Queen for Compeigne left St. Germain in Laye and went and lay at the Louvre in Paris Monsieur de Montal who had all the night been upon the Watch expecting that the Enemy should attaque his Out-works or open their Trenches was frustrated in his expectation for betimes in the morning Count Marsin sent away all his Wool-packs Baskets and Sacks to put Earth in together with twenty pieces of Canon and two Morter-pieces to be carryed back to Namur The 22. their Majesties went and lay at Verberye which is a great Village almost in the mid way between Senles and Compeigne At last the Enemies rais'd their Siege and about day-break all their Troops both Dutch and Spanish discamp'd and march'd off the Hollanders going by the ways of Marchienes-au-pont and Fontaine-l'Evesque towards Binche which they attaqu'd as they came from the Siege of Charleroy and the Spaniards towards ..... where the Prince of Orange Count Marsin and some other Generals met and afterwards march'd towards Rennel Viennotte and other places and then departed every one to their several Quarters and among the rest Fifteen hundred Foot and some Horse which had been drawn out of Maestricht return'd thither The 23. Their Majesties arriv'd at Compiegne which the King intended to leave and pass on further according as he should hear from the Courriers but those who arriv'd that night bringing news of the Enemies retreat made him change his mind but being likewise told of the Hollanders sitting down before Binche he resolved to stay there till he could further see into their designs The 24 25 and 26 their Majesties rested at Compiegne and talk'd not of stirring thence because of the return of the Dutch Forces to Binche their Majesties were not willing to go back thence till the Dutch were retir'd from before that place which at last they did after having beat down the Gates of it as a mark of their fury The 27 whilst the Hollanders venter'd their last stake before Binche the Duke of Luxembourg left Vtreeht taking with him Two thousand Horse and all the Foot he could make and went to Woerden where he would not stay but made his Men march on all night intending to set upon Bodengrave which was the Hollanders refuge to which they us'd to retire when ever they had ill success as to an assur'd place of safety So that the next day in spight of the Thaw the Snow the Bogs and Canales in which he many times had like to have been lost with his whole Army he came in good time to a Village call'd Wells where the Enemy was quarter'd and had cast up two Intrenchments which he easily forc'd with the loss of one only Soldier who was kill'd by one of five or six shots which they made before they betook themselves to their heels From thence marching along a Dike which made his march much easier then it had been hitherto he met with six hundred more at a Village call'd Swammerdam where they were entrench'd in all the Houses from the windows of which they were very liberal of their shot and port-holes for Canon which were many He attaqued them at two several places at one of which the Count de Saulx chief Brigadier of the Army commanded in chief and at the other the Marquis de Moussy And because there were two Bridges to pass which were guarded by the Enemy the Soldiers of their own accord without being commanded leaped into the Water and waded through it to beat them down shewing in such a voluntary action much of their courage and zeal and so much the more in that the Enemy made a very resolute opposition to their Designs insomuch that they had like to be worsted had they not been seconded by a party that was drawn out to that purpose and advanc'd to skirmish the Enemy which they perform'd so well that they forc'd them to retire into the Houses of the Village to their Companions where the Count de Saulx got almost as soon as they and notwithstanding all their Shot forc'd the Doors of all those Houses and made himself master of them The Duke of Luxembourg immediatly commanded them all to be fired not sparing so much as that of the Prince of Orange in which many Men Goods and Cattel were burn'd to be reveng'd of him for assaulting the Castle of Marimont one of the Kings Houses of Pleasure which had been yielded him at the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle After so many Toils Perils and so much Execution done one would have thought it would have been but reasonable to give the Soldiery a little rest and truly had they desired it they could not in reason have been denyed it But it is to be admired that the Soldiers march'd on of their own accord till they came to Bodengrave where they found not that resistance which they expected for the Count Koningsmark had quitted it with all his Troops At Compeigne their Majesties being certified of the Prince of Orange's retreat resolv'd to return to St. Germains The 29. Orders were given at Compeigne for their Majesties departure and preparations made to set forward on the 31. The Duke of Luxembourg who staid awhile at Bodengrave to give his brave Soldiers a little rest and refreshment found himself necessitated to march on yet further for being inform'd that some of those whom he had routed the day before had not dar'd to stay at Niverburg and by their fright so infected all those that kept the Garrison which was most advant giously fortifyed that they had all forsaken it he thought himself oblig'd to march thither where at his coming he found no living soul only 21 pieces of Canon 8 of Iron and 13 of Brass fell into his hands which he sent to Bodengrave to be secur'd by his Foot which were left there the Horse and Dragoons having been all left at Woerden After this the Prince of Orange took his way homewards having had as ill success in Flanders and the Country of Liege as in Holland And because Monsieur de Duras lay between Tongres and Charleroy and had possest all the ways by which the Prince was to return he was forc'd to go a great way about to avoid meering any of the French Forces which he dreaded above all things The 31. their Majesties left Compiegne about 9 in the Morning and came that night to Senlis from whence they went on the first of January 1673. after the Queen had been at her Devotions and lay that night at the Louvre in Paris from whence they went to St. Germain en Laye FINIS
the Country of Cleve defended by a Citadel whose fortifications are all of earth without any other facing We were saluted in our passage by at least 100 great Guns and thence pass'd to Cleves where our Army was victualled gratis It is the capital City of the whole Province but is a place of no defence Afterwards we encamped a quarter of an hours riding from that City by a park which belongs to a House of pleasure of the Duke of Brandebourg The ninth was wholly spent in passing the Kings Army from the left to the right side of the Rhine The town of Rees quite spent and wearied out by our Canon from the Fort brought in her Keys and yeilded as the rest had done Rees is a fair great Town situate on the right side of the Rhine 3 leagues below Burick and Wezel and 2 leagues above Emerick It is strengthned by a good Fort of its own name separated from it only by the Rhine whose waters on the right side wash the walls of the Town and on the left those of the Fort. This Town is very great her fortifications very compleat and good It hath good Bastions Horn-works Half-Moons well strengthn'd with good Pallissados large ditches and covered ways all very regular In fine when M. de Turenne enter'd the Fort he told them that were near him that their friends that knew Reés and heard they laid Siege to it would certainly be very much concern'd for them and thereupon having sent for the sieur Paul a Flemming Engineer to ask his opinion of it he answered him that if any body would have an excellent Model of a regular Fortification they need not seek it any where else but might take it from Rees and its Fort which is a Pentagone whose outworks were a little out of repair but within there was a Redout which they call the Castle which is very well and in good case It is separated from the Body of the Fort by a great flat broad ditch which is deeper then it is broad over which there is a little Draw-bridge and a good Gate on the other side and a high rampart well pallissado'd and Gabioon'd which at each corner hath two little Horn-works which flank upon the bridge and ditch At the same time M. the Prince advanced towards Emerick which made no resistance the Dutch having withdrawn their Garrison some days before Emerick is a pleasant town seated on the right side of the Rhine a league above that place where the river divides and makes the Rhine with its right branch and the Wahal with its left T is a reasonable good town and its fortifications that are all of earth are well enough maintained However the Dutch some few days before the Princes arrival withdrew themselves and quitted their Garrison either because they thought it could not endure a Siege or for some other reason that I am ignorant of cannot imagine what it should be for since that time we have taken several Towns not so strong as that wherein they had made very good Garrisons That morning M. de Turenne with some Officers and a small Guard went to take a view of Skinksconce and came so near as to be within hearing of the Garrison from whom we received about 40 musket and several Canon shot but they did no execution Thereupon having learned the retreat of the enemy we returned back and joyned with the rest of the Army near the Fort of Reés in the mid way between Calcar and another place called Hompel The same day M. the Prince advanced above Skinksconce the Rhine lying between him and it and discovered the enemy on the other side guarding that passage In the mean time the Dragoons of the Colonel Regiment were commanded to attaque Demecum but that place held out so little a while that they had time enough to come back and share the Glory of that passage that was made two days after The 10 his Majesty came to Reés we stayed with M. de Turenne's Army where we received the news of the taking of Grol by the Bishop of Munsters Forces That Town if not the strongest and most considerable that the Hollanders were masters of was yet of great consequence to them as lying on the Frontiers of Germany and being excellently well seated on which account t was fortified by Charles the Fifth It hath five Bastions fair and good Ramparts besides a great ditch that cannot easily be emtied by reason of the river Sling that discharges it self into it The 11 his Majesty being advised that M. the Prince intended to swim the Rhine and endeavour to force the enemy from the other side though they appear'd to be considerably strong resolved to be present in person at that Enterprise which never had any equal nor attended with like success and as it were divest himself for some time of his Title and Dignity to share with his Soldiers under the quality of a Feild-Marshal or private person the honour of a day that was almost to decide the fortune of all Holland To this intent he left his Army in their Quarters and having taken with him his house Guard and 2000 loose horse he incamped on the side of the River on the right hand of Tolhuys a small Fort about a league below Skinksconce in the Isle of Betaw The enemy that lay intrench'd on the other side in number about three or four thousand gave fire and skirmished all that day We on our side caused some Foot to advance whilst we raised a battery of five peices of Canon In the mean time the Army of M. de Turenne approached to pass over the Rhine over against Reés on a float of wood who after he had convayed over his Majesty with his Army and the baggage to Wezel came down to do the like with his own Army but the water being low and no great wind stirring they encamped at Nerdmormter and began not to pass till the evening and so the foot continued to pass all night and afterwards the horse The 12 in the morning his Majesty having expressed he should be glad to have the passage of Tolbuys sounded to try if it were not too deep before they ventured on it M. the Count de Guiche went immediately and sounded it himself Thereupon command was given to horse and his Majesty vext to see the enemy pretend a desire to engage and not being able to endure those outward signs that were so contrary to their inclinations without staying to draw up and not considering whether his Guards Gendarmes and light horse were present or no who were to make the first onset having found the Cuirassiers near at hand he commanded them to fling themselves into the water and cross the river which they did so briskly that the poor M. the Marquis de la Salle whom they happened to meet in their way received from them five or six dangerous wounds as if he had been a Hollander for indeed they took
him for one though he was clothed after the French mode and had a white scarf on Monsieur the Count de Guiche was at the head of them and did all that a good Captain and a brave Soldier could have done on the like occasion The Forces of his Majesties house were commanded to pass next and to swim the river which they immediately did with so much courage and resolution as struck a terrour into the Enemy They were followed by a great number of Volunteers and immediately our Canon began to play as also did that of the Enemy In the mean time General Wurts Commander of the Troops that guarded the passage being a stout and well experienced Captain marched at the head of the first squadron and caused them to advance into the water up to their Horses bellies having given order to all the rest to follow him into the river some on the right and some on the left hand The first squadron advanced with resolution and made a brisk discharge at which M. the Count de Nogent Feild-Marshal to that Army a person of a brave and daring spirit received a wound in his head which made him sink into the water where he was unfortunatly drown'd But the following squadrons that had orders to enter the river not daring to run that hazard stayed in the rear of the former and by that means gave liberty to our men to pass both on the right and the left wing and at the same time to come upon them on the flank In the mean time the Dragoons being impatient also to cross the river though having had no order they did not dare to do it advanced part of them into the water that they might skirmish more commodiously and never ceased giving fire At length the Dutch took the rout and the Commander himself that had enter'd so briskly into the water was forced to consult his own safety by flight For having comforted his men and told them that no Nation but ours was capable of such bold enterprises and that nothing would be able to resist us trusted his life and his honour to his Horses feet and at length made his escape after he had fled a league or two and suffered a continual loss of his men in the pursuit During this time the Generals and Monsieur the Prince himself having past the river the Enemies Foot that could not take the same course that the Horse had done and had nothing to hope for but death or mercy began to mollify and M. de Longueville with the Duke and other Volunteers were coming up to them But M. the Prince observing the Enemy to yeild and fearing the youthfull heat of the young Gentlemen would produce some bad effect run up crying they would cause his son to be killed and having made all possible hast he came up to the trenches as soon as the rest and cryed out to the Enemy they were all Rogues and if they shot once more he would have them all hanged His threats made them all lay down their arms and cry out in their own Language Kartyr Kartyr But the misfortune was that M. de Longueville not taking notice of what had past and desiring to free that Post found a passage too soon and falling upon the first Officer that he met kill'd him on the place and upon the confused noise he heard of Kartyr which the Enemy demanded he gave a sign with his hand and cryed no Quarter being immediatly followed by all his men that were then present Thereupon the Enemy despairing of their lives betook themselves again to their arms and gave one shot more which proved a very fortunate one to them for at it the sieur de Longueville M. de Guitry Grand Master of the Kings Wardrobe M. d'Aubusson the Marquis de Tasse nephew to Monsieur the Marshal de la Force and the Count de Theobon were killed upon the place Several others also were wounded amongst which were M. the Duke de Coistin and M. de Vivonne M. the Prince de Marsillac M. the Count de Saulx the last in the face and the arm after he had been ingaged in the general and a single Combat For having gone too far in the pursuit of the Enemy he found himself alone with one of their Officers who put himself upon his guard and wounded the Count in his face M. de Brouilly dyed in a short time of his wounds M. de Termes was also wounded and M. the Count de Revel received a wound on his arm and another of a musket shot in his thigh M. de Beringhen was shot through the breast The other persons of note that were wounded were the Marquis de Beauveau de Mont-revert de Beaumont de S. Arnoul and which was worst of all Monsieur the Prince had his left arm broke at the wrist which accident did much retard and lessen his Majesties Conquests for his name alone made the Enemy tremble and they began not to make resistance till they had learnt the news of his mishap considering too that from that time Monsieur de Turenne was obliged to command in his place and to join the Troops of his own Army with those of the King so that of three Armies there remained now but two The enemies also on their side lost in this rencounter three or four hundred men that were killed upon the place besides a great numâ—eâ— that were taken prisoners After all this â—laughter the Forces of the Kings Hâ—use draw up on the edge of the Rhine and the sâ—de of the Island and quartered at Bihâ—vaâ— Thâ— Aâ—ny that had hitherto been commanded by Monsieur de Turenne continued all day passing the Rhine over against Rees and were all over that night The thirteenth the Bridge of Boats that had been making the day before was finished and the Army of M. the Prince began at break of day to march over with M. de Turenne who from that time commanded alwaies in the place of his Highness When they were all over they pillaged Tolhuys a plain Castle with one great Tower guarded only by a ditch and a wall but being seated within a musket shot of the river near the passage a hundred looss horse that had been drawn out of the Fort of Schain to secure that Castle had time enough to give two volleys of musket shot and discharge twice or thrice a peice of Canon that carried eighteen pound bullet charged with cartridges before we could get over and come up to them and afterwards they had the conveniency to retire before our coming because M. the Count de Guiche who was the first that passed had busied himself in pursuit of the horse and M. the Prince of the foot as was said before We found in this Castle store of fair and good Moveables some persons also that had retired thither in hope that we would not have attacqued Holland about this Isle but have passed directly on to Yssel where the Prince of
Orange and the Count Maurice were both with their Armies After the pillage of this Castle Monsieur de Turenne marched on close after the Enemy a party of which he overtook and found breaking a bridge upon the Channel that runs from Arnhem to Nimegen over which we must necessarily pass These men though but a small party had a mind to finish their enterprise perhaps because they thought they might be seconded with the rest of the Army that was not gone far but having skirmish'd a little with the Vanguard the Dragoons lighting of their horses set upon them so vigourously that they gave them the rout and forced them into Arnhem And finding themselves well enough at the end of a bridge that lyes over the Rhine and reaches from this Town to the Isle of Betau they lodged there maugre the Canon and musket shot of the Enemy that fortunately killed more horses then men His Majesty having call'd a Council before the departure of M. de Turenne as soon as it was ended began to march towards Emerick to joyn with his Army which all this time lay in their Quarters at Reés The Army also that had been commanded by M. de Turenne came thither likewise and made up one body with that of the King The Troops that had followed his Majesties two days before and those of his own House did the like M. the Duke of Monmouth natural Son to the King of England arrived the same day at the Camp at Emerick with 7000 foot that were all brisk and active men Monsieur the Cardinal de Bouillon that day consecrated anew the great Church of Reés The 14th his Majesty rested with his whole Army at the Camp of Emerick After dinner he visited M. the Prince who the day before had caused himself with the rest that were wounded to be removed into this Town and at his return took a view of the Duke of Monmouths Forces Monsieur de Turenne seeing his affaires so well advanced before Arnhem resolved to lay siege to it and thereupon having taken a view of it and taken up his Quarters he sammoned the Town In the mean while that no time might be lost M. the Count du Plessis employed some men about repairing the boats that the Enemies had began to break as being necessary for our passage but in that action he was killed with a Canon shot to the great regret of the whole Army The Dragoons which were much incommoded by a guard of the Enemy placed in a redoubt on the other side of the river were resolved to venture the passage which after orders were given they performed with so much resolution and success as struck a terrour into the Town whereupon the Burghers began to mutiny and at length forced the Garrison to leave of firing The Fame of General Wurts defeat and of our entrance into Betaw was not long a spreading and the noise of it no sooner came to the ears of the Prince of Orange who with his Army guarded the passage of Yssel but the Enemy being daunted with the news thought of nothing but a retreat which was done in so great hast as terrified all the places through which they passed In the mean time M. de Turenne ordered 150 horse under the command of a Captain of the horse of Condé to swim the river and to fall on their rear Guard that passed pretty near Arnham The Enemy little expecting this attaque as thinking themselves secured by the River were so surprised at this assault that the Guard of the Baggage abandoned it all to those few horse who made themselves masters of it at their leasure and returned loaded with so great a booty that they had enriched themselves by it though they had not joyned to it the two other of which they had also the spoile which amounted to no less then fourty thousand Francks The same day M. the Cardinal de Bouillon consecrated anew the great Church of Emerick The 15. The Kings Army rested and His Majesty took a view of it after dinner Upon the Summons that M. de Turenne had given to Arnhem the Citizens began to mutiny and threatned the Garrison to cut all their Throats if they fired any more whereupon they came and demanded Articles but M. de Turenne sent them to the King and immediatly marched away with the greatest part of his Army to besiege Knotzembourg otherwise called the Fort of Nimigen because it is seated on the right side of the Wahal directly opposite to that great Town that lies on the left hand He arrived thither time enough to open his Trenches that Evening it being but three little Leagues from Arnhem That Night we worked with so much success as to lodge our selves on their Counterscarpe by which we became Masters of their covered way but not without some difficulty and the loss of several Men for they defended themselves from the Fort very briskly and gave continual fire from the Town besides three Boats each of them provided with 8 10 or 12 pieces of Canon came round and fired at us with full Charges at about thirty paces distance During all that Night there was fired so great a number of Canon-shot that those that heard it from Emerick where His Majesties Army lay could not imagine where so continual a noise should be made but from another place where the noise could not plainly be heard one would have thought they had been Musket-shot and only an engagement of some Foot The 16. His Majesty early in the Morning parted with all His Army from Emerick and encamped at Latem upon the River Yssell or rather the Channel of Drusus A branch of this River that runs from Arnhem to Doesburg is a Channel that communicates between the Rhine and the Yssel which was made by Drusus in the time of the Romans whence 't is called the Channel of Drusus or the Drusian Ditch In the mean time we advanced to Zevenaer a small Town that hath no other Fortification but its Ramparts so that we made our selves Masters of it without any great difficulty Presently after that M. the Count de l' Orge and M. the Marquis de Ranes had command to pass the Yssel the one with 4000 Horse and the other with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons to take the places that lie before Doesburg which immediatly they did But the Deputies of Arnhem having came to the King and brought the Keys of their Town without Conditions His Majesty in the Afternoon gave order to the M. de Ranes to go with his Dragoons to take possession of the Town M. the Marquis de Louvois went thither also and the Inhabitants had granted them a freedom of their Religion with all their Priviledges but the Garrison were made Prisoners of War and disarmed to the number of 3000 Foot and 200 Horse which were very sufficient to have defended the place The Dragoons were hardly masters of the Gates when 200 Bores that came to the Garrison with
was discover'd and he withal gave notice of his coming which was but ill news for the new Conqueror who by this means was not like to wear his Laurel long Hereupon the Townsmen began to change their note and declar'd they would not suffer themselves to be plundered by us and therefore bid the Governor shift for himself which he could no otherwise do then by sending to desire a Pass from M. Chamilly that he might come and capitulate with him which he did and was suffer'd to return again to the Busse with his 100 Horse he mentioned not the Foot in the capitulation which he thought was so far behind that he might easily give them notice to retire homewards and none of us the wiser But to their misfortune he was out in his calculation for M. de Joyeuse met with them who though he had then with him but a small party of the Brigade of Horse which he commands the rest being gone before under command of the Marquis de Tury to recover the Town he fell upon them so furiously that they had only time to make one discharge at us In this Encounter most of the Enemy were kill'd and the rest taken so that there hardly escap'd one to carry home the bad news we got at this bout 33 Colours The night that follow'd and the sixth day there hapned a Fire in the Kings Quarters which began in the Duke of Monmouth's House and burnt down together with some others the damage the Duke had by it was computed to amount to 100000 Crowns The fire reached the Kings Stable and destroyed many Horses and their harness and at last grew so dreadful that the King was forced to rise least the fire should also come to his Appartment many of his Pages having had their cloths burnt We heard of the ill success of Monsieur de Nancrud's attempt upon Ardemburg which had faild by his guides and spies saults these having misinform'd and the other misled him The Particulars of that business were as follows Word was brought to him that the Garrison was both very small and also negligent which made him resolve to try if he could surprize it and to that purpose he order'd his march so as to arrive before the Place at midnight with a design to attaque it in four several places at once but it so happen'd his Guides either not being sufficiently acquainted with the Country or mistaking their way in the dark that his whole party met at the same place and so were forc'd to make their attaque all on one side of the Town which being perform'd very couragiously they beat out the Enemy and gained a half Moon which Post designing greater things they cared not to secure from the Enemy's shot but day at last begining to break the Enemy who had receiv'd supplies from Sluice now made more vigorous resistance and having discover'd our men who lay leuel and open to their shot kill'd many of them so that they were forc'd to retire with loss of 1000 or 1200 men The Marquis de Ranes went to Isselstaing and Monfort leading thither some Dragoons to reinforce those Garrisons The same day about evening the King came to visit Vtrecht and he was scarce gone thence when the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington Embassadors from the King of England arriv'd hoping to have found his Majesty there to whom they were sent by the King their Master The 7 the Duke of Buckingham and the Earl of Arlington went from Vtrecht to the Camp at Zeist where the King presently gave them Audience after which a Courier was dispatch'd to the King of England who was mightily sollicited by the Dutch Ministers to a Peace The Enemy came and attaqu'd Oudwater and beat back our horse Guard after having killed 5 or 6 of them with the like loss on their side but the Alarm being streight given to Monsieur de Rochefort he presently went to their assistance as did also the Marquis de Ranes with his Regiment Royal of Dragoons but they at their arrival found the Enemy retir'd so that all these supplies kept a guard all that night upon the Place The Musqueteers who ever since the surrender of Vtrecht had been either within the Town to secure it or encamp'd just before it with Monsieur de Rochesorts Army return'd now to the Kings Camp at Zeist a part of whose Guard they were The three Bataillons of the Regiment of Guards which the Duke de Roannez had with him in the same place did the like and in their stead were sent thither one Bataillon of the Kings and another of the Queens Regiment the Regiment of Castelnan the Royal Regiment de la Marine and that of Suitzers whose Colonel is the Sieur Stouppe who also commanded the Place as belonging of right to him whilst that the King had yet appointed no Governour of it The rest of the Regiment of Turenne was sent to Naerden to relieve those of the Dauphin's which lay there and many foot were sent to reinforce M. de Rochefort's Army which his Majesty intended to leave about Vtrecht as well to keep all that part of the Country quiet as to hinder the Hollanders Armys which lay not far off from attemting any thing upon the new conquered places that lay that way The eight in the morning Monsieur de Rochefort order'd some powder and shot to be sent to Oudewater with a Convoy of horse and then he returned with the Troops he had brought the day before The Marquis de Ranes came back also with his Regiment Royal of Dragoons The King prepar'd to leave Zeist and the Cardinal de Boüillon went and consecrated the Church of Vtrecht which was perform'd with great pomp to the great Joy of an infinite number of Roman Catholicks who impatiently expected that day The 9 the Duke of Luxembourg returned to the Kings Army with the Marquis de la Valiere having left his Baggage and Equippage near Emerick and the command of his Army to the Bishop of Munster who came likewise to give the King a visit and then returned towards Frizeland where since he hath done the Enemy much harm The Marquis de Ranes who during all this Campagne had commanded the Regiment Royal of Dragoons left that and took the command of the Regiment Colonel and went to the Kings Camp to follow his Majesty The next day the Prince who had been conveyed to Arnhem and continued there ever since his Majesty left that place found himself worse then he had been of his wounds and was much tormented with a fit of the Gout The King gave 8000 livres among those who had lost their horses in the late fire The 10 the King left Zeist which lyes within 2 leagues of Vtrecht where he had lain 8 days and went back to encamp between Rhenen and Wageningen The Duke of Luxembourg went to the Camp before Vtrecht to command that Army which M. the Marquis de Rochefort left to
the Governours absence and thinness of the Garrison which they imagin'd was much weakened by the party that M. de Montal had thence carried with him to Tongres upon these grounds they resolv'd to besiege it and gave Count Monterey notice of their design to oblige him considering the importance of the Place to send them more Forces which it seems he too carefully and zealously did For he unfurnished many of his Towns to make up a body of 16000 which was directly contrary to the Treaty at the Pyrenaeans and Aix la Chappelle The 15 of December the Count Marsin who commanded that Body went and sat down before the Place in expectation of the Prince who was to follow with his Army In the mean time the Sieur de Montal being inform'd of the design by some prisoners and by 50 Maistres whom he had ordered to follow the Enemy at a distance and observe their motions though he could hardly beleive they would venture upon so great and difficult a business yet sent intelligence of it to the Court as they also did from Charleroy withal desiring a Commission to return and get into the Town which he immediatly prepared himself to do without staying for orders so soon as he should be sure they were resolved upon the Siege of that Place The 16 Monsieur de S. Cla a Brigadier of Horse hearing of the same design at Maesiick where he then was went thence accompanied by the Sieurs de S. Sylvestre and d'Arty Captains of Horse the Sieurs de Labadie Vignart de Treüil Lieutenants Levigny and Magny Cornets and Lopair and Empereur Quarter-Masters together with 50 other Horse and brought the confirmation of this news to M. de Montal at Tongres offering him withal to accompany him in his design of getting back into the Town he accepted their profer and without any farther delay dispos'd himself to set forward the next morning The 17 he set out about 10 in the morning as he had appointed accompanied by the forementioned Gentlemen and their 50 Maistres besides 60 more which he had brought along with him to Tongres and marched all day and all night intending to get thither the next day whatever it cost them In the mean time the Couriers who had been sent with the news making all possible speed arriv'd all three one after another to Versailles were their Majesties then were The news they brought was so extraordinary and it seem'd so improbable that the Prince of Orange should come into Flanders to besiege one of our principal Places there that had not all the 3 Couriers successively confirmed what had been related of the Count Monterey's drawing out 15000 or 1600 men out of his Garrisons and sending them to begin the Siege the Couriers would have been laught at as mad men rather then beleiv'd besides that after all there was another reason that added to the improbability of it which was the violation of the Treaty which after this Count Monterey could not excuse They were notwithstanding beleived because they all said the same thing and the King thereupon that same night sent the Marquis of Louvois thither in post and sent orders to the Marshal d'Humieres who was at his own estate near Compiegne to go immediatly to Lisle of which he was Governour and there to expect farther orders As M. de Louvoys is a man of excellent conduct and foresight in managing business so is he indefatigable when their is need of dispatch he therefore set out at midnight as soon as he had his orders and having sent to the Chevalier de Nogent to accompany him went by Peronne and thence to Athe. The Marshal d'Humieres likewise though he had kept his bed three days before being tormented by the Colick set out immediatly for Lisle As to Monsieur de Montal he took the same way along the Caussey by which the Enemy had march'd before him that so he might not be discovered he had not marched above 5 or 6 hours before he overtook some of the rear of their Army loitering behind all which he strip'd and hamme-string'd their horses that they might not follow nor give notice of his march The â—8 before day he came pretty near the Enemy 1500 or 1600 of whose foot were quartered in a Village call'd Perruis and all the horse who conveyed them were disposed of in other Villages along the Caussey as far as Giblow all these he passed without being discovered but coming nearer Charleroy was aware of other Troops whom to avoid he was forced to turn out of his way and fetch a compass on the right hand to gain the Woods All this was don in the night and at day break he arrived within sight of their Camp but there made a halt not being willing to appear till their guards were releiv'd least when he would have forced his passage all the whole Army should be upon his back which succeeded as he could have wish'd The first body of Men he came at after coming out of the Woods was a Regiment of Spanish foot amongst whom he intruded so far before they were aware of it that though they began to suspect him yet they dared not give the Alarm but on the contrary saluted him civilly and he returned them the like If Monsieur de Montal had found all the Spaniards and Hollanders of the same obliging and civil temper he would certainly have ever after commended their good breeding and found no use for the swords which he and all his party carried ready drawn under their cloakes But that would not be for as he came near a Glass-house where a great many were quartered as well as in all the out-houses thereabouts some body having spied their naked swords cryed to Arms saying they were Enemies and thereupon they shot at them from every part because they still marched on not minding what was don but by this time the Alarm was every where spread and it was time for our men to think of defending themselves which they did so much the more easily because the Enemies Horse-guard which consisted of 150 Maistres and were posted between the Town and Camp had newly unbridled their horses so that not above 70 or 80 were found ready who came upon us and were most of them killed amongst whom was he that lead them call'd Floris Major who was in great repute amongst them 13 or 14 of our party were either killed or taken whom we staid not to releive least by so doing we should have lost the favorable opportunity of getting into Charleroy for if we had obstinatly staid to disengage them it may be the whole Army had fall'n upon us We therefore presently gain'd the Town in number 100 horse besides the Officers and got into it on Brussels side where at our coming M. de Montal found every one doing their duty and very watchful against any thing the Enemy should attempt The Place was close beset by the Enemy who lay within Carrabine shot of
top of the Ramparts but they were so suddenly and briskly set upon that they could by no means perfect them The same day we took two Barques upon the Rhine and by that means we doubled the Guard we had plac'd in the middle of it As soon as Burick was yielded M. de Turenne receiv'd a Pacquet from the King upon which he immediatly hastned to wait on His Majesty The fourth nothing was done at the Kings Army nor at Monsieur Turenne's but at the Princes they open'd Trenches before Wezel which would not yield up to mercy They were begun on the side of the Town that lies toward the River and a Drain was made to empty the Ditch which would have been done the night following had not the Enemy at last seeing his Highness resolv'd to set on then vigorously sent the Keys of the Town and yielded themselves up to mercy At the same time we were inform'd that the Duke of Luxembourg had taken Lokem The fifth the Kings Army was busied in making Faggots and Gabions for the attaquing of Rhineberg His Majesty sent a Command to M. de Ranes to meet him there with the Regiment Royal of Dragoons which was then with him before Burick which he did M. the Prince at 6 in the Morning entred Wezel and visited the Officers and Soldiers of the Garrison where he search'd for French-men and finding 10 or 11 had them hang'd The Duke of Luxembourg turn'd off toward Grol and M. Turenne's Army rested M. Cajax was made Governor of Orsoy The fixth in the Morning 10000 Faggots more were ordered to be made which the Dragoons perform'd but the Garrison at Rhineberg finding themselves too weak to resist a Victorious Royal Army and being likewise out of hope of receiving the Succors were promised them by the States resolv'd to yield The Officers of the Garrison came and laying themselves at his Feet begg'd of him not to take advantage to their cost of the trick which the States had put upon them in promising them 2000 Men more as a reinforcement which they had not perform'd His Majesty considering the falshood of the States Promises even to their own Soldiers was mov'd to compassionate their condition and thereupon gave them leave to march out Drums beating Colours flying with Match lighted and Bullet in mouth which they did and march'd toward Maestricht the King having given them a Convoy and Provision for four days The Regiment of Guards entred the place about one of the Clock in the Afternoon Rhineberg is a pretty large Town belonging to the Archbishoprick of Colen situate on the left side of the Rhine in the midst of a very low Marshy Country which contributes much to its strength The States had taken it again and again from the Spaniards they having wrongfully took it from the Elector of Colen who ever since hath been demanding it of them and making complaints upon that account in every Diet till at length the Spaniard propos'd to give it him back on condition he might keep a Garrison there But this condition not pleasing the Elector they at last promis'd without any reserve to put it into his hands but how instant soever the Elector was with them he could never perswade them to be as good as their word they had so many shifts feigned excuses and pretences that at last they proved the chief cause of the Electors declaring War against them Whilst it was in their possession they fortifyed it to their own minds and being it was a Frontier Town they had made it one of their strongest Holds The Fortifications are very regular there are good Bastions and Half-moons good Ramparts and very broad Ditches but their Out-works are to big as in most of their Towns All the Works are of Earth which makes them the easier to be assaulted though it better resist the Canon which can only make a hole in them The same day some Foot were sent over the Rhine to plunder a certain Castle there but the Prince had sent some others to the same purpose the day before so that those who came last did but lose their labor The Princes and Monsieur de Turenne's Armies rested again and the Count d'Estrade was made Governor of Wezel The seventh Monsieur de Turenne left the King and so did M. de Ranes and the Regiment Royal of Dragoons We went and joyn'd with the Army which was left before Burick and having sent all our heaviest baggage to Rhineberg where we left the new Companies of the Regiment of Turenne in garrison we went and encamp'd at Worstemberg near Santein in the Country of Cleve which belongs to the Duke of Brandenbourg M. the Prince left Wezel and advanced likewise on his side The King's Army stayed still at Rhineberg and the Duke of Luxembourg with the Munster forces attaqued Grol The eighth the King left Rhineberg came to Burick whether the Float was brought to waft over the Army to the other side of the Rhine We left Worstemberg in the morning passed by Zante or Santein and went and besieg'd the Fort of Rees which we presently beset so closely that the frighted Garrison durst not fire so much as one gun But the Town which lyes on the other bank of the Rhine was not so civil for their Canon did much harm to our Dragoons especially those who being come close up lay open to them There were many of them lost and more of their horses But notwithstanding the Capitulation went on at the Fort which was but ill man'd and because the Governor stood upon terms and would not deliver the place before he had seen and felt our Canon M. de Turenne commanded the Foot to advance and begin the Assault which they did without any resistance from the Enemy who had retired into a Redout which was very strong Wherefore he caus'd a bridge of hurdles to be made by which he pass'd over and enter'd the place himself and commanded the Governor and his Garrison to be beset who at last yeilded Afterwards we turn'd the Canon of this Fort upon the Town and much shot past on both sides Many of the Enemies Guns were dismounted and the whole Town so tired out that the next day they were forc'd to carry the Keys of their Gates to M. the Prince who came up as we did and made a shew as if he would also have attaqued it though his design was to go streight on towards a party of the Enemies which kept the Passage of the Isle of Beter and of the Yssel that the King might go and besiege that Town and Emerick As soon as the Fort had yeilded Monsieur de Turenne left there a part of his Horse all his foot the Artillery and Baggage and upon no tice that 4000 of the Enemies Horse had pass'd the Wahal with a design as 't was thought to set upon us we went to meet them To that purpose we went and pass'd the River near Calcar a little Town in
Amsterdam in which was a Garrison of 200 Men as well Horse as Foot At his arrival he made all the noise he could with Drums Trumpets beating and sounding divers Marches and afterwards summon'd the Town which being terrified and surprized the Burgomasters of it came out to Treat which they spun out so long that the Garrison had time to make their escape And when they were all gone they open'd their Gates and admited him As soon as he was in the Town he made enquiry to know if there was no Soldiers in the place and was told there was not but considering that place to be of too much importance to be left without a Garrison by the Hollander he caus'd one of the Burgomasters to be apprehended and told him They should all lose their Heads for not discovering to the King truly whether there were any Soldiers in the Town These threats made them confess That truly there had been some there but as soon as they heard the noise of the French Troops they had fled towards Amsterdam whereupon he immediatly caus'd the Gates to be open'd and went out in pursuit of them and at the same time order'd his Lieutenant with some Horse to follow the Enemies Horse who were not yet out of sight and were some a Horse-back and others on Foot their Horses being laden with their Baggage The Lieutenant pursued them to the Gates of Amsterdam got the greatest part of their Baggage and in his way homewards summon'd Muyden which not finding in case to make any resistance he entered and was master of it for 2 hours but at last finding himself to weak to keep that place he returned to fetch more Men but in the mean time things put on another face At the same time the Sieur de Mazelles on his side had pursued the Foot which took the way of the Fields and enclosures and passing over 3 Bridges still broke them as soon as they were got over so that he was forced to his Horses strength to follow them But the third time as he swam his Horse was mired so that taking only his Pistols he left him there and follow d on only accompanied with about 20 more of his Company who making up to them upon the very mouths of their Muskets at last took almost all the Soldiers and two of their Captains Prisoners This day the Inhabitants and Burgomasters of Vtrecht and the Towns depending on it being frighted by the suddain Conquests and Enterprizes which His Majesty so fortunatly and vigorously prosecuted after 3 or 4 days consultation sent a Trumpeter to ask for a Pass for them to come and bring the King the Keys of their Town and its dependents viz. Amersfort which we had unknown to them already taken Ewick Rhenen and Montfort The same day we were inform'd that the States-General had left the Hague in a fright and retired to Amsterdam with all their Writings and Riches how they arrived there the seventeenth and assembled themselves to consult on Saturday the eighteenth being very much frighted and full of consternation That they mistrusted the Prince of Orange who had so soon taken flight and retired with his Army to the Country about Leiden We heard likewise of the pittiful condition to which Count Maurice and his Army were reduc'd who some days before had fled beyond Vtrecht they having refus'd to admit him and that he was now marching for Amsterdam whether he had been sent for That some of his Companies had not above five or six Men left the rest having forsook him and fled to divers parts That when they were near Amersfort a Bore having in sport told them he had seen a great party of French thereabouts immediately upon hearing of it they took their heels and â—â—ed above 2 leagues without stopping The Dâ—ke of Luxembourg came now and laid â—â—â—e to Deventer The 20 the Kings Army open'd their Trenches before Doesburg they wrought hard all night pretty freely and undisturb'dly under the command of the Duke of Roannez at the head of four Batalions of the French Guards defended by Monsieur de Rommecourt who commanded the horse Guards for the Enemy fired but very sparingly Monsieur de Rochefort left Amersfort in the morning and with a party of horse march'd towards Vtrecht and by the way heard that Naerden was taken and that the Count Maurice was not far from it M. de Rancs came back to Amersfort and took with him 150 horse 50 of which were Dragoons and we march'd all night that way In the mean time the Marquis de la Trousse who had been out by the King with 3 Squadrons to march towards Zutphen frighted them of that place not a little so that the Burgomasters considering that the longer they held out the worse conditions they should have and that on the other side they could hope for no succours sent to let him know that they desir'd they might send Deputies to the King to Capitulate for them and that their Governour would not be against it the Marquis de la Trousse presently inform'd his Majesty of what had pass'd whereupon Monsieur prepar'd to march thither and in the mean time the Marquis de Ranes sent some Dragoons to the Castle of Em who possest themselves of it This Castle takes its name from the little river Em which runs from Amersfort and discharges it self into the Zuiderzée after it hath run by this Castle which lyes near the mouth of it The 21 the Garrison of Doesburg which the night before were as quiet as if they had been a sleep began to bestir themselves in the morning and at break of day began to fire very furiously but this hinder'd us not from going on in our work happily enough and with little loss so that the Batteries were made fit to play Monsieur being come to Zutphen summon'd it but they absolutely refus'd to yeild it up which so much the more incensed his Royal Highness because the day before they had sent to propose the yeilding it The Marquis of Ranes arriv'd at Naerden about 2 of the clock in the morning he reinforc'd the Garrison with 50 Dragoons besides those 100 which were there already with the Company of the Sieur de Marelles upon notice that Count Maurice was thereabout with his Troops and that he had put 2000 men into Muyden which he had that day done so suddenly that the Lieutenant who had been master of it 2 houres and went to fetch more men to put into it when he came back found the Enemy possest of it and had now retrench'd himself on the other side of the stream of Wesep Monsieur de Turenne at last made himself Master of Skenksconce and then turn'd his Arms towards Nimegen Skenksconce is a little hole as I may say so famous that it were unnecessary to say any thing of it but it is also of more than ordinary concern to the Possessours because of its situation which is just on the point
as he doth all things else with marvelous vigilancy care and success The Kings Troops the care of which lay wholly upon him were the best order'd that might be nothing was wanting in the Army he had taken such care for all things necessary that the King needed only wish that things should be done and they were so He found in that Man an inexhaustible Treasure of all those good Qualities which fit a Man for ordering business dextrously he had establish'd such good Orders and such a way of living among the Soldiers that they found themselves as well accommodated as if they had been in Paris and that without any way being grievous to the Countrys where they lay There were every where continual Fairs and Markets to which Merchants Victualers and Country people resorted with as much security as to St. Laurence's Fair. In a word he so well contriv'd all things that we never wanted any thing After Dinner the King came to the Camp and having walked about it and view'd his Troops without causing them to take Horse he also rounded the out-side of the Town and then went into it likewise but incognito Monsieur de Turenne continu'd still battering Nimegen which did still couragiously defend it self Notwithstanding he dispatch'd a Courier to the King to tell Him he hop'd that very day to spring a Mine or that at farthest it would be sprung the next day The Sieur de Carman Lieutenant Colonel of the Champagne Regiment was killed before this place The Count de Lorge made his Men labor hard all day about making a Bridge over the Rhine that by it he might get into the Betaw The News of the Prince of Orange's being chosen Statholder and Protector of their Country by all the Towns of the United Provinces except only Amsterdam was confirm'd to us and at the same time the Sieur Groot who was this day to return and bring the King an answer about the ratification of the Peace instead of coming himself sent to desire That his time might be prolong'd two days more which were accordingly granted him It is to be noted That His Majesty would treat with him not as coming from the States whose Authority he would not acknowledge but only as from the People of Holland The fourth nothing extraordinary hapned in the Kings Army which continued resting and refreshing it self after all the hardship it had undergon M. de Turenne after having had his design of mining Nimegen twice frustrated by Countermines at length notwithstanding all the Enemies care and pains to hinder it almost finish'd one so that they finding they should ere long have a breach made in their Walls and be forced to endure an assault and come to handy-blows with the French which they feared above all things as knowing how good our Nation is at that kinde of Service and how dangerous it is to fall into their hands resolv'd at last to come to a Composition The Count de Saulx had a piece of his Breeches shot off and one of his Servants kill'd with him by a great shot before this place which gave occasion to the spreading of a rumor that he was dead and made him as much lamented in the Kings Army as if he really had been so The fifth at break of day 2 Horse-men from Naerden came to Monsieur de Rochfort to give him notice of the Count Maurice's last retreat and how he had cut down the Banks and let in the Zuiderzee whose farther course was now stopp'd by nothing but only one Dike which was only broad enough for 3 Horse to march abreast on At the same time M. de Rochfort dispatch'd a Courier to the Marquis de Louvois to give him notice of it and M. de Roannes drew out a party of the Life Guards which were of the Guard at Vtrecht and some of the Kings Men at Arms who were come thither sent them under the Command of the M. d'Ambre to view and take cognizance of the Post which the Enemy now possest They did accordingly and stood within Pistol-shot of their Intrenchments two long hours none of the Enemies in the mean time daring to come out towards them only they were free of their Musket-shot which yet did no harm so that our Men came back just as they went which is an infallible token of the Dutch cowardize who dar'd not stir out when they might have cut the whole Party to pieces and though they had fear'd some ambush yet might they have come round in their Barks and set on them behind without any danger of being any way surpriz'd being sure of a safe retreat when ever they desir'd it Monsieur de Turenne at length became master of Nimegen which yielded upon the same terms as others had done only the Governor and other chief Officers had liberty to depart with all their Baggage Nimegen is a very great Town and full of Inhabitants situate on the left side of the Wahal which runs by its Walls and separates it from the Fort of Knotzembourg it lies high on one side and low on the other On the higher part of the Town stands an old Castle which is still strong enough and commands both the Town and River The lower part is plentifully furnish'd with Towers Bastions and Half-moons of an excessive bigness and upon that account they need more Men to defend it then we do in our Towns who are more concern'd to have them well lined and flanck'd Those who have Travell'd in Holland may have observ'd the prodigious dimensions of all parts of their Fortifications so that each Work requires as many Men almost to defend it as a whole Town of ours In the mean time the Count de Chamilly who was march'd towards Grave found strange alterations there as well as he had at Gennep Some of the States either those that were at Maestricht or others hearing that their Garrison had so causelesly quitted the Town which is very strong and whose Works are in very good repair and knowing withal that there were not in it above 40 or 50 of our Men sent a command to the Governor that had quitted it to return thither and defend it upon pain of death and ordered the Governor of the Busse to give him all possible assistance in case of need Wherefore upon this Order he was forc'd to turn back again and the Governor of the Buss took with him 33 Companies of Foot and 100 Horse to go and perform what was commanded him There being as yet no Garrison put into the place and the Townsmen refusing to keep the Gates it was easie for him who came before in hast with 100 Maistres to enter the Town whil'st the Foot followed softly after though as it prov'd they made too much hast to their own misfortune He therefore visits the place and reckons upon those Men of ours which he found there as so many Prisoners But whilst this was doing the Van of the Count de Chamilly's Army
it yet without attemting any thing upon the out-works The truth is M. de Franclieu the Kings Lieutenant in that Place who commanded in cheif during the Governors absence had done every thing that was possible and applied all imaginable diligence to put all things in the best posture that could be in case they should be attaqu'd Monsieur Desbonnais a Brigadier of foot who by good chance had staid there did likewise much contribute to it as did the Sieur Terrade an Engineer who took on him the care of the works so that every body strove who should shew most zeal for his Majesty's and their Country's service there being no body who deserv'd not much commendation on this occasion As soon as Monsieur de Montal was arrived he took care that all things should be ordered to the best advantage and finding that the party of horse which he had brought with him might be very serviceable to him against the Enemy and likewise very troublesome to the Place if their Forrage began to fail he sent out 50 of them to defend 150 Musketeers commanded by the Sieur Desbonnais whilst they should get together all the Forrage they could find all along the Sambre in the most remote houses this was 3 houres doing and had been sooner perform'd had not the Enemy strove to oppose it and so hinder'd our men from returning so soon as otherwise they might And yet we lost nothing by the bargain for our men beat the Enemy on this occasion from a Post which they kept with a considerable guard of horse and foot and killed many of them we loosing but 2 Soldiers in all the Action Whilst all this went on so gloriously every body was severaly employed in the Town M. de Montal betook himself to discover the designs of the Enemy and having observed a Battery which they were raising upon a rising ground that lay before the two little ponds where the works chanced no to be coated nor quite finish'd he judg'â— they would make their cheif attaque on that side which made him particularly provid for the security of that quarter that hâ— might defend it to the last Now Monsieur de Franclieu having before foreseen how the business would go had drawn a traverse acrosse the whole length which though it was not yet quite perfected yet was forward enough to be capable of sheltering those Soldiers which M. de Montal immediately commanded to be placed there together with some horse which were ordered to take up their station in the ditch which was not fenc'd with Pallisados that they might have the freer passage in and out The Sieurs de Franclieu and Desbonnais placed themselves where they thought they might do the best service in their own persons But the Enemy who by this time discovered from their Camp which lay very near that they should not easily carry the Place began to flinch and abate much of their fury so that the night following instead of assaulting the Town as they ought to have done they discontinued their Battery so that on the 19 in â— he morning Monsieur de Montal observing this resolved to send out all his Horse with orders to sally out upon the high ground that lay towards Brussels and to line the Counterscarpe and out-works with all his Musqueteers that so they might get some prisoners This succeeded according to his wish and indeed all was ordered with admirable courage and conduct Twenty Horse were first sent out who falling in with the Enemies out-guard entic'd out their main Guard consisting of 150 Horse commanded by the Baron of S. John with three Colours but Monsieur de S. Cla who was ready with all the rest of the Horse upon the first onset to follow and second them came just in time to fall on those who came in a greater number to releive the Enemy he utterly routed them killing many among which was the Sieur de S. Jean who received two mortal wounds there was a Lieutenant and some others taken prisoners and carried into the Town whilst the rest of our men retreated leasurely towards the Counterscarp on purpose to draw on the Enemies that way who pursued but faintly but were set forwards by the Prince of Vaudemont and the Count of Louvignies who hearing the Alarm which had by this time been spread over their whole Camp were come to their relief with many others of the most considerable persons in their Army They came near enough to receive a salute of small shot from a small party of our foot which hurt many of them and a discharge from our Canon which plaid so well that many of them were cut off by it and among others 3 Cornets one of which belonged to the Prince of Oranges Guards the Prince of Vaudemont lost his horse and his heel which had like to cost him his life and they were all so roughly handled that they afterward kept at a greater distance and not dared to make any approach though we did all we could to invite them to it but on the contrary they placed a party of foot behind their Horse-guard to second them in case we should sally out again All this while our indefatigable King whom neither the time of the year nor the ill weather nor any other difficulty could ever fright being accustomed to expose himself to as many dangers as if he were a private person resolved to go himself to provide for the defence of the Place and the Queen being sensible how impatient she should be of his absence if she could not constantly hear from him resolved to go as far as Compiegne that she might be nearer him so their Majesties the same day left Versailles and went to S. Germain in Laye The 20 was spent at the same place in giving order for their Majesty's progress The Enemy before Charleroy whether it were because they began to be sensible that they should loose their labour if they staid any longer or that they apprehended some design against them from Monsieur Louvois who was at A the giving orders for every thing that might any way inconvenience them or from the Marshal d'Humieres who was there likewise and had by this time gathered together a body of 15000 or 16000 men or that they had intelligence of the Duke de Duras his marching with all speed towards them whatever it was I can't determine but they began to prepare for a retreat and without offering to stir a foot forward whatever sallies we made upon them were content to stand on their own defence All this while Monsieur de Montal not knowing of their design and understanding they had ready great numbers of Faggots and wool packs and 2000 Barrels besides all other necessary's for making an assault kept all night on the Guard and lin'd the Counter scarps as thick as he could that they might be well defended The 21 their Majesties continuing in their first design the King for Charleroy and the