disown the Affront put upon the French Ambassador at Rome and to give Satisfaction for the same p. 45 Cheo p. 171 Choiseul Claudius Count de Marshal of France p. 280 Christine Queen of Sweden comes into France to see the King p. 10 11 Circles of Germany declar against the King p. 207 Clergy The Assembly of the French Clergy in the Year 1682. p. 184 Constine Armond du Cambout Duke de Peer of France wounded at che Passage of the Rhine p. 91 Colbert John Baptist Minister and Secretary of State his Character p. 28 29 Colbert Charles Marquis de Croissi French Plenipotentiary at Nimhegen p. 166 Cologne Affairs of Cologne p. 199 Compte French Compte Conquer'd p. 68 Restored p. ib. Conquer'd a second time p. 114 Conde Lewis of Bourbou II. Prince of his Victories and Character p. 5 Commands the French Army in Holland p. 86 Beats the Allies near Senef p. 117 Forces them to raise the Siege of Hagenau p. 132 Conde Henry Julius Prince of besieges and takes Limburgh p. 128 Coni the Siege raised p. 230 Conti Lewis Francis Prince of signalizes himself at Steenkirk and Neerwinden p. 239 248 Is Elected King of Poland p. 299 Corsairs of Africa chastised p. 171 Crequy Duke of is insulted at Rome by the Pope's Guards p. 39 40 Crequy Francis de Marshal of France Commands a flying Body p. 65 Defeats Marlin p. 66 Is routed by the Dukes of Zell and Lorrain p. 133 Forces Prince Charles of Lorrain to repass the Rhine p. 151 Takes Friburgh p. ibid. D. Darmstadt Landgrave of signalizes himself in the defence of Barcelona p. 301 Dauphin Lewis Dauphin of France only Son to LEWIS the Great His Birth and Education p. 170 171 Besieges and takes Philipsburgh p. 203 Commands in Germany p 224 Commands in Flanders p. 255 Prevents the Enemy from forcing the French Lines p. 256 Dauphin Invasion of the Allies of that Province p. 241 Deinse opens its Gate p. 270 Denmark delares against France p. 111 Conquers many places from the Swedes p. 159 Obliged to restore them p. 166 Makes a defensive League with Holland p. 288 Descent made by the English in Cameret-Bay p. 261 By the Dutch in a small Island p. 122 Diepe see Bombardment Diet of Ratisbonne p. 175 176 Differences betwixt France and Spain about the Precedency p. 33 Betwixt the Duke of Crequy and the Nephews of Alexander VII p. 41 Betwixt two Religious Orders about the Doctrine of Grace p. 70 Betwixt the Empire and France concerning the Limits p. 175 176 Betwixt France and Spain about the Limits in Flanders p. 178 About the Succession in the Palatinate p. 194 About the Franchises of the Ambassador's Quarters at Rome p. 196 Dinant taken by the Marshal de Crequy p. 128 Dixmuyden surrendred p. 178 56 Doesburgh surrendred p. 92 Dole besieged and taken by the King p. 97 Doway taken after a Siege of two days p. 116 Duells severely chastised p. 65 Dunkirk taken p. 13 Delivered up to the English p. 47 48 Bought by the King p. ibid. Bombarded see Bombardment Duquesne Lieutenant General of the King 's Marine Forces his Off-spring p. 137 Defeats Admiral Ruiter ib. Burns eight Tripolin Vessels in the Port of Chio. p. 171 E. Edicts of Nantes and Nismes p. 190 191 Emperour see Leopold Electors of the Empire declare unanimously against France p. 207 England subject to great Revolutions p. 210 Entrance of the King and Queen in Paris p. 20 Estrades Count d' afterwards Marshal of France his Difference with the Spanish Ambassadour Batteville in London p. 33 Plenipotentiary and French Ambassadour at Nimhegen p. 166 Estrees Francis Hannibal II. Duke d' Peer of France Ambassadour at Rome the Pope does not abolish the Franchises of Quarters till after his Death p. 196 Estree John Count d' Marshal and Vice-Admiral of France p. 171 Estree Caesar Cardinal d' sent to Rome to endeavour an Accommodation with Pope Innocent XI p. 184 F. Fariau defends Mastrick p. 103 Fenelon Francis de Polignac Fenelon Preceptor of the Children of France p. 285 Fleets see Sea-Fights Formular against the five Propositions of Jansenius subscribed p. 77 Fortifications above 220 are Erected by the King's Order since 1660. p. 168 France its Pre-eminency p. 30 31 Its Fertitility p. 253 254 Franchises of the Ambassadour's Quarters abolished by Innocent XI p. 196 Frankendahl taken p. 204 Friburgh taken p. 151 Granted to the King by the Peace of Nimhegen p. 160 Fuente Marquis of Spanish Ambassadour declares that the Ministers of Spain shall not dispute about the Precedency with those of France p. 37 38 Furnes taken p. 244 Furstenbergh William Eugene is seised at Cologne and carried to Viena p. 112 Chosen Co-adjutor of Cologne Innocent XI refuses to confirm it p. 201 202 G. Gap abandoned p. 242 Genneses disoblige the King p. 172 Genoa bombarded see Bombardment They send their Doge with four Senators to make their Submission to the King p 173 Ghnet besiged and taken by the King p. 154 156 Gigery taken abandoned p. 56 Guesne Archbishop of Primate of Poland calls together a Diet for the Election of a King of Poland p. ib. Proclaims the Prince of Conty King of Poland p. 299 Grave besieged and surrendred to the Prince of Orange p. 120 121 122 Gray taken p. 114 Gregory VII the first who pretended to depose an Emperour p. 186 Groll a strong Place taken p. 93 Guillestre in Dauphine p. 242 Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden p. 10 H. Hageneu besieged by Count Montecuculi raises the Siege p. 132 Harlay Nicolas Augustus de Count of Celi French Plenipotentiary at the Conferences of Frankfurt p. 175 And at the General Peace p. 291 Haw Don Lewis de Premier Minister of Spain p. 18 Havre de Grace see Bombardment Heidelbergh the Capital of the Palatinate taken by the Marshal de Lorge p. 246 Hesse Landgrave of raises the Siege of Eberenburgh p. 243 Holland the Commonwealth of its Origin Progress Reputation Varity p. 82 83 Loses above forty Places in one Campaign p. 84 Hollanders assisted by the King against the Bishop of Munster and the King of England p. 58 59 The Chief Promoters of all the Alliances against France see Leagues Humiers Marshal d' takes Aire p. 135 Is repulsed at Walecourt p. 214 Huy taken by the French p. 128 Retaken by the Allies p. 258 I. JAMES II. King of England retires into France p. 211 212 Passes over into Ireland p. 214 Returns to France after the Battle of the Boyne p. 225 Goes to the Sea-side in hopes of making a Descent in England p. 231 Jansenisme its Origin Progress and Condemnation p. 70 71 72 Janson Toussain Cardinal d' Bishop of Beauvais p. 294 Imperial Cardinal Governour of Rome comes into France to justifie himself p. 45 46 Innocent XI the Pope his Character writes three Briefs to the King about the Regale p. 182 Annuls the Acts of the Assembly of the French Clergy p. 185 Refuses his Bulls to the
Bishops of that Assembly p. 187 Is made Arbitrator by the King of the Succession in the Palatinate p. 195 Abolishes the Franchises of Quarters p. 190 Gives his Dispensation to Prince Clement of Bavaria p. 201 Interview of the French and Spanish Court p. 18 Invalides the Royal Hospital built near Paris p. 169 Ipres taken by the King p. 156 Ireland the King sends Succours into that Kingdom p. 214 L'Isle besieged by and surrendred to the King p. 66 K. Kayserswert taken by the Elector of Brandenburgh p. 215 Knock Fort the Allies lose above two thousand Men before it p. 269 L. Ladeburgh the Imperialists defeated by Tuâ—rene near this Place p. 124 Lagos about eighty Vessels were taken and burnt betwixt this place and Cadiz p. 245 246 Lavardin Marquiss of French Ambassadour at Rome p. 197 The Pope refuses him Audience p. 198 League against France betwixt the Emperour Spain and Denmark Holland and all the Princes of Germany except the Dukes of Bavaria and Hannover p. 107 111 League betwixt England and Holland against France p. 153 League of Ausburgh p. 193 League betwixt the Empire Spain England Holland and Savoy against France p. 207 p. 209 Leopold Ignatius Emperour of Germany desires Succours from the King p. 57 Enters in a League against France p. 107 Makes Peace with France p. 165 Makes a Truce with the King p. 177 Enters in another Alliance against him p. 193 Declares for the Election of Prince Clement of Bavaria p. 200 Makes Peace with France p. 308 Leuze Engagement near Leuze 229 Lewis XIII seises Lorrain p. 80 His War with the Hugonots p. 188 Lewis XIV sirnamed the Great his Birth p. 1 Troubles under his Minority p. 2 Is present at the Battle of St. Anthony p. 5 Falls dangerously ill at Calais p. 13 Marries the Infanta of Portugal p. 17 Enters Paris in Triumph p. 20 Lewis the Great his Divertisements p. 25 Obliges Spain to allow him the Precedency p. 37 Receives Satisfaction for the Affront put upon his Ambassadour at the Court of Rome p. 45 Causes a new Codex or Lambock to be compiled p. 52 Restores the decayed Commerce p. 56 Sends Succours to the Emperour p. 57 And to the Dutch p. 58 Lewis the Great besieges and takes Listle p. 66 Conquers the French Comte in eight days p. 68 Suppresles Jansinism p. 69 Builds Versailles p. 77 And takes Possession of Lorrain p. 81 LEWIS the Great declares War against Holland p. 85 His first Conquests p. 87 seq New Conquests p. 92 Draws the King of England from his Alliance with the Dutch p. 95 Besieges and takes Mastrick p. 103 seq Besieges and takes Besanson p. 114 Makes himself Master of the whole French Comte in one Months time p. 117 LEWIS the Great takes Conde p. 134 Sends Succours to Messina p. 136 Takes Valenciennes p. 142 The Town and Cittadel of Cambray p. 148 Ghent p. 156 Ipres p. ibid. Restores Peace to Europe p. 162 Erects the Academies for the Cadees p. 168 Builds the Hospital of the Invalides p. 169 Founds the Community of St. Cyr. p. ib. LEWIS the Great Chastises the Corsairs of Barbary p. 171 172 Genoeses p. ibid. Summons all his Vassals in Alsace to do him Homage p. 174 Goes to Strasburgh to receive in Person the Oath of Fidelity p. 175 Makes a Truce with the Emperour for twenty years p. 177 LEWIS the Great obliges the King of Spain to resign the Title of Duke of Burgundy p. 177 Causes Luxenburgh to be block'd up p. 178 Covers the Siege of Luxenburgh p. 179 Makes a Truce with Spain for twenty Years p. 180 Differences betwixt him and the Court of Rome p. ibid. He suppresses Calvinism in France p. 187 The whole Kingdom makes Vows for his Recovery p. 192 The Motives that obliged him to have recourse to Arms. p. 202 Takes Philipsburgh and the whole Palatinate p. 203 204 LEWIS the Great receives the King and Queen of England with an unparallell'd Generosity p. 213 Sends Succours into Ireland p. ib. Besieges and takes Mons. p. 228 The City and Cittadel of Namur p. 233 Being troubled with the Gout is carried in a Chair to all Places where his Presence was most necessary p. 236 The Prince of Conty Elected King of Poland by his Encouragement and Protection p. 299 Restores Peace to Europe p. 307 Limburgh taken by Henry Julius Prince of Conde p. 128 Limerick in Ireland bravely defended by the French p. 225 The English obliged to raise the Siege ibid. Limits see Differences Lines what they are p. 249 New Lines drawn from the Shelde to the Lis and from Courtray to the Sea-side p. 268 Longueville Duke of kill'd p. 98 Longe Alphonse de Durasford Duke de Lorges Marshal of France makes good his Retreat against the Imperialists after the Death of Turenne p. 132 Takes Heidelbergh p. 246 Louvois see Tellier Luxenburgh block'd up p. 178 Besieged p. 179 Taken p. ib. Luxenburgh Francis Henry de Montmorancy Duke de Pency Luxenburgh Peer and Marshal of France takes Groll Deventer and all the Places in the Province of Over-Yssle p. 93 Obliges the Prince of Orange to raise the Siege of Voerden p. 97 Repulses the Dutch at St. Denis p. 163 Beats the Allies at Flerus p. 219 Leuze p. 229 Steenkirk p. 239 At Neerwinden p. 248 His Death p. 270 M. Machin or Engine made use of by the English against St. Malo p. 252 Maine Lewis Augustus Duke de Maine Commands the French Cavalry at the Battle of Steenkirk p. 239 Signalizes himself at Neerwinden p. 248 St. Malo see Bombardment Manheim a strong Place in the Palatinate p. 204 Marcin Count de Marcin General of the Spanish Forces marches to the Relief of L' Isle p. 66 Is Routed p. ibid. Mardick a Fort. p. 13 Maria Theresia Queen of France see Austria Maria Adelhida Dutches of Burgundy see Savoy Marsal granted to the King p. 80 Mastrick besieged by the King p. 103 Taken p. 106 Besieged by the Prince of Orange p. 135 Mayence besieged p. 215 Taken p. 217 Mazarine Julius Cardinal Premier Minister under the Regency of the Queen Mother p. 2 His Conference with Don Lewis de Haro p. 18 His Death p. 22 Mehaigne a small River near Namur p. 235 Messina shakes off the Spanish Yoke p. 136 Metz Chamber of Re-union established at Metz. p. 174 Mirc-Court the ordinary Place of Residence of Charles IV. Duke of Lorrain p. 81 Missionaries preach among the Calvinists p. 189 Mons besieged and taken by the King p. 228 Montausier Charles Duke of Peer of France Governour to Lewis Dauphine p. 170 Montmelian taken p. 231 Montecuculi Count of his Character p. 129 Munster Bernhard-van Galen Bishop of invades Holland p. 58 Joyns his Troops with the French in the Dutch War p. 93 Declares against France p. 111 N. Namur besieged by the King and taken p. 233. Besieged by the Allies p. 271 Nancy fortified by the King p. 107 Naerden a small Place in Holland
the reputation and strength of the whole Confederacy that the same appear'd terrible in the Eyes of all the World except to our King who was so far from being terrify'd by this unhappy conjuncture that by his indefatigable care and activity he surmounted all these difficulties which afterwards serv'd only as an Augmentation of his Glory He receiv'd the King of England with all the imaginable testimonies of generosity and demonstrations of honour and respect alloting both to the King and the Queen his Spouse a sufficient allowance to keep a most magnificent Court and shewing a great readiness upon all occasions to satisfie them in any thing they could desire and to find out means to afford tâ—em seasonable comfort in their affliction A great part of the Kingdom of Ireland remaining as yet stedfast in the Interest of their King our King without any delay French Forces sent into Ireland sent thither a good number of Troops in the Year 1689 with a sufficient quantity of Arms Ammunition and other necessaries The King of England having put himself at the head of these Troops in conjunction with the Irish Forces that had taken up Arms for him he advanc'd against the Enemy with indifferent success there happening nothing of moment all that Campaign as there was no great action in other parts the Prince of Orange King William III. judging it more for his advantage at that time to establish himself in England by his Presence and our King having taken a resolution to be upon the defensive this Campaign the better to enable himself to send more powerful Supplies into Ireland and to try whether perhaps by some means or other the Confederacy would not dissolve it self against the next Campaign It is easie to be imagin'd that among Princes of so many different Inclinations and Interests the War is generally not carry'd on with the same Vigour as it is undertaken there being frequent Examples that the strictest Alliances have been broken with as much ease as they were made For near the Alps there scarce appear'd any Armies in the Field The Duke of Noailles took Campredon in Catalonia which was demolish'd quickly after The Armies in Flanders did nothing but look upon one another there having been scarce any Action there abouts all that Summer but the Assault made upon Wall-Court This being a place of small defence the Marshal d'Humiers thought to have carri'd it by Storm without making a Breach but the Euemies who were retir'd before the Marshal having posted themselves upon some eminencies behind the Town so as to keep a communication with one of the Gates they sent from time to time as many fresh Forces as were requisite to defend the Place so that the Marshal was repuls'd with the loss of five hundred Men killed and wounded among whom were thirty or forty Officers and many brave Volunteers who paid with their lives for the mistake of the Marshal who had been misguided by his Spies The Allies Forces near the Rhine consisted of threescore and ten thousand Men divided into three several Bodies under the Command of Prince Charles of Lorrain and the Electors of Bavaria Saxony and Brandenburgh To prevent the Enemies taking up Winter-Quarters too near our Frontiers we were oblig'd to ravage all the Country of Wirtemberg and the whole Palatinate and to lay all desolate as far as Strasburgh The Cities of Spires and Worms were laid in ashes and all the other Places thereabouts of which we had taken possession the Year before were demolish'd except Mayence Bonn Philipsburgh and Keyserwaerth the last of which being a small Town of little strength upon the Rhine was by Frederic II. Elector of Brandenburgh Son to the Famous Frederic William who died in May in the Year 1688 taken in four or five Days The City of Mayence was Besieg'd by the Imperialists Siege of Mayence under the Command of Prince Charles of Lorrain the Electors of Bavaria and Saxony who joyn'd their Forces with the others This Place was the Year before when the Elector of the same name receiv'd a French Garrison into the Town so inconsiderable in its Fortifications that tho' a great number of Workmen were employ'd all the Winter long to put them in a state of defence they could scarce bring the Out-works to perfection It s chiefest strength at that time consisted in a good Garrison of nine or ten thousand Men all resolute brave fellows who unanimously resolv'd to hold it out to the last extremity If it was Attack'd with all imaginable Vigour there has not been a Place in the memory of Men defended with more bravery In forty eight days after opening of the Trenches the Besiegers had only made one Lodgment upon the utmost point of the Counterscarp The Besieg'd made frequent Sallies at Noon-day with their Colours flying and Drums beating sometimes three or four times in one Day within two hours of one another They marched out sometimes with a Body of two or three thousand Men in order of Battel engag'd the Enemy cut in pieces those that guarded the Trenches nail'd up their Cannons fill'd up their Works and once drove the Enemies back at such a distance from the Place that their main Horse-guard took Post at the very Head of their Trenches The Confederates having often felt the effects of the desperate resolution of the Besieg'd resolv'd to Attack and carry the Counterscarp let it cost what it would Pursuant to this resolution all their Batteries play'd most furiously by break of Day and thus continu'd till by the throwing of certain Bombs the Signal was given for the Assault In a few moments you might have seen the Ground cover'd with dead Carcasses the Cannon of the Besieg'd their Hand-Grenadoes and Bombs their Fire-Arms but especially their Swords made such havock among the Enemy as is rather to be conceiv'd than to be express'd The Assault lasted five Hours when the Besieg'dbeing at last over-power'd by the great number of their Enemies who without intermission seconded their Men with fresh Troops were forc'd to give way and to leave them Masters of the Counterscarp but with the loss of four thousand Men on the Confederate side The Besieg'd having besides this lost during the Assault all their Ammunition by a Bomb which blew up their Magazin they offer'd to try the next Day to regain the Counterscarp with their Swords in Hand but the Marquis d'Uxelles their Governor being unwilling to Sacrifice so many brave Fellows in the attempt beat a Parley and the Allies being not backward in granting him very Honourable Conditions the Garrison march'd out of the Place with their Colours flying and six pieces of Cannon Whilst they were busied in the Siege of Mayence the Elector of Brandenburgh Siege of Bonn. who commanded a separate Body Invested Bonn. The Place was batter'd for two Months together with an Artillery of an hundred pieces of Cannon and most of their Houses and some of their Out-Works were laid
Hollanders fighting like Lions we took one of their Ships of sixty Guns another was sunk and a third burnt besides there were twelve more of their best Ships so much disabled in their Masts and Riggings that not being able to carry them off they were forc'd to sink and to burn them The Count de Tourville pursu'd them for two days after and would in all probability have destroy'd their whole Fleet if the Wind had not turn'd against him which gave the Enemy opportunity to bring the rest of their Ships into a place of security This disgrace put the Enemies into no small consternation forasmuch as they had flatter'd themselves that they were much superiour to us at Sea and that no body hitherto had been bold enough to dispute with them the Sovereignty of the Sea The Prince of Orange King Willian III. laying the cause of this disaster to the mismanagement of the English Admiral he was tryed and acquitted of what was laid to his charge But whilst the English and Dutch made heavy complaints on both sides laying the loss of the Battle at one anothers Doors the French obtain'd another signal Victory about five Weeks after being the eighteenth Day of August For the Spanish Auxiliaries Defeat of the Duke of Savoy with a good Body of Imperial Troops having joyn'd the Duke of Savoy he took the Field and after several marches and counter-marches encamped boldly within sight of the French Army being cover'd on the Right by a large Wood on the Left by boggy Grounds and having in the Front a small Rivulet Both the Armies were near equal in number that of the Allies being Commanded under the Duke of Savoy by some of their best Officers The Sieur de Catinat Commander in Chief of the French in those parts appear'd the first time in this Campaign at the Head of a great Army He was descended from a Family that ow'd its Off-spring to the Gown but by his many Services render'd himself not inferiour to any of our age that have rais'd their Families by the Sword This wise General having taken a view of and found a passage thro' the Boggs attack'd the Enemy on that side with incredible bravery that their left Wing was brought immediately into confusion the right Wing held it out for some time after but being likewise broken at last a great slaughter ensued most of their Infantry being cut to pieces and their Cavalry sav'd themselves by repassing the River Po leaving the Field and their whole Artillery except one piece of Cannon which was thrown into the River with I all their Ammunition and many Colours and Standards to the mercy of the Enemy Four thousand of them were kill'd upon the spot whereas on our side we had not above an hundred and fifty dead and four hundred wounded Men. The Conquest of Savoy which with some part of Piedmont submitted immediately after to our King was the first Fruit of this Victory For Saluzzas open'd its Gates the very next Day after the Battle The Town and Castle of Suza surrender'd soon after so that we remained Masters of the Field and all the flat Country till the time of withdrawing our Forces for the conveniency of our Winter-Quarters As we had been successful even beyond hopes near the Alps so there pass'd nothing of moment near the Rhine the Germans being very careful in avoiding an Engagement For no sooner had they receiv'd intelligence that the Dauphin had passed the Rhine but they intrench'd themselves so strongly on the other side the River Neckar that it was impossible to force them in their Post or to bring them to an Engagement Thus this Campaign would have prov'd as successful as any since the beginning of the War if the French Troops in Ireland under the Command of the King of England had met with the same success on that side For after the Prince of Orange King William III. Battle fought in Ireland near the Boyne in July had taken a resolution to pass over into that Island in Person to reduce it to his Obedience he gave Battle to the Irish within twenty Days after his arrival near the River Boyne Seven thousand French seconded by the Irish Horse who behav'd themselves very well sustain'd for some time the whole power of the Enemy but the Irish Foot being immediately brought into confusion the rest were entirely routed The loss of this battle put the whole Kingdom into such a consternation that the King of England not thinking himself secure there immediately repass'd the Seas and arriv'd safely at Brest The Marshal and Duke of Schomberg who had acquir'd immortal Glory whilst he was in our King's Service was kill'd in the Engagement His obstinate perseverance in the Calvinism had oblig'd him to quit France and to engage himself in the Service of the Prince of Orange King William III. who also receiv'd a slight hurt About five Weeks after the Battle he besieg'd Limerick The Garrison of the Town consisted of near six thousand French under the Command of Monsieur de Boisleleau Captain of our King's Guards who had after the last Engagement thrown themselves into the Place The Siege was carried on with the utmost Vigour but by the bravery of the Garrison and the help of fresh Supplies brought into the Place together with the scarcity of Forage continual Rains and sickness that had infected the Camp the Prince of Orange King William III. was oblig'd to raise the Siege After his return into England he appli'd all his care to make the necessary preparations for sending a considerable Body of his Troops into Flanders Campaign in 1691. and to appear at the Head of them in Person for fear least some of the Allies might in his absence enter upon a separate Treaty with France He was met at the Hague by the Electors of Bavaria and Brandenburgh by the Landtgraves of Hesse three Dukes of the House of Brunswick Congress at the Hague besides thirty other Princes by the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands the Emperor's Envoy those of Spain and several other Electors and of the Duke of Savoy and all the General Officers who were at this Council of War to concert measures concerning the operations of the next Campaign But whilst they spent their time in debates they receiv'd the unexpected News that the City of Mons had been invested by the French on the fifteenth of March and that the King was expected in the Camp by the twentieth or one and twentieth of the same Month. This sudden News like a Thunderclap dispers'd the whole Congress Most of the Princes there present return'd straightways into their respective Countries either because they did not think it convenient to be Spectators of the taking of the Place or to hasten their Troops to march to the relief of it The City of Mons is situate upon a rising ground surrounded with Boggs and consequently strong both by Art and Nature It is a very large
passable by the Bridges made by the dead Carcasses of Men and Horses This vast Army was dispersed in such a manner that they could not get together in a Body again till six days after when being reinforced with fresh Troops and especially with the Detachment commanded by the Prince of Wirtembergh they appear'd again in the Field It is to be taken notice of here that since the beginning of this War our King had ordered certain Lines or Entrenchments to be made from Mabeuge to the Sea-side to serve as a Barricado to cover his Conquests on that side The Duke of Wirtembergh having been detached from the main Army with a Body three times stronger than the French that guarded these Lines to attack them had forced these Entrenchments and was just then preparing to ravage the Country when receiving the News of this Defeat he was forced to turn back in order to join with all speed the Prince of Orange King William III. Within two Months after Victory of Marsaglia the 4 October the Marshal de Catinat obtained another no less compleat but less bloody Victory over the Confederate Army in Italy under the Command of the Duke of Savoy The said Marshal's Army had hitherto been much inferior in Number to the Allies which was the Reason that he had not undertaken any thing of moment but only to observe the Enemies Motions and to harress them with Marches and Countermarches The Duke and Spaniards willing to improve this Opportunity resolved to besiege Pignerol but being discouraged by the Resistance they met with in the Taking of St. Brigitt which being built but a Year before at some distance from the Town commanded the chief Avenues leading to it and had held out fifteen days before it was taken they altered their Resolutions contenting themselves with throwing a vast number of Bombs and red hot Bullets into the Place Whilst they were flattering themselves with the hopes of either reducing or destroying the City of Pignerol by Fire Messengers after Messengers came to bring the sad News to the Duke of Savoy that not only the French had burnt one of his Country Houses but that also the Marshal de Catinat having received a Considerable Reinforcement had made himself Master of the Plains The Duke immediately directing his March towards those Plains he was met by the Marshal The Battle began about nine a Clock in the Forenoon the right Wing of the Enemy was brought into confusion at the first Encounter the left follow'd not long after the Example of the right Wing yet they Rallyed and return'd to the Charge twice or thrice but without any great Effect for their Cavalry being entirely routed the rest were cut to pieces except those who saved themselves by flight and to fly with the less Inconveniency threw away their Arms enough to Arm sixteen thousand Men. The flying Enemy were pursued to the very Gates of Turin the whole Plain being covered with dead Carcasses and in some places with entire Battallions especially of the Spaniards and Hugonots The Enemies lost nine thousand Men in this Engagement besides two thousand taken Prisoners a hundred Colours forty five Standards and thirty four pieces of Cannon We had twelve or fifteen hundred killed and wounded on our side The Gens d'Arms behaved themselves to a miracle Our Infantry fought with their Bayonets in their Fuszees and Sword in hand After the Loss of this Battle the Duke being reinforced with the German Troops that block'd up Casal yet durst not appear in the Field so that the Marshal de Catinat without opposition over-run all the flat Country and carried away a prodigious quantity of Provision The King received the News of this Victory and of the Surrender of Charleroy in one day This place is situate betwixt Mons and Namur and was besieged in November when the Prince of Orange K. William III. was just ready to pass over into England Siege of Charleroy but upon the News of this Siege return'd into Flanders and advanced with an Army as far as Brussels but did not attempt the Relief of the Place which tho' considerable for its strength was forced to surrender in six and twenty days About the end of the same Month English Expedition against St. Malo an English Squadron was sent towards St. Malo to attempt the destruction of that Place not so much by their Bombs as a certain Engine by which they hoped to blow up that City or to lay it in Ashes This Engine was a three Deck'd-Ship of about four hundred Tuns lined and vaulted within with Brick-Work Betwixt each of these Decks there were placed many Barrels with Gun-powder mixt with a certain Composition of Tarr Pitch and Rosin a great number of Bombs Carcasses and other Casks fill'd with all sorts of Combustible Matter It was a fair and clear Night very calm and Spring-tide when this infernal Engine came swimming up with the Tide but by good Fortune was forced upon a Rock within Pistol-shot of the Walls of the City The Engineer who had the management of this Vessel perceiving that she took Water was so over-hasty in setting her on Fire that both He and his Attendants were blown up in the same moment before they had time to get out of reach The springing of this Engine made a most dreadful Noise and shook all the circumjacent Ground for three or four Leagues The whole City felt a most violent Confusion and in a moment all the Streets were covered with Slates and Tyles which like a Shower of Hail powred down from the tops of the Houses This was the whole Loss sustained by this dreadful Engine which carried along with it more Terror than Damage there being not one House in the whole City that receiv'd any further Damage neither was there one single Person kill'd or wounded For the Powder having taken vent and being besides that spoil'd by the Water did not answer the pretended Effect in throwing the Bombs and Barrels full of Combustible Matter into the Air. At low Water near seven hundred Bombs were taken up from the Sands and abundance of Powder out of the Wrack of the Vessel We could scarce have wish'd for a more prosperous Campaign on our side than the last Campaign in 1694. but as there is no human Felicity without some mixture of Adversity so when the State suffers within all its outward Prosperity appears to be but superficial I say we could not have wished for a more glorious Campaign if a general Scarcity had not almost ruined several Provinces in the Kingdom but especially the City of Paris with the circumjacent Parts France is a very fertile Country abounding especially in Wheat so as to be able to furnish its Neighbours with a considerable Quantity of this useful Commodity which for several years before had been so cheap that the common People liv'd easie enough tho' by reason of the long War and the decay of Trade there was but slender Gain
the loss of only two or three hundred Men on our side The Enemies had betwixt four or five thousand kill'd and wounded and we took above three thousand Prisoners all their Baggage Provision Ammunition and sixteen Colours Immediately after the gaining of the Battle Siege of Palamos the Marshal de Noailles besieged Palamos a small Maritime Town but well fortified There was a Garrison of three thousand Men in the place which did defend themselves only five days after the Place began to be Batter'd by our Cannon both by Sea and Land For whilst the Marshal attack'd it by Land a French Squadron of Men of War batter'd it by Sea After we had made our selves Masters of the Counterscarp there were two Breaches in the Wall but so narrow that not above one Man could mount it at a time in Front Some Soldiers having taken notice of it shew'd it to their Officers who approving of their Design they mounted the Breach entred the City and taking advantage of the general Consternation this unexpected Sight of the Enemy upon the Ramparts had put them into they soon made themselves Masters of the City on the 7th of June The Fort or Castle being forced to Surrender at Discretion within three days after the Marshal without loosing time sat down before Gironne This Place was so considerable for its Strength that in the Year 1684 Gironne taken it obliged the French Army to raise the Siege But our late Victory near the River Ter the taking of Palamos the furious discharges of our Batteries and the vast number of our Bombs which did great Execution and set the Town on fire besides the little hopes there was of being relieved obliged the Inhabitants and Garrison to Capitulate in five days We made our selves Masters of several other places betwixt Gironne and Barcelona and all the Country round was seised with such a Consternation that their Capital City it self would scarce have been able to hold out a Week against our victorious Arms if the Heats had not been so excessive as to prevent us from undertaking the Siege and the Confederate Fleet was so seasonably to their Assistance and had supply'd them both with Ammunition and Men. This was the only Fruit they reap'd from the Equipment of so numerous a Fleet it being fear'd otherwise that the Spaniards might have concluded a separate Peace with us if they had not come to their Relief It was also supposed that at the Sollicitations of the Duke of Savoy this Fleet was to endeavour the regaining of Villa Franca It was composed of one hundred and thirty Sail among which were threescore and fifteen for the Line of Battle It was given out that they were to Retake Nice to Bombard Thoulon and to lay Marseilles in Ashes There were also some who pretended that they were to chastise Genove for refusing to join with the Confederacy But all these Projects vanished into Smoak they being disenabled for want of Provisions and by the many Distempers that reigned among the Seamen to undertake any thing of moment they kept the Sea for some time after till the approaching Winter Season forced them to seek for a safe Retreat in the Spanish Ports Their Fleet in the Ocean made more Noise but did not much more Damage Descent in Camaret Bay They made an attempe upon Camaret-Bay at the neck of a Land which juts into the Sea near Forest Of eight or nine hundred Men who Landed by the help of their Chaloops betwixt three and four hundred were killed the rest made Prisoners The rest of their Forces that were to second the Attack being deterr'd by the ill Success of their Comrades and the continual Fire from our Entrenchments upon the Sea-shoar did not judge it advisable to attempt any further Descent but under the Protection of some of their Frigats return'd to their Ships On the 22th day of July Diepe Bombarded they Bombarded Diepe which was laid in Ashes most of the Houses of this City being of Wood and closely built the Inhabitants fled from their Habitations with their best Moveables the Fire consumed the whole City there being no body to stop its Fury But the Enemies were great Gainers by this Bargain it having been computed that this Expedition cost them more than the re-building of the whole City could amount to On the 20th of July they appear'd before Havre de Grace which they likewise Bombarded for some time as well as Calais but without doing any considerable Damage the Fire having been soon extinguished by the Care of the Inhabitants This done they made an attempt upon the Forts which guard the Entrance of the Port of Dunkirk two Engines not unlike to that they had made use of at St. Malo's advanced towards the said Forts with an Intention to blow them up but by the help of the Cannon mounted upon several Batteries along the Sea-shoar these two Vessels were blown up into the Air at about a thousand yards distance from the Mole The little Success of this Campaign on the Confederates side Campaign 1695. did in some measure abate the Heat of the English and Dutch who for these seven years last past had bore the greatest Share in the vast Expences of the War In Holland the common People cry'd out aloud for Peace in London tho' they did not do it so publickly yet they were very desirous of it The Parliament took an Account of the Supplies granted for the use of the War and what Share each of the Allies ought to have in the Expences pursuant to the Treaty's concluded for that purpose They excluded the Speaker of the House of Commons from their House and imprison'd several of their Members They also Summon'd the Earl of Danby Duke of Leeds President of the Privy Council but these Proceedings ceased with the Session of Parliament There were some who look'd upon this Affront put upon one of the Prince of Orange's Favourites K. William III. as a Spark of Fire which being couch'd for some time under the Ashes might in time break out into a Flame And their Conjectures seem'd not ill grounded considering that since the Death of the Princess of Orange Queen Mary eldest Daughter to the King of England who died on the 18th of December in the Year 1694. Queen of Englands Death King James's Party began to appear more formidable than before and that the Differences betwixt the Court and the Princess of Denmark only Sister of the deceased Princess Q. Mary might furnish them with an opportunity to Foment the intestine Divisions in that Kingdom or that perhaps some of the Confederates discouraged by the change of Affairs in England might not prosecute the War with the same Vigour as before But it was not long before these Hopes were frustrated in the end For the Prince K. William III. either by his good Fortune or Conduct prevented all these Dangers there being not the least appearance of any Commotion On the
Expences bestowed in the carrying on of this Siege lost twenty Thousand Men the Flower of their whole Army The Confederates being flush'd with this Success Campaign 1666. boasted every where of this Conquest but the wiser sort among them were not much overjoyed at this Advantage as looking upon it as a means to retard the conclusion of a Peace For the People being exhausted with Taxes wished very earnestly for a Peace as the only means to free them from those heavy Impositions Their Commerce was considerably diminished our Privateers who continually infested their Coasts taking some of them every Day it having been Computed that the English alone have since the beginning of this War lost four Thousand two Hundred Merchant Men valued by themselves at thirty Millions of Sterling But there appeared in England many other Causes of Intestine Divisions and Confusion For the Money began to be very scarce and was so much Clipp'd of late Years that its intrinsick value did not amount to two thirds sometimes not to one half of what it ought to be As nothing is more pernicious and destructive to Commerce than the adulteration of Money so these Disorders made many grumble against the Government it being a customary thing for the Common People to impute any publick Disaster to the mis-management of those at the Helm which was also improved by a Party who insinuated into the People that great store of the English Coin was Transported into Holland The Agents of the King of England believing the present juncture very favourable to their Design set all their Engines at work for his Restauration They brought over many to their side some out of Novelty others being moved by a seasonable Repentance others out of Affection to their King joined in the Design of restoring him to the Throne They could scarce have wish'd for a more favourable Opportunity the Prince of Orange King William III. having left the Kingdom destitute of Troops and without a Fleet to guard the Coasts All his Troops were transported to Flanders the grand Fleet was at Cadiz and a good Squadron of his best Ships lately gone out of the Downs to join those in the Streights The King of England encourag'd by these hopes of Success came to Calais with a Body of Sixteen Thousand Men of old Troops under the Command of several experienc'd Generals who were ready to Embark at an hours warning But the Winds proving contrary for some time the whole Design was discover'd and we lost at once both the time and hopes of putting it in Execution For no sooner had the Dutch received Intelligence of this intended descent but they put to Sea with a Squadron of twelve stout Ships which cruised before Calais The Prince of Orange K. William III. without shewing the least Concern at the greatness of the Danger soon found means to disperse these Clouds He secured many suspected Persons recalled his Fleets and some of his Troops out of Flanders and secur'd the Sea-Coasts on that side which was most exposed to danger with a good Body of the Militia A Plot when once discover'd seldom takes effectâ— and in lieu of proving destructive to those against whom it was intended prroves generally the chief means of their Establishment Both the Houses of Parliament gave upon this occasion new Demonstrations of their Zeal and firm Adherence to the Interest of the Prince of Orange King William III. by entring into an Association not only to maintain his Interest against all Pretenders but also to revenge his Death if he should happen to be snatch'd away by some sinister Attempt against his Life Having received these fresh Assurances of their Zeal for his Person and Interest he took such sure measures to prevent all future Danger of this kind that without any further delay he passed over into Flanders At his Arrival in Flanders he found the King's Armies in the Field before him and in the Spanish Territories The King having taken a Resolution to be upon the defensive and sent his Orders to the Marshal de Villeroy who was to Command the French Army in the Lower Flanders to possess himself at the beginning of the Campaign of some advantageous Post from whence he might both observe the Enemies Motions and prevent their Designs and subsist in their Territories till the end of the Campaign The Army near the Meuse was Commanded by the Marshal de Bouflers who pursuant to the King's Orders had divided his Army into four several Bodies at such a convenient distance as to be able to join upon any occasion and at the same time to cover the French Conquests All the measures taken by the Confederates being broken by these seasonable Precautions they were forced to consume their own Territories all the Summer long without being able to undertake a Siege or come to an Engagement though they appear'd more formidable now than ever Their Fleet consisted of an Hundred and Thirty Sail but did no other feats but to burn a few Houses at Calais near the Sands of Cologne and at St. Martins They had three Armies in the Low-Countries one consisting of five and twenty or thirty Thousand Men under the Command of the Prince of Vaudemont in the Lower Flanders which however was not strong enough to Encounter the Marshal de Villeroy who Forraged to the very Gates of Ghent and exacted Contributions from all the circumjacent Countries Their Grand Army at least half as strong again threatned sometimes one sometimes another Place with a Siege but could not meet with a favourable opportunity to put it in Execution A third Army of eighteen or twenty Thousand Men all Germans advanced towards the side of Namur under the Command of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassal They remain'd in that Post for about a Month when for want of Pay or opportunity of being employed in Flanders they returned towards the Rhine Neither did the Confederates act with much better Success on the German side The Prince of Baden keeping close within his Lines till the latter end of August not thinking it adviseable to meet the Marshal de Choiseul who had passed the Rhine with the French Army and stayed on this side near six Weeks After the return of the Landgrave of Hesse the Prince of Baden passed the Rhine and in Conjunction with the rest Marched towards Philipsbourgh without attempting any thing against the Place They afterwards advanced nearer the Marshal but spent the rest of their time in Cannonading one anothers Camp without coming to an Engagement The Duke of Vendosme had but a small Army in Catalonia more considerable for the goodness of his Troops than their Number Yet he remained Master of the Field all that Campaign being belov'd and esteem'd by the Inhabitants of the Country and dreaded by the Spaniards He defeated the Body of their Cavalry much Superiour in number of Squadrons to his He demolish'd many of their Castles which served them for places of Retreat He observed so closely