bavarian Baggage upon the Left a vast Precipiâ—e and behind him the Defile through which he was to rejoyn the Duke Presently Roze detach'd one of his Squadrons to cut the Harness of the Horses that drew the Carriâ—ge Waggons and with the rest he advanc'd to charge the foremost Squadrons of the Bavarian Army But to preserve the Defile open and free to himself he left four Squadrons to guard it behind the Rear of which he retreated after he had made-three Chargâ—s upon the Enemy Those four Squadrons sustain'd the shock of the Bavarians till the rest of their Cavalry enter'd Pell Mell into the Defile At length Roze left no more then two of the four Squadrons to defend the Pass who after an incredible Resistance seeing their Fellows out of danger threw themselves into the Precipice upon the Left Hand through Places that never had been pass'd before by Men nor Horses This was a vigorous Action of Roze and manag'd with all the Art which it was possible to puâ— in practice in so great a danger But it was impossible for him to have escap'd if Mercy had noâ— discover'd upon the Neighbouring Mountains the Bodies that drew into Order by degrees and that the Duke was advancing to second Roze's Cavalry For in regard he was afraid of nothing so much as of coming to a General Battel he rather chose to let those Squadrons escape then enter too far into the Defile In a word the Duke observing from the Top of the Hill this valiant Action of Roze and what a Condition he was in had rally'd as many Men as he could get together about his Person with a Resolution to bring him off He was already got within the space of enclos'd Ground between the two Defiles at what time Rozâ— rejoyn'd him And thus the Resolution of the Duke and the Prudence of Mercy were in part the cause of that Honour which Roze acquir'd by his Retreat Mercy at the same instant began to make his Retreat likewise but withal that good Order which could be expected from a Great Captain who would never be constrain'd to a Battel and understood how to take his Advantages when opportunity offer'd ' em Nevertheless he quitted his Artillery and his Baggage and leaving some Dragoons to dispute the Passage out of the Defile hâ—â— march'd with that speed throâ—â—h the High Road to Filinghen that the French Army lost sight of him in a moment While Mercy thought of nothing else but to hasten and secure his Retreat the Duke rally'd his Men together with a Resolution to follow him but it prov'd a thing so difficult to do that before he could get his Army in a Body together the Bavarian had gaiâ—'d above a League of Ground before him There is a Mountain between St. Peter's and Filinghen much higher then any of the rest at the top of which there is a level sufficient to contain an Army drawn up in Battalia and which commands all the Hills round about The Water the Pastâ—â—â—ge and the Fertilty of the Soyl which is every wherâ— manur'd under that place both very Commodious and very Secure to Encamp in They who were acquainted with the Country made no question but Mercy would have pitch'd his Tents thereâ— which made the Duke to hasten his March with all Dilligence Nevertheless when the Advanc'd Curriers of the French Vanguard were got to the top of Holgâ—â—ve for so the place is call'd they found that the Bavarians after they had only broke Ground in Order to Entrench were advancd farther with more haste then the French could follow ' em Thereupon the Duke being quite out of hopes to overtake 'em return'd the same way he came and â—ncampd at St. Peter's Abby His Men were so tird that he was constraind to let 'em rest the next day while they burnt the Bavarians â— Baggage and brought away their Canon and two Morters which the Bavarians left behind ' em The next day he took in a little Castle seated upon the Mountaiâ—s and which might prove serviceable to his Designs and sent the Count of Tournon to convey the Artillery to Brisack Thus the Retreat of Coll. Roze was the last remarkable Action perform'd at the Battle of Friburgh which is more properly to be call'd a series of several bloody Conflicts then a pitch'd Battel On the one side was to be observ'd a Courage which not being to be daunted either with the badness of the Weather nor the disadvantages of Ground hazards all for Victory and proves Victorious at length On the other side behold a Prudence which nothing could shake that made the best of every thing for defence yet still accompany'd with extraordinary Valour It is a difficult thing to judge which of the two merited most Honourâ— Whither he that attackt an Army entrench'd in places almost inaccessible and forc'd â—em to quit their Holds or He that preserv'd a resolute and undaunted Judgement in a long Retreat in view of a
Towers after the antient manner with a Moat defended by some Half-Moons and a Covert way There were in the Town four hundred Lorrainers and it was the only place which the Palatinates had preserv'd in the Palatinate on this side the Rhine except Frankendale where the Spaniards kept a very strong Garrison While â— ' Aumont was taking up his Quarters and beginning his Approaches before Landau the Duke rejoin'd his Army close by Philipsburgh that he might be near the Siege which d' Aumont had undertaken where he understood that the Trenches were already open'd but that d' Aumont going to visit the Works was dangerously wounded Thereupon Turenne was sent to continue the Siegeâ— who carry'd on the Trenches with that speed that in three days a Battery was raisd and a Lodgement made upon the Counterscarp The fifth day the Duke being come to visit the Works the Lorrainers capitulated with Turenne and march'd out of the Place After the taking of Landau Newstad Manheiâ— and Magdeburgh made but little Resistance So that in one Campaign the Duke saw himself three times Victorious over the Bavarian Army Master of the Palatinate and the Course of the Rhine from Philipsburgh to Hermenstein and of all the Country between the Rhine and the Moselle There are three things which have not been observ'd in the Campaign of Friburgh which are not to be omitted The First is that the Duke as it is credibly reported the more to encourage his Souldiers to force the Bavarian Camp threw his Baâ—toon the Ensign of his Generalship over the Entrenchments shewing by that Action that to prevent his Baâ—toon from falling into the Enemies Hands there was a neceâ—â—ity of gaining that part where he had thrown it and that it was to be lookt upon as the Prize which the Duke propos'd to himself to win and which it behov'd all the Souldiers also to be no less eager of gaining The Second thing necessary to be observ'd is this that the Defeat of the Bavarians at the Battel of Friburgh gave the French an easie opportunity to make such considerable Progresses that they no sooner presented themselves before a Town but the Garrison surrender'd So that the Marquiss d' Aumont having summon'd Gemersheim to open her Gates she did it immediately The Deputies also of that Place accompany'd with the Clergy and Magistraâ—y met the Marquiss to assure him of their Obedient Submission to the King of France and besides Landau which Marshal Turenne took they made themselves Masters of Magdeburgh and the City of Bacara â— The Third thing worthy to be observ'd and which will shew the Terrour which the Duke of Engâ—iâ—n's Name had struck into the Hearts of the Enemies of France was this that when Turenne had sent Roze to invest Mayence and that Mercy had sent Wolfs with six hundred Dragoons and four hundred Horse to Succour the Place with promise of all other Assistance necessary those Offers were rejected The Besieged answer'd that they were only fair Promises That never the less the City was Besieg'd and that when they were to resist the still Triumphant Arms of the King of France they must make use of other Weapons theâ— Words and that the Duke of Enguien's continud Victories gave them great reason to fear that they should not be able successfully to withstand a Force that carry'd all before it Which Answer to surpriz'd Coll. Wolfs that he immediately retird And then the Chapter of Mayence sent their Commissioners to the Duke to inform him of the Resolution they had taken to Surrender the City into his Hands upon Condition that the Prince would Sign the Capitulation as it was drawn up and that he would come and receive their Oathes of Fidelity These Offers and Conditions were accepted the Sixteenth of September The Principal Articles of the Capitulation being That the Administration as well Ecclesiastical as Secular should remain Free to the Chapter That Iustice should be administer'd according to the usual manner and that under that Clause the Officers should be preserv'd in their Employments and Priviledges That the Chapter having put themselves under the King of France 's Protection the Duke should not Charge 'em with any new Impositions and that he should put a Garrison of Five Hundred Men into the Fort. The Duke also made a particular Agreement with the Governour which immediately concernd the Emperor and the Imperial Garrison that was in the Place So soon as the Capitulation was Signd the Duke sent advice of it to their Majesties and then made his Entrance into the City where he was receivd with that Pomp and Magnificence which carry'd along with it the Aire and Shew of a Triumph All the Corporations of Mayence went forth to meet the Prince and made their Compliments to him in Latin And the Duke who understood other things as well as the taking of Towns and winning of Battels answerd all their Complements and all their Speeches in Latin in so Eloquent a manner that not only they who had the Advantage to hear him speak were charm'd and ravish'd with Admiration but the noise of his Wit and Learning spread it self all over Germany if I may not say all over Europe Some compard him to Alexander others to Caesar. The First observd in him that Impetuosity that Ardour that Activity that Heroick Bravery and Daring Boldness which in Alexander were joyn'd to the Love of Letters and Learning and the others believ'd him to be the Living Image of Câ—sar not only in respect of the Capacity Prudence and Conduct of that Illustrious Roman but also in regard of his Eloquence The End of the First Book THE HISTORY OF LEWIS de BOVRBON Prince of Conde The Second Book THE Duke of Enguien was become so considerable at Court that after the Battel of Friburgh and the reducing of Philipsburgh and Mayence he was made Governour of Champaigne and Brie and it was also farther resolv'd that he should again Command in Germany The French took the Field betimes in that Country and at the beginning of the Spring they made themselves Masters of three considerable Places by the prudent Conduct and Bravery of Major General Erlac The 15 th of April he descended toward the Rhine where Moser who commanded the Queen of Sweden's Forces joyn'd him with three Hundred Foot and his own Troop of Horse All their Forces being embodyd into an Army besieg'd Lichtenaw a Castle which the Germans made use of as a convenient Post to seize the Boats that fell down from Strasburgh to Philipsburgh That Place held out some Discharges of the Canon for Honours sake and then surrender'd upon Composition After that the Marquiss of Baden surrender'd the Castle of Stolburn which belongd to him tho it were strongly seated and well provided with Victuals This doâ—e General Erlac besieg'd Kirppenheim well fortifid with Half-Moons and defended by a broad Moat lin'd both within and without The Inhabitants who rely'd upon their Fortifications
Dispute was obstinate and bloody for two hours together and during that time there was no Quarter given on either side They â—â—ught on both sides with so much valour and equality of Advantage that it was a difficult thing while the heat of the Combat lasted to judge which way the Victory would encline but at last it fell to the Duke One part of the Enemy was cut to pieces the other routed and put to flight The Baâ—arians lost four thousand Men in this Battel â—Tis true that it cost the Duke fifteen hundred counting in the wounded but withal he got fifteen pieces of Canon took forty Colours and a great number of Prisoners of which He was forcâ—d to release the greatest part because he could not keep 'em without great Inconvenience to his own Army But that which compleated this Victory was the taking of Gleen General of the Imperial Army who was afterwards exchang'd for Marshal Grammont and the Death of General Mercy one of the greatest Captains oâ— his Age. That very Mercy of whom the Duke himself and Turenne gave that Honorable Testimony that it was he alone who for along time sustain'd the tottering Imperial Troops that he had never been surpriz'd in any Irregular Motionâ— that he had never lost a favourable opportuniâ—y nor ever fail'd of preventing the taking of any as if he had been present in their Councils In a word this Loss of the Bavarians was so great that it seemd at first as if the Prosperity of their Army had expir'd with their General And certain it is that that same Body which had so many times signaliz'd themselves never after that mov'd as it wâ—nt to do day with his and the D. of Enguien march'd another way with his men toward the General Rendevoâ—z The D. of Lorrains Army had already passd the Scheld with a Resolution to oppose the Designs of the D. of Orleance and D. of Enguien But so soon as he understood that the three Bodies of the French Army were marching directly toward him he repass'd the River at Montagne in expectation of Pâ—colomini Beck and Sambry that were to join him But tho that Army were five and twenty thousand strong tho it coasted all along in view the March of the French Army and that it were already posted along the River under the Walls of Tournay the French however forbore not to advance a little below the same place and to seize upon a Pass over the Scheld over against Trinity Mount That Pass gave the French an easie opportunity to attack Tournay or Oudenara But the difficulty was how to pass the River in view of a powerful Army which in all probability would not sit still and look on Nevertheless at a Council of War all the General Officers concluded that there was necessity for 'em to attempt the Passage The only difficulty they met with was to secure the Convoys but the D. of Engâ—iâ—â— had already found out a Remedy for that For he had attack'd the Castle of Lannoy seated between Tournay and L'â—â—â—â— and took it in a days time Which being done all their Conveys were securd and they had no more to do but to put their Resolutions in Execution But upon a suddain the D. of Orleance alterd his Design and concluded upon the Siege of Courtray First of all the two Brigades led by Gassion and Ranzau got before the Place and invested on both sides the Riâ—er 〈◊〉 upon which it was seated till the D. of Eâ—guien came up with his Army on that side next â—o Moncouron and Rolingue But the little Care they â—ook to Invest it â—etimes gave the Enemy leisure to put a considerable Succour into the Town Delponâ—â—â— a 〈◊〉 in great â—epute for holding out of Townsâ— got in with his own Regiment and twelve Companys of Footâ— however all this did but animate the French Generals so much the more The next day the Trenches were open'd but the Neighbourhood of the Enemy so near the Trenches was the reason that the Besiegers were in continual fears of being surpriz'd The Enemy also made some motions And the Duke of Enguien gave notioâ—â— the same day that the Trenches were open'd that the Spanish Army was advanc'd very near his Camp with a design to fight him Thereupon one part of the French Army drew off and prepard to meet the Spaniards who were constrain'd to retreat a long by the Scheldt into their first Entrenchments After their Retreate Enguien joyn'd Gasson and Ranzau to the end they might invest the Town with more ease and assurance All the French Forces being reunited the Circumvallation was begunâ— and finish'd in less then four days tho it took up almost five Leagues in Compass in reguard that both Horse as well as Foot were set to work Orleans with Ranzaâ—'s Men took up his Quarter beyond the Liâ— and on that side next to Flanders from one end of the City to the other and he had his Communication with the Quarters of Enguien and Gassâ—on by means of several bridges laâ—'d over the River Enguien took up his Quarter on this side the River from Orleance's Quarter to Gassion's on that side next Tournay and Gassion from Enguien's to Orleancâ—'s on that side next Audenard and Gand. The Circumvallation as I have already said was so vast that the French Armies were not numerous enough to guard the whole extent of it so that there were many void â—paces through which the Spaniards might have put Reâ—ieâ— into the Town had not the spaces been inâ—loâ—'d with a Line supported and dâ—fended with a great number of Redoubts 'T was thought by the Besiegers that by this means they had removed the Enemy so far off that it would be impossible for him to come on But Charles the IV. Duke or Lorrain in a sit of Dispair usual with unfortunate Heros advanc'd with all his Army leaving his Baggage behind him and posted himself within Canon Shot of the French Camp making a shew as if he would attack ' em And had they march'd directly against the Duke of Lorrain as it was Enguiens advice they had doubtless given him a total Defeat But Orleance did not relish that Counsel whose opinion it was that they should only mind reducing the Town without running any hazard So that every Quarter entrench'd themselves and went on with the Siege tho very slowly by reason that Lorâ—ain's Army gave fresh Alarums every moment In the mean time Lorrain being forcd to retreat upon the news which was brought him that the Hollanders had taken the Field and his Presence was necessary in the Neighbourhood to those Quarters where they were drawn together endeavour'd before his departure to put some considerable relief into the Town But the attempt prov'd fruitless and cost him also a World of Men which extreamly abated the Courage of the Besieged who flatter'd themselves with being reliev'd At the same time Gassion attack'd a Half-Moon and carryd it Enguien also having open'd his
high that the rising of the Hills does not hinder it from being seen out at Sea and from the Platform at the top you may discover in a serene day the Mouâ—tains of Dover and the Coast of Englanâ— â— At first Dunkirk was only a poor Hamlet compos'd of Fishermens Hutts erected for the conveniency of the Haven Afterwards Antiquity and Carelessness having spoil'd the Harbour of Mardike famous at that time it became considerable by the Ruine of that Port. Baldwin Count of Flanders Sirnamd the Young made a City of it in the Year nine hundred four score and sixteen Afterwards it was peopled by the Favour of Philip of Vermandois who endowing it with several Immunities drew great numbers of Inhabitants to it It would require a particular History to relate how often it has changd Masters how often it fell in Partition to Robert de Cassel how it past to Robert de Barr â— who by the Marriage of his Daughter he fix'd it into the Family of St. Pol how it fell afterwards to the Families of Vendosm and Bourbon afterwards under the Dominion of the Spaniards It would be also no less Delightful to understand the various Misfortunes it has undergone how the English burnt it in the Year 1388. how it was surpriz'd by the French a long time after under the Marshal Termes what are the Priviledges of the Lords of it what are the Laws it is govern'd by what is the Trade which it drives what is the Supream Marine Council which is there settl'd what is their Herring-fishing and the great vâ—nt they have for that Commodity and what the Priviledges wherewith the Emperor Charles the V. endowd â—em But in regard our Design is only to write the Siege of this place without intending any other Divertisement for the Reader we shall only give an account of the State of the City at the time when the Prince's Army sate down before it 〈…〉 divided into two Cities the old and 〈…〉 The old is seated upon the Sea-shore en 〈…〉 hick Wall after the ancient man 〈…〉 a great many large Towers sup 〈…〉 a spâ—cious Rampart accompany'd with 〈…〉 with Brick above 26 foot wide and 〈…〉 Colme Water which swells in that 〈…〉 Tides are higher or lower On Mardike 〈…〉 Sea runs up into the Land and extending 〈…〉 the Wall of the old City forms a Ha 〈…〉 to contain 200 great Ships however 〈…〉 it is very narrow and dangerous by 〈◊〉 of the Shelves and Sands that lye full in the 〈…〉 it Within the Canal which is no less 〈◊〉 then the Haven above a hundred Vessels may â—ide 〈◊〉 safety Out of this Haven sayl'd the 〈…〉 blockd up the mouths of our Rivers and were â—â—câ—me so formidable upon all the Westeâ—◠〈…〉 France Antiquity never knew Men 〈…〉 pon the Sea then the Dunkirkers And indeed iâ— iâ—â— thing hardly to be believ'd that this Câ—â—y aloâ—e should have almost spoil'd the Trade of 〈…〉 potent Kingdoms of Europe and 〈…〉 Dâ—tch Fleets that Sail to the New World ◠〈…〉 from the Spaniards whole Provinces 〈…〉 were not our Merchants Losses as Fa 〈…〉 Scandalous Testimony of their Fury and â—alour Oâ— that side next to France from the 〈…〉 against the Walls of the old City the Hâ—veâ— is defended by the Fort de Leon built upon the 〈◊〉 and by consequence ill flank'd by reaso◠〈◊〉 the Inconvenience of the Place otherwise small but strongly Pallisadâ—'d and furnish'd with a 〈◊〉 of great Canon On the other side of the Haven rises â— Causey which running 5 or 600 Paces 〈◊〉 the Sea covers it on Flanders side and juts upon a small wooden Fort planted with some Canon The new City joyns to Fort Leon and enclosing the rest of the Harbour afterwards enlarges and extends it self about the Old one beyond the way that leads to Newport It is environ'd with an enclosure of 12 Bastions of Earth with a Moat full of Water and a Counterscarp and two Hornworks fill up the whole space that remains between the hind most Bastion and the Causey that shoots into the Sea Toward the South three large Canals run out of Dunkirk and afford the advantage and convenience of transporting in their Beelands these Commodities which they vend up and down the Country These Canals fall into the Haven and serve either to cleanse it or to drown the Parts adjoyning to the City as they pull up or let down their Sluces The first leads to Bergâ—â—n the second to Honsâ—otte the third to Furnâ—s Newport and then to Brugeâ— The Magistrates having begun this latter in the year 1640. and having finish'd it the next year gave it the name of the New River the other two are very Ancient Dunkirk was guarded within with two thousand six hundred Foot in a 11 Regiments and without by the Armies of Caracena and Lamboy In those Regiments the number of Officers equall'd almost that of the Souldiers There were also in the Town 300 Horse and 2000 Seamen accustom'd to Sea Fights the fury of which makes 'em contemn all other dangers the Fortifications were well provided with Artillery and as we have said already there was nothing wanting in the City that might serve for the defence of it So soon as the Army came before the City the Prince assign'd the Quarters and resolv'd to dispose of his Men in such a manner that if the Enemy should attempt to raise the Siege they could not be able either to succour the Town nor force his Camp On the East side of him there was a space of Ground which separates the New River from the Sea This space of Ground is cover'd in part with unequal Hills or Downs both in regard of their Situaâ—ion and Heighth and perfectly extends it self into a Plain which is water'd by the New River and then runs on as far as the Canal of Honscotte From this Canal going to Mardike there are two Mershes which are cut out of the Canal of Berguin and some other Rivers To the West you meet with a Plain opposite to the former other Downs and then the Sea Shoar These laâ—ter Places seem'd sufficiently defended by the Canals and the Mershes which made the Access very difficult to those that were not Masters of 'em as also by the Neighbourhood of Mardike and Berguen which secur'd â—em The greatest danger was toward the East for that the Enemy setting fâ—rward from Newport which is but â—5 Miles from Dunkirk might come to the Camp in a few Hours without any Molestation which obligâ—d the Prince to make sure of that place To which purpose he caus'd Gassion to encamp with his Brigade from the Sea Shore to the middle of the Downsâ— the rest he took up himself and all the Plain as far as the New River There he lodg'd the Men which he himself lead and that he might wholly fill up the Place that remain'd void along thâ— Caâ—al of Furnes he joyn'd to his own Men ten Companies of French Gendarmes and
Beaujeu â—s Regiment of Horse which were of Ranzau's Brigade From the New River drawing toward the Canal of Bergâ—en Ranzau had Order to Line the rest of the Plain with the Bodies of Horse and Foot which the Prince had left him The Places which the French possess'd and the inconvenient Situation of the Country serv'd for the rest of the Circumvallation Only upon the Downs which lye to the West the Prince plac'd Villequier with the Militia of Boulogne his own Regiment of Horse and that of Rocheguyon to the end that the Spaniards if they should pass the Câ—lme after they had drawn together at St. Omers to put in Succour into the Town between Berguen and Mardike meeting with that Obstacle might be quite out of hopes By Sea the Dutch Ships and the French Frigates blockt up the Port and thus was Dunkirk enclos'd on every side Moreover a Bridge was layd over the Canal of Furnes for the Communication of Quarters and two more over the Canals of Honscotte and Berguen for the Carriages to come over that brought Victuals from Calais to the Camp The next day the Circumvallation was begun at which the whole Army wrought The Prince undertook to cut and sink a Moat six Foot deep and twelve Foot wide from the Downs next the Sea to the Canal of Furnes and to consolidate the Work and hinder the Sand from falling into it he orderâ—d the Lines which were to be Canon Proof to be lin'd with Turf Then he mark'd out the most easie Places for the Attacks and to secure 'em with Pallilado's and Turnpikes and about 30 or 40 Paces beyond the Moat he drew out another of an â—qual bigness Now in regard the risings of the Downs were unâ—qual and for that there were some along the Lines that might annoy the Army he was constraind to possess himself of all those upper Grounds to fortifie 'em and extend his Works a great way chiefly toward Newport Road and Gassion's Quarter There was one of these Hills which being much higher then the rest commanded the Camp from the top of which the French were to be seen drawn up in order of Battel and it was dangerous to let the Enemy be Masters of it so as to plant their Cannon upon it The Prince therefore to obviate all Annoyances resolv'd to possess it and whatever pains it cost him to environ it with two Lines which should joyn to those of the Circumvallation to raise a Fort at the top of it and to plant a Battery upon it The Sea Shore still remain'd to be fortifid But by reason of the Flux and Reflux of the Sea there was no probability of working in the Sand without being able to fix it and besides the shortness of time would not permit the casting up of Mounds Nevertheless the rest of the works were insignificant if such a space of Sandy Ground should be left unguarded during low Water The Prince therefore resolv'd to plant a kind of Rail well fortifi'd with Stakes anow to put a stop to the Enemy for some time and easie to repair if the Tyde should carry any part of it away He order'd therefore Piles of Wood to be driven in by main force the better to sustain the fury of the Waves and to range 'em so close one to another that there might be no room to go between 'em yet still at such a distance as to give way to the violence of the Sea and break the strength of the Innundation Nor did he employ less Industry to defend himself from the Water which the Dunkirkers had let into the Highways from the New River to Mardike which were overflow'd in such a manner that the Wagons that came with Victuals from Calais could not pass But tho when the Prince thought of the Siege he had provided against this Inconvenience by ordering Champlastreux to cause a great quantity of Ammunition Bread to be bak'd at Berguen from whence it was brought down the Canal to the Camp and to send for all the Provision he could in Boats that crept along the Coasts from Calaiâ— Nevertheless because this way was uncertain and troublesome and for that the Army was still in fear of want â—he thought it necessary to clear the High-ways by turning away the Water And first they thought to stop the Sluces with Planks rampar'd with Earth which would be easily done and take up but little time But the Fury of the Waves which with a wonderful Rapidness drives back the stream of Rivers when the Tyde flows in having twice carry'd away all their Toyl and Labour therefore they determin'd with great pains to drive in great Piles near the Hollowness of the Sluces thorough which the Sea rowlâ—d in and to fortiâ—ie the Piles with great Stones and throw in a vast quantity of Earth till at length the Sluces were stopp'd At the same time also that he entrench'd himself against the Enemies Forces and the Obstacles of Nature the Prince with no less Prudence provided for the Necessities of the Army He sent away out of the Camp all the Baggage Horses and a thousand of those that belong'd to the Troopers which were most harass'd to recruit themselves in the Pasturages about Calais The Forage which the Barrenness of the Place the difficulty of Carriage render'd scant was very sparingly distributed taking the pains himself to go twice a day to the place where the Forrage was Landed to see it equally shar'd At the same time he commanded Roanette to fetch the Infanâ—ry that return'd from Holland and sent Ramburâ—'s Regiment to Villequier's Post the better to secure it and for that purpose the Companies of the Garrison of Lorrain and Havre and Grammonâ—'s Regiment took Furnes Road. Those of Noirmonstier and Fâ—bert stay'd at Berghen with Directions to come in their Turns and serve in the Camp by mounting the Guards of the Trenches He also orderâ—d Sicot to bring the Polonians within the Lines In the place where he encamp'd he retain'd the Battallions of Cabree and sent the Third which Priamiski commanded to reinforce Gassion's Quarter That Nation contemns danger which their Natural Fierceness is ignorant of The Nobility however are Civil and Ingenious but Haughty as are all the rest of the Northern People Now in regard the Polanders know little what belongs to Sieges the most part of their Wars being carry'd on in the Field they came into the Camp without any conveniences for the making of Hutts Nor did the Place which was Barren enough of it self afford 'em any so that they were constrain'd like Beasts to dig themselves holes in the Sand to shelter themselves from the weather During all this variety of Labour and Toyl the Prince was up and down every where leaving nothing exempted from his Care yet still appearing with that Sedateness of Mind which was easie to be discern'd in his Countenance So that the Souldiers imitating the Example of his Chearfulness and redoubling their Labour with the same Alacrity
this Attack Arnauld having mounted the Guard in the New length by a Line of Communication joynd the two Attacks to the side of the Moat To that purpose he began after one Sapping to pierce it he orderd Bavins to be brought to fill up â—he Moat he planted one piece of Canon convenient for Battery with a Design to preserve the Trenches which running on with less room as they approach'd the Place were the more easily shot thorough by the Canon of the Enemies Defences and therefore it was the more necessary to play from the Trenches to ruine em Marsin reliev'd him with the Regiment of Persan and a Battallion of English and all that Night continu'd throwing Faggots to fill up the Moat But in regard he found it to be very broad and deep and that the Enemy annoy'd his approaches the Mines could not yet be set to the Bastion which forc'd him to facilitate the building of the Bridge which led thither to raise a new Battery The same Night Miossans with the French Guards of Gassions Brigade made an end of Lodging himself upon the Hornwork and carry'd on the Sapping to the Entrenchment which the Enemy had already opposd against him Some Hours before day Picolominy advancd along the Shoar to the Besiegers Fortification of Piles and Stakes and alarumâ—d Gassion's Quarter For he had been told that he might that way put men into Dunkirk aâ—d retreat without any danger provided he kept his design Secret and that he took the Advantage of the Night and the fall of the Tyde Now tho he knew that this Enterprize would not save the Place yet he was oblig'd to attempt it by reason of the Honour which would redound to himself either to have reinforc'd Dunkirk with Relief or to have been the only Person of all the Generals in Flanders that durst approach the Enemies Entrenchments To this purpose therefore setting forward from Newport with 500 of the best Troopers in his Army he march'd all Night in â—o good Order and with such a profound silence and his Guides had led him so directly that he had eluded the watchfulness of the French Scouts and was got to the Sâ—oâ—â—aâ—e without being discoverd There was then some hopes that he might get forward with his Menâ— But the Besiegers Foot Guard that kept a diligent watch with their Arms in their hands fir'd with that fury upon him that hâ— was forc'd to retreat Sâ— soon as the Prince had notice of the Enemies approach he presently mounted and Sallying out of the Lines with two Regiments of Horse march'd with all the speed he could above two Leagues but could not overtake ' em Picolominy galloping away full speed as judging that he should be follow'd and that he could not avoid being defeated if he gave the Prince never so little time to joyn him The Prince from this time forward assur'd of the taking of Dunkirk which only was a work of a little time and finding he should have enough left him either to reduce Dixmuyde or to fortifie Courtray for his Winter Quarters if he could but oblige Leda to surrender without prolonging his Defence to the last extremity and being desirous to spare some few days for the refreshment of his Men resolvâ—d to joyn Negotiation with force and to try if he could hasten the end of the Siege by a Conference For which purpose he wrote to the Governour of Dunkirk That having something to impant to him in reference to an Affair that concernâ—d hiâ—sâ—lf and which was of great Importance he disâ—â—d leave to send a Person of Quality to him who should farther unfold his Mind A Drummer was sent with this Letter and Leda at the same time return'd for Answer That he should look upon such a Conference as a very great Honour but that being oblig`d to give an Account of his Actions to the Council of Spain and the Generâ—ls of the Low Countries he did not judge it proper according to the Rules of Decency to admit a Person of Qualiâ—y inâ—â— hiâ— Garrison without Permission first obtain`d That it would be much better for him 〈◊〉 send â—o the Camp and that if his Highness thoughâ— it câ—â—veâ—ientâ— thâ—re should a Person attend him the next day to receive his Coâ—mands The Prince having consented to this Proâ—osal 〈◊〉 de Veere Maj. Gen. of 〈◊〉 â—s Army came the next daâ— to the Camp about ten a Clock in the Morning After the usual Complements the Prince coming close to the Matter told him That â—â—ving always had a high Esteem for Courage whereevâ—â— he met it he had never omitted any opportunity to indulge it That â—â—was hiâ— opinion that Vâ—râ—â— was to be cherish`d in an Enemy and that iâ— waâ— but â—ust for a Victor to be favourable to the vanquish`d when their Actâ—â—s deserv`d it Therefore thâ—t the Governouâ—â—nd Officers who had defended Dunkirk both deserv`d and mâ—â—ht exâ—â—ct from him all manner of civil and fair Vsage provided they did not debaâ— themselves of the means to receive it Thaâ— it was sufficient for them to have stopt him so long before a Place which he might much â—â—oner have subdu`d had any others thâ—n themselves defended it That they had already acquir`d all the Honour they could expect by the Siegeâ— that they had given absolute Satisfaction to their Reputation and therefore that it was now high time for â—em to think of their security and speedily to think of Capitulating unless they had a mind to ruine themselves That it behov`d `em to consider that the Armies of Flanders not willing to hazrrd a Rattel we esâ—parated that the Frigates of Newport were sled after a vain attempt and that the most vigorouâ— defence they could make hence forward would only delay their Destruction for some few days However that tho in this Condition they were quite out of Hopes of any Succour yet he would be so favourable to their Prowess as to suffer `em to â—â—rch out of Dunkirk with Honour But if they stay`d to the last extremity they would constrain him in despite of his own good Nature to make use of all the severity of War Veere seem`d to be surprizâ—d at the Prince`s Speech excusing himself for not returning a Reply in regard he had no power to treat return`d to the Town with a promise to inform Leda and to bring back his Answer before Night 〈…〉 there were two Conjunctures 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 the Surrender of the 〈…〉 it was that Expeâ—ience shewed them 〈…〉 to be inâ—â—usâ—ed with the Nego 〈…〉 from feaâ— and 〈…〉 ha◠〈◊〉 formerly a 〈◊〉 〈…〉 taken at the Battel where 〈…〉 y Maâ—â—â—al Guâ—breant and had 〈…〉 of his Parole For 〈…〉 afraâ—d of falling again into their 〈…〉 would have done any thing rather 〈…〉 second time Prisoner to Frâ—nce 〈…〉 he was in Dunkirk with five Re 〈…〉 Artillery of Lâ—mboy's Army and 〈…〉 that iâ— he lost those Men and his 〈…〉 and Fortune of his General upon 〈…〉 depended would
be hop'd for and which he had undertaken only to keep up the Reputation of his Party and to admonish his Generals to provide for all those Places upon which the Prince is most likely to turn his Victorious Arms after the Surrender of Dunkirk And now the time for relieving the Town being just ready to expire in the evening of the third day Veere deliver'd up into the Prince's hands all the New Town and Miossans who then commanded in his turn enter'd the Place with two Squadrons of Horse and six hundred Foot taken out of the Battalions of French Guards and the Switzers of Gassions Brigade Which done he march'd to take possession of Niâ—uport Gate of the Old Town 'T is true that Governour made some scruple of yielding up the Gate but at last being oblig'd to it by his Capitulation the Soldiers became Masters of it and there stood all the night under their Arms within a Pikes length of the Enemy The next day being the 11th of October the Garison began to march forth about Eight of the Clock in the Morning The Prince also not so much out of ostentation as to prevent Disorders and to see Leda for whom he had a high esteem plac'd himself upon the way through which they were to pass A hundred and fifty Horse appear'd first of all be-being follow'd by Lamboy's five Regiments after which came the Baggage and then the Artillery belonging to the Germans and two Pieces of the City Cannon according to the Articles the Spanish Infanâ—ry march'd after the Great Guns and a hundred and fifty Horse brought up the Reer Leda came last mounted upon a good Horse and accompanied with the Principal Officers So soon as he perceiv'd the Prince he alighted and accosted Him with a profound Respect On the other side The Prince who was also alighted from his Horse so soon as the Governour came pretty near him receiv'd him very civilly After the first Complements and a great number of Reciprocal Encomiums as the Governour was ready to retire the Prince stopp'd him and invited him to stay and see the Garison which he intended to put into Dunkirk Presently Norssmonstier who had the leading of 'em advanc'd at the head of the Battalions of French Guards of Ranzaâ—'s Brigade the Regiments of Piemont and Orleans Molonden's Switzers and Cabree's Polonians These Bodies march'd one after another and with the Foot that enter'd the day before made two thousand four hundred men of the stoutest in the Army While they march'd along and that the Prince was discoursing with the Governour the latter comparing to himself the Fortune of the Siege of Maestricht with his present Condition and the great Qualities of two famous Captains that had vanquish'd him could not chuse but admire the Prince Puissant Armies abundance of all things length of time had render'd Frederick Henry of Nassau Victorious But here the Prince with a slender Army pinch'd for want of Necessaries in a short time had by his Prudence and Courage within thirty days accomplish'd what the Hollanders were three Months bringing to pass The Garison being march'd by Leda took his leave of the Prince who order'd him the Queen 's Gens d' Armes commanded by Franquerot to conduct him to Nieuport and then made his Entry into Dunkirk He found in the Magazines a good quantity of Powder Match Bullets Arms Corn Forage and other sorts of Provision and Ammunition Upon the Fortifications several Pieces of Brass Cannon and a great number of Iron Pieces and in the Port two great Vessels three Flutes and thirteen Frigats or rather Privateers which kept the Western Seas of France in a shameful subjection it being easie by all this to see that the Besieged had store of all things necessary for their Defence and that Valour only had tam'd them Thus ended the Siege of Dunkirk at a time when all Eâ—rope had their Eyes fix'd upon the Prince But among so many Nations that beheld with astonishment the Wonders of his Life there was none but acknowledg'd that his Fortune was beneath his Virtue and his Prowess The End of the Second Book Memoirs c. The THIRD BOOK THE Siege of Dunkirk was no sooner at an end but the Duke took a Resolution to besiege Menene Nevertheless considering that the Season was too far spent to undertake that Conquest he only sent Gassion with his Army toward the Abby of Lenzi to see whether some Attempt might not be made upon Dixmude of which he had a Design to make himself Master to the end he might in those Quarters refresh some part of his men But that Enterprize not appearing feasible he set forward and encamp'd at Hondescott by reason of the abundance of Forage after he had set his men at work to repair as well as they could the Breaches of Dunkirk and strengthen'd that Place with Men and Ammunition sufficient and put in two Convoys into Courtray one of which he conducted himself through a Thousand Dangers After which having receiv'd Orders to lay up his Men in their Winter Quarters he distributed his Forces according to his Orders leading himself into Champaign that part of the Army which he commanded in Person before he join'd the Duke of Orleans The Government of Dunkirk was join'd to that of Berguen as well for that Dunkirk belongs to the Castellame of Berguen as because that time out of mind they who commanded in the lasâ— place were always Masters of the Sluce that lies at the Gates of Dunkirk and is that through which they let in the Sea to drown all the Countrey when they please And these two Governments were conferred upon Marshal Ranzau which equally surpriz'd all people in regard that no body question'd but that the Court would have cast their eyes upon Mareschal de Gassion who had so highly signaliz'd himself in the Siege of that place and who had moreover those Personal Qualities which Ranzau wanted But this was not the only vexation that mortified Gassion after the Siege of Dunkirk for out of a Capricio of his unlucky star he would needs embroil himself with the Duke of Enguien who had a great value for him and had procur'd him a Marshal's Battoon in despite of Cardinal Mazarine who had no kindness for him This hapned a little before the Armies separated and upon this occasion Gassion had taken with his own hand during the Siege an Officer one of Lamboy's Battel-Marshals whom the Duke had promis'd to restore to his Collonel and the thing had been done as the Duke desir'd but it was Gassion's Fate to embroil himself at that very instant with a Prince who till then had been his Protector and upon whose Affection depended his Good or Bad Fortune For in regard the Prisoner had his Liberty upon his Parole the Captain of the Guards could not meet with him time enough to present him to his Collonel so soon as he desiâ—'d Upon which the Collonel meeting Gassion presently aâ—ter gave
Luc did the following day and still continu'd to refresh them with all Necssaries as long as the Siege lasted During these Transactions the Prince sent back the Prince of Conty to Bourdeaux and soon found that it had been better for him to receive Miradoux on the Conditions that were offer'd him than to engage on a Siege wanting every thing as he did not so much as being certain to get any Canon However as we are often necessitated to continue calâ—ly what we have begun in a Heat he resolv'd to persist in his Enterprize to the end hoping thereby to astonish his Enemies To that end he got two Pieces of Ordnance from Agen the one a Ten and the other a Twelve Pounder with a small quantity of Balls he imagining that number sufficient to make a Breach and take the Town by Storm before Count d' Harcourt who was on his March thither could come up to him He made himself Master of some Houses prâ—tty near the Gates where those two Pieces of Ordnance were plac'd in a Battery and did a great deal of Execution in the Walls but the Balls not holding out he was forc'd to give Souldiers Money to gather up the Balls that had been shot out of the Ditches The Enemies made a pretty good Defence considering their scarcity of Ammunition and they made two Sallies with a great deal of Vigour In fine the Breach began to appear reasonable and the Wall being fallen with Houses that were adjoyning to it had made a considerable Overture but this Rubbish serv'd the Besieged instead of a new Retrenchment by reason that the top of the House where the Breach was made being fallen into the Cellar they set it on fire and retrench'd themselves on the other side in so much that this burning Cellar became a Ditch impossible to be cross'd This Obstacle stop'd the Prince who was unwilling to hazard an Attack which certainly would have discourag'd his Men and encourag'd his Enemies Therefore he resolv'd to make another Breach in a place where the Houses had no Cellars and had not fir'd above a day against it when he was inform'd that Count d' Harcourt was Marching towards him and would be the next day at Miradoux Their Forces being too unequal to hazard a Combat he was forc'd to raise the Siege and to retire to Staffort where he arriv'd without having been pursued This City is neither larger nor stronger than Miradoux but whereas Count d' Harcourt was on the other side of the Garonne and that he could only cross it at Auvilars the Prince being Master of the other side of the Country separated his Quarters supposing it was sufficient to place some near Auvilars and to Order Parties to be continually detach'd on that side to be inâ—orm'd of whatever the Enemies should undertake But he did not consider that new Forces and new Officers generally execute what is commanded them in a very different manner from those who have more Experience And this Order which would have been sufficient to secure a Camp was like to ruin the Prince and to expose him to the shame of being surpriz'd and defeated by reason that none of the Parties that were Commanded follow'd his Orders but instead of getting Intelligence of Count d' Harcourt's Motions they fell a pillaging the Neighbouring Villages in so much that he cross'd the River and march'd in Battalia in the middle of the Prince's Quarters and came within a quarter of a League of the place where he was before any Alarm was given or he receiv'd the least Notice of it Finally some Men that had been pursu'd having brought him this News with the usual Consternation on such Occasions he mounted on Horse-back follow'd bâ— Marsin the Duke de la Rochefoucault and the Marquess of Montespan to observe the Enemies Designs but before he had gone five hundred Yards he saw that their Squadrons detach'd themselves in order to attack his Quarters In this Extremity he immediately sent Orders to his farthest Quarters â—o get on Horse-back and to joyn his Infantry which was encamp'd under Staffort the which he caus'd to March to Boüe there to cross the Garonne in Boats and to retire to Agen. He sent all his Baggage to St. Mary's having left a Captain and Threescore Musqueteers at Staffort with a Piece of Canon which he could not carry along with him Count d' Harcourt made no better use of this Advantage than he had done before at Tonâ—y-Charante and at St. Andras for instead of pursuing the Prince and of falling upon him in the disorder of a Retreat he made without Horse being moreover constrain'd â—o cross the Garonne to secure himself he stopt to Invest that Quarter which was nearest to Staffort call'd Le Pergan where three or four Hundred Horse of the Prince's and the General 's Guards were lodg'd and thus allow'd him twelve or thirteen hours of which he employ'd the best part at Bâ—â—â— in causing his Men to cross the River in the greatest Disorder imaginable in so much that had they been attack'd they had certainly been cut to piecesâ— Sometime after the Prince's Arrival at Agen with all his Infantâ—y some Squadrons appear'd on the other side of the River which were advanc'd in order to take some Baggage which was ready to cross the River but they were repuls'd with vigour by 60 Horse of the Regiment of Monâ—â—span which afforded time enough to some Boats fill'd with Musqueteers to cross over to them and to force the Enemies to retire That very day the Prince receiv'd Intelligence that his Horse was arriv'd at St. Mary without having fought or lost any part of his Equipage and that his Guards defended themselves still in Le Pergan where it was impossible to succour them The next day they yielded themselves Prisoners of War and that was the only Advantage Count d' Harcourt drew from an Occasion in which his Fortune and the Negligence of the Prince's Men had offer'd him an entire Victory These ill Successes were soon follow'd by the Sedition of Agen the which oblig'd the Prince to turn his greatest hopes towards Paris and to make it the Seat of War as I shall relate in the sequel The War was maintain'd in Guienne much more through the Vigilance and Reputation of the Prince of Conde than by the Valour and Number of his Forces and Count d' Harcourt by his Conduct and Fortune had already repair'd all the disadvantage which the Marquess of St. Luc's Defeat at Miradoux had occasion'd The Siege of Miradoux was rais'd The Prince of Conde's Guards and three or four Hundred Horse had been taken at le Pergan and the Prince of Conde himself with the rest of his Forces had been constrain'd to quit Sâ—affort and to cross the River Garonne at Boüe and to retire at Agen But the Divisions of that City soon made that Prince sensible that it would no longer remain in his Party than while constrain'd to it by his Presence or
main Causes of its Ruine by an Act of Violence which was like to have destroyed all those that chanc'd to be in â—he Town-House or Hostel de Ville and made the Prince lose all the advantages he had gain'd by the Battle of St. Anthony I cannot tell who was the Author of so pernicious a Design all having equally disown'd it but in fine while the Assembly was held a Croud of all manner of Men in Arms appeaâ—'d at the Town-House Gates crying That they should not only do all things according to the Prince's Mind but moreover that they should instantly deliver all those that were Cardinal Mazarin's Friends At first this Noise was only look'd upon as an ordinary effect of the Common People's Impatience but seeing that the Croud and Tumult increas'd and that not only the Souldiers but even the Officers were concern'd in the Riot the Gates being set on fire and the Windows shot at all the Members of the Assembly thought themselves equally undone Many of them to avoid the Fire expos'd themselves to the Fury of the People and abundance of Persons of all Qualities and of all Parties were kill'd It was generally believ'd that the Prince had sacrific'd his Friends in order not to be suspected of having destroy'd his Enemies The Duke of Orleance was not in the least suspected of having any share in that Business the Odium and Hatred thereof being wholly cast upon the Prince of Conde As for my part I am of Opinion that both of them had employ'd the Duke of Beaufort in it to frighten such Members of that Assembly as were not on their side tho' at the same time I am perswaded that neither of them had the least Intention of hurting any body However they soon appeas'd the Disorder but they could not race out the Impression it had made in the Peoples Mind Afterwards it was propos'd to create a Council compos'd of the Duke of Orleance of the Prince of Conde the Chancellor of France the Princes Dukes and Peers Marshals of France and General Officers of the Party Two Presidents a Mortier were to assist at it from the Parliament the Lord Mayor or Provost des Merchands from the City to Judge definitively and without Appeal of all Military Causes and whatever related to the Government of the City This Council augmented the Disorder instead of diminishing it about the Pretentions of the Rank that was to be held in it the sequel of which as well as of the Assembly prov'd very Fatal for the Dukes of Nemours and of Beaufort being already at oâ—ds about past differences or about some Ladies quarrel'd about Precedency in the Council and 〈◊〉 with Pistols the Duke of Nemours was kill'd by the Duke of Beaufort his Brother-in-law All those who knew that Prince were mov'd with Grief and Compassion at his Death even the Publick had cause to lament him for besides his great and lovely Qualifications he contributed as much as in him lay to promote a Peace and both he and the Duke de la Rochefoucault hâ—d relinquish'd the Advantages the Prince was oblig'd to procure them by the Treaty in order to facilitate the Conclusion thereof But the Death of the one and the Wound of the other afforded the Spaâ—iards and Madame de Longueville's Friends all the Liberty they could desire to draw the Prince away They now suppos'd it would be easie â—o perswade the Prince to go into Flanders they dazled him with hopes and Madame de Chatillon seem'd to appear less Charming to him because he no longer found an Illustrious Rival to Combat in her Heart However he did not at first reject the Propositions of a Peace but taking his measures to continue the War he offer'd the Duke of Nemours's Employment to the Duke de la Rochefoucault who coâ—ld not accept it by reason of his Wound for which Reason he gave it afterwards to the Prince of Tarente Paris was more divided at that time than ever it had been The Court daily gain'd Ground in the Parliament and among the People the Murder committed at the Town-House having struck every body with Horror The Army durst not keep the Field and their abode in Paris exasperated the People the more against the Prince In â—ine his Affairs were reduc'd to the greatest Extremity when the Spaniards who were equally desirous of preventing his Ruin and his Elevation in order to perpetuate the War caus'd the Duke of Lorrain to March to Paris for the second time with a sufficient Body to stop the King's Army Nay moreover he kept it invested at Villeneuve St. George and sent word to Paris that the Enemies would be constrain'd to come to a Battle or to starve in their Camp This hope flatter'd the Prince and he imagin'd he should draw great Advantages from the Event of that Action although in reality the Marshal of Turenne never wanted Provisions nor the Liberty of retiring to Melun withouâ— hazarding a Combat He did it accordingly without meeting any Opposition whilst the Duke of Lorrain was gone to Paris where the Prince lay sick of a Fever Palluau's Forces at that time joyn'd the King's Army after having taken Montrond The Marquess of Persan had been block'd up in it from the beginning of the War by Count Palluau with an inconsiderable Army But when the Garrison was weaken'd by Hunger and Diseases he attack'd it by Force and took it with less Resistance than could be expected from such brave Men in one of the strongest Places in the World had nothing been wanting in it The loss thereof prov'd so much the more sensible to the Prince by reason that it was occasion'd by his Neglect since he might easily have succour'd Montrond whilst the King's Army was towards Compiegne whereas his Forces in ruining the Country round about Paris increas'd the Inhabitants Hatred against him The Prince was neither happier nor better serv'd in Guienne where the Division between the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess of Longueville serv'd for a Pretence to those who had a mind to quit his Party Several Cities following the Example of Agâ—â— had open'd their Gates to the King's Forces and the Inhabitants of Perigueux had stabb'd their Governoâ—r and driven out the Garrison Villeneuve â— ' Agenois in which the Marquess of Terbon had thâ—own himself was the only place that resolv'd to defend it self and it was done with so much Vigour 〈◊〉 Count d' Harcourt was forc'd to raise the Siege He did not tarry long in Guienne after that small Disgrace and whether he was really diffident of the Court or that he thought that making himself Master of Brisac Philipsburg and Alsatia he should lay the Foundation of a certain and independent Establishment he went away from his Army like a Man who dreaded his being made a Prisoner in it and repair'd to Philipsburg with all the speed imaginable During these Transactions the Prince of Conde's Ilness increas'd yet tho' it was very violent it
their Winter Quarters At last he return'd to Court having in one Summer gain'd a Famous Battâ—l won a Town of great Importance and carry'd a considerable Reinforcement into Germany The Battel of Rocroy was attended with several other Conquests but chiefly with the taking of Tâ—â—â—nville the reducing of which place was of extraordinary Moment For it was a place that secur'd Mets and the Pays Messin from the Incursions of â—uxemburgh it made the French Masters of the Moselle it assâ—rd a Communication between France and the Electorate of Treves which it behov'd the French to be no less chary of then of their own Country by reason of the Elector who with an extraordinary Zealâ— and incredible Resolution had espous'd the Interests of France And lastly it was a Barricado for the French between Luxemburgh and the Lower Palatinate where the Spaniards were then powerful Cardinal Mazarin had a long time had it in his Head to attempt this Siege for the Reasons alledg'd He had caus'd it to be twice propos'd to Lewis the XIII by Marshal de â— Hospital who was much in his Favour But the Design would never take in his Life time However the King was no sooner Dead but the Cardinal proposd the same thing to the Queen who seeing the Success of the Battel of Rocroy surrender'd her self wholly to the Cardinals Counsels and withstood the open Opposition and secret Thwartings which lay iâ— her way in reference to the design of this Siege which others would by no means have to go forward because most People believ'd that the Cardinal was sway'd by a Spirit of Jealousie and that because he began to suspect the growing Favour and Glory of the Duke of Engâ—ien his main end was that he should miscarry before Thionvilâ—â— However it were ever after this Campagne the Duke was lookâ— upon as a great Captain no less formidable in Sieges then in Battels And here observe one thing in a Young Victorious Prince no less great then the Victory it self The Court which had prepar'd against his Arrival those Applauses which he deserv'd was surpriz'd at his manner of receiving of 'em as if he had been insensible of the Honour which they did him He rejected their Encomiumsâ— as if they had been affronts and as one indocible to Flattery he gave them to understand that he was afraid even of the shadow of it Such was the Niceness or rather the Solidity of this Prince In like manner he observ'd this for a Maxim that it was for a Person of Honour only â—o mind well-doing and to let Glory follow Vertue While these things were transacting in Flanders the Queen turns out of Favour those who had had the greatest share in the management of Affairs The Bishop of Beauvoise who had been in Credit was enforc'd to retire to his Diocess Desâ—uyers and Chavigny were excluded and Mazarine taken into the chief Ministry The Queen who was willing to shew that 't was none of her fault that the War between France and Spain was not brought to a Conclusion by fair and moderate ways gave ear to the Propositions of Peace that were made her and to that Effect the Court appointed two â—lenipotentiaries the Counts lâ— Avâ—â—â—â— de Serviers with Orders forthwith to repair to Munster where the Peace was to be negoâ—â—â—â—ed But certain Broyles that happen'd between the Swedes and Danes prevented the good Success of that Assembly which was the reason that nothing more was thought of but to make the best of the Advantages they had gaind upon the Spaniards Flandeâ—s therefore was to be the Theatre of the Warâ— during the Campaigne of the next Year 1644. and the Command of the Army was given to the Duke of Orleans who designâ—d to Pesiege Gravelin Now in regard that Prince had no mind that his Enterprize should be known he divided his Army into three Bodies The Marshal de Meilleray as Lieutenant General commandd one part with Orders to enter Flanders on that Side next Amâ—ens the Count of Ranzaw commanded another part as Sub-Lieutenant General with Instructions to enter on that Side next to Abbeville And as â—or the Duke he reserv'd a longer March for himself and the most hazardous that is to say through Peronne and Bapaume where the Marshal Gassion who commanded a separate Body was to join him And in regard there were several Forts that might obstruct the Siege of Gravelin Gassion after he had laid a Bridge over the River Aa posâ—est himself of Bajetteâ— Afterwards the Forts of La Capelle and St. Folquin were taken in to faciliâ—ate the great Work In a Word Gravelin was besiegd the Town was taken and the French made themselves Masters of Sas de Gand and of all the Forts that could impede their Entrance into Flanders Now at the same time the Duke of Orleance was acting in Flanders the Duke of Enguien Signaliz'd himself in Germany whether he was gone to Succour Friburgh which the Bavarians had besieg'd To which purpose he order'd his Forces to March with all the speed imaginable but all his haste prov'd Fruitless For that City was in so bad a Condition to hold out that it was Surrender'd before he arriv'd However this Accident which the Duke did never expect no way disheartend him for since he could not relieve the Town he was now in hopes to join and Fight the Enemy and no less confident of Victory He had no Design however to retake the Place nor to force the Imperialists for that his Forces were not strong enough to undertake those Enterprizes But he thought he might repair himself by a Battel for the Loss of a Town which he had not time to rescue The Design was great and hazardous and there was something more formidable that presented it self to his Eyes then at Rocroy He had not only to Fight against Men but inaccessible Mountains against Innundations and Precipices on the one Side on the other against an impenetrable Wood at the bottom of which was a large Bogg against Rivers and Prodigious Entrenchments against Forts rais'd up and down in every Place against Timber Trees cut down and laid athwart most deep and dreadful Roads and in a Word against one of the Greatest Captains of the Age. Nevertheless not all these Obstacles together were sufficient to daunt this Youthful Hero Nothing would content him but a Battel wherein he prov'd Victorious tho the Victory was not so considerable for the Number of the Slain as for the Importance of the Conquests that ensu'd For the Field of Battel as barren as it was in appearance was worth whole Provinces to France through the Conduct of this General so well he understood to make the best of his Advantages Which is that we are going to make out by the following Relation of the Campaign of Friburg The Battel of Rocroy and the taking of Thionville had restor'd the Reputation of the Arms of France in the Low-Countries