The history of the campagne in Flanders, for the year 1697 together with a journal of the siege of Ath, and a summary account of the negotiations of the general peace at Ryswick / by Edward D'Auvergne ...

THE HISTORY OF THE Campagne IN FLANDERS, For the Year 1697.

HAving given the Publick an Account of ſeveral of the former Campagnes, in which the Reader could find but little pleaſure beſides the ſatisfaction of knowing the Truth of ſeveral Matters of Fact in the Tragical Scenes of the moſt Tedious, Cruel and Deſtructive War that has been known for many Ages in Chriſtendom, if we conſider the Univerſalneſs of its Extent with the Duration of it; and wherein his Thoughts could be entertain'd with nothing but Toilſom and Fatiguing Marches and Countermarches between Oppoſite Armies, ſome to Execute, others to Fruſtrate Deſignes, and others barely to ſubſiſt at the Coſt and Charges of the Poor Husbandmen, and of a Miſerable Countrey. (For what elſe makes up the Subject of ſuch Hiſtories, can contain little beſides the unwelcom account of the Effuſion of but too much Chriſtian Blood in Cruel Battles, Bloody Sieges, and Barbarous Bombarding, Burning and Deſtroying of Towns and Villages, ſome to ſatisfie and others to withſtand the Ambition of Princes) I have thought I could do no leſs than bring thoſe Accounts to that happy Period we find in the preſent Bleſſings of a General Peace; eſpecially, when for this very reaſon the Hiſtory of the laſt Campagne muſt yet be the moſt acceptable that has been given to the Publick concerning the late War.

I muſt Confeſs nevertheleſs that little can be ſaid in this Relation to the Advantage of the Allies; for the moſt that could have been expected during the laſt Campagne from them, conſidering how much they were over power'd of the French by the ſeparate Peace of Savoy and Italy, had been to have ſtood effectually upon their Defence; which I believe could yet have been done, if the Germans had taken the Field as early upon the Rhine as we did in Flanders, or that the Spaniſh Government were capable of any manner of Vigour to have provided by times for the Defence of Barcelona (the only place they had to look after in Catalonia) by which they could have baulk'd at once the whole deſignes of the French for the Campagne on that ſide: However, this very thing includes more Real Glory than all the Triumphs and Victories our Great Monarch could have reap'd in the Bloody Fields of War; (beſides the great Happineſs it is attended with for all his People) that at the End of it we can ſee the moſt Formidable Power of Chriſtendom, a Power, that for many years had reſiſted the Confederate Attempts of moſt of the Princes and States of Europe, a Power, that ſeem'd to have tir'd the Allies more than it ſelf by a long and expenſive War; a Power, that with all theſe Advantages, deſign'd no leſs than our Kings Ruin, with that of our Religion, Lawes and Liberties, oblig'd to ſeek Peace with us, and yield to his Majeſty the juſt and quiet poſſeſſion of the Crown's he wears, to the great Comfort and Happineſs of His People under his Eaſie and Auſpicious Government, which, with the ſecurity of all that can be dear to a Nation, muſt promiſe us all the Bleſſings, that can be expected from Peace abroad, and a great and flouriſhing Trade at home: And that even all the advantages which this great and formidable power has had over the Allies in the Courſe of the laſt Campagne have only ſerv'd as a means to procure it a quicker and more ſpeedy accommodation with them, inſtead of prolonging a then unſucceſsful War on their ſide. This is what I am now to Relate, and which muſt give much more Satisfaction to the Honeſt Reader, than if I were to ſpeak of Battles won and other Warlike Triumph's and Victory's; and therefore a Subject which, without any farther preface, I ſhall enter immediately upon.

The Campagne of 1696. had produc'd nothing extraordinary, beſides the extraordinary, though not new, proceedings of the Court of Savoy in making an underhand Treaty with France ſeparate from the Allies, expreſly contrary to the Tenour of the Offenſive and Defenſive Alliance the Duke had enter'd in with them, beſides other Obligations he had to them. And though the Conditions offer'd him by the French were very Advantagious, yet it has ſo evidently appear'd ſince, in the whole Courſe of Affairs, that France wanted Peace, (all its Succeſſes during the laſt Campagne having been made uſe of to no other purpoſe than to oblige the Allies to this very thing) that we need not doubt but the Duke of Savoy would at leaſt have had as good Terms in a general Treaty, and the Allies certainly much better, when France, by the diverſion of the War of Italy, would have been fruſtrated of thoſe Succeſſes it has had in Catalonia and Flanders, which have inabled it in a manner to give the Law in the General Treaty of Ryſwick. But 'tis not the firſt time the Court of Savoy has made uſe of ſuch Politicks; we ſhall find the ſame Management in the War about the Succeſſion of Mantua, and the putting of Pignerol in the hands of the French, contrary to the Treaty of Quieraſque, which place has now been reſcued out of their hands by the very ſame Methods; when (as the event has ſhew'd it) 'tis plain enough he could have had the ſame Condition by ſticking to the Obligations of the Offenſive and Defenſive Alliance and leaving things to the fair and juſt Iſſue of a General Treaty: And yet notwithſtanding this ſeparate Treaty, 'tis the Opinion of ſeveral people, that France would not have been much the better for it, but certainly Savoy much the worſe, if the Emperour and King of Spain had continued the War in Italy, as it ſeems to have been their Intereſt, eſpecially at a time when there were Overtures of a General Peace: The moſt that France could have done in ſuch a Caſe would have been the taking of Valence; whereas the Spaniards would have had the whole Winter before them in putting the Milane's in a poſture of Defence, in getting Forces from the Empire, and increaſing their own Troops by the help of England and Holland, who, tis to be preſum'd, would have given the ſame aſſiſtance, upon the account of Milan as they had done before to the Duke of Savoy: By this means Italy would have had a greater ſhare in the Burden of the War, and whatever Succeſs the French could have propos'd to themſelves the Campagne following on this ſide, yet 'tis evident that Spain would have had this advantage by it, that it would have ſav'd Barcelona, and warded that great blow it has receiv'd at home; and the Allies would have been able by the diverſion of Italy to have acted offenſively both upon the Rbine and Flanders. Theſe were the viſible Conſequences of a War in Italy; and therefore becauſe the Emperor and King of Spain agreed to the Peace on that ſide contrary to their Intereſt and that of the Allyes in General, ſeveral perſons begun to ſuſpect the Popiſh Princes as if they had a deſign to leave the Proteſtants in the Lurch, and the Bigots of the Church of Rome fed themſelves with hopes of a Religious War in which they thought of nothing leſs than the Extirpation of what they are pleas'd to call Hereſie. But the Emperour and King of Spain could not be impos'd upon by this pretext of Religion, they knew very well, that if England and Holland had been left ingag'd in a War with the French King, all the advantages he would have had by it would onely have made more firm and laſting Fetters for themſelves; and 'tis therefore probable that the Emperour and King of Spain joyn'd in this Peace of Italy at the Popes moſt earneſt Sollicitations, who though his Mediation ſignified little on the other ſide of the Alpes, yet was very deſirous of ſeeing Peace at his own doors, and us'd conſequently all his Induſtry and Intereſt to bring it about. And if ſuch were the vain and groundleſs hopes of the Popiſh Bigots abroad, our Jacobites were no leſs elevated at home upon this ſeparate Treaty of Savoy and the conſequent Treaty for the Peace of Italy; they could imagine no leſs than that the French King would force every one of the Allies in the Continent of Europe one after another to make up an accommodation, and thus, that nothing would remain for him but to deal with England, and bend all his Forces upon it for the reeſtabliſhment of the late King; But they both have been very much deceiv'd in the event, which does now convince the World, that the French King aim'd particularly at coming by this means the ſooner to a General Peace with all the Allyes, and to have ſo much the better Terms for himſelf.

And indeed, at that very time that theſe things were Tranſacting in Italy ſo much to the prejudice of the General Intereſt of the Allyes, the French King had an Agent in Holland to make overtures of a General Peace; and the Duke of Savoy made uſe of this very pretext to excuſe the Treaty he had made apart with France, in his Letter to the Elector of Brandenbourgh; he was jealous, or rather pretended to be ſo, of the States having receiv'd an Agent from France to treat with them, and therefore he thought that he might very well treat for himſelf.

Monſieur de Callieres (as we have ſaid it in our precedent Hiſtory) had come to Holland with a paſſe from the States at the very opening of the Campagne, and reſided privately at Delft the whole Summer to negotiate Affairs with ſome of the States Miniſters in order to come to a General Treaty; this occaſion'd ſo many Journeys which Monſieur Dyckvelt made between Holland and the Camp in Brabant to give an account to the King and receive His Majeſty's inſtructions; But whether the uncertain ſtate of the King of Spain's Health, who had a moſt dangerous fit of ſickneſs the latter end of the Summer, made the French delay and ſpin away time in their Offers, or that the Imperialiſts and Spaniards were unwilling to hear of reducing things no farther than the Treaty of Nimeguen, the King of Swedens Mediation was not accepted in due Form by the French King and the Congreſs of the Allies at the Hague, till the Campagne was over, or rather till the beginning of the Winter; upon which the Baron de Lillienroot the Swediſh Miniſter at the Hague receiv'd full powers from Stockholme to manage the Mediatour's part in the Congreſs that ſhould be held for the concluding of a General Peace between France and the Allies. Things being brought thus far towards a Treaty, the ſeveral Princes concern'd begun to appoint Ambaſſadors and Plenipotentiaries for it, of which I ſhall onely mention the Principal: On the Emperours ſide were nam'd the Count de Caunitz his Ambaſſadour and Plenipotentiary at the Congreſs of the Allies at the Hague, Count Straatman, and the Baron de Zeilern: On his Majeſty of Great Britains, the Earl of Pembrook, my Lord Viſcount Villiers (now E. of Jerſey) His Majeſty's Ambaſſador to the States and Plenipotentiary at the Congreſs of the Allies at the Hague, and Sir Joſ. Williamſon, to whom was joyn'd afterwards in Commiſſion, as third Plenipotentiary Ambaſſador my L. Lexinton His Majeſties Ambaſſador at Vienna, as 'twere proviſionally; for during the whole Congreſs he did not leave the Imperial Court. On the French Kings behalf were nam'd M. de Harlay Boneuil, Monſieur de Courtin, who not being able to attend upon this great imployment by reaſon of his great age and a blindneſs that ſeiz'd him immediately after his Nomination, Count de Crecy Verjus was appointed in his ſtead as ſecond, and the third Monſieur de Calliere before hand in Holland as his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty's Agent to make the Overtures of a Treaty. On the behalf of Spain were nam'd Don Barnardo de Quiros, the King of Spain's Ambaſſadour to the States General and Plenipotentiary at the Congreſs of the Allies at the Hague, and the Count de Tirimont, to whom the Elector of Bavaria joyn'd the Baron de Preylmeyer to take care of his own particular Intereſt. For the States General were nam'd Meſſieurs Boreel, Dyckvelt, and Van Haren; all theſe had the Character of Ambaſſadours Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaries, as well as the Mediatour. The reſt I ſhall leave to thoſe who write particularly the Account of the Negotiations of this Peace to account for.

After the accepting the Mediation of Sweden, and the naming of Plenipotentiary Ambaſſadours by the Chief Powers concern'd, Monſieur de Callieres who hitherto had kept up very privately in Holland and moſtly at Delft, took upon him the publick Character of the French Kings Miniſter, and had very frequent Conferences with the Miniſters of the States in the preſence of the Mediatour, or particularly among themſelves to ſettle the Preliminaries, in order to come to a place of Treaty. Monſieur d'Avaux the French Ambaſſadour at Stockholm had made ſeveral offers to the Court of Sweden in order to open the way to a General Treaty by the Mediation of that Crown, not onely during the Campagne of 1696. but alſo, in the Winter 1694. which the Allies pretended to have been more advantagious, than thoſe given by Monſieur de Callieres at the Hague; This created ſome conteſt about ſettling the Preliminaries, and therefore retarded that Buſineſs for ſome time; however the French Court having inſiſted upon Monſieur de Callieres offers as the onely authentick ones, the Preliminaries were at laſt agreed upon and ſign'd by the Mediatour in preſence of Monſieur de Callieres and Meſſieurs Boreel and Dyckvelt, the 31th. of January old Style, of which this was the Subſtance.

Monſieur de Callieres, having communicated his full power from the French King for this purpoſe to the Mediatour, did declare in the French King his Maſters Name, that in order to a General Treaty of Peace, his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty Conſented and Agreed,

1. That the Treaties of Weſtphalia and Nimoguen ſhould be the Baſis and Foundation of the Treaty to be made with the Allies. 2. To Reſtore to the Empire the Town of Strasbourg in the Condition it was when taken by his Majeſty. 3. To Reſtore to the King of Spain the Town of Luxembourgh in the ſtate 'tis now in. 4. The Towns of Mons and Charloroy as they are at preſent. 5. All places in Catalonia in the Kings poſſeſſion which have been taken ſince the Treaty of Nimeguen in the ſtate they were when taken. 6. To the Biſhop of Liege the Town and Caſtle of Dinant in the ſtate they were at the taking of them. 7. All the Reunions made ſince the Peace of Nimeguen. 8. Lorrain according to the Conditions of the ſaid Treaty.

Monſieur de Callieres having made the ſaid declaration to the Mediatour in the preſence of Monſieur Dyckvelt, they went afterwards to the Sieur Boreels Houſe, who, becauſe of his indiſpoſition could not come to the Mediatours as it had been agreed, and the Mediatour having follow'd them thither, Meſſieurs Dyckvelt and Boreel did: ſignifie to him in Monſieur de Callieres preſence that they had agreed, that upon the Concluſion and Signing of the Peace, the Moſt Chriſtian King ſhould Recognize the Prince of Orange for King of Great Britain without any Difficulty, Reſtriction, Condition or Reſerve; which Monſieur de Callieres confirm'd to the Mediatour in the name of his Moſt Chriſtian Majeſty, all which was accordingly Enter'd and Sign'd by the Mediatour in his A Signing Book kept by the Mediatour. Protocol the 31th. January. 10th. February, 1697.

Moſt people, eſpecially thoſe who are Well-wiſhers to the Kings Perſon and Government, expected that His Majeſty ſhould have been acknowledg'd by the French for King of Great Britain in the Preliminaries, as a neceſſary ſtep without which no General Treaty could be thought of, wherein His Majeſties Ambaſſadours ſhould not be receiv'd by the French as Ambaſſadours from the King of Great Britain; but the French Court would not yield to this Point, becauſe if the Treaty ſhould break off, yet the King would gain thereby the onely difficulty that was to be regulated between England and France; the other difficulties being but inconſiderable and eaſily accommodated, and therefore offer'd that it was ſufficient (ſeeing the caſe was ſo) that His Majeſty ſhould be acknowledgd for King of Great Britain at the Concluſion and Signing of the Treaty. His Majeſty preferring the Peace and Quiet of Europe to what at the bottom was but a meer Formality, Conſented that the Negotiations ſhould be manag'd this way, being ſatisfied with the Guaranty of Sweden upon this point in the Preliminaries: And notwithſtanding that the French King did not acknowledge His Majeſty till the Signing of the Peace, yet the whole Treaty was ſo manag'd at Ryſwick that our Ambaſſadours and Plenipotentiaries met with nothing that might derogate in the leaſt from the Honour due to Miniſters of that Character from the Crown of England: However his Majeſties Domeſtick Enemies had ſome hopes upon this account, and they thought themſelves in no ill Condition by it. As for the Imperial Miniſter, the Count de Caunitz, he was not preſent at the Signing of the Preliminaries, becauſe the French allow'd no other Conditions in them for the Duke of Lorrain but thoſe of Nimeguen, which had been proteſted againſt in due Form by the laſt Duke of Lorrain, and which neither the Emperour nor the preſent Duke could ever accept of.

Affairs being brought thus far towards a General Treaty as to have the Preliminaries Sign'd by the Mediatour, no other difficulty remain'd to hinder the opening of the Congreſs but the agreeing upon the Place of Treaty. Breda, Maeſtricht or Nimeguen were ſometimes propos'd by the French, other people talk'd of Ʋtrecht, the Imperialiſts were for having the Congreſs in Germany either at Cologne or Aix la Chappelle, but the Emperour was very backward in explaining himſelf upon this Article; his Miniſter ſtill inſiſted at the Hague to have the Buſineſs of Lorrain put in a way of accommodation before the Place of Treaty was nam'd; for, though the French made no other overture in the Preliminaries for the Dutchy of Lorrain but the Treaty of Nimeguen, yet France gave hopes of better Conditions for that Duke when-once it ſhould come to a Treaty; the Imperial Court would have had theſe Conditions explain'd in the Preliminaries, but France would not conſent to it: Theſe Conteſtations took up a great deal of time, and prov'd a great obſtacle to the agreeing upon a Place to Treat in; In the mean while the French and the Dutch pitch'd upon a place of Treaty, which I dare ſay is the moſt convenient that can be met with in Chriſtendom for ſuch a Buſineſs, and that was His Majeſties Royal Palace at Ryſwick, ſo ſituated that it has the advantage of two large and populous Towns juſt by it, being not above an Engliſh Mile from the Hague, and two from Delft; where conſequently the Ambaſſadors on both ſides could Lodge themſelves conveniently without being preſs'd for Scarcity of Lodging, or impos'd upon in the Exceſſive Rates of Houſes, both which inconveniencies muſt have been the Conſequence of having the Treaty in any one Town of Holland beſides, or Germany, and were ſufficiently felt in the Congreſs of Nimeguen: Beſides, the French were to come from Delft to Ryſwick one way, and the Allies from the Hague another directly oppoſite, ſo that no unlucky meeting of Coaches, and wrangling for precedency could ever happen to interrupt the Negotiations.

This Palace is call'd the Houſe of Newbourgh, built aſide of the Village of Ryſwick, about two Bowes ſhot to the Weſt, by Frederick Henry Prince of Orange His Majeſties Grandfather, and is a Fabrick of Modern Architecture, onely a little too low, conſiſting of three Pavillons or Piles of Buildings upon a Line, joyn'd together by two Galleries, all of Free Stone and of an equal Height; the Front of the Houſe looks to the Hague Northwards, and the back with the Gardens towards Delft Southwards, and therefore it afforded all the Accommodations that could poſſibly be deſir'd for a Congreſs to Negotiate a Peace; an Apartment in the Center for the Mediator, and one upon the Right and another upon the Left for the two different Parties, whereby no manner of Diſpute could happen about the going out or coming in, and ſuch other accidents which it has been very difficult to Regulate in other Places. Moſt of the Allies agreed immediately that a Palace ſo conveniently ſituated, and having ſuch Accommodations to prevent any differences about the Ceremonial, ſhould be the Place of Treaty, and accordingly His Majeſty order'd it forthwith to be Repaired, and the States had it handſomly Furniſh'd for ſuch an occaſion; and certainly it could ſignifie no leſs than a good Omen to his Majeſties Affairs, that after ſo long and cruel a War, wherein the French had done whatever lay in their power to diſpute his poſſeſſion of the Britiſh Throne, yet at laſt they very willingly came to Treat of Peace in his own Houſe.

Whilſt theſe advances were making towards a General Treaty, there were no leſs preparations in the Frontiers between France and the Allies than if it had been the very middle of the War; and indeed 'tis very neceſſary to be more cautious than uſual in ſuch a Conjuncture, becauſe the Succeſſes of War have then a very great influence upon the Negotiations of Peace and muſt give him that is Maſter of the Field conſiderable Advantages in it, to which he could not pretend before; and therefore 'tis a certain Maxim, that all Governments concern'd, muſt during ſuch Treaties, rather increaſe than ſlacken their Warlike preparations, and that the onely way to make an Honourable Peace is with the Sword in one's hand and not in the Scabbard. The French according to this Principle were reſolv'd to make the beſt uſe they could againſt the Allies of the advantage they had over them by the ſeparate Peace of Italy, and the Allies on their ſide were providing for a vigorous defence, eſpecially in Flanders and upon the Rhine, in order to fruſtrate the deſigns of the French King, who endeavour'd to bring down all his Forces that way; and for that reaſon many Intreagues and ſecret Negotiations were carried on at Rome, and between Turin and Milan to compaſs a Neutrality in Catalonia, which France was very deſirous of, and therefore offer'd upon ſuch a Conſideration to reſtore to the King of Spain all the Towns and Places which had been taken on that ſide ſince the Peace of Nimeguen; but it was at laſt refus'd by the King of Spain and his Council, as a thing which might endanger the whole Loſs of Flanders, beſides other more fatal Conſequences to the Houſe of Auſtria and to the Liberties of Europe in General: But when all is done, I do not know what harm could have happen'd to the Allies by this Neutrality, if Spain could have been inabled thereby to have kept as good an Army for the defence of Flanders as it had in Catalonia; I am ſure the Allies would not have been the weaker for it this way, and the Frontiers they had to defend would then have been brought within a mutual Defence and Communication, the want of which has been the reaſon that the French have ſtill acted as they pleas'd both in Piedmont and Catalonia, eſpecially in the Campagne of 1696, notwithſtanding that in the whole they were not ſtronger than the Allies. But ſo much Vigour was not to be expected from Spain, or elſe France would not have propos'd it, and therefore the Allies had all the reaſon in the World to oppoſe that Neutrality; on the contrary the Troops it had to ſpare in Italy, ſince the Peace on that ſide, were altogether ſunk to the Allies, and ſerv'd onely to make the Ballance fall with ſo much the more weight for the French, as the Scale on our ſide was ſo much the lighter without them. But whatever reaſon there may be to complain of the Weakneſs of the Spaniſh proceedings during the whole War, yet their Fidelity to the Allies in refuſing this Neutrality offer'd by the French in ſo neceſſary a conjuncture for them, deſerves a Commendation; and if their Efforts had but in the leaſt anſwer'd their Honeſty in continuing the War on that ſide, it may be preſum'd that the French would not have taken Barcelona.

This obſtinacy of Spain in rejecting the Neutrality offer'd for Catalonia quite alter'd the Meaſures of the French for the operations of the following Campagne, and whereas they deſign'd to bend all their Forces upon the Rhine and in Flanders, and to bring for that end all the Troops that had ſerv'd under Catinat in Piedmont, upon their Frontier this way, they were now oblig'd to ſend a great Detachment of them to Quarter in Languedoc and Provence for the making up of their Army in Catalonia the following Campagne; however they brought as many as poſſibly they could of the Troops of Italy towards Germany and Flanders, and Quarter'd moſt of them between the Moſelle and the Meuſe, and the reſt in their Frontier towards Brabant. The Allies withdrew at the ſame time their Forces out of Italy, and having paſs'd ſome through the Countrey of the Griſons and others through the County of Tirol, came into Germany and were all Quarter'd in the Circles of Suabia and Franconia, except the Imperial Cavalry which March'd into Bohemia in order to ſerve in Hungary. But this could in no wiſe anſwer the Number which the French brought by this Peace to act againſt the Allies in Flanders and Germany, all the Duke of Savoy's and the King of Spain's Troops in Italy were wholly loſt to us by it, which amounted to no leſs than 31 Squadrons and 16 Battallions which the Spaniards had there in the Field in the year 1696, and 17 Squadrons of Savoy, and 13 Battallions: All the Reinforcement therefore which the Allies got upon the Rhine conſiſted of no more than five or ſix Battalions of the Emperours, ſix of His Majeſty of Great Britains being Refugies, four of Brandenbourg, and two of Bavaria being in all about 20 Battallions, or ten thouſand Men: The Circles of Suabia and Franconia took our Six Battallions of Refugies into their Service for the Campagne following, beſides ſeveral new Levy's they made for the defence of thoſe Circles, having reſolv'd together in an Aſſembly of their Deputies to have 60000 Men for their defence; becauſe the French threaten'd Germany with a powerful Invaſion in the Summer, and to enter it with two Armies to be Commanded by the Mareſchals of Choiſeul and Catinat, and theſe Circles, if they did not provide for their ſafety, muſt have been the greateſt Sufferers by it. Thus the Allies became near 20000 Men the weaker by the Peace of Italy, and conſequently the French ſo much the ſtronger, and this chiefly is due to Spain in not bringing over their Troops which they had in Italy, for the defence of Catalonia, where a Re-inforcement of ſix or ſeven Regiments onely could have put it in a poſture to have baffled the French Deſignes; and notwithſtanding that the Winter was the moſt proper Seaſon for ſuch a Tranſportation, when the French Gallies could not keep the Sea, and that they could then have ſlipt them over one after another, yet onely one or two Regiments got this way into Catalonia, and when the Summer came it was too late.

But if Spain was ſo backward in providing for the defence of Catalonia, the reſt of the Allies were more active elſewhere and eſpecially in Flanders, where all poſſible care was taken to oppoſe the deſignes of the French; and becauſe their Garriſons were now crowded upon their Frontiers this way, and conſequently that they might have been ſtirring in the Winter if they could have ſurpriz'd us any where, ſo all our Troops Quarter'd in Flanders, as Ghendt, Bruges, Oſtend and Newport, and thoſe Quarter'd behind the Canals upon the Countrey had orders to be ſtill in a readineſs to March upon the firſt Signal; which was ſo contriv'd, that in an Flours time the Allarm could be given in all the Quarters between Ghendt and Newport, by means of ſeveral Beacons, or Fire-pots which they had ready at every Guard upon the Canals of Bruges, Oſtend and Newport to be hoiſted up to the Top of a high pole, which Signal was to be taken upon the right and left from poſt to poſt, Cannon being to be fir'd at the ſame time where they had it, or a Volley of ſmall ſhot from the Guard, and the Towns of Ghendt, Bruges and Newport were to take or give the Allarm by having ſuch Lights upon their higheſt Steeples or Towers, where there is always a Watch Night and Day, and Firing of ſo many Guns. This was the Contrivance of Monſieur Ivoy Quarter-Maſter General of the Dutch Army in Flanders, and the Experiment of it being made one Night, it was found that the Allarm was given from Newport to Ghendt, which is fourteen Leagues by the Canals, in leſs than an Hours time. The ſame Method was taken between Ghendt, Dendermond and Willebrook by Lights and Firing of Cannon, from whence it was to be carried by the Guards upon the Canal to Bruſſels, all which could be done in Two Hours time being the diſtance of 24 Leagues. This was ſufficient to cover all the Countrey behind the Canals and the Scheldt during the Winter, and to hinder our being ſurpriz'd in any of thoſe Quarters; but the great difficulty was about Namur, for the Winter was very hard, and the Meuſe ſhut up very early with a Violent Froſt, inſomuch that there was no getting of Convoys into the place from Maeſtricht and Liege by Water; and the Froſty Weather continuing very obſtinate till the Moneth of March, all the Waggons between Liege, Maeſtricht and St. Tron were ſummon'd to carry a great quantity of Proviſions and Ammunition into this place, which was happily executed accordingly before the breaking of the Froſt under a ſtrong Eſcorte compos'd of Detachments from all the Garriſons thereabouts without any Oppoſition from the French; but then as ſoon as the Rivers were open, (and 'tis obſervable that this great and long Froſt went away without a drop of Rain) another great Convoy of all manner of Stores and Proviſions was ſent thither by Water from Maeſtricht, of which Count de Guiſcard Governour of Dinant having Notice he drew out ſeveral Detachments of the Garriſons of the Meuſe to indeavour to intercept it, with which he came into the Condros, but our Generals upon the Meuſe were ſo watchful that Count de Guiſcard miſs'd his deſign, and Namur was ſufficiently provided with all manner of Stores for the whole Summer.

This is an Abſtract of the moſt material Tranſactions of the Winter, and Spring being now coming on, we were reſolv'd if poſſibly, to be before hand with the French in the Field, as the onely means to hinder them from making any conſiderable progreſs in Flanders with the great and Numerous Armies they were now like to have againſt the Allies: His Majeſty being deſirous to have his own Forces to act under him in Brabant with Prince Vaudemont, and that the Elector with the Prince of Naſſau Sarbruck ſhould Command in Flanders with the Spaniſh and Bavarian Troops and thoſe of the States; whereupon Orders were ſent to have the Quarters chang'd according to this diſpoſition. The Duke of Wirtemberg had then been viſiting the Winter-quarters, when being return'd to his Head-quarter at Ghendt the laſt day of February, he met with an Order from the Prince to meet him at Antwerp the next day, where a great Council of War was held, the Prince of Vaudemont, the Duke of Wirtemberg, the Prince of Commercy (who had come from Vienna to Bruſſels this Winter to Viſit the Prince and Princeſs) the Marqueſs de Bedmar and Mr. Hill being preſent, and the King's pleaſure was ſignified by the Prince about the diſpoſition of the two Armies we were to have in the Field the following Campagne, the Exchanging of Quarters accordingly and the providing of things neceſſary for the Engliſh in Brabant, and the ſame for the Dutch in Flanders; After this Conference, the Prince, and the Prince of Commercy with the Marqueſs de Bedmar went back to Bruſſels, and the Duke of Wirtemberg to Ghendt, where he was no ſooner come but he met with another Order to go to Bruſſels; being arriv'd the Second of March in this Town, a great Council of War was held in the Electors Preſence, and the Routes and Quarters were ſettled for the exchanging of the Troops between Brabant and Flanders, and Patents diſpatch'd accordingly, and Monſieur Ivoy, who acted as Quarter-maſter General for the Army of Flanders, was ſent immediately that very night after the Reſolutions taken in the Council of War, to the Magiſtrates of Ghendt and Bruges to provide Bilanders, Waggons and other things neceſſary for the March of the Troops. In the mean while the two French Plenipotentiaries, Monſieur de Harlay and the Count de Crecy, being come from Paris by the way of Liſle and Courtray, arrived at Ghendt the 3d. in order to proſecute their Voyage for Holland; Our Guard at Bruges Porte took no notice of March. them, becauſe they had not yet acknowledg'd His Majeſty for King of England, but oblig'd them to produce their Paſs at the Gate before they came into the Town, the Magiſtrates receiv'd them on their ſide with all the Joy and Civility poſſible, and ſeeing that our Forces Quarter'd there could not give them the Compliment of a Guard upon their quarter, a Detachment of Spaniards was ſent out of the Citadel with Colours, Commanded by a Captain for this purpoſe. The next day they went to the Sas of Ghendt, where they went on Board of the States Yachts ſent thither to carry them by Water to Delft, where their third Colleague Monſieur de Callieres expected them.

Every thing being ready for the March of the Troops according to the above mention'd Reſolutions, the Engliſh Foot began to move towards Brabant on the 6th. of March. The Regiments of Churchill, Seymour, Webb and Frederick Hamilton March'd from Ghendt to Louvain under the Command of Major General Churchill. The two Battalions of the Royal Regiment, and the Regiments of Fairfax and Ingoldesby March'd from Bruges to Bruſſels, being Commanded by Brigadier Fairfax, and thoſe of Saunderſon, Tiffin and Ferguſon from Oſtend to Malines, under the Command of Brigadier Tiffin, and were exchang'd by the Regiments of Weed, Dohna, Sparre and Groningue Guards from Bruſſels to Ghendt; Fagel, Carles, la Mothe and Schack (being the Regiment of the late Major General Holle) from Louvain to Bruges; and from Malines to Oſtend came the Hanover Guards, the Hanover Regiment of Cinqvilles, and that of Willekens. All the Engliſh Regiments, the Guards excepted, were to leave two Companies per Battallion in the Quarters from whence they remov'd in Flanders, and all the Dutch one in their Quarters in Brabant or Frontier of Holland, to have by this means the Garriſons kept during the Summer by detach'd Companies, and conſequently more Battallions in the Field though the leſs ſtrong, but reduc'd by this Method as near as could be to the Strength and Complement of thoſe of the French; this likewiſe made the Dutch Regiments equal with the Engliſh, which Conſiſted moſt of Twelve Companies, but the Engliſh leaving two Companies in Garriſon and the Dutch one, they all equally conſiſted of Eleven Companies each Battallion, except the Swiſſers, whoſe Companies conſiſt of 200 each, and four in a Battallion. The 13th. the Engliſh Guards being two Battallions, the Fuſiliers and the Regiments of Collingwood and Naſſau from Ghendt, and the Scots Guards, Howe, Sir David Collier, and Sir Matthew Bridges's Regiments from Bruges, Maitland from the Pays de Nort and Rowe, (being the Regiment which was lately Colonel Robert Mackays) from the Camerling, march'd towards the Canal of Bruſſels, the firſt Five being Commanded by Count Naſſau Lieutenant General to Cantoon juſt by Bruſſels between the Canal and the way to Halle in the Villages of Berckem, Jette, Ganſhoren, Dylbeck, Stroombeck and Beveren, Count Naſſau took his Quarter at the Chaſteau de Riviere, within half a League of Bruſſels; the laſt Six by Major General Ramſay and Cantoon'd at Grimberg, Mais, Londerſeel, Wolverthem, Capelle and Ramsdonck. The Regiments of Denhoff (being that of Brandenbourg in His Majeſties Service) from the Camerling, Fuhnen from the Pays de Nort and Prince Frederick from the Canal of Bruges being joyn'd the 17th. by Colonel Stanley's Regiment, the Daniſh Guards, and the Regiment of Juitland at Ghendt, March'd the ſame way under the Command of the Marqueſs de Mirmont Major General to Cantoon at Aſche, Maſelle, Bardeghem, Mellem, Bollenbeeck, Steinhuffel and Merchtem; Major General Ramſay took his Quarter at Grimberg, and Mirmont at Aſche. Theſe Quarters were enlarg'd in other Villages on both ſides the Canal, and the Battallions of the Fuſiliers, Collingwood, Bridges, Naſſan and Denhoff, Cantoon'd between Bruſſels, Vilvorde and Malines.

Beſides the above mention'd Dutch Regiments which came from Bruſſels and Louvain to Ghendt and Bruges, (not to mention thoſe that remov'd from Malines to Oſtend being upon Engliſh pay) ſeveral Regiments of Foot which had quarter'd at Liege and Maeſtricht were already Cantoon'd about St. Tron and Tirlemont in Order to March into Flanders as ſoon as the Engliſh ſhould remove into Brabant, among whom were a Battallion of the Friſeland Guards, the Regiments of Arſholt and Holſtein Norburg from Liege; Dedem, a Swiſs Battalion of Lochman and two of Capol from Maeſtricht: which Regiments got into Flanders immediately after the March of our Infantry and Quarter'd in Ghendt and Bruges, beſides thoſe of Lindeboom, Craſſau and Ranſaw from Tirlemont being follow'd by two Battallions of Swerin from Liege, Margrave Lodowick from Huy, the Walloon Regiment of Naſſau Sarbruck from Malines and Tettau from Dieſt: The reſt of the Dutch Infantry being Quarter'd in Holland or the Frontier towards Brabant and Germany came by Water to the Ses of Ghendt, among whom were a Battallion of Friſeland Guards from Friſeland, Obergen from Zutphen, Marquet from Boisleduc, and young Holſtein from Grave. The Dutch which were to make up part of His Majeſties Army in Brabant March'd at the ſame time out of their Quarters towards the Frontier about Louvain and Tirlemont, except what was neceſſary for the Guard of Liege and Maeſtricht where 'twas thought neceſſary to leave ſeveral Regiments till we had ſecur'd ſome convenient Camp to cover the Countrey; theſe therefore did not March out till we took the Field, nor the Garriſons of Namur and Bruſſels, out of which our Brabant Army was to be furniſhed with 16 or 17 Battallions. According to this diſpoſition, the Regiments of Slangenbourg and Beinham march'd from Haſſelt, and that of Saliſch from Liege to Tirlemont in the Room of thoſe gone to Flanders; the two Swiſſe Battallions of Tcharner came from Bergen op Zoom and the two Battallions of the ſame Nation of Milune from Breda to Cantoon about Louvain, Eſſen from Liege, Torſay from Worcum, Gorcum and Heuſden, and Weldern from Bois le duc near Tirlemont. All theſe Forces fill'd our Frontiers in Brabant and Flanders, and we were now in a Condition to take a Camp in either of thoſe two Provinces upon the firſt occaſion or motion of the Enemies in Four and Twenty Hours time: The Engliſh Cavalry was likewiſe to have remov'd at this time to come into Brabant from Ghendt, and the Dragoons from the Countrey behind the Canal of Bruges, and that part of the Dutch Horſe and Dragoons which was to ſerve in Flanders under Lieutenant General Opdam was to come in their places; but there were ſome great difficulties in exchanging of Magazines which oblig'd them on both ſides to keep to their Quarters. We had ſtill 21 Battallions of His Majeſties Troops left in Flanders, being all Strangers, French, Danes and Hanovers, except the Regiments of Brewer, Lauder, Walter Collier, Lorne, Buchan, George Hamilton and Strathnaver, which were to remain there to act under the Elector till he could be join'd by the Forces of Brandenbourg, (who upon theſe Motions on our ſide in Brabant and Flanders, had orders to march out of their Quarters in the Dutchies of Juliers and Cleves and the Electorat of Cologne, towards the Meuſe) theſe 21 Battallions were to be Commanded by Lieutenant General Bellaſis, with Major General La Meloniere and Count d' Alfeldt, and Brigadiers, Selwyn, Haxhauſen, Trelauny and Belcaſtel, and the Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons had orders to march when the Elector ſhould have occaſion for them.

This was not yet all the Care that was taken for the Safety and Preſervation of this Countrey, it was found that the Line made at Marykirk the laſt Year did not ſufficiently cover Ghendt with the inundation of the Meadows of Drongen, that there was ſtill a paſſage for the French between the Lys and the Scheld to come and Attack this place, or Bombard it from before the Gates of Courtray and St. Pierre, that it was therefore neceſſary to make a Line between the Lys and the Scheld to render this part of the Town inacceſſible: And to find the ſhorteſt cut that could be between theſe two Rivers, where a Line might be made with the leaſt Expence and the greater Strength, it was neceſſary to ſtop up the Lys and the Scheld to make an Inundation, and ſee how near they could be brought together by it; and thereupon the deſign was to have made a Line juſt between the Inundation of the two Rivers, which would then have been ſhort enough to be defended by a few Forces. The Sluyces were ſtopt at Ghendt both upon the Lys and the Scheld in purſuance of this Deſign, and their Effect anſwer'd fully our Expectation; for by this means not onely the Land between the Lys and the Scheld was very near overflow'd, and left but a very ſhort ſpace in the higheſt Ground for a Line, but all the flat Countrey between the upper and the lower Scheld before the Gate of St. Lievens Houthem and the Meadows and bleaching Yards within the Ramparts on this ſide were laid under Water. This makes the ſituation of Ghendt very advantagious for a good Defence, and yet the French took it in the Year 1678. with a great deal of Eaſe, juſt in the very midſt of the Negotiations for the Peace at Nimeguen, to ſave the Reſtoring of Ipres (which the Spaniards inſiſted very much upon) by the taking of this Place. It is ſaid that the French King had then promis'd King Charles, who was Mediatour of that Peace, (the Engliſh being very jealous of the French Progreſſes ſo near them, and the Parliament preſſing the King to declare War againſt France) that he would not puſh his Conqueſts any farther on that ſide; and when the Spaniſh Ambaſſadour acquainted the King with the Siege of Ghendt, his Majeſty relied ſo much upon this Promiſe that he could not at firſt believe it; however the Allies were ſurpriz'd by this Siege, may be, relying too much upon the Conſiderations which the French ſhould have had for England in ſuch a Conjuncture, and thus neglected to provide for the Defence of the Countrey hereabouts more than they would otherwiſe have done, to have a better Army in Brabant. But to return from this ſhort Digreſſion, Ghendt, with this Inundation and Line before St. Peters and the Courtray Portes, and the Line of Marykirk, would have been cover'd on all ſides from either Siege or Bombarding, except between the Canal of Bruges and the Seheld, where there was no great danger: But this Deſign went no farther than the Inundation, and the project of the Line was laid aſide: And may be 'twas undertaken onely to give the Elector a plauſible pretext to come to Ghendt in order to Execute our Deſigns upon the Camp of Deinſe without giving any Jealouſie to the French, as I am now going to relate it.

The Firſt of April the Elector of Bavaria leſt Bruſſels and came April. to Ghendt, in order, as 'twas given out to ſee the Inundation made about it, and to viſit the other Frontiers of Flanders. The Second, his Highneſs took a view of the Waters which now overflow'd the flat Countrey all about Ghendt; and the Third, Major General Dopſt Quarter-Maſter General of the States came there to confer with his Electoral Highneſs about the taking of the Field, and diſpoſitions were made for the ſecuring of the Camp of Deinſe the 10th, in the mean while the Elector deſign'd to go to Bruges and Newport; but on the 4th. being inform'd that a great Patrouille of the French had been hovering about Deinſe as if they had a deſign upon that Camp, it was reſolv'd immediately to ſecure it without any further delay, and a Council of War being held thereupon, orders were ſent that very Night to all the Infantry in Quarters in Ghendt, Bruges, Oſtend, Damme, and behind the Canals to March the next day; Monſieur de Ribeaucourt was commanded out at the ſhutting of the Gates, with 200 Spaniſh Horſe to poſt himſelf at Petegem on the other ſide of the Lys oppoſite to Deinſe, at Midnight Major General la Meloniere with a Detachment of 3800 Foot of the Garriſon of Ghendt march'd out of poſt himſelf in the Town of Deinſe and ſecure that place; a Bridge of Boats was likewiſe order'd to be made at Marykirk and another at Bellem for the paſſage of the Troops behind the Canal. On the 5th. the Electors Baggage march'd by times towards Bruges, as if His Highneſs would follow ſoon after; becauſe the day before he had given out his Journey for Newport upon this day, which, if it had been Countermanded upon the marching out of the Spaniſh Detachement of Horſe and of Major General la Meloniere with that of the Foot, would have diſcover'd the Deſign upon Deinſe, whereas now it paſs'd only for an Eſcorte to cover the Canal and hinder the French from coming near it during the Elector's Journey; His Highneſs having notice very early in the Morning that the Poſts about Deinſe and Nevel were ſecur'd, order'd his Baggage to go no farther than Marykirk only for a Blind and ſo to come back again, and got on Horſeback himſelf about Seven not to go Bruges but Deinſe and Nevel, where his Baggage follow'd; and all the Engliſh Cavalry had orders to march that way immediately without Baggage under the Command of Monſieur Auerquerque, only with two or three dayes Forrage. The 16 Battallions in Ghendt march'd the ſame day and incamp'd about half a League of the Town behind the Canal within the Retrenchment of Marykirk, and the 12 Battallions of Bruges with that of Damme, according to the Orders they had over Night, came this Day and incamp'd at Bellem being joyn'd by the Battallions of the Queen of Denmark, Zeland and young Holſtein, which had Quarter'd upon the Countrey behind the Canal of Bruges. The ſame day the Three Battallions in Garriſon at Oſtend, and the Three Quarter'd in the Pays de Nort, came to incamp between Bruges and Steinbrughe upon the Canal. The 6th. the Infantry incamp'd at Marykirk and Bellem, paſs'd the Canal upon the Bridges made at theſe two Places and came to form the Camp between Deinſe and Nevel, being in all 32 Battallions; and the Six incamp'd at Steinbrughe march'd to Bellem, and came to the Camp the 7th, which was now form'd of 38 Battallions with the Right at Nevel, where the Elector had his Quarter, and the Left upon the Lys at the Church of Bachtem, between Deinſe in the Front and the Caſtle of Oydonck in the Rear: And becauſe the Cavalry could not yet incamp in this Seaſon, all the Battallions, to fill up the Ground between Nevel and the Lys, incamp'd with the Companies in half depths, by which means every Battallion took up the ſpace of two from Right to Left, and this Method was obſerv'd in the Elector's Army moſt part of the Campagne following. The Engliſh Cavalry having march'd out of Ghendt the 5th. to ſecure this Camp till the coming up of the Foot, went back on the 7th. into the Town, but all the Foreign Horſe upon Engliſh pay Quarter'd at Bruges, the Dutch Cavalry Quarter'd upon the Canal, and the Engliſh Dragoons Quarter'd between Ghendt and the Sas, and about Bruges, had orders to come and Cantoon in the Villages in the Rear of the Electors Army, between Deinſe, Nevel, Ghendt and the Canal, from whence they were to furniſh 500 Horſe and Dragoons daily for the Out Guards of the Army. The 8th. the Prince of Naſſau Sarbruck Velt Mareſchal General of the States Army arriv'd at Ghendt being to Command the Army under the Elector, and came the 10th. to the Camp, where he took his Quarter at the Caſtle of Oydonck. The 12th. the Elector with a detachment of 1200 Horſe and Dragoons went to view all the Approaches to his Camp from the Pays Conquis as far as Denterghem, Wouterghem, Gothem, Arſeel, Canneghem and Thilt. The 11th. all the Horſe and Dragoons Quarter'd upon the Canal of Bruges being come to Cantoon behind the Electors Army, the Battallions of Fagel and Reinardt had orders to poſt themſelves upon this Canal between Ansbeck and Bruges; and the Elector had now 40 Battallions in his Army, 18 Squadrons of Horſe and 33 of Dragoons Cantoon'd juſt in his Rear, beſides 24 Squadrons of Engliſh Horſe in Garriſon at Ghendt, ready to joyn him upon occaſion, being according to this diſpoſition 22000 Foot, 6300 Horſe, and 3300 Dragoons ſtrong, in all 31600 Men for the defence of Flanders, which by the Securing of this Camp put us now in a Condition to ſubſiſt on the French ſide of the Canal, without being pen'd up behind it as we were the laſt year and ſubſiſting upon dry Forage at the Charges of the Pays de Waes and Free of Bruges by the Enemies being before-hand with us at this Camp of Deinſe.

Flanders being thus very well ſecur'd by the Elector's having the Camp of Deinſe, it was neceſſary to take the ſame Care for the Countrey between the Scheldt and the Meuſe, where we were reſolv'd to be before hand with the French as well as in Flanders, but which could not be ſo effectually put in a poſture of defence; the laſt being cover'd by a good Canal from Ghendt to Newport, but this very weak; becauſe Ath and Audenarde were now too far advanc'd, and in a manner within the very Barriere of the French, ſince they had Mons, Charleroy and Courtray. The moſt that could be propos'd to be done on this ſide was to ſecure Namur and Bruſſels, which, by our taking the Field firſt, we could very well pretend to; and therefore in order to it the Count de Noyelles Lieutenant General had orders from the Prince to march out of Bruſſels on the 12th. with the four Battallions commanded by Brigadier Fairfax and 8 Dutch from the ſame Garriſon, to poſt himſelf at Waterlo juſt without the Bois de Sogne towards the plain of Braine la Leu and Bois Seigneur Iſaac, and to intrench himſelf there with the Wood upon the Right Left and Rear, a little ſpace being left here, where was the Village of Waterlo, as 'twere on purpoſe for ſuch a deſign. The ſame day Count Naſſau, Lieutenant General, and Major General Ramſay with the Troops Cantoon'd under their Command, had orders to come and incamp at the Fauxbourg of Ixelles between the Namur-porte at Bruſſels and the Bois de Sogne, where they were follow'd the next day by the Six Regiments commanded by the Marqueſs de Mirmont, making in all 17 Battallions; the Prince left Bruſſels at the ſame time, and took his Quarter in the Fauxbourg of Ixelles in order to command them: All the Infantry of Brandenbourg and moſt of the Horſe being now come to the Meuſe from Winter-quarters, paſs'd it about this time at Maeſtricht and went to Cantoon about Arſchot and Dieſt in the Villages along the River Rupelle; the Garriſons of Malines and Louvain, and all the Dutch Foot Cantoon'd upon the Frontier hereabouts continued in their Quarters in order to take the Field upon the firſt Command: By this diſpoſition we were in a readineſs to ſecure either the Camps of Maſy or Bois Seigneur Iſaac as there ſhould be occaſion for our own Affairs; or as it ſhould be neceſſary, according to the Motions of the French, to take the Field on this ſide; and although 'twas yet very early for the Cavalry to move out of Winter-quarters by reaſon there was yet no manner of Forrage upon the Ground, yet all the Cavalry of the States Quarter'd in Holland had Orders to march, part to Cantoon towards Flanders, and part about Haſſelt, Tongres and St. Tron towards Brabant, according as it was deſign'd to ſerve the Campagne following; The reſt being in Quarters upon the very Frontier, was near enough at hand to be in a readineſs upon occaſion. But the Foot upon Engliſh pay did ſuffer ſomething in the Camps of Waterlo and Ixelles in being ſo early in the field, becauſe the Cloathing was not yet come from England, which ſeveral Regiments wanted extreamly; neither was this the only Misfortune, but they alſo came to want pay, occaſion'd by an obſtinate Eaſterly Wind which laſted about five Weeks till the King came over, and hinder'd any Pacquets from coming from England, whereby Mr. Hill was reduc'd to the laſt week at our taking of the Field, which he was forc'd to divide into half pay for a Fortnight. This was but a bad beginning of the Campagne for the Soldiers, which caus'd ſome Deſertion amongſt them; but nothing anſwerable to that mighty noiſe made about it in the Paris Gazette to Counterpoize the advantage we had gain'd in taking the Field firſt; and Care was taken in England to diſpatch the Centurion to Oſtend with Bills for the Army, where he got time enough (notwithſtanding the contrary Winds) to ſet every thing to rights, and prevent any farther want of pay in the Army.

During theſe Tranſactions in Brabant the Elector was taking all the care poſſible to put his Camp in a poſture of defence in Flanders; the Foot at the firſt taking of this Camp had been imploy'd in Fortifying of it with good Retrenchments between Nevel and the Lys, but this not being thought ſufficient, it was propos'd to Fortifie Deinſe, for which reaſon a Council of War was held the 13th. and the day following the Ingeniers were ſent to trace an Exagone about it in order to maintain this Poſt, being deſign'd only for this purpoſe and not for a ſtanding Fortification, according to the Agreement made when the French demoliſh'd this place and Dixmuyde in the Year 1695. The 17th the Elector diſpatch'd Patents for the forming of the Detach'd Companies left in Quarters into Battallions, and diſpoſing of them into the Frontier Garriſons of Flanders. Twelve Scots Companies were ſent to Newport under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Daviſon, another Battallion of ten Companies of the ſame Nation under Lieutenant Colonel Murray of Walter Collier's Regiment, four Companies of Hanover cmmanded by Lieutenant Colonel Vittingehoffe of Hulſen, and a Dutch Battallion of eight Companies commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Maurenault of Zoutland's Regiment, in all four Battallions in Newport; at Oſlende ten Engliſh Companies commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Foxe of Collingwood, eight Companies of the ſame at Bruges under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Lucy; eight Companies at Ghendt, and ſeventeen in Audenarde divided in two Battallions, beſides the Dutch Regiment of Loſecoct left here with ſeveral Italian and Walloon Regiments for the Security of this place. Of the Detach'd Companies in theſe two laſt places, thoſe in Ghendt were all Engliſh, and thoſe in Audenarde all Forreigners but two Companies of the Fuſiliers and two of Colonel Frederick Hamilton's Regiment; all the Detach'd Companies of the Dutch were poſted at Louvain, Bruſſels, Maeſtricht, Liege, Huy and Namur, in the laſt of which places a ſpecial care was taken to have a ſtrong Garriſon, The 19th Major General Dopft came again from Bruſſels to the Elector's Camp to concert the Methods that ſhould be taken in caſe the French ſhould bend the chief of their Forces upon Flanders, either to attack Newport, or to come to Torhout and Rouſſelar and endeavour to cut the way to Bruges, or force the Canals: For hitherto they had not appear'd in the Field, having (as 'twas ſaid) no Magazines of dry Forrage for the ſubſiſtance of an Army; but whatever reaſon there was for it they did not yet ſtir out of their Garriſons, and conſequently we could not know which way they would bring their chief ſtrength: And that the Elector's Army might effectually be ſecur'd againſt any attack from them in this Camp, the little River which comes from Poucke (and branches it ſelf in two at Nevel, one part going to the Lys near Deinſe and the other towards the Canal of Bruges) was ſtop'd at Nevel to bring the whole Current to make an Inundation before the Retrenchments of the Camp: But becauſe the Army being thus ſecur'd from any attack in this place, the French might march either towards Newport or Bruges, Quarter-Maſter General Dopft went on the 21th to view the Country between Nevel and Ansbeck upon the Canal of Bruges, and ways were order'd to be made for the March of the Army towards this Poſt upon the Canal, in caſe it ſhould be oblig'd to come this way for the Defence either of Bruges or Newport, which ways were finiſh'd and made fit for the March of the Army by the 23d. In the mean while Quarter-Maſter General Dopft went back to Bruſſels, and the Hanover Regiments of Hering and Wolſembuttel Guards came to the Camp from Audenarde, which brought the Elector's Army to the Number of 42 Battallions, beſides the four Bavarian Regiments of Foot which by this time were come to incamp at Marykirk.

The Allies had now been near three Weeks in the Field in this Camp of Nevel and about eleven Days at Waterlo and Ixelles, when the French began to repair to their ſeveral Rendezvous appointed for the Forming of their Armies in Flanders and upon the Meuſe; and may be 'twas not ſo much want of Forrage as made them appear ſo late after us as our having taken the Field before them, which quite broke and alter'd their Meaſures; for the Marechal of Catinat had been appointed to ſerve with an Army between the Moſelle, the lower Rhine and the Meuſe, and his Generals nam'd; and the Germans were ſo alarm'd at it, that beſides the new Levies reſolv'd upon by the Circles of Suabia and Franconia, they were working very hard to make Lines and Redoubts to cover thoſe Circles from any Irruption by the French in paſſing the Upper Rhine between the Neckre and the Black Foreſt; and upon the Lower Rhine they were very buſie in Fortifying Bonne and the Paſſages of this River in the Electorate of Cologne and the Dutchy of Berg againſt the Attempts of the Marechal of Catinat; but ſeeing that our taking the Field firſt in Flanders brought the Marechal of Catinat upon the Lys inſtead of going upon the Moſelle, it is more probable that the true Deſign of the French was to have beſieged Namur if they could have appear'd before us in the Campagne; for then Bouſters could have inveſted Namur from the Sambre, where his Army had its Rendezvous and then he could have been joyn'd by Catinat from the Moſelle, by which Method they would have had two Armies with that of Villeroy to cover the Siege and obſerve our Motions either in Brabant or Flanders: From whence we may very well inferr, That our taking firſt the Field on this ſide ſav'd the Siege of Namur; and there being at preſent no place left open to the French, by the preſent Diſpoſition of our Camps, beſides Ath and Audenarde, which twas impoſſible for us to cover with the Troops we had, they were therefore oblig'd to frame the Rendezvous of their Armies accordingly, and order the Troops deſign'd for Catinat's Army on the Moſelle towards Flanders; which alteration of their Deſigns (as it may be ſuppos'd) hinder'd them from appearing in the Field ſo ſoon as they would otherwiſe have done: But now being come upon the Frontier on this ſide, they had three Rendezvous appointed for the meeting of their Armies to be commanded by the Marechals of Villeroy, Bouflers and Catinat; Villeroy's Army began to aſſemble together in a Body about Tournay, Bouflers to Cantoon along the Sambre, except that part of his Army that was to conſiſt of Troops of the King's Houſe which gather'd about Mons, and Catinat's upon the Lys about Courtray.

This Diſpoſition of the Enemies oblig'd the Allies at Nevel to look about them, and therefore to countermand the Engliſh Cavalry which had receiv'd Orders to march towards Bruſſels, becauſe all the Dutch Horſe and Dragoons which were to ſerve in the Army were not yet come up; a Diſpoſition was likewiſe made for the extending of this Camp from Bachtem upon the Lys clear to Ansbeck upon the Canal of Bruges, in caſe both Villeroy and Catinat ſhould come into Flanders, by this means to ſlip Regiments (the Foot by Water, and the Horſe and Dragoons by Land) to Bruges and Newport with greater Expedition, where Major General Fagel had now a Body of ten Battallions ready to Incamp, beſides four Battallions of Detach'd Companies and the Dutch Battallion of Prot in Garriſon, without mentioning Spaniſh and Italian Foot in this place which has no relation to the Affairs of the Field: In the interim, till it was known which way the Enemies would march from their places of Rendezvous, the ten Battallions commanded by Major General Fagel had Orders to poſt themſelves in this manner, three Battallions at Lombarzide to cover the Barr of Newport, and the other ſeven behind the Canals between Newport and Bruges, and Reinardt and Fagel remain'd as before between Bruges and Ansbeck; and thus it was contriv'd to have ſent the beſt part of the Army towards Newport, if Villeroy and Catinat had march'd that way, or to have receiv'd Re-inforcements from thence in caſe they had march'd to attack the Elector in his Camp, and in both theſe caſes Prince Vaudemont was to make conſiderable Detachments from Brabant to Flanders: This was the Reſult of a Council of War held upon the gathering together of the French at Tournay and Courtray, which was communicated to the Elector at Ghendt, where he was oblig'd to go ſome days ſince for a Fluxion and Soreneſs in his Eyes which took him in the Camp.

The Marechal of Bouflers Army beginning to Rendezvous about Buſſiere on the Sambre, Prince Vaudemont thought it was high time to ſecure the Camp of Braine la Leu and Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac, where, if the Marechals of Villeroy and Catinat had march'd into Flanders, he would be the nearer to ſend Re-inforcements to the Elector and at the ſame time in a convenient place to ſecure the Camp of Maſy if Bouflers had march'd towards Namur. Wherefore Orders were ſent once more to the Engliſh Horſe Quarter'd in Ghendt to march, which they actually did on the 27th towards Aloſt in order to go to Bruſſels. The Dutch Horſe cantoon'd (as we have ſaid it before) along the Demer about Haſſelt had Orders to come to Louvain the 26th and incamp between this place and Corbeck upon the Dyle, and being joyn'd the 27th by the Regiments of Horſe of Tilly, Erbach, Prince Philip, Naſſau-Friezland, Flodorf, Huybert, Saxen-Heylbourg, Saxon-Gotha, and Arco from the neighbouring Quarters, they came to Tombeck and Raſſiere, the Brook of Lahn before them, being all under the Command of Count Tilly: The Dutch Infantry cantoon'd hereabouts, incamp'd at Eygenhoven, and the Brandenbourg Troops Quarter'd about Dieſt and Arfcht and Villages along the Rupelle came to incamp the 27th between Terhulpen and Gerival near the Bois de Sogne towards Wavre commanded by General Heyden conſiſting then of 18 Battallions of Foot and 17 Squadrons of Horſe, where they were joyn'd by the Garriſon of Louvain commanded by Major General Churchill and the Dutch Foot incamp'd at Eygenhoven. The Dutch Guards from Liere, and the Garriſon of Malines commanded by Brigadier Tiffin came the ſame day to the Camp at Ixelles, and at the Orders the Quarter-Maſters were commanded to be this Evening at the Retrenchment of Waterlo: The Dutch Cavalry in Quarters at Bruſſels march'd the 28th by two in the Morning by the Grande Chauſſee through the Bois de Sogne towards Braine la Leu, the Infantry incamp'd near the Fauxbourg of Ivelles follow'd, and then our Artillery which had been brought from Ghendt to Bruſſels by Water for this purpoſe, (as that of Holland had been ſent from Malines to Ghendt,) and all was clos'd up by the Dutch Horſe Canton'd about Bruſſels and Malines but the heavy Baggage was to be left behind till the next day. The Vanguard of Horſe as ſoon as it came into the Plain beyond the Bois de Sogne, ſent detachments to Genap, Wavre, and Nivelle to cover the March of the Army, at the ſame time Count de Noyelles ſent detachments of Foot from Waterlo to the Church of Ophain, the Abbey of Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac and the Village of Bas Iſtre towards Braine le Chaſteau to cover the March for this Camp on all ſides. If Bouflers had been paſs'd the Sambre, inſtead of theſe detachments, a great Body of Horſe was to have been order'd towards Genap and Nivelle commanded by a General Officer, but Bouflers was ſtill on the other ſide and ſav'd us this Care. At the ſame time that the Prince's Troops incamp'd at Ixelles were marching through the Bois de Sogne for Braine le Leu, the Troops incamp'd at Terhulpen and Gerival under General Heyden, and the Dutch Horſe under Count Tilly from Tombeeck march'd about between the Dyle and the Wood to this Camp, and thus joyn'd altogether the 28th, being incamp'd with an Elbow upon the right between the Abbey of Bois Seigneur-Iſaac and the Village of Bas Iſtre towards Brain le Chaſteau; this was the Poſte of the right Wing of Horſe and Right of the Body of Foot, the reſt of the Camp went in a ſtrait Line from the Abbey of Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac upon the Right as far as the Brook of Leu upon the Left towards the Wood of Sogne and Waterlo, having the Village or rather ſmall Town of Braine la Leu before it, as the Village of Ophain was before the Center, and the foremention'd Abbey upon the Right, all three in a Line. The Abbey of Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac was mark'd for the King's Quarter which conſequently gave the Name to the Camp, and the Prince and moſt of the Generals Quarter'd at Brain la Leu, the Prince, in his own Caſtle which he has here and where he was born of the Princeſs of Cantecroix. Count de Noyelles continued in the Retrenchments of Waterlo till the 29th, to ſee all the Baggage come up ſafe through the Wood, which was order'd to follow the Army, and then march'd from thence with the Body under his Command and took his Poſt in the Line, as it had been aſſign'd to the ſeveral Regiments, where all the Battallions incamp'd double, as the Elector's Army did at Deinſe; becauſe the diſtance was too great for the Foot to fill, if the Company's had incamp'd in their full depth, and therefore 'twas thought convenient to incamp ſo as that every Battallion might be divided into two and take up the ground between the Right and Left: This Army at the firſt joyning conſiſted of 75 Squadrons of Horſe, 26 of Dragoons and 64 Battallions, making in all 46490 Men. A detachment of 400 Men was ſent to Nivelle under the Command of a Field Officer to keep Garriſon there and ſecure a Poſt that was very neceſſary for the cover of our Army, or from whence the Enemies could very much annoy us if they got once to be Maſters of it; and therefore this could not be conſtrued an infraction of the agreement made on both ſides with the Lady Abbeſs of Nivelle; becauſe 'twas onely for the preſent ſecurity of the Army, which would have been done by the French themſelves upon ſuch an occaſion, or if they gain'd an opportunity by it of attaquing our Army with more advantage. As for the Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons, which had march'd out of Ghendt towards Aloſt under the command of General Auerquerque in order to come to this Camp, they were order'd to march back again for their quarters to be at hand near the Electors Army, whilſt he had two of the Armies of France which were now about Tournay and Courtray, for dangerous Neighbours, for all the Brandenbourg Cavalry deſign'd to ſerve in Flanders was not yet come to Brabant: But the Dutch Horſe upon Engliſh pay, Lloyds Dragoons, and the Dutch Regiments of Montigny, Turck, Zuylen now Schulembourg, and Noyelles march'd on towards the General Rendezvous at Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac to make room for the ſame number, being 18 Squadrons of Dutch Horſe and four of Dragoons, deſign'd to ſerve in Flanders under Lieutenant General Opdam, which being now come into this Countrey cantoon'd on both ſides of the Canal in the Quarters left by choſe that had march'd into Brabant. The Spaniſh and Bavarian Horſe came up about the ſame time and quarter'd along the Scheld between Ghendt and Dendermond, ſo that the Elector had all the Horſe of his Army now ready to joyn him. As for the Horſe belonging to the Princes Army at Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac it was actually incamp'd in the Line, and the Magazines of Hay and Oats that were at Bruſſels were tranſported in Waggons to Waterlo, where we had them at hand to ſubſiſt the Army with dry Forrage.

Whilſt our Forces in Brabant were marching up to joyn together at this Camp, His Majeſty, who could not let his Armies be in the Field without him, arriv'd at Oranje-Polder in the Maes from England the 27th, and came the ſame Evening to the Hague where he was Complimented by the Deputies of the States and Forreign Miniſters. My Lord of Pembrook His Majeſty's firſt Ambaſſadour Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for the Treaty of Peace came over at the ſame time, but an indiſpoſition hinder'd Sir Joſeph Williamſon from coming to Holland till the next Convoy; and as if all the Miniſters concern'd in this great Congreſs had onely waired for His Majeſty's coming to begin their Conferences, the firſt was held at Ryſwick the 29th, being the I hurſday following, the Emperour having at laſt conſented to Treat in this place without inſiſting any longer to have the Buſineſs of Lorrain agreed upon in the Preliminaries, and the Palace of Ryſwick made up very Commodious for the Congreſs: There was before but one Gate upon the Center of the Court towards the Hague, which was appointed for the Mediatour leading up to the great Stairs of the Houſe in the middle Pavillon or Apartment; but to prevent diſputes in the going out or coming in, there was a Gate made at each end; That at the Weſt being appointed for the French and that the Eaſt for the Allies, which is the Right according to the facing of the Palace North towards the Hague. The States appointed a Guard to be kept here upon Congreſs days with an equal number of Sentinels upon each Apartment, where the Allies were receiv'd and introduc'd in this firſt Congreſs by a Gentleman Commiſſion'd thereto from the States and the French by another, having caſt Lots for their Poſt to prevent any manner of diſtinction in this matter: The Conferences were contriv'd by the Mediatour and not Perſonally, there being large Antichambers on each ſide of the Mediatours Room, where the Plenipotentiaries came, the Allies on one ſide and the French on the other, and the Mediatour communicated the Writings and Memorials from one ſide to another. In this firſt Conference the Ambaſſadours produc'd their full Powers which were reciprocally communicated, and authentick Copies deliver'd: The full Powers of the French directed them to Treat with the Emperor and Empire, the King of Spain and the States of Holland and their Allies, which caus'd ſome Conteſtation, becauſe the Elector of Brandenbourg's Miniſters alledg'd that the Elector their Maſter had declar'd War perſonally againſt the French King, and therefore that it was neceſſary the French Plenipotentiaries ſhould be directed in their full Powers to Treat with his Electoral Highneſs by Name: The Engliſh Plenipotentiaries made no Objection againſt it, becauſe the King not being to be acknowledg'd by the French till the Concluding and Signing of the Peace, it was not neceſſary they ſhould produce full Powers to Treat with England till then, which they accordingly did before the Ratification. This Affair took up ſome of the firſt Conferences, and afterwards the Congreſs proceeded to regulate the Ceremonial; which I ſhall not meddle withall, reſolving to ſay nothing more of thoſe Negociations than what relates to the Operations of War or the Forwarding of the Peace.

The King having aſſiſted at the Aſſembly of the States General and Council of State at the Hague to conferr upon the preſent State of May. Affairs, intended to have gone the firſt of May for Loo, but His Majeſty having met with an Indiſpoſition the over-night was oblig'd to deferr it and to be Let-blood the next Morning, which had ſo good an effect that the King rid that very Evening in his Coach about the Voorhout; the third, His Majeſty being recover'd ſet out from the Hague for Loo and came this day to Zuylenſtein beyond Ʋtrecht, it prov'd an extraordinary hot day (and for about nine or ten days together about this time the Weather was as hot and ſettled as it has been the whole Summer) this made the King hot and reſtleſs in the Night but was again pretry well the next Day, however His Majeſty thought it convenient to tarry ſome Days in this place where the Herons afforded very good Divertiſement in this ſet of fine Weather: But in the mean time the French began to be very buſie upon our Frontier and were like to allow His Majeſty but a ſhort ſtay here, the French and Swiſs Guards had been come to Tournay ever ſince the 22d of April where the Marechal of Bouflers (being Colonel of the French Guards) came from Liſle to re-view them; all the other Troops were come by the beginning of May to their general Rendezvous upon the Sambre, Tournay and about Courtray, and wanted only the Preſence of the Marechals of Villeroy and Catinat (who were expected at this time from Paris with the laſt Reſolutions of the Court concerning the Operations of the Campagne) to march and take the Field; as for the Marechal of Bouflers his Government of the French Flanders kept him upon the Frontier. We have ſhew'd above, that our being in the Field before the French quite broke their Meaſures which, as we have given very good Preſumptions for, were laid againſt Namur; elſe, why muſt our being firſt in the Field bring the Marechal of Catinat from his Department aſſign'd upon the Moſelle and the Lower Rhine clear to the Lys; as for the Germans, they were ſtill in their Winter-Quarters and not likely yet to take the Field, and therefore there was as good a Proſpect on that ſide for the Marechal of Catinat, as when the French King appointed him to command an Army there; But the Marechal of Catinat was thought neceſſary for Flanders whatever reaſon there was for this Change, though France had onely Ath and Audenarde left open to feel the Efforts of its Arms; and indeed they have been ſo moſt part of the War, ſince the French have broke in upon the Barriere given to the Spaniſh Territories on this ſide in the Treaty of Nimeguen, by the taking of Mons and Charleroy, their having ſecur'd and fortify'd Courtray and made a Line from thence to the Scheld, which has brought theſe two Towns, eſpecially the firſt, in the very Line of their Conqueſts; for this reaſon we have been forc'd to leave them expos'd almoſt every Campagne without being able to cover them, and yet the French themſelves have ſeemd to neglect them, having incamp'd, and march'd backward and forwards about Ath ſeveral Campagnes; for in Truth the taking of Ath or Audenaerde could not extend their Contributions an inch farther, which, ſince the taking of Mons, they have rais'd every where between the Scheld and the Canal of Bruſſels; and by their having Courtray, all the Countrey between the Scheld and the Lys, and Ghend and Bruges has been brought under Contribution, and therefore Audenarde could not give them a farther advantage upon this account: Neither could Ath and Audenarde do much miſchief in raiſing Contribution upon them, becauſe onely a ſmall and inconſiderable dependance of Tournay, Conde and Mons remain'd expos'd on this ſide of the Scheld and the Haiſne, and all the reſt was cover'd by theſe two Rivers; as for the Countrey between the Scheld and the Lys, it was cover'd with a ſtrong Line from the one River to the other: From whence it appears that in relation to Contributions and advantage of the Countrey, neither Ath nor Audenarde could do them much harm whilſt in the Hands of the Allies, nor much good by their taking of them: However the French having no other places left expos'd to their Attempts thought it better to form a Siege hereabouts than to do nothing; and yet we ſhould not have left them even this to do, if the Heſſe and Lunenbourg Troops could have been brought ſoon enough from Germany and our Re-inforcement of eight Battallions from England, to have form'd an Army about Namur and obſerve the Marechal of Bouflers on the Sambre; for then, the Prince could have march'd from Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac towards Ath, which, with the Communication of the Electors Army at Deinſe and Nevel, would have ſav'd it and ſecur'd Audenarde at the ſame time; this ſhews that notwithſtanding the great Armies the French had here in the Field, yet we had a competent number of Forces to have acted defenſively, if we could have brought them all in this Countrey time enough; but what gives Vigour to the operations of War is Money. The French, I ſay, having onely theſe two places expos'd to them, reſolv'd upon the Siege of Ath, more to give a Reputation to their Armies during the Negotiations at Ryſwick than for any great advantage they could get by it; for he that is Maſter of the Field at ſuch a time gains very much by it in the Treaty. Audenarde was much ſtronger than Ath, and could onely be attack'd without the Courtray porte, all the reſt being eaſily laid under Water by the ſtopping up of the Scheld; the Hill that commands it on the South ſide of the Scheld may indeed do a great deal of dammage to the Houſes of the Town, but ſignifies nothing againſt the Fortifications, on the contrary it makes them ſo much the ſtronger that it helps very much to keep in the Inundation; and therefore ſeeing that there was no more advantage to be got by Audenarde than by Ath, and that it muſt coſt them a great deal more pains and bloodſhed to beſiege it, the Siege of Ath was reckon'd the moſt convenient in the preſent Conjuncture.

In purſuance of theſe Reſolutions of the French Court, Catinat came to Tournay on the laſt day of April, whence having viſited the Fortifications of the Town and Citadel, he went to Helchin on the Scheld to cauſe Bridges of Boats to be laid over this River for the paſſage of his Army which was now form'd within the Lines and incamp'd at the Moulin de Clare, and the Count Montrevel, with a ſmall Body deſign'd for the Guard of the Lines after the march of Catinat, was poſted in the mean while at Wevelghem without 'em near Courtray: This Neighbourhood of the French with two great Armies upon the Lys and the Scheld, oblig'd the Elector to take all the precautions we have ſpoken of before, for the ſafety of Bruges and Newport and the fortifying of his Camp at Nevel, where, upon the news of the Marechal of Catinats being come to head his Army, it was farther thought neceſſary to fortifie the Church-yard of Maighem before the Camp and make a good Work to cover the Bridge of Deinſe upon the Lys; Meſſieurs Geldernalſen Deputy of the States General at the Army and Ivoix Quarter-maſter General, went to ſee Newport and Oſtend, and in what Condition every thing was for the defence of Newport and the Canals on this ſide, and the Margrave Lodowick's Regiment of Foot was ſent to throw it ſelf into Audenarde: But very few day's diſcover'd what the French aim'd at, and diſſipated our apprehenſions for Flanders, the Army commanded by the Marechal of Catinat had orders to march to Helchin upon the Scheld, and Montrevel with his Body of about 8000 Men incamp'd at Wevelghem, went and poſted himſelf within the Lines of Courtray, his Head-quarter being in this Town. In the mean while the Marechal de Villeroy was come to Tournay from Court the beginning of May, and had met the Marechal of Catinat at Calandre a Village on the Scheld between Tournay and Pont d' Eſpierre, there to confer upon the motions of the two Armies to execute the deſign they had in hand; but Bouflers was now at the head of his Army incamp'd about Buſſiere on the other ſide of the Sambre. The 5th. a vaſt many Waggons and Pioniers came to Tournay from the Pays Conquis, there being no leſs than 5000 of the latter from Artois onely; the ſame day the Marechal of Villeroy order'd all the Gates of Tournay without the Scheld towards Brabant to be ſhut up in the Afternoon, and at the beginning of the Night Prince Camille of Lorrain with a ſtrong Detachment of 20 Horſe per Troop was commanded to go and inveſt Ath from Lignes and Leuze on the Tournay ſide; Another Detachment march'd the ſame Night from the Army at Helchin, being commanded by the Marechal of Catinat in Perſon, to inveſt it towards Audenarde and Leſſines upon the Dender; the Chevalier de Gaſſion Lieutenant General march'd at the ſame time from Mons with a Body of Horſe and inveſted it between the little River of Irchonwelz (which comes from Leuſe and falls into the Dender at Ath) and the lower Dender, taking up by this means all the Poſts towards Mons and Brabant, and thus Ath found it ſelf inveſted on all ſides very early the next Morning being the 6th. of May.

Whilſt theſe ſeveral Detachements were inveſting of this place, Villeroy gave Orders for the march of his Army towards Leuſe, from Tournay; about Ten that ſame Night 60 pieces of Cannon that were drawn out upon the Glacis of the 7 Fountain's Gate and the Troops incamp'd before it, march'd through the Town to paſs the Scheld taking their way towards Ath; at three the next Morning being the 6th. the Marechal of Villeroy follow'd in perſon at the head of the main Body of his Army, which conſiſted of the Troops quarter'd in the Town, and the reſt incamp'd without between the Carthuſians Gate and that of Valenciennes, the laſt of which croſs'd the Scheld at a Bridge of Boats laid over this River over againſt the Village of Vaulx; all theſe Forces joyn'd together this day, and incamp'd at Leuſe making the Marechal of Villeroy's Army, of which I ſhall inſert the Line of Battle by and by, onely I muſt firſt bring the Marechal of Catinat's Army about Ath being appointed to carry on this Siege; for which 16000 Pioniers follow'd Villeroy's Army the 6th from Tournay and 1800 Waggons, beſides thoſe appointed to ſupply the Army with Bread, of which 400000 Rations were order'd in this Town. The Marechal of Villeroy's Army being come to the Camp of Leuſe this day, it was order'd to be upon the Bywacht all Night, that is, the Soldiers to have all their Accoutrements on, and the Horſe to be ready Booted and Saddled; becauſe the Marechal of Catinat's Army was not yet come up from the Scheld to take the Poſts about Ath, being only ſecur'd by the Detachments above mention'd, and therefore 'twas Villeroy's Buſineſs to make good the ſaid Poſts and hinder any Succour from getting into the place; This oblig'd him to have his Troops in a readineſs till the coming up of the other Army, which paſs'd the Scheld, the ſame day that Villeroy came to Leuſe, upon the Bridges made between Pottes and Canaffe and incamp'd between Freſnes and Bruſſenal within two Leagues of Ath: The Marquis de Crequi was left with a flying Camp at Celles upon the little River Laye which falls in the Scheld about Canaffe to keep in the Garriſon of Audenarde from moleſting the Convoys between the Scheld and the French Army, and likewiſe to be in a readineſs to reinforce Montrevel in caſe the Elector ſhould attempt any thing to make a diverſion either upon the Lines or Courtray. The 7th. Catinat's Army march'd from Freſnes and Bruſſenal and incamp'd about Ath in order to form the Siege of that Place; where, at his firſt coming, he allow'd all the Women of Quality and Nuns the liberty to come out and retire ſomewhere elſe during the Siege; the Count de Roeux Governour of Ath's Lady and ſeveral other Ladies retir'd to Bruſſels where they were conducted in their Coaches by a Trumpet of the Marechal of Catinat's. In order to this undertaking, the Marechal of Bouflers had already paſs'd the Sambre with his Army ſince the 4th and incamp'd at Fontaine l' Eveque, whence he march'd on the 6th, (at the ſame time as the two other Marechals did towards Ath) and came nearer this place to cover the Siege towards Brabant and obſerve the Motions of Prince Vaudemont (as the Marechal of Villeroy was to do towards Flanders and watch the Elector of Bavaria) and incamp'd along River Haine near Binch between St. Vaaſt and Haine St. Pierre, but Count Tallard with the Troops that had Rendezvouz'd about Mons, incamp'd at Thieux between Mons and Soignies, as an advanc'd body of Bouflers Army to ſecure the Camp of Cambron, and hinder the Princes Army from coming to Soignies, in order to march that way: And thus having brought all the French Forces in the Field in this Countrey, making up three large Armies commanded by three Marechals of France, it will not be amiſs to inſert their ſeveral Lines of Battle here as the moſt proper place.

The Line of Battle for the Marechal of Villeroy's Army for the Year 1697.

RIGHT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Monſieur de Rozen Lieutenant General. Monſieur de Buſca Lieutenant General. Meſſieurs de Vandeuil and Bezons Major Generals. Duc de Luxembourg Major General.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Davaray La Reine Drag. Davaray 3 3 Romery Grenadiers a Cheval Noailles Duras Lorge Villeroy Gens d'Armes. Chevaux Legers Mouſquetaires Life-Guards. 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 2 Prince Camille. Villeroy Camille Anjou Cuiraſſiers 2 3 2 3 Squadrons 33

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Berteuil Berteuil Hautefort Drag. 3 3 Manderſcheid Manderſcheid Belporte Sully 3 3 2 Biſſy Quadt La Tournelle Biſſy 3 3 3 Squadrons 23 In all in the Right Wing Squadrons 56

Body of FOOT Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Monſieur de Feuquieres and the D. of Berwick Lieutenant-Generals. Meſſieurs d' Artagnan and Crequi Lieutenant Generals. Meſſieurs d' Albergoti, Renold, and de Surville and the D. of Villeroy Major Generals. Monſieur de Greder and Duc de Charroſt Major Generals.

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Blainville Champagne Greder Allemand 3 2 Puyſegur Le Roy Lorraine 4 1 La Châtre Lionnois La Chatre Royal Italion 2 2 1 Saillant Guardes Francoiſes Guardes Suiſſes 4 3 Bligny Maulevrier Xaintonge Angoumois Santerre 2 1 1 1 Vibray Anjou Boulonois Hautefort Mouchy 1 1 1 1 Liancourt La Fere Bourbon Angouleſine Orleans La Mothe 1 1 1 1 1 Rochefort St. Second Couâquin Bourbonnois 2 2 1 Battallions 41

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Dorrington Guards Ireland Vidame d' Amiens Montauban Auxerrois Artagnan 2 1 1 1 1 Mouroux Mouroux Lanoy Renel Choiſinet De Senſay Deſtouches 1 1 1 1 1 1 Saliſch Stouppa Surbeck Slaiſch 4 4 4 Berry 1 Guébriant Royal Savoy L'Aigle La Landre Brocq Le Chev. de Ponts 1 1 1 1 1 Kercadot Damas Treſſeſon Thoui Breſſe Provence 1 1 1 1 1 Battallions 35 In all 76

LEFT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Monſieur de Montrevel Lieutenant General. The Marquis de Gaſſion Lieutenant General. Monſieur d'Allegre Major General. Monſieur de Rottenbourg Major General.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Montfort Le Roy Berry D' Auvergne 3 2 3 Roqueſpine Roqueſpine Villequier Tourneſort 3 2 2 Rohan Coſſé Rohan Orleans Meſtre de Camp Gen. 2 2 2 3 St Hermine St. Hermine Drag. Fimarcon 3 3 Squadrons 30

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Dourches Dourches Barantin Fountaine 3 3 3 Vivans La Feronay Souatre Vivans 3 3 2 Dragoons. Gouffier 3 Squadrons 20 In the Left Wing Reſerve. 50 Royal Artillery 1 Bombardiers 1 Battallions 2

According to this Line of Battle the Marechal of Villeroy had 56 Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons in his Right Wing, and 50 in his Left, in all 106; which at 120 per Squadron one with another, makes 12720 Horſe and Dragoons. In the Body of Foot 76 Battallions and two in Reſerve, in all 78; which, at 550 Men per Battallion, amounts to 42900 Foot, from whence the Sum Total of this Army ariſes to 55620 Men, Horſe, Foot and Dragoons. Next follows the Line of Battle for the Marechal of Bouflers Army.

The Line of Battle for the Marechal of Boufler's Army.

RIGHT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Count Tallard Lieutenant General. Monſieur de Gaſſé Lieutenant-General. Meſſieurs de Lanion and Phelipeaux Major Generals. The Duke de Grammont Major General.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Dragoons. Meſtre d'Camp. Gen. Peizac Senneterre 3 3 3 Raſſant Commiſſary General Raſſant Chartres 3 3 2 Du Rozel Carabiniers 16 Squadrons 33

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Du Pleſſis Du Pleſſis Rennepont St. Pouange 3 3 2 Grignan Egmond Chatillon Grignan 3 3 2 Squadrons 16 In all 49

Body of FOOT. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. The Duke d' Elboeuf Lieutenant General. Monſieur de Breſſé Lieutenant General. Meſſieurs de Solre and Dantin Major Generals. Meſſieurs de Zurlaube and Surbec Major Generals.

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Prince d' Epinoy Picardy Royal Comtois Cambreſis 3 2 1

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Montalan Royal La Force Lignieres Tulles 3 1 1 1 Chamilly Grancey Soiſſonnois Bourgogne Brie 1 2 1 1 Thury Du Maine Charolois De Lux Aunis 2 1 1 1 Cadrieux Beauvoisis Thoulouſe Guiſcard Belliſle 1 2 1 1 Thiange Languedoc Thiange Ponthieu 2 2 1 Boutigneux Limoſin Teſſé Montjoy d'Alſace Bernold d'Alſace 2 1 1 1 Belſenner Cruſſol Clare Ireland Nivernois 1 3 1 Chatillon Blaiſois Foix Chartres Piemont 1 1 1 2 Battallions 41

Blecourt La Couronne Villefort Tournon Beuil 3 1 1 1 Labadie Condé Furſtemburg Montenay d'Alanſon 1 3 1 Courten Courten Monen 2 2 Parat Royal Rouſſillon Miromeſnil Gournay 2 2 1 Graveſon Royal Marine Steinville Serville Sejouſac 2 1 1 1 Princê Buzeville Barville Noailles Dauphin 1 1 1 2 Battallions 36 In all 77

LEFT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Monſieur de Ximénes and the Count de Toulouſe Lieutenant Generals. The Duke de Roquelaure Lieutenant General. Monſieurs de Pracontal and Crenan, Major Generals. Monſieur de Courtebonne Major General.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Duras. Royal Piemont Fiennes Dauphin Eſtranger Duras 3 3 2 3 Cheladet. Noailles Toulouſe Du Maine Bourbon Royal Eſtranger 3 2 2 2 3 Dragoons. Frontenay Dauphin 3 3 Huſſars 2 Squadrons 31

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Jeoffreville Jeoffreville Champlain Mornay 3 3 3 Chatelet. Breuil Imecourt Chatelet 3 3 3 Reſerve. Dragoons. Du Heron Vateville Languedoc 3 3 3 Squadrons 27 In all 58 Royal Artillery 1 Battallion.

By this Liſt it appears that the Marechal of Bouflers had 49 Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons in his Right Wing, and 58 in his Left and Reſerve, in all 107; which at 120 per Squadron, makes 12840 Horſe and Dragoons in his Army: In the Body of Foot 77 Battallions, and one of Artillery in the Reſerve, in all 78, which at 550 per Battallion, amount to 42900 Foot; all this joyn'd together makes the Total of the Marechal of Boufler's Army to conſiſt of 55740 Men. None of the Princes of the Blood ſerv'd this Campagne except the Count de Toulouſe; the Prince of Conti ſtood Candidate for the Crown of Poland, and therefore could not appear in the Field but at the Head of an Army. The Dukes of Chartres, Bourbon and Du Maine, kept with the Court the whole Summer.

The Troops which compos'd the Army of the Lys conſiſted of the Regiments following, which I could not get Marſhal'd into a Line of Battle, becauſe this Army divided immediately after the General Rendezvous; the main going with the Marechal of Catinat for the Siege of Ath, and the reſt dividing part for the Guard of the Lines under the Count de Montrevel at Courtray, and part with the Marquis de la Mothe Houdancourt about Ipres and Furnes.

A LIST of the Troops which did compoſe the Army of the Lys under the Command of the Marechal of Catinat.

Nota, That the Regiments mark'd with an Aſteriſm, are thoſe which march'd with Catinat and incamp'd within the Line of Circumvallation before Ath, the reſt making up the Flying Camps under the Count de Montrevel and the Marquis de la Mothe.

FOOT. FOOT. HORSE. * Navarre 3 Loſtange 1 * Cravattes 3 * Poitou 2 Du Biez 1 * Royal Alemand 3 * Humieres 2 Valonze 1 La Reine 3 * Artois 1 * Denonville 1 * Condé 2 Orleans 2 Cherigny 1 * Molae 3 * Vermandois 2 Puy Normand 1 * Vaillac 3 * Royal Artillery 1 * Surlauben 2 * Furſtemberg 3 * Tourneſis 1 * Nice 1 Clermont 3 * La Marche 1 Monferrat 1 * Monroy 3 * Vexin 1 * Pery 1 * La Valiere 3 Luxembourg 1 Pezeu 1 * Rozen 3 * Catinat 1 Swiſſers Renold Greder 4 Dragoons. Limoges 1 4 * Colonel General 3 Agenois 1 * Lee Ireland 3 * Le Roy 3 * Bugey 1 Militia Arbouville Brulon 1 * Catinat 3 Leſlandes 1 1 * Silly 3 Ximénes 1 * Marſan 3 * Fuſiliers de Teſſè 2 Battallions 25 Verue 3 Battallions 25 In all 50 Squadrons 49

The Marechal of Catinat's Army as it was upon the Lys before the Siege of Ath, conſiſted (according to this account) of 50 Battallions, which, at 550 per Battallion, makes 27550 Foot; and 49 Squadrons, at 120 per Squadron, amount to 5880 Horſe and Dragoons, which together makes the Sum of this Army to be 33430 Men; from whence it appears, that the three Armies of France deſign'd to act againſt His Majeſty and the Allies in Flanders made no leſs than 144790 effective Men, beſides the flying Camp commanded by the Marquis de Harcourt with which he march'd from the Moſelle to the Meuſe and the Sambre, which I could not get a Liſt of, but if computed at 6000 Men, will make the French to have been at leaſt 150000 ſtrong this Campagne in Flanders; I have ſeen a Letter from Paris wherein their Forces on this ſide were given out for no leſs than 168000 Men; but I will charge them no higher than can fairly appear by their ſeveral Lines of Battle.

But now to return to Catinat's Army and the Siege of Ath; whereas this Marechal had march'd over the Scheld (as it appears by the Liſt now mention'd) onely with 25 Battallions and 40 Squadrons, he was reinforc'd from the Marechal of Villeroy's Army, with the three intire Brigades of Saliſch, Bligny and Vlbray, and the Regiments of Lorrain and Choiſinet making together 24 Battallions; the two Regiments of Horſe of La Tournelle and Biſſy, and the Dragoons of Berteuil, Hautefort and Gouffier, conſiſting together of 15 Squadrons. Theſe being joyn'd with the Forces the Marechal of Catinat brought over the Scheld, form'd the Siege of Ath and took up the compaſs of the Line of Circumvallation according to the diſpoſition following, being divided into three General Quarters by three Bridges of Communication, one upon the River of Irchonwelz, the Second upon the Upper Dender and the Third upon the Lower Dender.

Between the River of Irchonwelz, and the upper Dender was the Marechal of Catinat's quarter at Villers-St. Amand; of this repartition were the Count de Teſſé, the Chevalier de Teſſé, and the Marquis de Gaſſion Lieutenant Generals; the Count de Marſin and Monſieur de Vilpion Major Generals, with the Regiments of Horſe of Biſſy and La Tournelle; Dragoons, Marſan and Gouffier; Foot, Navarre, Lee, Artois, Tourneſis, Vexin, Pery, Vermandois, La Marche and Bugey.

Between the Upper and the Lower Dender were Poſted the Marquis de Larrey and Monſieur de Bachevilliers Lieutenant Generals; the Marquis de Clerambault and Monſieur de Greder Major Generals, with the Regiments, of Dragoons, of the King's and Hautefort; Of Horſe, Royal Allemand, Vaillao, Furſtemberg and Rozen; Foot, Poitou, Surlauben, Catinat, Humieres, Fuziliers of Teſſé, D'Enonville, Maulevrier, Xaintonge, Angoumois and Santerre.

Between the Lower Dender and the River of Irchonwels being the Quarter towards Audenarde and Tournay were Poſted the Marquis, de Vins and Monſieur de Vauban Lieutenant Generals, and Meſſieurs de Grancey, Hautefort and Saliſch, Major Generals, with the Regiments of Dragoons of the Colonel General, Catinat and Berteuil; Horſe, Cravates, Molac, Conde and La Valiere; Foot, Anjou, Lorrain, Boulonois, Hautefort, Mouchy, Choiſinet, Surbeck, Stouppa and Saliſch: a Battallion of Royal Artillery, incamp'd with the Artillery.

The Marechal of Catinat having diſpos'd his Troops thus in the Line of Circumvallation (which they work'd with all diligence upon to finiſh them in five or ſix dayes) 'twas now the Marechals of Villeroy's and Bouflers Buſineſs to obſerve our two Armies, and hinder them from pretending to raiſe this Siege; Villeroy's Army therefore march'd on the 8th, onely to come nearer Ath and bring the Head-quarter at Lignes; the Marechal of Boufler march'd the ſame day from St. Vaaſt and Haine St. Pierre, and came to incamp between Roeux and Mons, his Right at Thieux and Left at Thieuſies: In the mean while ſeveral Battering Pieces, Mortars and abundance of Pouder came daily from Doway (which is the Arſenal of Flanders) by Tournay to the Camp before Ath; the reſt came from Mons and Condè, and about 2000 Waggons of Bombs, Balls and other Ammunitions to carry on this Siege; where they had now 20000 Pioniers on work upon the Lines of Circumvallation, and to prepare every thing for the opening of the Trenches. The 10th the Marechal of Villeroy's Army march'd upon the Left to cover this Siege by Poſting himſelf upon the Lower Dender towards Audenarde and the Spaniſh Flanders, where he incamp'd with his Right at Papigny upon the Dender between Ath and Leſſines and his Left at Hamedê towards the Scheld, and the Head-quarter at Oſtiche to hinder the Elector's Army from attempting the Relief of Ath on this ſide, this being a Camp by which our Army muſt paſs from Flanders to go to Ath, and therefore fit to be ſecur'd firſt by the French upon the undertaking of this Siege. The 11th the Marechal of Bouſters march'd likewiſe with his Army to come nearer the Dender on this ſide, and came to Poſt himſelf at the Camp of Soignies: For the Town of Ath could not be reliev'd at preſent by us, but by one ſide of the Dender towards the Scheld or the other towards Brabant whilſt the French were Maſters of Mons and Tournay, which hinder'd any Relief on the ſide of Leuſe and Lignes: In the firſt Caſe our Army muſt have march'd by the Camps of Ninove, Grammont, and Leſſines and endeavour to gain the Height of Rebay, which was now cover'd by Villeroy's Poſting himſelf at Oſtiche between Papigny and Hamedê: In the Second our Army muſt have march'd to Enghien in order to attack the Line of Circumvallation between the Upper and Lower Dender; but the Marechal of Bouflers being at Soignies, he was now at hand to Seize this Poſt before us and hinder any attempt for a Relief on that ſide: For the Prince could not ſtir from Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac without leaving Namur and Bruſſels expos'd to the Marechal of Bouflers, if he had offer'd to get before the French to the Camps of Enghien or Ghiſlenghien, and 'twas better run the risk of Ath than of either of theſe places.

It is not neceſſary to give a deſcription of the Town Ath, before I run into the particulars of this Siege, having already given an Account of it in ſome of the precedent Hiſtories; I ſhall onely ſay at preſent, that Ath is a Fortification of Eight Baſtion upon ſeven ſides of a Polygone, that, towards Tournay and Leuſe, being much longer than any of the other ſides (which are almoſt equal) has a flat Baſtion upon the Center of it; all the Baſtions and Half-moons are fac'd with good Stone, and 'tis enough to ſet forth the goodneſs and fineneſs of all theſe Works to ſay that they were the Contrivance of Monſieur de Vauban; but, notwithſtanding all the pains which the French took in fortifying of this place whilſt it was in their Poſſeſſion for 20 years together between the Treaties of Aix la Chapelle and Nimeguen, yet the ſituation of it is very weak and diſadvantagious, being commanded on one ſide of it towards the Scheld and Flanders, by a high and riſing ground which comes to the very Paliſſades, from whence you may look into the Streets of the Town; and beſides this diſadvantage, all the Ground hereabouts is of a very eaſie Mould and Commodious for the making of Trenches, and cannot give much Pain and Labour to the Pioniers in digging. The Garriſon of it was not very ſtrong, conſiſting of the Regiments of Anhalt, Slabendorf and Schellinga, three Regiments of the States, which onely could be called Regiments; the reſt being Italians and Walloons in the Spaniſh ſervice, and every one that has been in Flanders knows the ſtrength and condition of thoſe Regiments; but ſuch as they are 'tis not their fault if they are not better, and their ſervice has generally been very good upon occaſion and not at all anſwerable to the ſtate they are in: Of theſe Regiments in the Spaniſh ſervive there was the Italian Regiment of Aquaviva, the three Walloon Regiments of Grobendonck, d'Odrignies and Maucron, being Foot; the Regiment of Horſe of the Prince of Chimay, and the Dragoons of Rysbourg, neither of which muſt be reckon'd a Squadron, as any one may ſee by the Liſt of Spaniſh Horſe and Dragoons in our Lines of Battle. The three Regiments of Foot in the States ſervice being commanded by the Prince of Anhalt Brigadier, may be computed at 600 Effective Men one with another, which (I am ſure) was the moſt; as for the reſt, I dare ſay, they did not make upwards of 700 Men together; which makes the Garriſon to conſiſt at the beginning of this Siege of about 2500 Effective Men under the Command of the Count de Roeux Governour of the place, a Gentleman of the Houſe of Croye. The Prince of Chimay, the Marquis of Rysbourg and the Count d'Aquaviva were at the Electors Court when Ath was inveſted, but upon the News of it, went immediately to endeavour to throw themſelves into the place and ſerve at the head of their Regiments; the Prince of Chimay luckily got in diſguiz'd like a Boor following of a Cart, Load of Beer to ſell in the French Camp, but the Marquis of Ryſbourg and Count Aquaviva were made Priſoners in endeavouring to get in.

Upon the firſt News of this Siege there was a project form'd in the Electors Army of endeavouring to make a diverſion by the Attack of the Lines, or Courtray; and a diſpoſition was made thereupon for the Army to have march'd that way; in which Caſe it was to be joyn'd by all the Engliſh Horſe in Quarters at Ghendt, and the Dragoons cantoon'd between Nevel and Marykirk, the four Battallions of Bavaria, and the Bavarian Cuiraſſiers and Dragoons now incamp'd at Marykirk under the Count d'Arco, and the Dutch Cavalry, which was ſtill cantoon'd hereabouts: The deſign was to have paſs'd the Lys at Deinſe upon ſeveral Bridges of Boats laid between this place and Bachtem, from whence the Army was to have march'd with all diligence and ſecreſie by Mackelen, Zult, Vive St. Eloy and Harlebeck towards Courtray; but Montrevel having already a pretty good Body at Courtray for the defence of the Lines, beſides the Marquis de la Mothe, who upon ſuch an occaſion could have detach'd ſeveral Battallions from his Camp between Ipres and Furnes, and the Marquis de Crequi at Celles, near the Scheld where he was at hand to get within the Lines, and that Succours could be ſent thither very eaſily from the Marechal of Villeroy's Army; this deſign was therefore thought impracticable, and ſo laid aſide, and the French could not be hinder'd from carrying on this Siege, for which no other expedient was left but the junction of our two Armies; but before I bring them together it is neceſſary to enter into the Siege of Ath.

The Marechal of Catinat having ſpent ſome days in making up the Line of Circumvallation, laying of Bridges for the communication of Quarters, and the bringing in of great quantities of Faſcines; and ſeveral Battering pieces and Morters with great quantities of Ammunitions being come into the Camp the 11th, every thing was ready on the 12th for the opening of the Trenches, which the Beſiegers reſolv'd to do before the Bruſſels porte in two places, one upon the right (according to the facing of the works) againſt the Baſtion of Namur, and the other upon the Left againſt that of Limbourg; and that a Lieutenant General and a Brigadier ſhould mount upon the Right with three Battallions, a Marechal de Camp or Major General with as many Battallions upon the Left, and that a Brigade of Ingeniers ſhould be every Night in the Trenches at each of thoſe two Attacks. According to theſe Reſolutions the Trenches were open'd the 12th in the Night by Count Teſſè Lieute •• ant General on the Right and Brigadier Saliſch, with three Battallions of the Regiment of Navarre; on the Left, by Count de Marſin Major General with two Battallions of Poitou and one of La Marche; they work'd this firſt Night no leſs than 500 Fathoms of Trenches upon the Right and Left, which they joyn'd the next Morning by a Parallel, which embrac'd the whole Attack before Bruſſels porte from the Baſtion of Namur on the Right to that of Limbourg on the left: The Beſiegers thought it convenient to make their Attack this way, becauſe the Batardeau or Damme, which keeps up the Water in the Foſſé was near this Gate, and therefore they could not propoſe to drain the Ditch in order to a General Aſſault till they had ruin'd the the Damme; ſome people thought that Monſieur de Vauban got the Attack to be made this way (though not the weakeſt) for the Honour of his own work which he would have to hold out for ſome time and not be forc'd to Surrender over ſoon, after ſuch vaſt Sums of Money laid out by the French King for the Fortification of it. The 13th, a Convoy of 10 pieces of Cannon and 400 Waggons of Ammunitions and Officers Baggage came into the Camp, having been Attack'd at the Village of Maude coming from Tournay by a Walloon Captain of an independent Company of Fuſiliers of the Garriſon of Ghendt with 100 Men, joyn'd by 24 Horſe of the Garriſon of Audenarde; and though the Convoy had a very ſtrong Eſcorte, yet the Party was ſo lucky as to bring off 62 Horſes and 30 Priſoners which they had ſafe into Ghendt after having fought very hard to preſerve their Booty, and kill'd and wounded ſeveral of the French. In the Evening the Marquis de Vins Lieutenant General and the Marquis de Vibray Brigadier, mounted the Trenches upon the right with two Battallions of Anjou and one of Tourneſis; Count de Grancey Major General upon the Left with the two Battallions of Humieres and one of Vexin. The Trenches were brought this Night within 200 Fathoms of the Glacis of the Place, and joyn'd the 14th in the Morning by a Parallel; The ſame day the Marquis de Conflans was taken Priſoner in the French Camp as he was endeavouring to get into the Place: In the Evening the Marquis de Larrey Lieutenant General had the Trenches upon the Right with Brigadier Lee and the Battallions of Artois, Catinat and Pery; the Marquis de Clerambaut Major General on the Left with two Battallions of Vermandois and one of Bugey: The Trenches were advanc'd this Night very near the Foot of the Glacis, but the Beſiegers had ſeveral Soldiers kill'd and wounded, a Lieutenant of Bugey being among the latter.

I muſt now leave this Siege for a while to ſpeak of the Motions made by the Allies in ſuch a Conjuncture. Prince Vaudemont was ſtill in his Camp of Bois-ſiegneur-Iſaac where little extraordinary happen'd to relate at preſent, but that, upon the Marechal of Bouflers coming with his Army between Mons and Soignie, the Prince detach'd Bannier's Brigade of Foot to Poſt it ſelf at Braine le Chateau and ſecure thereby our March to the Camp of Halle, which we could not have done if this paſs had once been in the hands of the French: And that there might be an exact Correſpondence in the Motions of the two Armies whilſt the French were ingag'd in the Siege of Ath, the Prince diſpatch'd Quarter-maſter-General Dopft to the Elector of Bavaria at Nevel; where, upon his Arrival a great Council of War was held to ſettle the Marches of the two Armies, which (may be) put a ſtop to the Project above-mention'd of attempting a diverſion upon the Lines or Courtray; from hence Quater-Maſter-General Dopft went the ſame day Poſt to Breda, where the King was now expected from Zuylenſtein: for the French undertaking the Siege of Ath at this time, had prevented His Majeſty's going to Loo. On the 11th Meſſieurs Ivoy and Verboom, the firſt Quarter-Maſter-Ceneral under the Prince of Naſſau-Sarbruck and the ſecond of the Electors Troops, were ſent to Antwerp to meet Quarter-Maſter-General Dopft, who return'd this Evening from Breda with His Majeſty's Reſolutions about the march of the two Armies, which were, that they ſhould both joyn together and attempt the Relief of Ath; and accordingly they drew up a Scheme of the Marches which both the Armies ſhould make in order to a junction, and then went back each to their reſpective Camps to Communicate them to the Generals.

The 13th the Electors Army begun firſt to march from the Camp at Nevel, upon the Left; the firſt Line with the Artillery and Baggage march'd through the Town of Ghendt towards Dendermond, and the ſecond paſs'd the Canal of Bruges at Marykirk, and that of the Sas of Ghendt at Muleſtien, and ſo on towards the Scheld, but all the heavy Baggage was order'd to remain at Diſlelberg near Ghendt till further orders: The Engliſh Horſe in Quarters at Ghendt, and Dragoons cantoon'd thereabouts, together with the Bavarians incamp'd at Marykirk, march'd in the Van by break of day, directing their march to paſs the Scheld the next day; the whole incamp'd by Brigades here and there, as conveniency could be found without doing any dammage to the Countrey; the Elector's Quarter was this Night at Overmeer, the Engliſh under the Command of General Auerquerque at Grimberg Opſandt, and the Prince of Naſſau Sarbruck at Calcken; the Horſe had expreſs Orders to meddle with no Forrage but Clover, and the Foot not to moleſt any Boors Houſe, nor to cut down any Wood upon pain of Death; Major General Fagel had the Care left to him of covering the Countrey behind the Canals from Bellem to Newport, whilſt the Electors Army ſhould be on the other ſide of the Sheld. The 14th the Electors Army paſs'd the Scheld, the Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons at Dendermond, being follow'd by the Bavarian Troops and the Dutch Horſe; the Infantry paſs'd the Scheld at Appels and the Dender near the Dermonde at Wieſe, and ſo went on by Maſeel towards Aſche, follow'd by the Baggage of the Generals and light Baggage of the Army; as for the Artillery, which the day before had got no further than the other ſide of Ghendt and incamp'd between the Caſtle and the Scheld, it came this day to Grimberg-Opſandt: All the Electors forces having paſs'd the Scheld (as we have now ſaid it) incamp'd regularly with the Right at Merchtem which was the Electors Quarters, and the Left towards Aſche within two Leagues and a half of Bruſſels. 'Tis true there was a ſhorter Cut for the Electors Army to joyn that of the Prince, viz. by Gavre, Ninove and St Quintin Linneck, but Villeroy being incamp'd near Leſſines who upon ſuch an occaſion might have had Reinforcements out of the Line of Circumvallation to Attack the Elector, this laſt way, which the Army took, was preferr'd before it. The Electors Army halted at Merchtem and Aſche the next day being 15th, and the Artillery came up to the Camp from Grimberg Opſandt with the Dragoons of Holſtein-Ploen.

Having brought the Elector thus far in order to the joyning of the two Armies, I ſhall proceed to ſpeak of our Motions in Brabant, where the King was haſtening to Command the Army on that ſide in Perſon, and was now come up as far as Breda. The 12th Lieutenant General Heyden came from the Meuſe to the Neighbourhood of Bruſſels with the Brandenbourg Gens d'Armes, Carrabiniers, Light Horſe, &c. in all 21 Squadrons being the remainder of the Brandenbourg Troops that were to paſs the Campagne in Flanders. The 13th Prince Cerclas of Tilly General of the Liege and Cologne Troops came near the ſame place with the Horſe and Dragoons of theſe two Countreys, but the Foot did not come up; though four Battallions of them were reckon'd into the Elector's Line of Battle at his firſt taking of the Field, whether it was that they were left for the ſecurity of the Garriſons on the Meuſe upon Harcourt's marching that way from the Moſelle, or that they were not yet in a readineſs and ſo we were depriv'd of that Reinforcement for the preſent. The ſame day the Prince's Army incamp'd at Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac and Braine la Leu had orders to be in a readineſs to march, and the King came from Breda to Malines in the evening in order to joyn the Army the next day at Halle; The Artillery and heavy Baggage was ſent away this Evening, by Waterlo and the Bois-de-Sogne, to Bruſſels under the Eſcorte of Prince Charles's Regiment of Danes (which was commanded this way for the Guard of the Town) the paſs of Braine le Chateau being too difficult for wheel Baggage; a Body of Horſe was commandded out at the ſame time to paſs Noſtredame de Halle and poſt it ſelf upon the Height of Vlieringon from whence it was to make detachments as far as Tubiſe and St. Arnelle, and towards Hautecroix, to get intelligence of the Motions of the Marechal of Bouflers and cover the March of our Army. The 14th the Princes Army began to file off very early upon the Right from the Camp of Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac, the Right Wing of Horſe firſt upon one Column, and the Left upon another, follow'd by the Body of Foot; and having paſs'd the little River Braine at Braine la Chateau, the Foot upon the Bridges laid over the River upon the Right, and the Horſe over the Wooden Bridge by the Village, they come to paſs the Senne, the firſt Line at Halle and the ſecond below at a Bridge of Boats laid at the Village of Buſingen; Bannier's Brigade, that had incamp'd at Braine la Chateau for the Guard of that paſs, joyn'd the Body of Foot in its proper Poſt upon the march, and ſo the Army incamp'd this day with the Right at the Chateau of Pepinghen towards St. Quintin-Linnecke and the Left beyond Halle upon the way to Bruſſels and Anderlecht, in the Figure of a Half Moon, the Town of Halle remaining before the Convex of the Camp; His Majeſty's Quarter was in the Town, as alſo that of Prince Vaudemont, which, to cover on the other ſide towards Braine le Chateau, the Brigade of Guards and the firſt Battallion of the Royal Regiment of Foot were order'd to incamp juſt on the other ſide of the Town. The Artillery and heavy Baggage which had incamp'd the over-night at the Fauxbourg of Ixelles near Bruſſels joyn'd us this day, the Cologne and Liege Troops under Prince Cerclas of Tilly and thoſe of Brandenbourg under Lieutenant General Heyden having march'd at the ſame time from Bruſſels to St. Pieters Leuwe near St. Martin Linneck; And the Army was reinforc'd with ſeveral Battallions from the Garriſon of Namur under the Command of Lieutenant General Cohorne, which (upon Bouflers paſſing the Sambre and marching towards Ath) could now be drawn out of that Garriſon: But the beſt Reinforcement was that of His Majeſties Perſon, who having come from Malines this day by the way of Vilvorde, arriv'd betimes in the Camp, upon which occaſion all our Artillery was fir'd thrice round, in the Evening.

The 15th His Majeſty's Army halted in this Camp, becauſe the Electors Artillery came up to him from Dendermond but this day, and therefore he could not march on his part in order to the joyning together, which therefore was deferr'd till the next day, and the Elector took hold of this occaſion to come and pay a Viſit to His Majeſty at Halle, and went back to his Camp that Evening. The 16th both Armies march'd at the ſame time, the Kings upon the Right and the Electors upon the Left, to joyn together at the Camp of St. Quintin Linneck; all the Brandenbourg Forces march'd firſt clear out of the Camp of Halle to enter that day in the Electors Line of Battle, as did all the Troops upon Engliſh Pay, out of the Electors Army to come into His Majeſties, except the Wolfembuttle Guards, the Regiments of Hering and Willekens, and the Dragoons of Jedborough, which remain'd with the Elector. The Brandenbourgs having clear'd the Camp, the reſt of the Army follow'd, the Right marching in one Line upon the Right by the Defile of St. Pierre and Elingen, the Left likewiſe in one Line by the Village of Breet-hout and the Panebrugghe, to the Camp having the Right at Iſeringhen where was the King's Quarter, and the Left beyond St. Quintin Linneck near the defile of St. Pierre extending it ſelf toward Halle; the Chappel of Savelberg was in the Front of the Body of Foot, where the Left made an obtuſe Angle upon the Right: The Artillery came to the Camp by St. Pieters Leuwe, from whence Prince Cerclas of Tilly and Lieutenant General Heyden had march'd to joyn the Elector: The King's Quarter being at Iſeringhen, became, upon the coming up of the Elector's Army, the Center of the whole, and the Brigade of Guards incamp'd before this place, as the Life-Guards were to do at their coming up to the Camp; the Princes Quarter was at St. Quintin Linneck.

The ſame day that the King's Army march'd from the Camp of Halle to Iſeringhen and St. Quintin Linneck, the Elector's Army march'd upon the Left and came to incamp with the Right beyond Ternath extending it ſelf ſomething towards Aſche, and the Left juſt upon the King's Quarter and the Right of his Army, at Iſeringhen; The Elector's Quarter was at Ternath, where he was joyn'd, at his coming, by all the Troops of Brandenbourg commanded by General Heyden, and thoſe of Cologne and Liege under the Command of Prince Cerclas of Tilly: His Majeſty in the Evening went to Viſit the Elector at his Quarter and to ſee that Camp. Both our Armies being form'd now as they were deſign'd to act for all the Campagne following, this is the moſt proper place for me to inſert their ſeveral Lines of Battle.

The Line of Battle of His Majeſty of Great Britain's Army for the Campagne 1697.

RIGHT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Monſieur d'Auerquerque and the Earl of Portland Generals of Horſe. Monſieur de la Foreſt Lieutenant General. The Duke of Ormond and Earl of Rivers Lieutenant Generals. Major Generals Eppinger and Monſieur de Boncourt. Major Generals, Lord Tiviot, Leueſon, L'Etang and Lumley.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Matthew's Dragoons Matthew's Tiviot Eppinger 4 4 5 Chomley Horſe Grenadiers Scarborough Ormond Life Guar. Rivers Auerquerqu Portland 1 1 1 1 1 2 Langſton Leueſon Carabiniers Gallway Langſton 2 2 3 2 Windham Wood Schomberg Coy Lumley 2 2 2 3 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 25 13 In all 38

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons Dragoons Lloyd Roſſe Miremont Eſſex 4 4 4 4 Wirtemb. La Foreſt Prince Wirtemberg Van Zee Boncourt 2 2 2 2 Montigny Montigny Turck Schulembourg Noyelles 2 2 2 2 Schack Schack Vittinghoff Tennagel Rochford 2 2 2 2 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 25 16 In all 40 In the whole Wing 78

Body of FOOT Firſt LINE. Second LINE. The Duke of Wirtemberg General of Foot. Lieutenant Generals Bellaſis and Cohorne. Count Naſſau and Count Noyelles Lieutenant Generals. Major Generals La Meloniere, Mirmont, Collier and Bernsdorf. Major Generals, Churchill, Ramſay, Alfeldt, Lord Cutts and Heukelom.

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Weck Engliſh Guards Dutch Guards Scotch Guards 1 1 1 Haro Royal Churchill Seymour Webb Fuſiliers 1 1 1 1 1 Ingoldesby Wal. Collier Stanley Royal Ireland Fr. Hamilton Rowe Ingoldesby 1 1 1 1 1 Maitland Maitland La Meloniere Marton Ferguſon Naſſau 1 1 1 1 1 Haxhauſen Queen of Denmark Prince George Prince Frederick Daniſh Guards 1 1 1 1 Oxenſterne Slagenbourg Du Theil Oxenſtern Eſſen Ameliswert 1 1 1 1 1

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Weck Engliſh Guards Dutch Guards 1 1 Orkney Royal Fairfax Brewer Lauder Dav. Collier 1 1 1 1 1 Tiffin Howe Bridges Collingwood Saunderſon Tiffin 1 1 1 1 1 Belcaſtel Belcaſtel Strathnaver Geo. Hamilton Brandenbourg 1 1 1 1 Haxhauſen Zeeland Fuhnen Jutland Prince Charles 1 1 1 1 Holſtein-Beck Noyelles Saliſch Holſtein-Beck Gohr Beynam (Wymberg) 1 1 1 1 1 Lucq Lucq Bernsdorf Weldern Schratenbach 1 1 1 1 Heyden Arents Heyden Heukelom Cohorne Hoſtein-Ploen 1 1 1 1 1 Battallions 36

Tcharner Milunes Tcharner 2 2 Bannier Bannier Els (Heckren) Bernsdorf-Zell Torſay Birkenfelt 1 1 1 1 1 Battallions 34 In all 70

LEFT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. The Earl of Athlone General of Horſe. Lieutenant-General Count de Tilly. The Marquis de Montpouillan and the Earl of Rochford Lieutenant Generals. Major Generals du Bay and Hubert. Major Generals Dopft and the Earl of Albemarle.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Chauviré Athlone Boisdavid Aghrim Griſper Chauviré 2 2 2 2 2 Roo Flodorf Wolfembuttel Erpacht Voght 2 2 2 2

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Dompré Hubert Dompré Saxen Heilbourg Naſſau Friſeland 2 2 2 3 Ooſt Friſe Lippe-Brunſw. Horenberg Montſlin Ooſt Friſe 2 2 2 1 Lippe Lippe Arco Saxen Gotha Heyden Tilly 2 1 2 2 2 Squadrons 25 Iſelſtein Prince Philip Ʋrichappel Wirtemberg Ploen Carabiniers 2 2 2 2 2 Boinenbourg Dragoons. Boinenbourg Schulembourg Dopft 4 3 4 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 28 11 In all 39

Villiers Dragoons Mattha Schlipenbach Villiers 4 4 3 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 25 11 In all 36 Squadrons in the Left Wing 75

The King's Army (as it appears by this Line of Battle) conſiſted of 102 Squadrons of Horſe, which at 150 per Squadron makes 15300 Horſe, and 51 Squadrons of Dragoons, at 100 each Squadron, amounts to 5100 Dragoons, from whence the Summe of Horſe and Dragoons ariſes to 20400; and 70 Battallions, which (deducting the Companies left in Garriſon) cannot be reckon'd more than 550 in each Battallion one with another, this amounts to 38000 Foot: All which joyn'd together made the Total of His Majeſty's Army to be 58400 Men.

The Line of Battle for the Elector of Bavaria's Army as it was in the Campagne 1697.

Nota, That Count d'Arco commanded the Troops of Bavaria as Velt-Marechal, General Heyden thoſe of Brandenbourg, and Prince Cerclas of Tilly thoſe of Liege in the ſame Quality.

RIGHT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. The Duke of Holſtein-Ploen General of the Spaniſh Horſe, &c. Lieutenant General Du Puy &c. Squadrons Squadrons

Spaniſh Horſe Bavarian Life-Gu. Walloon Life-Gu. Tr. Gen Brancaccio Tr. Horſe Grenad. and Fuſiliers 2 1 1 1 Bavarians Arco Dragoons Arco Cuiraſſiers 3 5 Liege Jamar Dragoons Life Regiment Prince Cerclas's Gu. Pahau 2 2 1 1

Spaniſh Horſe Valenſar Drag. Ribeaucourt Cropani Horſe Hartman 1 1 Bavarians Monaſterol Drag. Weickel Cuiraſſiers 3 5 Liege Roſt Dragoons Caſtro Pahau 2 2 1

Lieutenant General Opdam. Major General Warſuſè. Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Ryswick Warſusé Bunau Rebolt 2 2 2 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 19 5 In all 24

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons Ryſwick Ryſwick Saxen Meiningen Bernicau 2 1 2 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 14 6 In all 20 Squardrons in the Right Wing 44

Body of FOOT. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Lieutenant-General Tettau of Holland. Major Generals, Saliſch of Holland; Arnhem and La Cave of Brandenbourg. Lieutenant-General Brandt of Brandenbourg. Major Generals, Lindeboom of Holland; Prince Chriſt. Lodwick, Prince of Anhalt-Deſſau and Heyden of Brandenbourg.

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Bavarian Guards 2 Holſtein-Norbourg. Naſſau Walloon Lindeboom Young Holſtein La Mothe Holſtein-Norbourg Cappol 1 1 1 1 1 2 Rantſaw Craſſau Dona Sparre Rantſaw Obergen Schack Young Weed 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Brandenbourg Foot Denhoff Horn Anhalt-Deſſau Young Heiden. Slabendorf Brandt Old Heyden Prince Philip Brandenbourg Gua. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 on Engliſh Pay. Willekens Wolfembuttle Guar. 1 1 Battallions 28

Brigades, Regiments, Battallions. Electoral Prince 2 Dedem Tettau Swerin Harſolt Dedem Reinardt Tenham 1 2 1 1 1 1 Onkel Lochman Carles Marquet Naſſau-Friſeland Fagel 1 1 1 2 1 Brandenbourg Foot. Marwits La Cave Houlth Dona Lottum Barfus Electoral Prince Brandenbourg Gua. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 on Engliſh Pay Hering. 1 Battallions 24 In all 52

LEFT WING. Firſt LINE. Second LINE. Lieutenant General Heyden. Major General Ʋrey. Major General—of Bradenbough.

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Brandenb. Horſe. Drag. of his E. H. Horſe Grenadiers Grand Muſquetiers Gens d'Armes Prince Electoral Du Hammel Du Haine 4 1 2 1 3 3 3 Pyper Naſſau-Sarbruck Opdam Jedborough Dr. (Cunningham) 2 2 4 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 17 8 In all 25

Brigades, Regiments, Squadrons. Brandenb. Horſe Marwits Dragoons Life Regiment Fleming Schlipenbacht Thin 4 3 3 3 2 Pyper. Montpouillan Holſt. Ploen, Drag. 2 4 Squadrons Horſe Dragoons 13 8 In all 22 Squadrons in the Left Wing 46

This Army commanded by the Elector of Bavaria (according to their Line of Battle) conſiſted of 63 Squadrons of Horſe which at 150 per Squadron makes 9456, and 27 Squadrons of Dragoons amounting to 2700, which added together produces 12156 Horſe and Dragoons; and 52 Battallions at 550 each Battallion one with another, comes to 28600 Foot. Beſides theſe Troops mention'd in the Line of Battle Major General Fagel commanded a Body of Ten Battallions behind the Canal of Newport, being the Regiments of Buchan, Lorne, Hanover-Guards, Hulſen, St. Paul, Cinqvilles, St. Amand, Soutlandt, Beima of Groningen, and Swansbeck, which were to receive the Electors orders as much as if they had actually incamp'd in his Line of Battle, and therefore may properly be reckon'd a part of his Army: Theſe Ten Battallions at 550 per Battallion made 5500 Foot, and all theſe Troops being joyn'd together in one Sum made the Elector 46256 Effective Men ſtrong

Having now given an account of the ſtrength of the ſeveral Armies in the Field in this Countrey for the Campagne 1697, we muſt compare them together to find the Ballance. The Sum of the King's and the Elector's Armies, which were all the Troops we could command at preſent during the Siege of Ath, amounts to 104756 Effective Men including the Ten Battallions under Major General Fagel, but the French had at this time, beſides the Body commanded by the Marquis de Harcourt, 144790 Men; from whence it appears that they were now during the Siege of Ath no leſs than 40034 Men ſtronger than the Allies, which (if duly conſider'd) it muſt then be no wonder if the French beſieg'd Ath and we could not relieve it; but it muſt be a wonder that with little more than half this difference by which we out-number'd the French in the Year 1695. His Majeſty beſieg'd and took Namur the ſtrongeſt Town in the Low Countreys, and one of the moſt impregnable Places of Europe.

Theſe Motions of our Armies, which were now joyn'd together at Iſeringhen and Ternath between Bruſſels and Ath, ſhew'd plainly a deſign to endeavour the Relief of this laſt place if poſſible; But the French, having notice of our Motions to bring our Armies together, took the ſame Method with their Armies for the covering the Siege, and to prevent our Relieving of it: The Marechal of Villeroy was already poſted at Oſtiche near Leſſines to hinder the raiſing of the Siege on that ſide of the Dender, but the Marquis de Crequi, who was incamp'd at Celles near the Scheld, to be ready to reinforce Montrevel at Courtray if the Elector had a mind to try a diverſion that way, had now orders, upon the Electors march towards Brabant and joyning the Kings Army, to come and reinforce that of Villeroy, Montrevel left Courtray at the ſame time and paſs'd the Scheld at Pottes to come and incamp at Celles in the place of Crequi, where he was ready to march up to Villeroy's Aſſiſtance if it had come to a Battle for the Succour of Ath: The Marechal of Bouflers on his ſide, being joyn'd with the Body commanded by Count Tallard, march'd from the Camp of Thieux and Thieuſies, to ſecure the Camp of Silly and Ghiſlenghien as His Majeſty came to that of Iſeringhen and St. Quintin-Linneck, and incamp'd with his right upon the Height of Silly before the Wood of Touricourt and left towards Villeroy's Army and the lower Dender, his head Quarter being at Silly. Bridges were laid at the ſame time over the lower Dender for a Communication between the two Armies; and the Marechal of Villeroy fell on Fortifying the Caſtle of Hamedê upon his left for the ſecurity of his Camp on that ſide; And ever ſince the Siege, the French had Six Battallions and a Regiment of Dragoons poſted in the Abbey of Crambron where they had orders to intrench themſelves, and another Body at Lens upon the upper Dender to defend this paſſage into the Plain of Cambron, and ſhut up any relief from coming to the beſieged on that ſide.

During theſe Motions on both ſides, to cover the Siege of Ath and to attempt the Relief of it, the Marechal of Catinat was carrying on this Siege very quietly; for hitherto the French had not fir'd one piece of Cannon againſt it, and no firing was heard amongſt us but that of ſome ſingle Cannon Shots from time to time by the Beſieged, which did the Beſiers no conſiderable damage onely at firſt in bringing up of their Faſcines to have them ready for the making of the Trenches, in which Work the French loſt ſeveral Men. The 15th at Night the Chevalier de Teſſe Lieutenant General and Monſieur de Bligny Brigadier mounted the Trenches on the Right with three Battallions of Stouppa, and the Marquis de Villepion with one Battallion of Stouppa and two of Saliſch mounted upon the Left; the Beſiegers work'd this Night at a parallel between the two Attacks near the foot of the Glacis from the Baſtion of Namur on the Right to that of Limbeurg on the Left, and the Chevalier de Teſſé receiv'd this Night a ſmall Wound or Contuſion on his ſide; but hitherto the Beſiegers, according to their accounts, had loſt but fifteen or ſixteen Soldiers, among whom two Officers were included. The Trenches being advanc'd to the foot of the Glacis, this Parallel was made to cover the Batteries which the Beſiegers deſign'd to make cloſe to the Glacis, in order to Batter the place effectually at the very firſt ſervice of their Cannon; And if the account which the French have given of their Loſſes to this day be true, I believe that Trenches were never carried on ſo quietly, with ſo little Loſs, and without firing of Cannon to the very Glacis of ſuch Fortifications as thoſe of Ath before; and indeed the Beſiegers made ſo little a Noiſe that all the Diſcourſe in our Camp was of a General Ceſſation of Arms (and that the French had thereupon ſuſpended their proceedings in this Siege) which had been propos'd by the Plenipotentiaries of that Nation at Ryſwick, both By Land and Sea, and to open at the ſame time the Ports and Harbours on all ſides for a free Trade and Commerce as before the War. Theſe are the Terms (according to publick Reports) upon which the French propos'd a Truce during the Treaty, which the Allies would willingly conſent to in relation to the ſuſpenſion of Armes, but not to the opening of an immediate Trade thereupon; becauſe the French Ports would ſoon have fill'd with the Allies Ships, whereas few of theirs would have come for Trade in the Allies Ports, the French Commerce being very ſmall in proportion to England and Holland; and therefore if the Treaty had broke off, the French King could then have Seiz'd all the Allies Ships in his Harbours for his own uſe, or having ſo many of them in his power, he might for that very reaſon have ſtood upon ſo much the higher Terms in the Treaty; this oblig'd the Allies not to conſent to a Ceſſation of Arms as it was propos'd by the French, and the French on their ſide would not conſent to it without this laſt Condition, when they had all the advantages of the Campagne: Theſe were the publick Diſcourſes about a Truce, and I do not pretend to ſay anything about this matter of any farther Authority; however theſe Diſcourſes, grounded upon the ſilence of the French before Ath, ſoon ceas'd in our Camp, when we heard the Batteries of the Beſiegers Cannon, which they work'd upon, as ſoon as they had finiſh'd the parallel we have now ſpoken of.

The 16th in the Evening, the Marquis de Gaſſion Lieutenant-General, and the Marquis of Biron Brigadier had the Trenches on the Right with two Battallions of Maulevrier and one of Nice, and the Marquis de Hauteſort Major General on the Left with three Battallions of Surbeck; the Beſiegers work'd very hard this Night to finiſh five Batteries of Cannon they had begun juſt before the parallel now mention'd, in order to have them ready the next Morning; and accordingly the 17th in the Morning the French Cannon began to Roar againſt Ath, and fir'd the whole day without intermiſſion and ſo much to the purpoſe that before Night they diſmounted all the Cannon, but two pieces, upon the attacqu'd Baſtions: And may be, the reaſon why the French defer'd to fire their Cannon till this time was, becauſe Ath, being commanded by the Height of the Ground on this ſide of the Dender to the very Paliſſades, and the Baſtions being conſequently ſunk, their Battaries could not be brought to bear againſt them, unleſs they made them ſo near as this to the Body of the place.

The Noiſe of the Beſiegers Artillery preſs'd the Allies ſo much the more to endeavour the Relief of Ath, and it was concluded by the King and the Elector, that both Armies ſhould march in the ſame order as they were now, the Electors upon the Right and the Kings upon the Left, to come up cloſe to the French and ſee what could be done for the ſuccour of the place: In purſuance of this Reſolution Major General Dopft Quarter-Maſter General of the States Armies was order'd by the King to go and view the ways from our Camp to Enghien, under an Ecorte of 600 Horſe and Dragoons and 200 Foot, commanded by Brigadier Lumley, and make them ready for our March: Brigadier Lumley met early in the Morning near Enghien with a Detachment of the French commanded by the Colonel of the Huſſars, conſiſting of 100 Carabiniers, 50 Dragoons and 50 Huſſars, which he defeated, the French being decoy'd into the Body of our Party that lay in Ambuſcade, by the Vanguard, where commanded Sir William Ruſſel of Colonel Coy's Regiment, according to the orders he had receiv'd upon this occaſion; and the Colonel of the Huſſars with two Lieutenants, a Cornet and 40 Troopers were made Priſoners, about as many Horſes taken, and ten or twelve of the French kill'd upon the ſpot and the reſt fled as well as they could, without any loſs on our ſide worth mentioning: The Colonel of the Huſſars, Monſieur de Mortagne by Name, and the three Officers were treated very civilly and ſent priſoners to Bruſſels in General Auerquerque's Coach. At the ſame time that Major General Dopſt was commanded from our Army to view the Countrey and repair the ways towards Enghien, Monſieur Ivoy, Quarter-Maſter General to the Prince of Naſſau Sarbruck, was ſent upon the ſame deſign for the Electros Army towards the Wood of Leſſines; and a great Council of War being held, a diſpoſition was made for the two Armies to march the next day, the Kings, to the Camp of Enghien with the Right at the Village of Marck and the Left behind this place where the Kings Quarter was appointed; and the Elector's, between the Wood of Leſſines upon the Right and the Village of Marck upon the Left, and orders were given to march the next day; But that very Night it began to Rain in ſuch abundance, that our workmen for the repairing of the ways had much ado to get home, and the Rain continuing all the dayfollowing, which by that time had ſpoil'd all the ways in this deep Countrey, the Order was countermanded and the Armies were forc'd to continue where they were.

The 17th in the Evening Monſieur de Vauban Lieutenant General and the Count de Mornay Brigadier reliev'd the Trenches upon the Right with two Battallions of Surlanbe and the Regiment of Hautefort; Major General Greder upon the Left, with a Battallion of Lorrain and two of Teſſé; the Beſiegers work'd this Night upon three Batteries of Mortars, one upon the Right and a ſecond upon the Left of Twelve Mortars, each carrying Bombs of 150 weight, to fire them into the attacqu'd Works (for the Marechal of Catinat had given orders to do as little damage to the Town as was poſſible) and the third in the Center which conſiſted of 3 large Mortars carrying Bombs of 500 weight to throw them upon the Batardeau or Damme, that held up the Water in the Ditch, in order to deſtroy it, being a very good and ſtrong Stone Work; for the Beſieged had ſo ſtop't up the Water by the help of this Damme, that they had Eight Foot of Water in the Foſſé, and the Meadows on both ſides the upper Dender near the Town were all overflow'd. The 15th, all theſe Mortars began to fire very violently, which with the Batteries of Cannon augmented very much the Noiſe and Thunder of the Beſiegers; at Night Monſieur de Bachevilliers Lieutenant General had the Trenches on the Right with the Duke de Humieres Brigadier and the Regiments of Boulenois, Xaintonge and Mouchy; Monſieur de Sailly Major General on the left with the Regiments of Angoumois, d'Enonville and Choiſinet, the Beſiegers fir'd their Bombs without intermiſſion this night, and the day following their Cannon play'd very hard to ruin the Defences of the Beſieged and ſilence their Cannon, which by this time were almoſt all diſmounted, ſo that they fir'd very ſeldom but in the Night, and that with ſmall Shot; The French brought their Trenches this Night within 12 fathoms of the Points of the Salliant Angles of the cover'd way and made every thing ready for the Attack of the Counterſcarp the next Evening.

The 19th Count Teſſê Lieutenant General mounted the Trenches for the ſecond time on the Right, and Brigadier d'Orgemant, with the firſt Battallion of Surbeck and the firſt and laſt of Saliſch; Count Marſin Major General mounted likewiſe for the ſecond time on the Left with the three Iriſh Battallions of Lee: The Beſiegers made an Aſſault this Evening upon the Counterſcarp, which they carried after a ſhort Reſiſtance (the Beſieged retiring along the cover'd way upon the Right and Left) and made three Lodgments upon the Salliant Angles of the cover'd way, before the Baſtion of Namur, the Half-moon of Barbanſon that covers the Bruſſelles Porte, and the Baſtion of Limbourg; the French according to their Accounts receiv'd but very little Damage in this Buſineſs, having had only three Soldiers kill'd and eight wounded, Meſſieurs de Joinville an Ingenier and d'Emonin Captain of the Artillery Waggons were dangerouſly wounded, the Chevalier de Pizy was ſhot through the Arm, and Monſieur Vialis (both Ingeniers) had his right Thumb ſhot off. Monſieur de Vauban whoſe preſence was neceſſary in ſuch an occaſion receiv'd a ſlight Contuſion on his left Shoulder, which, however did not oblige him to leave the Trenches, but continued the whole Night to give his orders about the making and finiſhing of the Lodgments upon the Counterſcarp, and the Marechal of Catinat himſelf was in the Trenches till four the next Morning. The French were now oblig'd to exchange all their Batteries and bring them upon the very cover'd way to Batter more effectually the attack'd Baſtions and Half-Moons and make a Breach, which hitherto they could not do, but had onely diſmounted the Cannon of the Beſieged with their former Batteries, for the reaſon we have before given of the Height of the ground round the Ramparts of Ath on this ſide of the Dender.

The great ſilence of the French Artillery on the 20th after the Noiſe it had made for the three precedent dayes, occaſion'd a Diſcourſe in our Camp that Ath was already Surrender'd; and our Generals themſelves were not a little ſurpriz'd at it till they had advice of the meaning of it, that the Cannon had ceas'd to play upon the carrying of the Counterſcarp, which now oblig'd the Beſiegers to advance their Batteries upon the very cover'd way. The day before having been tolerably fair, the Earl of Athlone took hold on that occaſion to review all the Dutch Horſe both in the King's and the Elector's Armies; and as if the deſign had ſtill continued to attempt the Raiſing of the Siege, our Pioniers were again ſet on work to repair the ways for the March of the Armies towards Enghten and the Bois de Leſſines, and the King declar'd ſeveral General Officers; Monſieur d Auerquerque was declar'd General of the Engliſh Horſe, the Earl of Rivers Lieutenant General, Brigadier Lumley Major General, and the Earl of Albemarle Major General of the Dutch Army: My Lord Portland being very much troubled with the Gravel was forc'd to leave the Camp and go to Bruſſels, but the thoughts of Relieving the Town of Ath were at laſt altogether laid aſide: For the French out-number'd us ſo much, and the Match conſequently ſo unequal; and Bridges of Communication being laid over the Dender between the Marechals of Boufler s and Villeroy's Armies, ſo that we could not attack Boufler's in his Camp at Silly and Ghiſlenghien without having Villeroy's Army upon our hands beſides reinforcements from the Line of Circumvallation, which (conſidering the weakneſs of the Garriſon) could have been ſafely made from thence; and the ways grown very difficult by the bad Weather we had for two or three days together; and a Treaty of Peace being now on foot at Ryſwick, which (if affairs had gone amiſs in this great Attempt) muſt have turn'd vaſtly to the Prejudice of the Allies: Theſe were certainly very ſtrong Reaſons for abandoning the thoughts of attacking the French in ſo dangerous a conjuncture and ſo unlikely to promiſe any good Succeſs for us, and yet this was the onely expedient that could be thought on now: For the French having two ſuch Armies as thoſe of Boufler's and Villeroy, beſides Catinat to carry on the Siege, it was impoſſible for us to attempt a diverſion either towards Flanders by the Elector of Bavaria, or towards the Sambre by his Majeſty; neither could we remain in this Camp, and hinder the French of the advantage they otherwiſe gain'd by the taking of Ath, of ſubſiſting afterward in the Countrey of Aloſt; becauſe then, after the taking of Ath, they could have taken the Camp of Nevel before the Elector, which would have been of a far worſe Conſequence for the ſafety of Bruges and Newport.

The King and the Elector reſolv'd upon ſuch weighty reaſons to ſeparate, and that the Elector ſhould March back with all diligence to his former camp at Nevel. On the 21th by break of day the Electors Army began to march towards the Scheld, dividing for the more expedition on this manner; all the Cavalry and Dragoons, except two Regiments of Horſe and the Dragoons of Holſtein-Ploen, march'd directly by Aloſt for Ghendt, in order to ſecure the Poſt of Nevel the very next day; and came this day to incamp at Mellem upon the Scheld within a League of Ghendt, being commanded by the Prince of Tilly and Lieutenant Generals Dupuy and Opdam: As for the Foot of the Elector's Army and the two Regiments of Horſe and one of Dragoons, they came to incamp at Bardeghem, in order to march by Dendermond, and the Artillery and Baggage at Maſeel, near the Windmill of Bardeghem. The 22th the Cavalry and Dragoons of the Electors Army march'd by the Bruſſelles porte through the Town of Ghendt and got into the Camp of Nevel, where they poſted themſelves upon the Right and Left according to the diſpoſition of the Line of Battle; but the Infantry paſs'd the Scheld at Appels upon a Bridge of Boats and incamp'd at Calcken and Berleer, the firſt being the Electors Quarter, and the ſecond that of the Prince of Naſſau-Sarbrack, the Artillery paſs'd the Scheld at Dendermond and incamp'd at Grimberg Opſandt; and Craſſau's Regiment was order d; upon the march, to this place to reinforce the Garriſon, becauſe there was ſome reaſon to expect that the French, as ſoon as they had taken Ath, would march to ſubſiſt their Armies in the Pays d'Aloſt, and therefore 'twas neceſſary to have a good Garriſon in this place, where the Prince of Naſſau took occaſion, upon the march, to go and ſee the Fortifications. The 23th the Infantry march d from Calcken and Berleer by Diſtelberg, being follow'd by the Artillery from Grimbourg Opſandt, and having paſs'd the Canal of the Sas at Mulenſtein came to incamp within the Retrenchments of Marykirk behind the Canal of Bruges; Brigadler Sparre was detach'd upon this march with the Battallions of Wolfembuttle-Guards Hering, Sparre and Tenham to put himſelf into Audenarde (taking his way through the Town of Ghendt) in order to have a very ſtrong Garriſon there, ſuch as might make a vigorous defence in caſe the French had a fancy to Beſiege it after the taking of Ath: And indeed Audenarde was at preſent reckon'd in ſome danger, that there was but a weak Garriſon in it if Villeroy had march'd towards the Scheld at the ſame time that our Armies ſeparated from Iſeringhem and Ternath, but Villeroy ſtill remain'd in his old Camp of Oſtiche, and ſo gave us the opportunity to put this ſtrong reinforcement into Audenarde; which could not be ſent thither till the Elector had paſs'd the Scheld, becauſe it had been otherwiſe in danger of being cut off, if ſent directly thither upon the breaking up of our two Armies from the Neighbourhood of St. Quintin-Linneck. The 24th the Foot (having receiv'd Straw from Ghendt for their Tents in a Camp where they were now like to continue again for a while) paſs'd the Canal at Marykirk upon Bridges laid there the over-night, and came to incamp as before with the Right at Nevel and left at Bachtem upon the Lys, where all the Cavalry and Dragoons was already incamp'd upon the Right and Left ſince the 22th. All the Cavalry and Dragoons incamping at preſent in the Line extended the Elector's Army more to the Right, than it was before, and the Brigades of Holſtein-Norbourg and Ranſaw were for this reaſon order'd to incamp upon the Right of all between Landeghem and Ansbeck upon the Canal of Bruges, where they made not only room for the Horſe in the Camp of Nevel but were likewiſe in a readineſs to paſs the Canal upon any motion of the French towards Bruges: All the Poſts were taken for the ſecurity of this Camp as before, and a Command of 1000 Men put into Garriſon at Deinſe. And here I ſhall leave the Elector foraging at firſt between the Lys and the Scheld, to come and ſpeak of the Motions of His Majeſty's Army in Brabant, which was to march back at the ſame time upon the Left towards Halle, as the Electors did upon the Right towards Dendermond and the Scheld.

Accordingly on the 20th in the Evening, all the Artillery and heavy Baggage was commanded away for Bruſſels, and the Army had orders to march the next day: A French Lieutenant was brought Priſoner this Night in our Camp with his Party, and prov'd one that had been a Lieutenant in Brigadier Belcaſtel's Regiment, which he had left after the Siege of Namur; and it appearing that he had fairly laid down his Commiſſion, he had all the advantages of the Cartel, and was ſet at Liberty upon the paying of his Ranſom or Exchange. The 21th the Brigade of Life-Guards and that of Foot Guards march'd by break of day from the Right of all at Iſeringhen to get at the Head of the Army, being to incamp this day at the King's Quarter which was to be upon the Left at Braine la Chateau; the Army march d upon the ſame hand in two Columnes being joyn'd by my Lord Jedboroughs Dragoons from the Electors Army, and having paſs'd the Senne upon the Bridges of Boats laid between Halle and Buſinguen, it came to incamp with the Right at Halle and the Left at Braine la Chateau, the Kings Quarter being in the Caſtle of Braine and the Prince's in the Village; the Horſe and Foot Guards and the firſt Battallion of the Royal Regiment were poſted here to cover the King's Quarter. This is one of the ſtrongeſt Camps in all Flanders having the River Senne to cover the right and part of the Front, the Left upon the difficult paſſage of Braine le Chateau; and both Front and Rear being nothing but Woods and cloſe Deſilés; but if this be a good Camp for ſtrength, it is a very inconvenient one another way upon the account of Forrage and Convoy's, for which 'tis very ill ſituated. The Artillery and heavy Baggage paſs'd this evening through the Town of Bruſſels and came to incamp without Halie porte in the Retrenchments before the Fort of Montercy. The 22th the King's Army continu'd to march upon the Left, the Left Wing of Horſe paſs'd the River Braine at the ordinary Bridge in the Village, and the Foot upon the Bridges laid below the Village for this occaſion, and the Right Wing follow'd the march of the Foot; and ſo having gain'd the plain of Bois-Seigneur Iſaac, the whole came to incamp with the Right at the Cenſe d'Elincourt and ſo to Promelles (being the Kings and the Princes Quarter) facing toward Nivelle and the Wood of the Commandery of Maltha, and from thence the reſt of the Army made almoſt a right Angle with the Right Wing, turning down along the Dyle which was before the Camp, and extending it ſelf above an Engliſh Mile below Genap. The Life and Foot Guards and firſt Battallion of the Royal Regiment incamp'd before Promelles to cover the Kings and Princes Quarter (which was now in the Front) towards the Wood before mention'd. Moſt of the Generals were Quarter'd in Genap, which was now juſt before the Left of the Foot; the Artillery and heavy Baggage joyn'd us here this day, being come by the Bois-de-Sogne and Waterlo from Bruſſells: And as the Elector of Bavaria was conveniently poſted at Nevel for the Defence of Ghendt, Bruges and Newport, ſo was the King in this Camp, to cover equally Bruſſells and Namur, in this conjuncture that France had ſuch powerful and numerous Armies to Act againſt us.

Upon this ſeparation of our two Armies, the Electors to go back to his former Camp of Deinſe and Nevel, and the Kings to come to Genap and Promelles, the Count de Montrevel and the Marquis de Crequi repair'd to their former Poſts to obſerve the Elector of Bavaria, the firſt coming into the Lines of Courtray (after he had repaſs'd the Scheld) from Celles, and the ſecond leaving Villeroy's Army to poſt himſelf at Celles as before: The Marechal of Bouſlers march'd with his Army from Silly and Chiſtenghien upon the right, towards the Sambre, at the ſame time that His Majeſties march'd upon the Left from Iſeringhen towards Genap; but finding that the King ſtopt at Promelles and Genap (as indeed we were not in a Condition to think of any diverſion towards the Sambre without leaving Bruſſells naked, or the Elector Expos'd to the two Armies of Villeroy and Catinat after the taking of Ath) ſo he (the Marechal of Bouflers) pitch'd his Camp in the ſame ground he had taken before at Thieuſies, which was ſtill his Head Quarter, between Meſnil St. Jean and St. Denis, having Soignies in his Front and Mons in his Rear almoſt at an equal diſtance. But as for the Marechal of Villeroy he continued incamp'd at Oſtiche between Papigny and Hamedè to cover the Siege of Ath, where he had great detachments under Catinat in the Line of Circumvallation; and this brings me to purſue the Relation of this Siege, where we had left the French Maſters of the Counterſcarp, which they carried the 19th in the Evening, as we have had it before.

The 20th at Night, the Marquis de Vins Lieutenant General reliev'd the Trenches on the Right with Monſieur de Maiſoncelle Brigadier and the three Battallions of Navarre; and Count de Grancey Major General on the Left at the head of the two Battallions of Pottou and that of la Marche: The Beſiegers work'd this Night at a new Battery of Cannon upon the Counterſcarp to begin to play againſt the Half-Moon of Barbanſon, and endeavour to break the Bridge of Communication it had with the Town; and brought great quantities of Faſcines in order to make a deſcent in the Foſſe, as ſoon as they could break the Damme and let ſome of the Water out; for which purpoſe their Bombs play'd upon it continually, and one fell ſo luckily this Night as to break the Vault that cover'd the Sluy's and the Water fell three Foot the next day in the Ditch. The 21th in the Evening the Marquis de Larrey Lieutenant-General, Brigadier Saliſch, and two Battallions of Anjou with that of Tourneſis had the Trenches on the Right; the Marquis de Clerambault Major General, and two Battallions of Humieres, and one of Vexin on the Left: The Beſiegers having finiſh'd the Battery now mention'd, begun this day to play with their Cannon againſt the Half-Moon of Barbanſon where they made a conſiderable Breach; and in the Night they flung Faſcines in the Foſſé before the Half-Moon to fill it, the Bombs having at laſt ſo ſhatter'd and ruin'd the Batardean that there remain'd but three Foot Water in the Ditch the next Morning: Monſieur de Salmon an Iugenier was dangerouſly wounded this Night, having been ſhot in the Thigh, and ſix or ſeven Soldiers kill'd and wounded. The 22th in the Evening the Marquis de Gaſſion Leiutenant General and Monſieur de Vibray Brigadier mounted the Trenches upon the Right, with the Regiments of Artois, Catinat and Fery; and Monſieur de Vilpion Major General on the Left with two Battallions of Vermandois and the Regiment of Bugey: The Bridge of Faſcines being finiſh'd and the Water low enough in the Ditch, it was reſolv'd to attack the Half-Moon of Barbanſon this Evening, the Breach being now large enough for it: The Grenadiers of Vermandois had this command, which they executed with ſuch Vigour, that they lodg'd themſelves upon the point of this Work, and forc'd a Captain and 60 Men of the Beſieged to abandon it and retire in a Brick Reduit inviron'd with Water behind the Gorge; after which they lodg'd themſelves upon the Half-Moon and remain'd Maſters of it, having had onely two Grenadiers kill'd upon this occaſion, and a Captain of Vermandois and five Soldiers wounded; The Marechal of Catinat himſelf and Monſieur de Vauban repaired to this work, as ſoon as it was carried, to give neceſſary orders for a good Lodgment: About two hours after in the Night the Beſieged endeavour'd to regain this Poſt, for which purpoſe, they lin'd all the oppoſite Courtin and Flanks of the two Baſtions of Namur and Limbourg with ſmall ſhot, which fir'd very hard upon the Half-Moon for an hour and a half together, notwithſtanding the noiſe of all the Beſiegers Cannon and Bombs playing at the ſame time very quick about them; but it was too late, the Beſiegers were lodg'd and all this fire from the Rampart could do them no harm; the remainder of the Night was imploy'd, after the finiſhing of this Lodgement, in bringing Faſcines ready upon the Counterſcarp to fill the Foſſé of the Body of the place before the attack'd Baſtions, and this Night Monſieur de Courtin an Ingenier was kill'd, and Monſieur Mercier, likewiſe an Ingenier, Wounded.

The 23 the Trenches were reliev'd in the Evening by Monſieur de Vauban Lieutenant General on the Right with Brigadier Lee and three Battallions of Stouppa; and Monſieur de Hautefort Major General on the Left with a Battallion of Stouppa and two of Saliſch; the Beſiegers work'd this Night at two Batteries of 20 pieces of Cannon each, upon the cover'd way, one upon the Right againſt the the Baſtion of Namur and t'other upon the Left againſt the Baſtion of Limbourg, in order to make a Breach and ruin the oppoſite Faces and Flanks of the ſaid Baſtions, being the only defence that was left to the Town, but the Mortars ſtill continued to fire upon the Stone Damme and the attack'd Works, and eſpecially the Reduit (where the Captain and 60 Men before mention'd had retir'd upon the taking of the Half-Moon of Barbanſon) in order to ruin it and break the Bridge between them and the Town; and the Beſiegers had two Ingeniers wounded in the Work of this Night. The 24th the Battery's made the over-night began to open very furiouſly againſt the Baſtions of Namur and Limbourg, and with ſuch Succeſs that before Night, the left Face of the firſt fell to the waſte the length of about 20 Fathoms; and the Bridge of Communication being now broke down between the Reduit and the Courtin, the Captain and 53 Men that were in it were forc'd to ſurrender themſelves Priſoners. In the Evening Monſieur de Bachevilliers Lieutenant General and Monſieur de Bligny Brigadier mounted the Trenches upon the Right, with two Battallions of Maulevrier and one of Nice; and Monſieur de Greder Major-General on the Left with three Battallions of Surbeck; the Beſiegers work'd very hard this Night, in making of a deſcent in the Foſſe of the Body of the Place before the attack'd Baſtions, which they had almoſt finiſh'd before morning. The 25th the Batteries continued to play very hard againſt the foreſaid Baſtions, and the Right face of that of Limbourg fell the length of 14 or 15 fathoms; this made the Beſiegers ſo much the more eager in firing their Batteries to widen and level the Breaches for a General aſſault; but eſpecially the Morters, which play'd without ceaſing upon the attack'd Baſtions, to hinder the Beſieged from working at any retrenchment within the Ruins of them; for all the Baſtions of Ath are very large and capacious: In the Night the Beſiegers work'd to finiſh the deſcent in the Ditch, and the 26th in the Morning the Breaches being found wide enough, for 30 Men abreſt to march up upon the Baſtion of Namur, and 25 upon that of Limbourg, and the Ditch being fill'd with Faſcines and the Ruines of the faces of theſe Baſtions, it was concluded by the Beſiegers to give this day a General aſſault, Monſieur de Teſſé Lieutenant General and the Count de Marſin Major-General having then the Trenches which they had reliev'd the over-night; for which end a diſpoſition was made for twenty Companies of Grenadiers, commanded by the Count de Marſin, to make an aſſault upon the Breaches in the Afternoon, and carry the Town in it: But the Beſieged did not think fit to run the Risk of a General Aſſault, and as they could expect no relief from without, ſo about two of the Clock this Afternoon they Beat the Chamade, and Hoſtages being exchang'd, they enter'd upon the Capitulation which was ſign'd that very Evening, of which this was the ſubſtance.

1. That the Beſieged ſhould deliver up by Six of the Clock the next Morning one of the Gates of the Town to the Beſiegers. 2. That the Garriſon ſhould march out of the place the 28th at Ten in the Morning to be conducted in three days to Dendermond, the firſt to Grammont, the ſecond to Aloſt, and the third to that place. 3. That they ſhould March out of the Breach with their Arms, Drums beating, Colours flying, and all other marks of Honour; except Cannon and Mortars, which were deny'd them. 4. That they ſhould have fifty Waggons allow'd them for the tranſporting of their Sick and Wounded and their Baggage. 5. That they ſhould have Six Waggons cover'd but liable to be viſited, and that they ſhould deliver up all the deſerters they had amongſt them. Laſtly, That all Priſoners made on both ſides during the Siege ſhould be ſet at Liberty. This Capitulation was Sign'd the 5th of June New Style by the Marechal of Catinat, and Count de Roeux Governour of the Place.

Immediately after the Signing of the Capitulation, the Marechal of Catinat diſpatch'd Monſieur d'Orgemont, a Brigadier of the Army and his Nephew, Expreſs to Court to give an Account of it to the French King; and the day after the French took Poſſeſſion of one of the Gates according to Agreement, being Corpus Chriſti Day, upon which (as it was reported) Monſieur de Vauban had promis'd the Marechal of Catinat, that he ſhould hear Maſs and aſſiſt at the great Proceſſion of the Sacrament in Ath; and he did not fall very ſhort of his Calculation, the Town having been evacuated and deliver'd up into the Poſſeſſion of the French the day following, when in purſuance of the Capitulation the Garriſon march'd out of the Breach, the Count de Roeux Governour and the Prince of Anhalt Brigadier and Commander in Chief of the States Forces in this Siege, being at the head of it, who at their going out ſaluted the Marechal of Catinat and the Count de Toulouſe. The French retain'd five of the Chief Officers of the Spaniſh Troops for Hoſtages, under pretext of Repriſal for as many Hoſtages of the French that were ſtill detain'd in the Citadel of Antwerp ever ſince the taking of Namur, for the payment of the Debts which the French had contracted among the Burghers of this place whilſt they were Maſters of it: Theſe Hoſtages were the Prince of Chimay Knight of the Golden Fleece and Colonel of a Walloon Regiment of Horſe, Monſieur de la Catoire his Lieutenant Colonel, a Major and two Captains, which were that very day ſent Priſoners to Valenciennes. A great many Italian Soldiers of the Terce of Aquaviva deſerted over to the French in the marching out, and the Garriſon was ſent with an Eſcorte to Dendermond, according to the Route ſpecified in the Capitulation: The Beſieged had at firſt demanded to go to Bruſſels or Audenarde, but the French would not grant it, eſpecially for Audonarde, which (if they undertook any more Sieges this Campagne) was the onely Town they could attack, and therefore would not put, by this means, a reinforcement into it.

After the French had taken poſſeſſion of Ath, the Magiſtrates went in a Body to Compliment the Marechal of Catinat for his goodneſs in ſparing the Buildings of the Town, and doing as little dammage as was poſſible during the Siege, he having given expreſs orders not to fire Bombs into the Place; The Government of which was given to the Chevalier de Teſſé Lieutenant General by the Marechal of Catinat, and was confirm'd to him afterwards by the French King. Thus (to uſe the Terms of the Paris Gazettier) Ath, one of the ſtrongeſt and the moſt murdering places of Europe has been taken in thirteen days Siege from the opening of the Trenches, with the Loſs of onely about 50 Soldiers kill'd, the Sieurs Courtin Ingenier, du Frêne Maſter of the Horſe to the Marechal of Villeroy, and Emonin Captain of the Artillery Waggons dead of their wounds; and 150 wounded, among whom were a Captain of Grenadiers of the Regiment of Vermandois, a Lieutenant and ſeven Ingeniers: The loſs of the Beſieged was as inconſiderable, and the whole on both ſides did not exceed 400 Men kill'd and wounded, which is but very little for one of the ſtrongeſt and moſt murdering Places of Europe.

Immediately after the taking of Ath the Marechal of Catinat gave orders for the Levelling of the Line of Circumvallation, and repairing of the Breaches, which oblig'd him to continue ſtill ſome day's in the Camp before the Town; but the Marechal of Villeroy paſs'd the Dender with his Army between Ath and Leſſines and came to incamp with his right upon the Wood of Leſſines towards Ghiſlenghien and his Left upon the Dender towards Papignies, where, the Troops that had been detach'd from his Army to carry on the Siege of Ath under the Marechal of Catinat joyn'd him and came again into his Line of Battle. The Second of June 650 Waggons of the Province of Flanders came to Ath (of which about 200 were loaden with Nine Sacks of Meal a piece for the uſe of the Garriſon and the Army) for to carry back all the Ammunitions and Stores which the French had provided for this Siege, having ſpent onely 4000 Balls of 15000 they had ready, and 400 Bombs of 5000 or thereabouts: The Marechal of Catinat ſent likewiſe all the Pontoons or Tinboats that had been made uſe of in the Siege for the Communication of Quarters upon the upper and lower Dender and River of Irchenwebz, to the Marechal of Villeroy, and others were ſent from Doway by Water to Pottes and Canaffe for the uſe of his Army, being now deſign'd to march into Flanders as I ſhall tell it by and by. After the taking of Ath the three Marechals of France had a Feu de joye in each of their Camps for this Conqueſt, all their Artillery and ſmall Shot having fir'd thrice round in their ſeveral Armies; in Bouflers the Firſt of June, in Villeroy's the Second, and the Fourth in Catinat's; And the Lines of Circumvallation being levell'd, the Breaches ſufficiently repair'd and all the Ammunitions and Stores, remaining after the Siege, ſent away, the Marechal of Catinat march'd from Ath the 9th. of June and incamp'd at Lignes; his right near the River of Irchonwelz, and left towards Freſne and the Scheld. In this poſture I ſhall now leave the French to ſpeak of the affairs of the Allies.

The King was incamp'd at Promellos ſince the 23th where I ſhall not concern my ſelf with the journal of that Camp to ſpeak of Forrages and ſuch other daily buſineſs of Armies, but onely of what relates to the main drift of the Campagne. The 27th of May His Majeſty had an account of the Capitulating of Ath, whereupon Major General de Bay was commanded out the next day towards Binch and Herlaymont-Capelle with ſeven Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons to get intelligence of the Marechal of Bouflers Motions, who upon the taking of Ath might have march'd towards Pieton or the Sambre; Colonel Lloyd of the Queens Dragoons commanded the Vanguard of this Detachment with which he defeated a party of Carabiniers of Boufler's Army, took Seventeen Priſoners, ſeveral Horſes, and one or two Subaltern Officers, the reſt were put to flight. The 29th Brigadier Maitland was commanded to go to Bruſſels with his Regiment and that of Denhoff, where he was joyn'd with the Daniſh Battallion of Prince Charles (that had been there ſince the march from Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac to Iſeringhen) to poſt himſelf between this place and Vilvorde for the defence of the Canal and eſpecially the Fort des trois Trous. The ſame day Captain Hunter Major of the firſt Brigade of Dragoons loſt his Horſes by the Perfidy of his Servants, who brought a French Party to take them whilſt they were grazing, but Prince Vaudemont having inform'd the Marechal of Bouflers of the Truth of the Matter, he very freely ſent them back again although ſome of them were already Sold, adding, That he hop'd the ſame Juſtice would be obſerv'd on our ſide to prevent the Villany of Servants. The 31th the Army having Forag'd upon the Left along the Dyle towards Wavre and the King being preſent, His Majeſty at his return to the Camp gave the Royal Regiment of Dragoons (vacant by the Death of Brigadier Matthews) to my Lord Raby, and the Regiment of Foot (vacant by the Death of Colonel Aeneas Mackay) to Colonel Robert Murray Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Scotch Guards, Brigadier Matthew's and Colonel Mackay being dead ſome days before in London. That Evening the Prince of Anhalt-Zerbſt came to the Camp at Promelles where he gave His Majeſty an account of the Siege of Ath, having Commanded the Dutch Forces in Garriſon in this place during the Siege.

June the 2d. Prince Cerclas of Tilly came to Bruſſels from the Electors June. Army with the Liege Horſe and Dragoons, the four Battallions of Foot that were deſign'd to have acted in the Electors Army being ſtill in the Liege Garriſons upon the Meuſe; for the Marquis de Harcourt was now upon his March towards this Countrey, having left Montroyal the 31th of May (after he had detach'd the Marquis de Lomaria Major General with ten Battallions and nine Squadrons to reinforce the Marechal of Choiſeul upon the Rhine) to march himſelf with ſix Battallions and eight Squadrons through the Countrey of Luxembourg towards the Meuſe and the Sambre. The French being now Maſters of Ath, we did ſeem to deſign a third Army about Bruſſels to put our ſelves in a condition to cover the Countrey between this place and the Scheld, where, if our Troops appointed to form it had come ſooner, we could have kept the Field between Bruſſels and Aloſt, and ſecur'd the Forage of that Countrey to our ſelves which the French have all conſum'd in the ſequel of the Campagne; or if the Marechal of Bouflers had march'd towards Namur, the King's Army could have taken the Camp of Fleury to cover it without hazarding of Bruſſels: But now as our affairs were, the Kings Army could not ſtir from the Camp of Promelles and Genap neither one way nor t'other; not towards the Plain of Fleury or Corbais, for fear of leaving Bruſſels open, nor back towards Halle and St. Quintin for fear of leaving Namur expos'd to a Siege; and thus we were oblig'd to continue in this Camp and wait for the motions of the French after the reduction of Ath, and to guide ours accordingly, either for the cover of Bruſſels or Namur. But to return to the Prince of Tilly, he had been detach'd from the Elector's Army after the News of the taking of Ath; becauſe now both Villeroy and Bouflers could joyn their Forces together and march towards Bruſſels, and therefore a reinforcement was neceſſary here for our Brabant Army; Prince Cerclas of Tilly being come to this place, poſted himſelf upon the height within the retrenchment made, when the French Bombarded Bruſſels, before the Fort of Monterey. The 3d, Lieutenant General Cohorne was ſent to Bruſſels with ſeveral Ingeniers to trace out a Line before the Flanders Porte to cover Bruſſels from Anderlecht to the Canal: Eight Battallions were expected hourly at this time from England, and the Lunenbourg, Munſter and Heſſe Troops from the Rhine; but not having as yet any competent number of Forces about this Town, nothing was made of this Line at preſent more than the Plan, for want of Men to work about it; which if it had been put forthwith in any tolerable poſture of defence, would have given the King's Army a great deal more liberty of marching for the conveniency of Camps and Forrage: And indeed we have had about the middle of the Campagne a ſufficient number of Troops to have put not onely Namur and Bruſſels, but the whole Countrey in a poſture of defence, if they could have been brought into the Countrey at the beginning. We have had 17 Battallions from the Rhine, Eight from England, and Three from Bavaria, and theſe, if they had been ready in the Countrey at the beginning to take the Camp of Mazy near Namur, could have then been reinforc'd by ſeven or eight Battallions of this Garriſon which could have been ſpar'd over and above thoſe that came to the King's Army from thence; and four Battallions of the Elector of Cologne's Forces, which (the Meuſe being ſecur'd by this Army) could have march'd out of the Liege Garriſons: By which Computation this Army would have conſiſted of about 40 Battallions, beſides all the German Horſe and what could have been detach'd from the Brabant Army, where we were ſtronger in Horſe than the French: In this caſe Prince Vaudemont could then have march'd from Bois-Seigneur-Iſaac to Ghiſlenghien and cover'd both Ath and Audenarde too; but 'tis to be preſum'd that the Neceſſity of our Affairs in relation to Money was not only the cauſe of the late coming of our Reinforcement from England, but likewiſe in ſome meaſure of that of the Lunenbourg, Munſter and Heſſe Troops; and the French had the time both to take Ath and to pen us up under the Walls of Bruſſels, whilſt they had the whole Country between the Canal and the Scheld to range freely in and Forrage at their pleaſure, as it ſhall appear in the Sequel of this Hiſtory.

The Third, a French Ingenier deſerted over to us that had ſerv'd in the Siege of Ath, pretending to have fought a Duel which oblig'd him to fly for his Life; he gave an account of the little loſs there had been in this Siege, the whole on both ſides of kill'd and wounded not exceeding 400 Men: The ſame Evening my Lord Portland, being recover'd of his late Indiſpoſition that had made him go for Bruſſels, came back to the Camp in good Health, and His Majeſty was pleas'd to declare him General of Horſe in his Armies. The Fifth, Colonels Cholmley, Langſton and Windham were declar'd Brigadiers of Horſe at the Orders, the firſt being made Brigadier of the Brigade of Life-Guards; Colonel Coy diſpos'd afterwards of his Regiment to my Lord of Arran Brother to His Grace the Duke of Ormond, and Colonel Harvey Lieutenant of one of the Troops of Life-Guards, got the Earl of Arran's Regiment of Horſe in England: This day five Battallions landed at Willemſtadt from England being the ſecond Battallion of Scots Guards, Colonel Columbine's, Sir Bevil Granville's, Colonel Murray's and the Marquis of Puizars, where they met with a Route to march forthwith to Bruſſels by Liere and Malines. The Sixth, The Troops of Brunſwick and Lunenbourg under the Command of Lieutenant General Ohr conſiſting of eight Battallions and twelve Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons paſs'd the Meuſe, coming from the Rhine, the Foot at Maeſtricht and the Horſe and Dragoons at Maſeick and incamp'd this day near Tongres, and came the Eighth to Tirlemont where they had Orders to halt, the French having made yet no manner of Motion ſince the taking of Ath, and therefore 'twas not yet reſolv'd where to diſpoſe of this Reinforcement; as for the Heſſe and Munſter Troops, they follow'd, but did not come up till the French had brought us under the Walls of Bruſſels for the Safety of that place, as I am now going to give an account of it; only I muſt ſee firſt what was tranſacting in the Elector of Bavaria's Camp in Flanders after the loſs of Ath.

The greateſt Advantage the French had by the taking of this place was, that now they could march with their Armies in the Pays d'Aloſt, and Forrage all the Country to the very Walls of Dendermond and the Banks of the Scheld, the Rupelle and the Canal of Bruſſels; and that in having their Armies here, they made the Communication between Brabant and Flanders very difficult for the Allies, who in ſuch a caſe could not march any Troops from the one to the other but by the Canal of Bruſſels, Rupelmonde and ſo by the Pays-de Waes behind the Scheld; and if the War had laſted another Campagne we ſhould have felt the Inconveniency of a French Army in the Pays-d'Aloſt yet more than we did this, unleſs we had been much ſtronger in the Field than we were this Year to ſecure this Camp before them. This Conſideration, that the French were now Maſters of the Country to incamp where they pleas'd about Aloſt, oblig'd the Elector to provide betimes for the Safety of Dendermond and Pays-de-Waes, thereupon after the News of the Surrender of Ath, he commanded the Regiment of Horſe of Bunau and the Liege Dragoons of Roſt and Jamar with the two Battallions of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria to march towards that place for its defence, and to hinder the French Parties from paſſing the Scheld to raiſe Contributions in that Countrey; but the Allies having a deſign to make up a third Army about Bruſſels at this time if it could be brought together time enough to prevent the French on this ſide; and beſides, Bruſſels being expos'd, without any conſiderable Troops about it ſince the loſs of Ath, Prince Cerclas of Tilly was order'd away for Bruſſels from the Elector's Army that ſame night, being the 29th of May, with the Liege Cavalry and Dragoons, and took the two Regiments of Dragoons of Jamar and Roſt, ſent to Dendermond; in his way; and ſo the Regiment of Horſe of Bunau and the two Battallions of the Electoral Prince remain'd about Dendermond, but Prince Cerclas of Tilly came to Bruſſels the beginning of June, where he incamp'd before the Fort of Montery as we have ſaid it above.

The Elector's Army had been in this Camp ever ſince our early taking of the Field (except the little time it was with the King's Army at Ternath and Iſeringhen) which made Forrage very ſcarce about his Army; ſeveral great Detachments were therefore made to look for Forrage between the Lys and the Scheld ſome towards Warreghem and Vive St. Eloy up along the Lys, and others towards Naſſaret and Gavre upon the Scheld, one of which Detachments beat a Party of the Enemies at Cruyſhoutem. The third of June, it was propos'd to have march'd with the Army between the Lys and the Scheld and a Camp was mark'd at Naſſaret, but Forrage was very ſcarce and the Army could ſubſiſt but very few days in this place, and therefore 'twas thought neceſſary to oblige the Country of Flanders behind the Canals to have dry Forrage ready at this time for the Subſiſtence of the Army. The Seventh, the Elector's Army made one general Forrage more about Wacken on both ſides of the River Mandel, which falls into the Scheld at this place; the Marquis de Montrevel, being incamp'd with the Body under his command within the Lines near Courtray, having intelligence of it, march'd with a Body of Horſe from this place to interrupt our Forrage between the Lys and the Mandel: We had on our ſide three Field-pieces at the Mills of Wacken upon the River and Detachments all along as far as the Bridge of Colberg and from thence between the Mandel and the Lys all along the way to Baſſevive upon this laſt River; Montrevel had about 3 or 400 Horſe, and having advanc'd pretty far between theſe two Rivers he met with an Out-guard of ours of 30 Horſe commanded by a Spaniſh Lieutenant, which were ſoon oblig'd to fly for their main Body, being under the Command of a Colonel; theſe were likewiſe driven from their Poſt and forc'd to retire, being purſued by the French as far as an Inn call'd the Hive, where Major General Saliſch (who commanded the Forrage this day) was poſted, with about 1300 Men; The French did not think it ſafe to venture any farther, but went back to Courtray having about 40 Priſoners and 30 of our Horſes along with them. The Tenth, the Country of Flanders began to furniſh the Army with dry Forrage according to the Elector's orders, which could not ſubſiſt any longer at Nevel without it: And the Marechal of Catinat having level'd the Lines and repair'd the Breaches of Ath, and being now upon his March towards the Scheld, and it being uncertain as yet which way the Marechal of Villeroy would turn, whither towards Brabant or Flanders; a Council of War was call'd the 12th at the Elector's Camp to concert what was to be done if both the Marechals of Villeroy and Catinat ſhould bring their Armies into Flanders, either at Thilt or Rouſſelar; it was propos'd in that caſe to bring the Elector's Army behind the Canal of Bruges, to march, in order to that, upon the Right and paſs the Canal at Ansbeck, and obſerve the ſame Method that was follow'd laſt Year by the Prince of Vaudemont; three Battallions were commanded from Major General Fagel's Body at Newport to come and poſte themſelves about Bruges to be in a readineſs to reinforce the Elector, that of Lorne, upon the Canal of Oſtend near Schipſtal, Buchan at Steinbrugghe upon the Canal of Bruges, and St. Amand at Moorbrugghe; Colonel Reinard's Regiment of the Elector's Army had been upon the Canal ever ſince the coming back of the Elector to this Camp of Nevel and a Regiment of the Brandenbourg Troops, which upon this Diſpoſition were order'd to poſt themſelves the firſt at Roſtein, and the ſecond at St. George upon the ſame Canal ſomething nearer to Bruges, thus to give or receive Reinforcements to and from Major General Fagel according to the Motions of the French.

Theſe were the Precautions taken by our Army in Flanders during the Uncertainty of the Enemies Deſigns after their taking of Ath; for then, either Villeroy and Catinat could have march'd into Flanders and endeavour to attack Newport, or paſs the Canals, or oblige the Elector, by their coming to Thilt or Rouſſelar, to get behind them himſelf and ſubſiſt his Army with dry Forrage at the Expence of the Country; or elſe the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers could joyn together and ſubſiſt their Armies in the Country about Aloſt and between Bruſſels and the Scheld, which ſince they were Maſters of Ath was now at their Devotion; or elſe the Marechal of Villeroy could have march'd himſelf about Aloſt and the Marechal of Bouflers towards the Camp of Pieton, which would have oblig'd His Majeſty equally to provide for the Defence of Bruſſels and Namur; or laſtly the Marechal of Villeroy could have beſieg'd Audenarde, whilſt Bouflers ſhould obſerve our Brabant Army, and Catinat that of Flanders. In the firſt of theſe caſes, we were too watchful for Newport, and the letting out of the Waters could hinder the French from coming near it; and this Advantage, with the Troops we had on this ſide, ſeem'd ſufficient to cover the Country between Bruges and Newport and behind the Canal of Bruges, ſo that it would be too much Hazard to attempt any thing on this ſide; where, beſides, in ſuch an occaſion the King could have ſent good Reinforcements directly to Ghendt, eſpecially now that our German Forces were on their March and Lieutenant General Ohr actually come into Brabant: As for the Subſiſting of their Armies about Thilt, Rouſſelar and Torhout, and the driving of the Elector behind the Canals, this Country had been ſo Harraſs'd and Plunder'd in the two preceding Campagnes, that no Forrage could be expected here for the Maintenance of ſuch Armies, and therefore if both march'd that way one at leaſt would be oblig'd to march back again in a little time. The ſecond Propoſition of Villeroy's and Boufler's joyning to march into the Pays d'Aloſt ſeem'd to be the moſt advantagious and ſafe, becauſe this Countrey, eſpecially the bottom of it, between the Rupelle and the (Scheld from Willebrook upon the Canal of Bruſſels to Dendermond) had hardly been moleſted by any Armies all this War, and therefore their two Armies could live here a long time very conveniently in the midſt of plenty in relation to Forrage of all ſorts: As for the third, the Seige of Namur could be but a Dream, now that we were going to have ſuch a reinforcement from England and the Rhine: 'Tis true that we could not hinder them from beſieging of Audenarde, but the ſituation of it is naturally very ſtrong upon the account of the Scheld, which, with the keeping up of the Sluces in the Town, overflows all the Meadows about it, leaving no acceſs for Trenches but before the Gate that leads to Courtray and Deinſe, and there was a very great Garriſon in it, ſo that they could not think of having it at ſo cheap a rate as Ath, but muſt expect to looſe a great many Men in the taking of it; which they did not think convenient to do at a time, when the Negotiations of a General Peace ſeem'd to be in a very hopeful forwardneſs; and beſides, the Communications upon the River, which is very large, are very difficult, and eaſily broken upon the lower Scheld by the letting out of the Sluces; and therefore it would not be very difficult to raiſe the Siege, by attacking them in one Quarter or other; theſe Conſiderations made the French prefer to march into the Countrey of Aloſt, with the Armies of Bouflers and Villeroy joyn'd together, to any other deſign they could propoſe to themſelves; and the rather, becauſe His Majeſty's Army had a very long and difficult march, and a cloſe defile for near 3 Leagues thro' the Bois de Sogne to come to Bruſſels, and therefore if the Marechal of Bouflers could but gain one march upon the King, he might have pretended to the Camp of Anderlecht before our Army in Brabant, and then Bruſſels would have been once more expos'd to the Fury of the French Bombs, after all the Charges that had been ſpent to raiſe it out of its ruines much more ſtately and magnificent than it was before; and if the French in ſuch a Caſe would have been inclin'd to accept a Summe of Money to ſpare the Town, either of them would have made a very great noiſe in the World, when done in the preſence of ſuch an Army as we had then incamp'd at Promelles and Genap commanded by the King in Perſon, and it would have been as inglorious for the Allies and eſpecially His Majeſty, as a great and happy undertaking for the French; and therefore we find that their firſt motions ſeem'd to be levell'd at this place, as I am now going to tell it.

The Marechal of Bouflers Army having taken Bread for ſix Days, march'd on the 12th upon the Left from the Camp of Thieuſies towards Halle and came this day to incamp with the Right at Steinkirk and the Left extending it ſelf towards the Village of Marck beyond Enghien: The ſame day the Marechal of Villeroy (having been reinforc'd the day before with the Body commanded by the Marquis de Crequi at Celles) march'd with the Army under his Command, and having paſs'd the Wood of Leſſines came to incamp with his Right at Caſtergat towards Haute Croix and Enghien and his Left at Gamerage towards Grammont. It was about Twelve of the Clock this day before the King had an account of theſe motions of the French, upon notice of which, the Chief Generals were immediately ſent for to Court and a Council of War being held it was reſolv'd that the Army ſhould march that very Evening for Bruſſels, though it was then very rainy Weather, and had been ſo the day before: If the march had been delay'd till the next day, the Marechal of Bouflers might have gain'd the Camp of Anderlecht, as ſoon as we, and therefore there was a neceſſity of marching forthwith; and accordingly the two Brigades of Foot of Belcaſtel and Oxenſtern were order'd to march about Five this Afternoon for Waterlo to cover the Artillery and heavy Baggage that was ſent before to Bruſſels by the Grand-chauſſeé through the Wood, which was the onely way we had for the Artillery and Baggage, and both the Columnes of our Army, to march by, and therefore made it very difficult and tedious; and indeed, had it not been for the great Rains that had fallen both this and the day before, which render'd the ways almoſt unpaſſable for the French Artillery and Army (whereas, though we had a long defile to paſs through the Wood, yet it was a very good ſtone Cauſſey, without which it had been impoſſible to have march'd the whole Army and Artillery quick enough to get on the other ſide of Bruſſels in ſuch Weather) I do not know but the French might have come up time enough to have diſputed us the Camp of Anderlecht with much Superior Forces, but the Rain, which happily Clogg'd the march of the French at this time, did not very much retard ours, becauſe we had, for the moſt part of the way, a very good Stone Cauſſey for the Army and eſpecially the Artillery to march upon.

About Ten at Night, the whole Army began to follow the march of the Artillery and heavy Baggage according to this diſpoſition, it being then a very dark night and bad Weather; the Infantry march'd firſt in two Columnes upon the Right towards the Koning's Huys there to gain the Great Cauſſey for Waterlo and ſo through the Bois-de-Sogne to Bruſſels, the Right Wing of Horſe was to follow the ſame way and then the Left Wing; all the Cavalry being order'd to march in the Rear, not onely for a Rear-Guard to ſee the Body of Foot ſafe into the Wood, but alſo becauſe of the great darkneſs of the Night whereby ſeveral People might have been otherwiſe troden under Foot by the Horſe: About Midnight the King left his Quarters at Promelles attended by Prince Vaudemont to go to Bruſſels, the King and Prince were in their Coaches having a great many Flambeaus to light them, without which it had been almoſt impoſſible to ſee the way; the Brigade of Guards march'd about break of day, from the King's Quarter and got in the Rear of the Body of Foot, the Front of which was by this time advanc'd almoſt as far as Waterlo; it was full day before the Horſe began to march, having orders to make ſeveral detachments, from Height to Height in the Plain, to cover our march till the whole Army was got into the Wood, where Colonel Gohr's Regiment of Foot was order'd to poſt it ſelf for the Rear Guard of the Artillery and Baggage, and to bring up all the ſtraggling or wearied Soldiers that could not keep up with the Army in ſo long and tedious a March. The King and Prince got very early on the 13th through Bruſſells, with Quarter-maſter General Dopft along with them, to viſit the ground between Anderlecht and the Canal of Bruſſells and chuſe the ſtrongeſt and the moſt defenſible Camp; the Prince of Tilly had orders the over night from the King to get on the other ſide of Bruſſells with the Horſe and Dragoons under his Command, and accordingly had march'd that ſame Night from the Fort of Monterey without Halle-porte through the Town, and incamp'd on the other ſide between the Flanders porte and that of Anderlecht; from whence he ſent ſeveral detachments towards Hall, St. Quintin-Linneck and Aſche, both to get Intelligence of the French motions, and cover the Countrey hereabouts (till the coming up of the Army) for an Eſcorte to His Majeſty, who was now viſiting all the poſts hereabouts and the Avenues and Approaches to Bruſſells, for the taking up of a good Camp and fruſtrating the Deſigns of the Enemies: The Van of the Body of Foot got to the Height of the Fauxbourg of Ixelles without Namur porte the 13th by Ten in the morning, where it was order'd to halt till the Camp ſhould be mark'd; for all the Quarter-maſters were ſtill here with their Field Colours waiting for Quarter-maſter General Dopft's Orders, who was with the King, as we have now ſaid it, on the other ſide; but as ſoon as the Body of Foot was come up ſo near Bruſſells they were ſent for to come and mark the Camp; and about one the Army had orders to march by the Namur porte, the right of the Body of Foot through the Town by the Laacken porte and ſo to gain the Height between Ganſhoren and the Canal, and the Left round the Rampart by the Gate of Anderlecht to that of Flanders, and ſo to incamp with the Right at Berchom, and Left cloſe upon the Town, between the Flanders-porte and that of Anderlecht facing towards this place and Dilbeck, as the Right did (from Berchom to Laacken upon the Canal) towards Aſche, Wemmel and Grimberg. We were to incamp, according no this diſpoſition, in the figure of an acute Angle, fix'd with one Leg at the Village of Laacken upon the Canal of Bruſſells where was the Right, and to'ther between the Flanders and Anderlecht-portes being the Left, and the Vertex or point at Berchom, to have by this means the advantage of the Brook of Zellich to cover our Right, which runs through a bottom before the Villages of Ganſhoren and Jette and the Chaſteau de Riviere, and ſo falls near Laacken into a branch of the Senne (that goes all along the Canal on this ſide as far as the Fort-des-trois-Trous) forming ſeveral Fiſh-ponds from the Chaſteau de Riviere to the Village of Jette, and ſo to that of Laacken; This made the right of our Camp very ſtrong, the Brook of Zellich being ſtopt up upon this occaſion to make an inundation in the bottom before our Right between Jette and Laacken; and in General all the approaches to our Camp on this ſide were through ſtrong defile's caus'd by the Woods about the Abbey of Dillighem, the paſſages over this Rivulet, and the ſeveral Villages before us. Our Left, which turn'd down from Berchom to the Town of Bruſſells, facing towards Anderlecht and Dilbeck, was cover'd by a bottom which began near the Village of Berchom and ſo continued to the very Ramparts of the Town, having ſeveral Fiſhponds in it, with deep and hollow ways, which made it very difficult to attack us on that ſide; we left indeed the Height between Anderlecht and Dilbeck open, from whence the French Bombarded Bruſſells in the Year 1695, becauſe of the weakneſs of the Ground to defend it; but as we were incamp'd, we could hinder them from coming near enough to do any dammage to the Town.

All the Foot being got through Bruſſells about five or ſix in the Evening, it began to incamp according as we have now deſcrib'd it, and the King and Prince took their Quarters in the Fauxbourg of Cockelbergh juſt without the Flanders-porte; But the Cavalry did not come into their ground till 'twas in the Night, all the Dutch Horſe incamping upon the right near the Village of Laacken, except the Brigades of Dompré and Chauviré under the Command of Major-General Hubert, which interlin'd with the Body of Foot upon the Left of Ingoldesby's and Belcaſtel's Brigades behind the Village of Ganſhoren, the moſt open paſſage to our Camp upon the Right being hereabouts; Prince Cerclas of Tilly incamp'd upon the left with the Liege Horſe and Dragoons, but all the Engliſh Cavalry march'd through Bruſſells by the Scarbeck-porte and incamp'd on the other ſide of the Canal, with the Right at Ever, where General Auerquerque was Quarter'd, and the Left at Diegom upon the way to Louvain, except the Dragoons of Tiviot, Roſſe and Jedborough which were poſted between Vilvorde and the Burnt-bridge upon the Canal of Bruſſells, and thoſe of Eppinger and Lloyd which were mix'd with the Foot at the Camp of Cockelbergh: Anhalt's Brigade being compos'd of the three Battallions of Anhalt, Scheltinga and Slabendorf lately come to Bruſſells from the Siege of Ath, and the two Battallions of Els and Eſſen detach'd from our Army, incamp'd on the other ſide of Bruſſells before the Fort of Monterey: This was the ſtate of our Army about the Town at our firſt coming to this Camp, where we were very conveniently poſted to expect the French, if they would have attack'd us, and no ſtronger camp could have been found out to cover the Town and ſecure our ſelves at once; but becauſe we were likely to have to do with two powerful Armies joyn'd together, and that too much care could not be taken for our Safety, eſpecially at our firſt coming, that we had not as yet thoſe conſiderable reinforcements, which joyn'd us ſoon after from England and the Rhine, therefore as ſoon as the Army began to incamp, fifty men out of each Battallion were commanded to work that very Night, being about 3400 men, at a Retrenchment upon the Left of the Village of Berchom where was an open ground about a quarter of an Engliſh Mile over, that joyn'd to the Height of Dilbeck and commanded this part of our Camp, and was the weakeſt poſt we had to defend, and the moſt dangerous inlet into our Camp in caſe of an attack, and therefore ſpecial care was taken to Fortiſie immediately this Avenue; My Lord Cutts was then Major of the day, and was, by the King's order, upon the work all Night to forward it by his Care and Preſence; and by the next Morning it was conſiderably advanc'd and in a ſtate not to be eaſily carried by an Enemy. This Retrenchment was a Redan or work of Salliant Angles with a large Foſſè and cover'd way, the Glacis of which was ſenc'd with an outer Ditch, being ſtuck all over at the bottom with ſhort Paliſſades, or ſharp wooden Spikes, having their points upwards to hinder the Enemy from getting into it.

As His Majeſty's Army came to this Camp the 13th, that of the Marechal of Bouflers was at the ſame time upon the march from Steinkirk towards Noſtredame de Halle, where he incamp'd this Evening with his Right at Lembeck upon the Senne, and his Left at the Brook of Pepinghen towards St. Quintin-Linneck, the Head-quarter being at St. Arnelle in the Rear, upon the way that goes from Halle to Enghien; as ſoon as the Mareſchal of Bouflers was come up to this Camp he immediately detach'd the Chevalier de Neſle with 150 Horſe towards Anderlecht to get intelligence of our motions, and whether our Army was yet got to this ſide of Bruſſells; the Chevalier de Neſle advanc'd with his Party almoſt as far as Dilbeck this Night, and met hereabouts, upon the way to Halle, with a Party of 30 Liege Horſe commanded by a Cornet, which Monſieur de Sainfal, a reform'd Captain in the French Life Guards, attack'd with a Squadron of 50 and defeated him, killing four upon the ſpot, and took eleven Priſoners with fifteen Horſes: 'Twas by the meeting and defeat of this Party that the Chevalier de Neſle was inform'd of all our Armies being incamp'd on this ſide of Bruſſels between the Flanders-porte and the Canal: But the Marechal of Villeroy who had march'd through the Wood of Leſſines on the 12th to incamp between Caſtergat and Gamerage, was forc'd to halt the next day, the Weather having been ſo very bad the 11th and 12th, and the ways grown ſo difficult, that his Artillery and Wheel Baggage could not come up to march the 13th, being to paſs through the deſiles of the Wood of Leſſines; but on the 14th this Army march'd and came to incamp with the Right beyond Goick towards St. Quintin-Linneck within three Quarters of a League of Bouflers Left, and the Left towards the Dender beyond Strithem, the Head-quarter being at this laſt place: And if the French had at firſt any deſign upon Bruſſells and our Army, it was this halting of Villeroy's Army that prevented it, and gave us time to Fortifie our Camp before the Town, and receive conſiderable reinforcements; for the Marechal of Bouflers was not ſtrong enough to pretend to attack us himſelf, and therefore could not march up to us on the 14th before we had ſufficiently Fortified our Camp; and Villeroy coming but this day to the Neighbourhood of St. Quintin-Linneck, the two Marechals could not joyn together till the 15th, and conſequently could not attack us well till the 16th in the morning, when we could not be in a condition to apprehend their coming; therefore the French were oblig'd to think of nothing elſe at preſent but the ſubſiſting of theſe two great Armies in the Countrey between the Senne and the Dender, where they reach'd almoſt from the one River to the other, being upwards of three Leagues diſtance; and here I ſhall leave them to return to His Majeſties Camp near Bruſſells.

The 14th the King and Prince went out very early to ſee the Retrenchment we had work'd upon in the Night, and the avenues to the Height of Dillebeck, where, having heard of the defeat of our Party of Liege Horſe the overnight ſo near our Camp, all the out-poſts were thereupon order'd to be reinforc'd, in all the Villages before the Camp, as in the Villages of Berchom, Ganſhoren, Jette and Laacken, and the Abbey of Dilleghem and Caſtle of Riviere; theſe two laſt places commanding a paſs in the bottom over the Rivulet of Zellich, the firſt on one ſide towards Wemmel, and the laſt on the other towards Bruſſells; a Field Officer with two or 300 men was poſted in the Abbey before our Right, and in the Villages of Dilbeck and Anderlecht before our Left; and that the Retrenchment, we were working upon ſince the overnight to ſtop up the paſſage into our Camp from the Height of Dillebeck, might be finiſh'd with all Expedition, 30 Men more were commanded out of every Battallion (being now between five and 6000 perſons) to work upon it, and His Majeſty, in his Riding out this morning, ſaw the Marechal of Boufler's Army incamp'd at Halle. In the Evening Lieutenant General Ohr (having receiv'd an Expreſs from His Majeſty at Tirlemont the 12th at Night to come and joyn him here) paſs'd through the Town of Bruſſells, and incamp'd in the firſt Line upon the Left of all (without the Flanders-porte, his Left being upon the way that goes from the Fauxbourg of Cockelberg to Anderlecht) with 8 Battallions, being thoſe of Ohr, Witgenſtein, Wey, Dedem, and Heydemale of the Troops of Hanover, and thoſe of Tozen, Ranſaw, and La Motthe of Zell, and 12 Field Pieces; His Horſe, being the Regiments of the Electoral Prince of Hanouer, Appel, Bottmer and Bulaw, and the Dragoons of Zell Guards and Lieutenant General Ohr, in all twelve Squadrons, incamp'd before the Fort of Monterey near Anhalt's Brigade under the command of Major General Bulaw; and at the ſame time the ſecond Battallion of Scots Guards, and the Battallions of Columbine, Granville, and Puizar lately arriv'd from England at Willemſtadt, came to incamp in the cover'd way before the Scarbeck-porte, but Colonel Murray's Regiment was order'd upon the Canal near Vilvorde. The ſame Evening all our General Officers met at the Windmill of Ganſhoren, where our Artillery was drawn up upon the Height, to divide the Poſts for the Army in caſe of an Alarm, which the Quarter-maſters mark'd the next morning with Field colours, for every Regiment to know his poſt; and this day Colonel Gohr's Regiment, that had been left in the Bois-de-Sogne for the Guard of the Baggage, came into the Camp, all the Baggage not having been able to get up to us till this day. The 16th, Belcaſtel's Brigade was commanded out of the ſecond Line, to go and incamp upon the right of all in the Village of Laacken, and ſecure that paſſage which cover'd our Right Wing of Horſe, and was no proper poſt to be defended by it; and the four Battallions now mention'd that incamp'd in the Counterſcarp of Scarbeck-porte were order'd to come into the Line, where the three laſt of thoſe four Battallions made up Fairfaxes Brigade, in the place of Belcaſtel's. The 17th the Retrenchment to ſtop the paſſage into our Camp from the Height of Dillebeck, being very near finiſh'd, and being thus pretty ſecure on this (though the moſt dangerous) ſide, the Army work'd at a General Retrenchment from the Height of the Village of Berchom to the Canal at Laacken, taking in the little plains between Berchom and Ganſhoren, Ganſhoren and Jette, and Jette and Laacken, which quite ſhut up our Camp and render'd it not onely inacceſſible to the French with the many defilés and difficult paſſages before us, but likewiſe kept the Soldiers in it, out of which they could not eaſily ſtir to Marode or Deſert, and this (may be) was the thing chiefly deſign'd in the making of it; for it is hardly probable, that the French would have come to attack us, though we had not made this Retrenchment, conſidering the difficulty of the avenues into our Camp every way, and the great Army we were now going to have by the joyning of the Rhine Troops. The 18th, the Army continued to work at the great Retrenchment, the ſame day, the Munſter Troops commanded by Brigadier Corfay paſs'd through the Town of Bruſſells to incamp before the Fort of Monterey, conſiſting of Four Battallions, being thoſe of Conaritz, Corfay, Landsberg and Schwarts, and the Three Regiments of Horſe of Heyterſleben, Raffeldt and Haenſtein, making Six Squaprons: In the Evening, the King went to viſit the Electrice of Bavaria at the Palace, where His Majeſty was receiv'd by the Count de Pryſingen at the Head of all the Gentlemen of the Palace, and conducted through the Guard Chamber, where all the Halbardiers were drawn up in two Lines, to the Electrice's Apartment, where her Highneſs, being then big with Child and pretty near her time, receiv'd the Kings Viſit in her Bed of State, His Majeſty being attended by moſt of the Chief Officers of the Army; Madame de Lede Lady Governeſs preſented the Electoral Princeſs to the King, being then an Infant of about a Twelve Month Old: After this His Majeſty went to ſee the Electrice's Apartments, and ſo was conducted back to his Coach by the Count de Pryſingen with the ſame Ceremony as before, and from thence the King went to viſit the Princeſs of Vaudemont. The 19th, the great Retrenchment being finiſh'd before our Army and the Artillery diſpers'd all along into ſeveral Batteries, we had the leaſure to work at the Line, deſign'd by Lieutenant General Cohorne to cover Bruſſells for the future with a ſmall Army from being Bombarded; and it was accordingly trac'd out this day after this manner, a Work upon the Right of the Height before Anderlecht-porte (a deep bottom, hollow ways, and Fiſhponds remaining between it and Cockelbergh) and another upon the Left juſt by the Village of Anderlecht where it fell upon the Cauſſey that goes from thence to Bruſſells through the Meadows caus'd by the Neighbourhood of the Senne, and which can be over flow'd by it, and theſe two Works are joyn'd together by a Line of Communication over the Height of Anderlecht; again, to cover the Town on the other ſide of the bottom and Fiſh-ponds now mention'd, and ſo on as far as the Canal, againſt a Bombardment from the Height of Cockelberg (as the other did from the Height of Anderlecht) a Retrenchment was made to include the Fauxbourgs of Cockelberg and Malenbeck, with the Left upon the bottom and Fiſhponds, that continued the defence to the Works upon the Height of Anderlecht, and the Right upon the Meadows along the Canal between Bruſſells and Laacken; and the Banks of the Canal on this ſide being cover'd (as it has been ſaid before) by a Branch of the Senne, the Retrenchment terminating upon the Meadows, and the Banks of the Canal ſo flank'd one another, that no Lodgement could be made in them near enough to Bombard the Town from thence; and beſides, I believe that theſe Meadows can be overflow'd by ſtopping up of the River at the Fort des Trois Trous upon the Canal This is a very ſtrong Retrenchment and of as large dimenſions as the Ramparts of a Town, being a Redan or work with Salliant Angles, (moſt of them being right or as near right as could be) flanking one another, and ſo were the Works upon the Height of Anderlecht, with a good Foſſe, Counterſcarp, and Glacis with an outer Ditch before it: The Army work'd at this Line from this day till the end of the Campagne every day more or leſs (if not prevented by Foul Weather) and compleated it all but the Paliſſading of it; and though it has coſt the Town a great deal of Money, yet Peace being concluded between France and the Allies ſoon after, we may reckon it as a Work loſt, and that it will ſoon run to Ruin, though 'tis very neceſſary for the ſafety of Bruſſells in any War between Spain and France, whilſt Mons and Ath are the onely Frontier Towns that cover it, and either of them being taken, the French can come to the very Walls of Bruſſells.

The ſame day that we begun to work at this Line being the 19th, two Battallions of the Duke of Holſtein came up to the Camp from Germany and took their Poſt upon the Left of the Second Line near the Flanders porte: The Heſſe Troops Commanded by Velt-Marſhal Count de Lippe came up to Diegom, and the Hereditary Prince of Heſſe came to Court to wait upon His Majeſty: The 20th the Heſſe Troops march'd through Bruſſells to incamp without Halle porte before the Fort of Monterey being compos'd of Four Battallions, viz. one of the Life Regiment, one of Grenadiers, and two of Blixen-croon, and the Regiments of Horſe of Spiegel and Garſtenbroeck, and thoſe of Dragoons of the Prince of Hombourg and the Prince of Heſſe, making together Eight Squadrons; ſo that we had now a reinforcement of 18 Battallions and 26 Squadrons from the Rhine, and Five Battallions from England, which were ſoon follow'd by Three more, and Three Battallions of the Garriſon of Ath, being in all 29 Battallions, which having left no detach'd Companies, but being full Regiments, may be reckon'd at 600 men one with another, amounting in all to 17400 Foot; and 2900 Horſe and Dragoons, all which together made 20300 men; Add this to the Sum of His Majeſties and the Elector's Armies, and it made the Allies about 125000 ſtrong in the Field now in Flanders, out of which our Army about Bruſſells conſiſted of no leſs than 99 Battallions and 175 Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons, being ſo poſted that they in a manner inveſted the Town: The Main of the Army incamp'd between the Senne and the Canal, Eight Battallions of Heſſe and Munſter, and Five of Anhalt's Brigade, and 26 Squadrons of German Horſe and Dragoons were on the other ſide of the Senne upon the Height before the Fort of Monterey under the Command of Velt-Marechal General Count de Lippe, where they made a very good Line to cover the Town on that ſide, almoſt in the ſame place with the Retrenchment as Prince Vaudemont made in the Year 1695; General Auerquerque incamp'd with the Engliſh Cavalry and Dragoons at Ever and Diegom on that ſide of Bruſſells which is towards Malines and Lonvain; the Wood of Sogne cover'd the reſt: By this diſpoſition, if the Marechal of Bouflers had paſs'd the Senne with his Army from the Camp of Halle to march towards Genap and Nivelle, we had all the Troops incamp'd at Diegom and without the Fort of Monterey to joyn in one march about Wavre; the firſt by Neer-Iſche and the ſecond through the Boisde-Sogne, which together would have made above 100 Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons, and 13 Battallions which could have been conſiderably reinforc'd with Infantry from the Garriſon of Namur and the Army at Cockelberg, and thus the next day we could have ſecur'd the Camp of Maſy and cover'd this Important Place; for it was the opinion of ſome People that the Marechal of Bouflers (after the French had wedg'd our Army between the Senne and the Canal at Bruſſells) would have march'd towards Namur to get between this Place and the Allies; but, as His Majeſty had diſpos'd his Army about Bruſſells, we could reach the Camp of Maſy as ſoon as Bouflers could come to the Plain of Fleury, and thus cover at once both Namur and Bruſſells, the firſt againſt the Marechal of Bouflers, and the ſecond againſt that of Villeroy; and indeed (as I have ſaid it before) if the Allies had had all the Troops in the Field in the beginning of the Campagne which they had now, 'tis a queſtion whether the French could have Beſieg'd even Ath it ſelf, notwithſtanding their 150000 Men.

The Marquis de Harcourt, who had march'd from Montroyal with his flying Camp towards the Low-Countreys on the 31th. of May, to obſerve the motions of the Troops which the Allies expected there from the Rhine, paſs'd the Meuſe at Givet the 15th of June about the ſame time that the German Reinforcement was getting up to our Camp about Bruſſells; the 16th he march'd to Phillipville from whence he was to paſs the Sambre and joyn the Marechal of Bouflers; who as well as the Marechal of Villeroy was now at a ſtand upon the Meaſures that had been taken by His Majeſty in bringing off his Army with ſo much expedition, and poſting of it ſo ſtrongly and conveniently about Bruſſells; and the French ſeem'd at preſent to have no other deſign with theſe two Armies but to Forrage and waſte all the Countrey along the Dender and between the Scheld and the Canal of Bruſſells.

As for the Marechal of Catinat, we have left him incamp'd at Lignes, where he came with his Army after the Siege of Ath, (and that he had repair'd the Breaches and levell'd the Line of Circumvallation) on the 9th Inſtant, in order to march into Flanders: The 12th this Army advanc'd towards the Scheld and came to incamp along the Ronne between Anvain and Cordes, the Marechal of Catinat's Quarter being in the laſt of theſe places. The 13th he march'd to come up cloſe to the Scheld, and the Head Quarter was at Herines; all the Artillery and heavy Baggage was order'd to paſs the Scheld this very Evening, at the Bridge of Boats made ſince the Campagne between Pottes and Canaffe, and the Army paſs'd the River the next day upon this, and another Bridge made for this occaſion with Boats that were ſent from Doway after the Siege of Ath for the uſe of this Army, which incamp'd this day about half way between the Lys and the Scheld. The 15th the Marechal of Catinat march'd on towards the Lys, and came to incamp at Vive St. Eloy, where he was joyn'd the ſame day by the Forces that had been poſted within the Lines of Courtray under the Command of Monſieur de Montrevel, and this Army, according to the French accounts, conſiſted of 52 Battallions and 69 Squadrons; but the Marechal of Catinat having ſent back all the Reinforcements he had from the Marechal of Villeroy at the Siege of Ath, the moſt that he could have at the repaſſing of the Scheld muſt be but 25 Battallions, and when joyn'd by Montrevel his Army could not well exceed Forty; but whatever his Strength was at preſent, he ventur'd to march with it cloſe to the Elector's Army, and came the 17th to incamp between Cruy's houtem and the Lys, within a League and a half of Deinſe, his Right being at Nackeren and Left at Zulte upon this River, where the General Quarter was; ſo near the Marechal of Catinat incamp'd now to the Elector of Bavaria, only the Lys remain'd between them.

This March of the Marechal of Catinat ſo near to Deinſe oblig'd the Elector to look about him, and this made his Electoral Highneſs call a Council of War upon theſe Motions of the French towards him, to conſult what was to be done in the preſent Conjuncture; his Army conſiſted of about 43 Battallions including the Brigades of Holſtein-Norburg and Ranſaw that were incampd upon the Right of all between Landeghem and Ansbeck and eighty five or ſix Squadrons; Four Battallions had been detach d under Baron Sparre, ſince the coming back of the Army from Brabant to Audenarde; three at Dendermond and in the Pays de Waes, and two behind the Canal of Bruges which made the remainder 43 Battallions; the Marechal of Catinat's true ſtrength was not at firſt known, ſome made him ſtronger than he was and others weaker which accordingly caus'd a variety of Opinions; and the Elector ſent Monſieur Verboom his Quarter-Maſter General, to the King to give His Majeſty an account of it, and it was reſolv'd in the mean time to fortifie the Bridge of Deinſe at Peteghem and to have a very ſtrong Guard there, being the next Poſt to the Marechal of Catinat, and to lay Bridges over the Canal, one at Ansbeck and another lower at Dorme either to receive Reinforcements that way if Catinat came to attack the Elector, or to be ready to march behind the Canal if Catinat ſhould march towards Bruges or Newport. In the midſt of theſe Doubts the Elector had Advice that the Marechal of Catinat's Army at his coming to Zulte, had but fourteen Battallions in the firſt Line and fewer in the ſecond, and that he was but weak in Horſe and Dragoons; this made His Highneſs very deſirous to pay a Viſit with his Army to the Marechal of Catinat, but he had a mind firſt to know the Truth of the Matter, for though the Camp was very ſtrong where Catinat was poſted, yet it could hardly be imagin'd that he would have ventur'd ſo near the Elector with ſo inconſiderable an Army: The Elector therefore ſent that very Night to Newport for Major General Fagel, and order'd the three Battallions of Lorne, Buchan and St. Amand that were about Bruges, and thoſe of Reinard and Brandenbourg behind the Canal, to come up and joyn together at Bellem to be there in a readineſs to reinforce the Army upon occaſion. The 18th in the Afternoon His Highneſs went with a ſtrong Eſcorte as far as the Wind-mill of Oſſelghem, from whence he might diſcover the whole Line of Catinat's Army, and in the Evening Major General Fagel came to the Camp. The 19th at Night the Elector had advice that the French had laid Bridges over the Lys near Zulte, with a Deſign to Forrage the next day about Wacken and the Mandel, on this ſide of the River; wherefore His Highneſs commanded that a ſtrong Detachment of Horſe, Foot and Dragoons ſhould immediately be ſent that very Night with Cannon to diſturb this Forrage, and accordingly 8000 Horſe, Foot and Dragoons with eight Pieces of Cannon were order'd for this Command, and ſtood paraded at the Head of the Camp till Ten or Eleven of the Clock the next Morning, to hear of the Enemies paſſing of the Lys; but the Marechal of Catinat having advice of our Preparations to attack his Forragers order'd the Bridges over the Lys to be taken up again, and laid this Deſign aſide, of which the Elector being inform'd, this great Detachment was countermanded. Major General Fagel went back the over-night to Newport and the five Regiments of Foot at Bellem were ſent again to their former Poſts. The 20th a great Detachment of 1500 Horſe was commanded away towards Bruges for a feint to cover the Deſign which the Elector ſeem'd to have ſtill of marching up to the Marechal of Catinat, for at the ſame time he order'd Bridges to be laid over the Lys between Deinſe and Bachtem, and the 21th the Brigades of Ranſaw and Holſtein-Norbourg were order'd to come and incamp cloſe upon the Elector's Right between Nevel and Landeghem, whereas before they were poſted near the Canal of Bruges between Landeghem and Ansbeck. But on the 22th at night the Marechal of Catinat march'd off privately with his Army from Zulte to get back towards the Lines and incamp'd with his Right near Courtray, and his Left towards Harlebeck; it was generally ſuppos'd then, that theſe Preparations of the Elector's oblig'd Catinat to withdraw ſo ſuddenly and with ſo much Secrecy into the Lines. But 'tis more probable that this Retreat of Catinat's was upon Montrevel's going with the Body under his command, to poſt himſelf near Grammont upon the Dender; where his Troops were order'd, to cover the Convoys that come by Water from Tournay to Pottes and Canaffe, and thence by Land to Villeroy's Army. and the Marechal of Catinat could not pretend to keep in this Camp of Zulte without that Re-inforcement which Montrevel commanded. Thus I ſhall leave the Army in Flanders to go back to His Majeſty's Camp near Bruſſels and ſpeak of the Tranſactions that happen'd there, of which ſome were of great Importance and cannot well be omitted.

At His Majeſty's firſt coming to this Camp to cover Bruſſels, the Army had abundance of Forrage, of which there was a great Plenty all about it; and moſt laid in Forrage at the firſt coming to this Ground for a Fortnight at leaſt without going far for it; but this being the only Camp the main of the Army had for all the reſt of the Campagne, and Villeroy and Bouſlers being Maſters of all the Country about Aloſt, and between the Scheld and the Canal, it is no wonder if there was at laſt a very great Scarceneſs of Forrage hereabouts. The firſt General Forrage which the Army made was not till the 20th being about Grimberg and the outſide of the Canal, to get as much as poſſibly we could all before us, about Aſch, Zellich, Wemmel and Grimberg, which was now reckon'd but as ſo much taken from the French. But I ſhall ſay no more of theſe Affairs, which make the ordinary and daily Tranſactions of Armies, to ſpeak of things of more moment and which had a nearer Relation to the Happy Concluſion of this Campagne in Peace.

The 22th Penſionary Heinſius of Holland, who had lately been nam'd by the States General for their third Plenipotentiary at the Conferences for the Treaty of Peace at Ryſwick in the room of the Sieur Boreel lately deceas'd, came to the Camp to wait upon His Majeſty; and this Voyage, which could not be but about Affairs of Conſequence, occaſiond abundance of Diſcourſes ſome tending to War and others to Peace: For Buſineſs went on a little ſlowly at this time in the Congreſs at Ryſwick, ſome time had been taken up at firſt in adjuſting of the Ceremonial, which had been agreed upon at laſt and not long ſince, wherein it was concluded that in relation to Viſits, and paying of the firſt Viſit and the receiving of it, the Plenipotentiary Ambaſſadours of Crown'd Heads that had come firſt to the Hague or Delft for the Congreſs of Ryſwick, ſhould pay the firſt Viſit to the laſt Comers, without inferring from thence any Conſequence about Precedency, or derogating in any manner from any one's Privileges or Pretentions about it; and according to this Regulation Count de Caunitz and Count Straatman that had come to the Hague before the French Plenipotentiaries arriv'd at Delft, went to pay them the firſt Viſit at their own Houſes, and afterwards the French Plenipotentiaries return'd the ſame Complement to the Counts of Caunitz and Straatman at the Hague, and paid at the ſame time the firſt Viſit to the Baron of Zeilern the third Imperial Plenipotentiary, being come into Holland after them; and the ſame Method was obſerv'd in the Viſits of the reſt. After the adjuſting of the Ceremonial, the French Ambaſſadours were requir'd by the Mediator to give in their Project of a General Peace with the Allies, in purſuance of the Overtures already made in the Preliminaries, and ſo to enter upon more Eſſential Buſineſs than had hitherto been handled in the Congreſs: The French, on their ſide, were delaying to give it in, putting of it off from Congreſs day to Congreſs day, which made People generally believe they had firſt a mind to know the Iſſue of three great Undertakings which France had now in hand, and of which News were daily expected with a great deal of Impatience on all ſides, to model their Project accordingly; and that was, firſt Monſieur de Pointy's Expedition in the Weſt-Indies againſt the Galleons, having ſail'd from Breſt the beginning of January laſt, with a Squadron of about twelve Men of War, having Troops and Tranſport-Ships along with him and other Neceſſaries for a Landing, not without giving us ſome Jealouſie in England at firſt, eſpecially for Ireland: The ſecond was the Election of Poland, for which the Prince of Conti ſtood Candidate, and was now ſo fair for the carrying of it, that the Election of Marechal of the Dyet met at Warſaw to chuſe a King, was carry'd by the French Party, which ſhew'd but too much the Superiority of it againſt any other Pretenders, which gave them very great Hopes on that ſide. The third was the Siege of Barcelona, form'd by the Duke of Vendome, General of the French Army in Catalonia, ſince the beginning of this Month, and which was now carrying on with a great deal of Vigour.

Several People thought that Penſionary Heinſius's Journey to the Camp was concerning the Retardments which the French made in giving in their Project, and to concert thereupon ſome Methods of carrying on the War with more Vigour than we had done hitherto, and oblige the French not to be ſo backward in giving reaſonable Terms for a General Peace as they were reported to be at preſent; others imagin'd that it regarded the Forwarding of the Negociations at Ryſwick where there ſeem'd to be a certain Slowneſs among ſome of the Allies and eſpecially the Imperialiſts: Theſe were the publick Diſcourſes about this Journey, but one may rather imagine from what follow'd, that it was to make way for the Conferences that happen'd few days after between the Earl of Portland and the Marechal of Bouflers; and that, may be, the French Plenipotentiaries had made ſome Overtures about it to thoſe of the States, by the French King's order, becauſe His Majeſty being not yet acknowledged by the French as King of Great Britain, there could be no Conferences in the Congreſs between the Plenipotentiaries of England and thoſe of France: But whatever was the occaſion of Penſionary Heinſius his coming to the Camp, theſe were only Conjectures, and I do not pretend to dive farther into the Matter.

The 24th Prince Cerclas of Tilly was commanded with the Liege Horſe and Dragoons and the German Cavalry lately come from the Rhine, to march towards Namur, where he incamp'd at Maſy; the German Horſe was under the Command of Major General Bulau, and the Prince of Tilly was joyn'd in this Camp by two Battallions of the Liege Troops, the reſt being to follow upon occaſion; for we were ſtrong enough without them at preſent, and the ſending of them that way ſpar'd ſo much the more Forrage about Bruſſels, where the Army was like to continue long enough to want it; and beſides, the Marquis de Harcourt was marching back to repaſs the Sambre, in order to incamp at Boſſu upon this River with the Forces he had brought from the Moſelle, where at his coming he receiv'd ſix Field pieces from Philipville; and though Harcourt was poſted here upon no other account but for the Security of Convoys from the Meuſe to the Sambre againſt the Garriſon of Namur, and thence to be ſent to Mons for the uſe of the Armies, yet it was neceſſary to have a proportionable Body near Namur to obſerve him, eſpecially now that the Marechal of Bouflers was incamp'd conveniently enough to march that way as ſoon as the Allies.

The 25th Penſionary Heinſius went back for Holland, and in the Evening at the Orders His Majeſty was pleas'd to declare the Hereditary Prince of Heſſe Major General of his Forces. The 26th the Princeſs of Vaudemont attended with moſt of the chief Ladies of Bruſſels came in the Evening to ſee the Camp, going at the Head of the Line with a Train of about a dozen Coaches with ſix Horſes; the Electrice was near her Time and could not go abroad. The 27th the Marechal of Villeroy's Army came to Forrage about Zellich, and his Out guards advanc'd pretty near our Camp, which gave us the Allarm; His Majeſty immediately rid out, being follow'd by the Prince, to obſerve the Motions of the French, and Haxhauſen's Brigade of Danes, incamp'd upon the Height between Ganſhoren and Berchom, was order'd to march with the Dragoons we had in the Camp on this ſide of Bruſſels; all the Cavalry receiv'd Orders to mount on Horſe-back, and Belcaſtel's Brigade at Laacken took Arms. About thirty Squadrons of Horſe were commanded to attend His Majeſty, who rid to the Height on the other ſide of the Abbey of Dilleghem, and it being found that the French had no other Deſign but to Forrage between Zellich and Aſch, it was not thought expedient to attempt any thing which might have ingag'd us in a General Battle without our Retrenchments, but only to watch and obſerve their Motions, and His Majeſty came back to the Camp. The 29th the Dragoons of Tiviot, Roſſe and Jedborough which, at our firſt coming to this Ground, had been poſted at the Burnt-bridge upon the Canal, receiv'd Orders to march and joyn the Main Body of Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons incamp'd at Diegom under General Auerquerque; and Scheltinga's Regiment of Anhalt's Brigade was commanded in their place to cover the Canal from thence to Willebrook, as Colonel Murray's did on the other hand to Vilvorde and the Fort des trois Trous. The ſame day was the firſt Interview between the Marechal of Bouflers and My Lord Portland in the open Field on this ſide of Halle; the Marechal of Bouflers had ſent a Trumpet into our Camp to attend his Lordſhip, who went in his Coach without any other Eſcorte, and the Marechal of Bouflers who was come to the place of Rendezvous with ſome Squadrons of Horſe, order'd them all back to his Camp, when he ſaw My Lord come without any Guard, and only the Trumpet that he had ſent, with him, but the General Officers that attended him remain'd: After great Civilities on both ſides they withdrew apart to enter upon Buſineſs, and My Lord Portland came back into our Camp in the Evening; notwithſtanding that his Lordſhip went this firſt time very privately, yet it was the publick Diſcourſe of the Camp the next day, and the Opinions were divided about the Buſineſs, ſome conjecturing one thing and ſome another, but moſt agreed that this Conference had more Relation to the Affairs of Peace than War. The 30th the King went to Dine in the Abbey of Dilleghem, which is very pleaſantly ſituated about two Engliſh Miles from Bruſſels in the way to Wemmel, and was now almoſt a Mile in the Front of our Camp; it is of the Order of St. Norbert or Premontré, and ſtands upon an eaſie Aſcent of a Hill with fine Walks and Woods, Gardens and Fiſh ponds about it. Colonel Webb's and Colonel Walter Collier's Regiments were order'd out to cover the Abbey, and a Detachment of 200 Men of the Guards were ſent here to do Duty about His Majeſty's Perſon; the King's Kitchin and Furniture had been ſent in the Morning, and the Army (that was now full of the News of yeſterdays Conference) would have it, that the Marechal of Villeroy met the King in this place; but the King found his Quarter at Cockelberg too cloſe, being inviron'd with the Camp on one ſide and the Town on the other, and His Majeſty had once a mind to remove his Quarters to this place to have a better and a freer Air, but it was too far out of our Camp, and too much expos'd, to hazard His Majeſty's Perſon there, and that Deſign was given over: In the Evening the King rid the Tour in his Coach about the chief Streets of Bruſſels, according to the Cuſtom of the Nobility in theſe Countries, and the next day His Majeſty went to the Opera; this gave very good hopes to thoſe that were Well-wiſhers for Peace, to ſee the King mind ſome Divertiſements in the midſt of a Campagne.

The firſt of July His Majeſty had by an Expreſs from the Hague, July. the News of the Elector of Saxony's being choſen King of Poland in the Dyet at Warſaw, which came by a Courier at the Hague to the Sieur Boſen the Elector of Saxony's Plenipotentiary at the Congreſs for the Peace, and which he communicated immediately to all the Miniſters of the Allies, who went to Complement him upon this occaſion; the Elector of Saxony had not publickly appear'd as a Candidate till the Meeting of the Dyet, and that the French Party had carried their Point in the Election of a Marechal; and the Prince of Conti and the Prince Royal eldeſt Son to the late King of Poland ſeem'd to be the only Competitors that ſtood fair for the Crown; as for the Elector of Saxony he was not yet talk'd of, and his Deſign ſeem'd hitherto to continue in the Emperor's Service and command his Armies in Hungary the Campagne following; but when the French Party appear'd ſo great at the Meeting of the Dyet, none but ſo Powerful a Prince as the Elector of Saxony, who could offer ſuch great Advantages to the Poles, and make them Powerful by the joyning of thoſe Dominions and the Electorate of Saxony under one Head, as they are in Situation, and recovering thereby the Ancient Limits of that Republick upon the Turks, by the Siege of Caminieck; I ſay none but ſo Powerful a Prince that could bring ſuch Advantages along with him to the Poles, could then fruſtrate the Deſigns of the French Party and oppoſe the Prince of Conti's Election: Colonel Fleming was ſent to the Dyet as the Elector of Saxony's Ambaſſador, who declar'd his Maſter one of the Candidates and made very great Offers to the Republick, and indeed greater than any one of the other Candidates could do; he was ſoon countenanc'd by the Imperial Party, and that the Religion which the Elector had hitherto profeſs'd might be no Obſtacle to his Election, he produc'd a Certificate of His Highneſſes Abjuration of the Proteſtant Religion, and of having receiv'd the Sacraments of Confeſſion and Communion ſome time before from the Duke of Saxen-Zeits his Kinſman Biſhop of Raab, ſign'd by the ſaid Biſhop; and the Pope's Nuncio atteſted the Truth and Validity of the Certificate as knowing the Hand of the ſaid Biſhop; The Electors of Saxony were the firſt that receiv'd Luther's Reformation. and it cannot be believ'd that the Pope's Nuncio would have made that ſtep if the Pope had been ſo Neutral in that Affair before the Election as he pretends to be ſince. The Elector of Saxony march'd at the ſame time with all the Forces he had in his Country being about 8000 Men into Sileſia and came to Breſlaw upon the Frontier of Poland, to be as near Cracaw as he could to back his Pretentions: When the day of the Election came, the Standards of the Prince Royal's Party appear'd in the Field as if they were ſtill reſolv'd to ſtand by him; and Saxony's and his being then divided, the Majority appear'd on the French ſide, which made the Cardinal Primate, without any farther Poling, proclaim the Prince of Conti the very firſt day of the Meeting for the Election; the Prince Royal's Party ſeeing that it was in vain to ſtruggle for him any farther, and that if they did, the French muſt carry the Election, joyn'd that of the Elector of Saxony, which now made them much Superior to the Prince of Conti's Faction, and thereupon the Biſhop of Cujavia proclaim'd the Elector of Saxony King of Poland in the Field, and Sung Te Deum for it in the great Church of Warſaw, which the Elector's Party had ſhut up againſt the Cardinal Primate, who therefore Sung it in the Field; and thus it came to a double Election, about which I ſhall ſay no more, than that this Crown will in all likelihood be us'd hereafter as a Bait to bring the moſt Powerful Princes of Germany over to the Church of Rome, and thus at length ruin the Proteſtant Intereſt in the Empire, where we ſee it daily grow weaker and weaker: There is yet another Method of the Pope's to undermine the Proteſtant Religion in Germany, which 'tis not unfit to mention upon this occaſion, and that is the alluring of the Younger Brothers among the Proteſtant Princes who are but Poor, with Money and Preferments to profeſs the Romiſh Religion; and if the Elder Branches fail, Rome gets this Advantage, that they have a Proſpect of ſucceeding. This is ſufficient to ſhew that, next under God, the Welfare of the Proteſtant Intereſt does depend from the Good Union of England and Holland and the Northern Crowns, not only to Support it abroad, but even to keep it up in their own Dominions: This Good Union and Correſpondence is moſt eſpecially neceſſary between the two former, and the Enemies of our Religion can hardly compaſs their Deſigns but in ſetting us together by the Ears, in which ('tis to be fear'd) they meet but with too much Encouragement from the People on both ſides.

The Second, The Marechal of Villeroy ſent a Trumpet to the Prince of Vaudemont to notifie to him, that a Courier had paſs'd through the Marechal of Catinat's Army the day before, going to the French King with an Account of the Prince of Conti's Election to the Crown of Poland, and that he had been proclaim'd King by the Cardinal Primate before the Courier came away from Warſaw: The ſame day all our Artillery was drawn off from the Batteries upon the Retrenchment, and paraded upon the Height near the Wind-mill of Ganſhoren, the Poſt where it had been before at our firſt coming to this Camp; it was at firſt ſuppos'd that this bringing of the Artillery together was for a Feu de joye for the Duke of Saxony's Election to the Crown of Poland, but it was brought from thence to incamp in the Rear of the Second Line two or three days after. The Fourth in the Evening, all the Artillery in the Marechals of Villeroy and Boufler's Armies being drawn up together in a Line upon a Height between them both toward Bruſſels, it was thrice fir'd, with as many rounds of Small-ſhot in both Armies, for the News of the Prince of Conti's Election to be King of Poland, and the ſame thing was done in all the other Armies of France by the King's Order. The Fifth, My Lord Portland went to the ſecond Conference with the Marechal of Bouflers privately as before, and it was held in the ſame place in the open Field; ſeveral General Officers and others waited upon the Marechal of Bouflers to the place of Conference, and the Marechal told My Lord Portland, that if his Lordſhip would come attended with the Generals and other principal Officers of our Army, they ſhould be very Welcome: Orders were given this Evening for all the Horſes to Graze in the day-time, thereby to ſpare Forrage, which began now to grow very ſcarce about our Army; The Horſes belonging to the Infantry graz'd accordingly the next day before our Camp, towards Zellich, Releghem and Wemmel, having a good Detachment to cover them; of which the Marechal of Bouflers having Intelligence, he came with about 30 Squadrons to diſturb them, and all our Graziers were forc'd to come back into the Camp without any conſiderable Loſs; but upon firſt notice on our ſide, the Earl of Athlone was commanded out with about 20 Squadrons of Horſe with orders not to ingage himſelf in any Action, only to obſerve the French and ſhelter the Retreat of our Graziers: Several Squadrons of the French Horſe and ours came very near one another and drew up in Oppoſition, a deep hollow way remaining between them, and fac'd one another for a while, the Trumpets and Kettle-drums making a very good Entertainment at the ſame time on both ſides, without any Diſturbance; but at laſt one of our Troopers, or ſome body elſe, fir'd a Shot or two from behind a Hedge, which alarm'd the French, and ſome of them fir'd again, and kill'd two of our Troopers, which broke up this kind of an Interview; the French drew off and went their way, and ſo did we.

The Tenth was held the third Conference between My Lord Portland and the Marechal of Bouflers in the open Field as before, My Lord went attended this time by about twenty Perſons of note from our Camp, among whom were the Earl of Rivers Lieutenant General, and the Earl of Eſſex, Mr. Hill His Majeſty's Envoy at Bruſſels and Treaſurer of the Army, and Mr. Stepney the King's Envoy to ſeveral Princes of Germany, lately arriv'd from thence, and ſeveral others: The Marechal of Bouflers receiv'd them very kindly being preſented to him by My Lord Portland, and deſir'd the Dukes of Roquelaure, Luxembourg and Guiche-Grammont to entertain them in Converſation whilſt he and My Lord ſhould go aſide to talk of Buſineſs.

The French Plenipotentiaries gave in at laſt their Project of a General Peace with the Allies this day; the Affairs of Poland had not ſucceeded according to the Deſires and Expectations of the French Court, Monſieur de Pointy's Expedition had produc'd nothing remarkable but the Sacking of Carthagena and the Galleons were ſafe; but Pointy himſelf ſeem'd not to be ſo now, and the French were very apprehenſive of his meeting with Admiral Nevil, that had been ſent from England to the Weſt-Indies with a ſtrong Squadron to obſerve him, and there were ſeveral Reports at preſent in Europe which were not at all favourable to Pointy, and the Parties concern'd were very much afraid that they ſhould have no great Share in the Booty made at Carthagena; and though Pointy ſhould eſcape Nevil yet he had another Risk to run, and that was his getting into Breſl: As for the Siege of Barcelona, this place was very obſtinately defended by the Spaniards, who had all the Forces they were Maſters of Catalonia, concern'd in the Defence by a Communication between the Town and the Army by the Fort of Monjouy, and which within and without amounted to about 17000 Men; whereas the French were not above 27 or 28000 ſtrong, and too weak to take up the Poſts all about the Town, but were forc'd to leave the Quarter of Monjouy open, which ſerv'd for a Communication between the Beſieged and the Spaniſh Army without, where they had not then above ſix or ſeven thouſand Men commanded by the Vice roy of Catalonia; this made the Siege of Barcelona doubtful, and there was no likelihood of taking the place as yet: The French did not therefore think it convenient to delay the giving in of their Project any longer, and it was deliver'd in this day in Congreſs to the Mediator, conſiſting of three Heads (according to the Tenour of the full Powers which the French Plenipotentiaries had of Treating with the Emperor and Empire, the King of Spain, the States General and their Allies) and 37 Articles. The French King by this Project offer'd chiefly (in relation to the Empire) either to reſtore Strasbourg in the Condition it was when taken, or to give in exchange all the places he had in Briſgow and Alſatia on the right ſide of the Rhine, as Briſack, Fribourg, &c. and the Fort of Kell on the ſame ſide of the Rhine oppoſite to Strasbourg; and likewiſe to reſtore Philipsbourg, and all other places taken in the Palatinate or elſewhere in the Empire ſince the Treaty of Nimeguen; and in caſe the Emperor and Empire accepted of the Equivalent for Strasbourg, that then the Rhine ſhould ſerve as a common Limit to Germany and France all above Philipsbourg, and thereupon that the Emperor and Empire ſhould have no Forts nor Fortifications from thence upon the left ſide of the Rhine, nor the French upon the right ſide of it; according to which Propoſitions if agreed to, the New Town of Briſack on the left ſide of the Rhine, the Bridge of Philipsbourg and the Work that covers it on the ſame ſide, were to be demoliſh'd by the French, in delivering of thoſe places up to the Empire; and the French retaining Strasbourg and Fort-Louis were to demoliſh all the Forts upon the Iſlands of the Rhine in both theſe places, and the Works upon the right ſide of the Rhine oppoſite to Fort-Louis; but the Fortifications on the other ſide of the Rhine oppoſite to Strasbourg were to be deliver'd up to the Empire as part of the Equivalent for this Town: The French King offer'd likewiſe to reſtore the Dutchy of Lorraine (notwithſtanding the Pretenſions he had by vertue of the Treaty of Nimeguen) in the State and Condition that Charles the 4th enjoy'd it in the Year 1670, juſt before it was ſeiz'd by the French; only he reſerv'd to himſelf the Sovereign Property and Poſſeſſion of the Town of Saar-Louis and a Territory of half a League about that place, for which the Duke of Lorraine ſhould have an Equivalent ſomewhere elſe, in which he ſhould have a Soveraign Property and Juriſdiction himſelf. The Subſtance of this Project in relation to Spain was, to reſtore firſt, all that had been taken either in Flanders or Catalonia ſince the War to His Catholick Majeſty. 2ly, The Town of Luxembourg taken ſince the Treaty of Nimeguen, or elſe to give an Equivalent for it; which Equivalent was left in Blank in the Project, but was given out by Reports to be Maubeuge upon the Sambre, Condé upon the Scheld; Menin upon the Lys, and the Town and Chatellenie of Ipres. 3ly, To revoke all the Re-unions made ſince the Treaty of Nimeguen, which by vertue of this Treaty were to be reſtor'd: And laſtly, To give back the Town and Caſtle of Dinant in the Condition they were when taken. As for what related to Holland in this Project, it does not belong to the Affairs of War hereabouts, and therefore I ſhall not take notice of it; only I ſhall add, that the Peace made between France and Savoy in the Year 1696, was to be comprehended in the General Treaty, and by the 35th Article all thoſe that ſhould be nam'd on both ſides by common Conſent, either before the Ratification or within ſix Months after; which was the only one that could be interpreted to have any relation to England; and may be, My Lord Portland's Conferences with the Marechal of Bouflers were about this Project in relation to England, which (by reaſon the French had not yet acknowledg'd His Majeſty) could not be inſerted in the General one we are now mentioning; And laſtly, The French allow'd the Allies to conſider of this Project, till the 20th day of Auguſt following Old Stile, after which if they did not conſent to it before or upon the ſaid day, they pretended to be at liberty of altering the Conditions and making new Offers; But if the Treaty were concluded between France and the Allies, that then the King of Sweden as Mediator, and any other King's, Princes and Republicks might give their Guarranty for the Faithful Execution and Obſervation of the ſame.

But to return from the Congreſs to the Camp; the 13th the King, having review'd the Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons and the German Troops ſome time before at Diegom, began the Review of his Infantry this day, and the five eldeſt Brigades, being thoſe of the Guards, Haro, Orkney, Fairfax and Ingoldesby, drew out in the little plain without the Retrenchment between Ganſhoren and Jette to paſs before His Majeſty, the General Officers ſaluting at their proper Poſts; the 14th the Regiments of Foot of Selwyn, Trelawny and Erle, having Landed lately at Willemſtadt from Edgland, came up to the Camp, where they were poſted in a third Line in the Rear of Orkeney's Brigade; the Duke of St Albans and Major General Stewart, that had paſs'd along with them, came ſome days before to Court. The 15th Tiffin and Maitland's Brigades review'd before His Majeſty, with Sir Henry Bellaſis Lieutenant General, Sir David Collier and my Lord Cutts Major Generals at the head of them, but Brigadier Maitland's Regiment did not appear this day becauſe the Cloathing was not yet come from England. The 16th His Majeſty review'd Selwyn's Brigade (being the three Regiments lately come over) and Belcaſtels, Major General Stewart ſaluting on the Right, and the Prince of Heſſe on the Left. The Marechal of Bouflers and my Lord Portland had the fourth Conference this day in a Meadow juſt without the Town of Halle, where his Lordſhip went attended with ſeveral of our Generals and other Chief Officers, among whom were Lieutenant General Bellaſis, Major Generals Ramſay, Erle, Lord Cutts and Lumley, and my Lord Raby, having all of them a very fine Retinue both of Servants and Horſes along with them: The Chief Officers that came on Bouflers ſide, were Count de Tallard, Count de Gaſſe, and the Duke of Roquelaure Lieutenant Generals, the Marquis de Crenan and Monſieur de Pracontal Major Generals, &c. there were a great many Embracings on both ſides at the firſt meeting, and great expreſſion of Reſpect and Eſteem, and the Marechal of Bouflers receiv'd our General Officers with abundance of Civility, as they were preſented to him by my Lord Portland, taking particular Notice of thoſe whom he had occaſion to hear of in the Siege of Namur; the Generals and other Officers on both ſides entertain'd one another in Converſation whilſt the Marechal and my Lord held their Conference; ſeveral went into the Town to drink a Glaſs of Wine together, and others into the French Camp it ſelf, where they were made very welcom; but my Lord Portland and the Marechal of Bouflers, having confer'd together for ſome time in the open Field, went at laſt into a Houſe of the Town together, and Sentries were poſted upon the Doors to hinder any body from coming near; and it was pretty late when my Lord and his Company return'd this Night. The 17th the King review'd ſeveral Brigades of the Dutch Infantry, and men begun now to talk of the Kings leaving the Army to go to Loo, and that the Conferences between my Lord Portland and the Marechal of Bouflers had brought Matters to a very good Iſſue, not onely in relation to His Majeſty's Affairs, but thoſe of a General Peace.

The French had now been incamp'd a conſiderable while, Bouflers near Halle and Villeroy about St. Quintin Linneck, and Forage begun to be ſcarce about their Armies; this made them reſolve to march into the Paysd' Aloſt and Forrage the Countrey all thereabouts, and between the Scheld and the Canal of Bruſſells. The 17th the heavy baggage of the two Armies was commanded away towards Grammont for the more convenient march of the Armies into our Countrey; the 18th the Marechal of Villeroy's march'd upon the Right from the Camp between Goick and Struhem in very good Order (becauſe it was to advance pretty near to our Army) for fear of our Parties, and came to incamp with the Right near the Abbey of Affleghem, and Left at Bardeghem; and that of the Marechal of Bouflers march'd in the ſame order upon the Left, to incamp with the Left near Affleghem, and right between Sandvord and Aſche. The 19th Bouflers Army continued to march upon the Left, to change Ground for Villeroy's Army to have the right; and incamp'd with the Right at Bardeghem, and Left towards St. Amand upon the Scheld below Dendermond. The 22th both Armies march'd to rectifie their Camp and take up the Countrey between Bruſſells and Dendermond, Villeroy's Army came to incamp more towards Bruſſells, the Right making an Elbow between Aſche and Sandvord facing to Halle; the reſt of the Camp made a Line from Aſche to the little Village of Peck near Opwick behind the Brook of Eiche, where was the Left of this Army, and the Marechal of Villeroy's Quarter at Maſeele between Affleghem and Aſche; that of Bouflers made a movement at the ſame time, to incamp in a Line with Villeroy more back towards the Dender which was now in his rear, the Right was at Opwick near the Left of Villeroy's Army, and the Left at Wieſe, where the Marechal of Bouflers had his Quarter within half a League of Dendermond; and the Marechal of Bouflers Camp form'd an Elbow here upon the Left facing toward Dendermond, as Villeroy's did at Aſche and Sandvord to face towards Halle and Bruſſells: The French loſt 40 or 50 Horſes this day, and had ſeveral Priſoners taken by ſome of our Parties ſent out from the Regiments, which had been commanded behind the Canal to cover it upon this march of the Enemies, who were now incamp'd within two Leagues almoſt in a parallel with it.

This near Neighbourhood of the French to the Canal and the Scheld, oblig'd us equally to look to ſecurity of the Countreys cover'd by them, and to prevent their paſſing of either; and according to the ſituation of Places and the Poſitions of our Camps, the Canal ſeem'd to be deſign'd for the Care of our Brabant Army, and the Scheld for that of Flanders; wherefore His Majeſty upon the firſt News of Villeroy's and Bouflers marching to come nearer the Canal, order'd Belcaſtel's and Oxenſtern's Brigades (making eleven Battallions) to march on the 18th and incamp between the Burnt-bridge and Willebrook, where they were to be joyn'd by Colonel Murray's and Scheltinga's Regiments already poſted upon the Canal; my Lord Tiviot Major General was commanded the ſame way with five Regiments of Dragoons, being thoſe Tiviot, Eſſex, Roſſe, Jedborough and Mirmont; and all theſe Regiments together, Foot and Dragoons, made about 9000 Men under the command of Count de Noyelles Lieutenant General: Upon this removal of Oxenſtern's and Belcaſtel's Brigades to march behind the Canal, that of Selwyn was order'd to incamp at Laacken in Belcaſtel's place; Anhalt's Brigade incamp'd before the Fort of Monterey, march'd through the Town upon this, to incamp at Cockelbergh and fill up the Room of Oxenſtern's; and the Brigade of Horſe of Ooſt-friſe incamp'd before the Fort of Monterey, in lieu of that of Foot of Anhalt; Infantry being more neceſſary in our Camp, as we were now intrench'd, than Horſe.

As for the Elector, he had been forc'd to leave the Camp of Nevel ſince the 11th to come to Ghendt for his Health, being very much troubled with ſore Eyes; but his Army had a little more plenty of Forrage, that Corn being now ripe, which was not good for Horſe when it was Green. The 17th the Elector receiv'd an Expreſs from His Majeſty to give him notice that the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers were to march the next day towards the Canal of Bruſſels and the Scheld; and therefore that it would be neceſſary for His Electoral Highneſs to ſend twenty Battallions and all the Dragoons of his Army to incamp about Dendermond, there to oppoſe the Paſſage of the Scheld by the French; and all his Cavalry under the Cannon of Audenarde, to incamp on the Brabant ſide of the Scheld and diſturb the Enemies Convoys, who after the next March would be far from their Frontier Garriſons, and therefore very much incommoded by them, and that the reſt of his Army ſhould get behind the Canal between Ghendt and Bruges: Orders were likewiſe ſent by the Elector to the Governour of Dendermond to let the Waters out to overflow the Country about this Town, which for this reaſon is ſtrongly ſituated at the Confluence of the Scheld and the Dender, having abundance of Water at command by the Tides coming up the Scheld beyond it, and the lowneſs of the Country on both ſides eſpecially at the mouth of the Dender; ſo that with the Sluces they have at Dendermond they can drown all the flat Country about it and render it inacceſſible. The Elector who was now at Ghendt (as I have juſt now ſaid) repair'd back to the Camp the ſame day, upon the firſt News of the Motions of the French, to regulate the Marches and Operations of the Army upon this Conjuncture.

The 18th General Heyden march'd by the Elector's Orders with all the Brandenbourg Foot being 18 Battallions (which, with the two Battallions of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria already behind the Scheld, made 20, the Number thought convenient by His Majeſty) two Regiments of Brandenbourg Dragoons, and three Squadrons of Horſe of the ſame Nation, and the Dutch Regiment of Dragoons of Holſtein-Ploen towards Dendermond for the Defence of the Scheld, where General Heyden incamp'd this day at Grimberg Opſandt near that Town; the two Brigades of Ranſaw and Holſtein-Norbourg that had incamp'd all this while apart upon the Right about Landeghem were order'd to come and incamp in the Line in the place of the Brandenbourg Foot, and Fagel's Regiment was detach'd to cover the Canal of Bruges: The ſame day the Elector had Advice that the Marechal of Catinat was march'd with the remainder of his Army (Montrevel being at Grammont) behind the Lines from Harlebeck. The 19th the Elector left the Army of a ſudden to go to Bruſſels, and the Command of the Army remain'd to the Prince of Naſſau-Sarbruck, who on the 20th receiv'd Advice that the Marechal of Catinat was march'd from the Lines to paſs the Scheld, of which he ſent an Expreſs to Prince Vaudemont at Bruſſels. The French being now ſo near Dendermond and the Scheld, had very much alarm'd the Inhabitants of the Pays de Waes who ſent to the Prince of Naſſau to deſire his ſpecial Protection, and to take care for the Defence of the Scheld, where the Troops already poſted about Dendermond did not ſeem ſufficient; therefore the Prince of Naſſau ſent the 21th twelve pieces of Cannon, with Powder, Ball and other Neceſſaries to incamp on the other ſide of Ghendt at Diſtelberg, there to be ready to joyn General Heyden upon occaſion; and the 23th the Prince himſelf left the Camp of Oydonck and Nevel, being attended by Major General Saliſch and the Duke of Holſtein-Norbourg Brigadier, with the Troop of the Friſeland Guards, the Regiment of Horſe of Naſſau-Sarbruck, and ſix Battallions, being thoſe of Naſſau Walloon, Holſtein-Norbourg, Lochman, Dona, Harſolt and Willekens, and twelve pieces of Cannon with the Kettle-drum; with which he march'd through Ghendt to get behind the Scheld for the further Security of it at this time, and incamp'd with his Right at Huyſen and Left near Melle-veer upon the River, where the twelve pieces of Cannon that had been ſent to Diſtelberg came to his Camp and made up his Artillery to conſiſt here of 24 pieces of Cannon: The reſt of the Army which remain'd in the Camp of Nevel was under the Command of Count d'Arco General of the Bavarians, and Lieutenant General Opdam of the Dutch. The 24th, the Prince of Naſſau went to viſit all the Poſts along the Scheld, between Calcken and Melle-veer, and he order'd the Dragoons of Holſtein-Ploen that had march'd with General Heyden to come back to his Camp at Huyſen. The 25th both the Troops of Brandenbourg and Holland began to work upon ſome Retrenchments for the Defence of the moſt dangerous Paſſages of the Scheld; and the 26th General Heyden and Major General Saliſch went to view the ſeveral Poſts upon it between Calcken and Dendermond; for below Dendermond there was no great Danger, the Scheld being very large and a great Tide coming up, which render'd it very difficult for an Enemy to make Bridges over if there were any manner of Force to oppoſe them; and therefore the French could not pretend to attempt the paſſage of this River but between Dendermond and Ghendt, and conſequently if they had ſuch a Deſign, they muſt have paſs'd the Dender (as they were now incamp'd) between Aloſt and Dendermond to come near this part of the Scheld. The 27th a Diſpoſition was made for the Troops to incamp along the Scheld for the Defence of the moſt dangerous paſſages of it, in the manner following; over againſt Baſſerode below Dendermond one Battallion, at Dendermond one Battallion, at Appels-veer one Battallion, upon Berleer Heath nine Battallions, and the Dragoons of Marwitz, the Horſe-Grenadiers, the Grand-Muſqueteers and the Gens d'Armes with General Heyden: At Ʋtberg the Dragoons of his Electoral Highneſs and three Battallions, and over againſt Schellebeck three Battallions more, all theſe made the Troops of Brandenbourg commanded by General Heyden. The two Battallions of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria were poſted at Witteren, where they were to be joyn'd by three more of the ſame Nation now expected daily from the Rhine: The reſt of the Poſts along the Scheld towards Ghendt were taken up by the Dutch Troops which came with the Prince of Naſſau-Sarbruck, who during the Elector's abſence, did now command the Army in Flanders.

This was the Method taken for the guard of the Scheld, but the French did not expreſs any Deſign that way, they ſeem'd only to content themſelves with ſubſiſting of their Army in this Country, which was now open to them (as they were incamp'd) to the very Confluence of the Scheld and the Rupelle within two Leagues and little more of Antwerp, where they found abundance of all manner of Forrage, no Armies having incamp'd all this War thereabouts to deſtroy it, or to diſcourage the Boors from Tilling of the Ground, or frighten them out of the Country; but if the French were ſo conveniently incamp'd for Forrage, they ſuffer'd for it another way by the Difficulties they muſt meet with to get Proviſions into their Camp, at ſuch a diſtance from the Frontier Towns: Ath being newly taken, they could have no great Magazines there, and therefore they were forc'd to have their Bread and Proviſions from Mons and Tournay, which places were far diſtant from them: To level theſe Difficulties as much as was poſſible, Monſieur de Courtebonne was detach'd with ten Battallions and twelve Squadrons from Bouflers Army to go and incamp near Mons for the Communication of that place with the Army; Monſieur de Montrevel was already incamp'd at Grammont (as we have ſaid before) to cover the Convoys from the Scheld to Villeroy's Camp upon his advancing to St. Quintin-Linneck: But now the Convoys from Mons to the Armies being very difficult, becauſe it lay ſo remote and all Land-carriage, and ſome thing expos'd to our Army at Bruſſels; and therefore that moſt of the Bread and Proviſions muſt come from Tournay and the Scheld, for which Montrevels little Body at Grammont was not ſufficient to furniſh ſo many Eſcortes, for this reaſon the Marechal of Catinat march'd from within the Lines of Courtray, to poſt himſelf at Helchin upon the Scheld for the ſecurity of Convoys by Water from Tournay to Renay, and thence by Land to Grammont; whence, being Eſcorted by Detachments from Montrevels Army, they were ſent by the Dender to Aloſt for the uſe of the Army, where the French had now ſeveral Battallions in Garriſon; and there were Diſcourſes at firſt that they had a deſign not onely to Fortifie this plaee, but alſo Ninove and Grammont, thereby to be Maſters of the Dender as far as Dendermond it ſelf; but as it has appear'd, their Garriſon in Aloſt was onely for the preſent occaſion. Catinat being oblig'd to leave the Lines and poſt himſelf upon the Scheld for the Security of Convoys to the two Armies beyond Aloſt, the Marquis de la Mothe, who commanded a Body of Eleven Battallions and Six Squadrons between Ipres and Furnes, march'd to poſt himſelf within the Lines between Ipres and Comines upon the Lys and obſerve the Troops we had left at Nevei; And moſt of the French Troops being now near the Scheld, Major General Fagel who Commanded a ſmall Camp about Newport, ſent ſeveral Regiments to poſt themſelves about Bruges there to be ready to march towards Dendermond if the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers offer'd to paſs the Dender, and endeavour to force the Scheld: The French, however, thought of nothing elſe at preſent but deſtroying the Forrage in this plentiful Countrey, and as ſoon as they came to incamp hereabouts, the Marechal of Villeroy went to view with a ſtrong Eſcorte, all the Countrey to the very confluence of the Rupelle and the Scheld over againſt Rupelmonde, where the Spaniards have a little Fort call'd the Fort of Ste Marguerite, and a ſmall Garriſon in it; this gave the Allarm as far as Antwerp, and fearing that the French might ſeize this Fort, which would cut off the Communication between Bruſſells and Antwerp, a Reinforcement of Spaniards was ſent from the Citadel by the Governour of Antwerp for the ſecurity of the place; but the French made no attempt againſt it, onely they ſent parties ſometimes upon the Banks of the Rupelle, which fir'd once or twice upon the Barge or Veſſel that carries Paſſengers every day between Antwerp and Willebrook, where the paſſage to and from Bruſſels is by the Canal in a Track-Schout or Barge that goes 'twice every four and twenty Hours; And thus I come inſenſibly to His Majeſty's Camp near this Place, and therefore to ſpeak of our Affairs on this ſide.

We have left the King reviewing of the Infantry of his Army Brigade by Brigade, and taking care for the ſafety of the Canal upon the late Motions of the French, with ſome thoughts at the ſame time of leaving the Army and going ſhortly to Loo. On the 20th the King continued to review ſeveral Regiments of Foot, and Lucq's Brigade and the German Foot in the States Service review'd before His Majeſty this day; afterwards the King ſaw my Lord Albemarle's Carabiniers and Dopft's Dragoons exerciſe, which they did with a great deal of Dexterity and order; My Lord of Albemarle was ſent this day by His Majeſty to the Hague, and the Fourth Troop of Guards march'd out of the Camp to poſt it ſelf in Relays for the Guard of His Majeſty's Perſon between Breda and Loo: In the Evening the Elector, who had left the Camp of Nevel the day before, and lay the ſame Night at Antwerp, came to Bruſſells, and after having paid a Viſit to the Electrice, he went to wait upon His Majeſty at his Quarter at Cockelberg. The 21th the King went to take his Leave of the Electrice and of the Princeſs of Vaudemont; 22th the King review'd Haxhawſen's Brigade of Danes, and the Duke of Wirtemberg and Major General Count d' Alfeldt ſaluted at the head of it. The 23d my Lord Portland had the Fifth Conference with the Marechal of Bouflers about half way between the two Camps, but the King being to leave the Army the next morning, my Lord had not much Company with him; the Chief of our Officers that attended him were Major General Collier, the Earl of Arran, my Lord Raby and Brigadier Ingoldesby, &c. as for the Marechal of Bouflers he had much the ſame attendance as before. We had a great many of our Maroders out of our Army this day, which were met by the Marechal of Bouflers a great way out towards the French Camp, he advis'd them to go back or elſe that they were in danger of being taken Priſoners, but our Soldiers told him that a Peace was made, and that there was no great danger of it; this anſwer made him ſmile, and he was ſo Civil as to get this Officers to command them back to our Camp: In the Evening His Majeſty was pleas'd to declare Brigadier Dompré of the Dutc-Horſe, Major General of the States Forces; and the Elector was late with the King this Night, but came again very early the next Morning to ſee His Majeſty go away for Holland, moſt of the Cheif Officers of the Army came to Court at the ſame time: His Majeſty left the Army about ſeven or eight this Morning being the 24th, the Elector took his leave at the Kings Quarter and went back to Bruſſeſts, and the King went on to paſs the Canal at Vilvorde and go from thence by Malines to Breda, Prince Vaudemont went as far as Vilvorde in His Majeſty's Coach, where he took his leave of the King and then came back to the Camp to command the Army in Chief, and the Duke of St. Albans and my Lord Portland accompanied His Majeſty in the Coach to Breda; whence his Lordſhip went the next day for the Hague to conferr with our Ambaſſadours and the Chief of the Allies touching his Negotiations with the Marechal of Bouflers; but the King went to Dieren, where His Majeſty tarried ſeveral days, and thence to Loo, there to take the Divertiſements of the Seaſon.

Prince Vaudemont, being now Commander in Chief of our Army in Brabant, review'd Haxhauſen's Brigade of Danes and Brigadier Muitland's Regiment on the 27th. becauſe he had been indiſpos'd when they review'd before the King. The Electrice of Bavaria was brought to bed this Afternoon of a Prince, and in the Night all the Artillery was fir'd thrice round the Ramparts, and there were abundance of Fire-works and great Illuminations in Town upon this occaſion: Eppingers and Lloyd's Dragoons which had hitherto kept with the Camp at Cockelberg, were commanded this day to march behind the Canal and incamp with the reſt of the Dragoons under the Command of Lieutenant General de Noyelles. The 28th the Army Forag'd beyond Malines and Louvain on the other ſide of the Dyle, Count d'Alfeldt Commanded the Eſcorte which was order'd to take two days Bread, becauſe the Army could not Forage ſo far and return the 29th. This ſcarcity of Forrage was very troubleſom to the Army, and the Prince, to make it ſubſiſt as eaſie as 'twas poſſible, in a Camp which we could not abandon, order'd all the Horſes belonging to the Infantry, with all the Artillery Horſes, and thoſe belonging to the Bread-Waggons to be ſent to Graze in the Meadows along the Rupelle and the Dyle about Malines, and detachments were made at the ſame time from the Army, being a weekly Command under a Field Officer, to cover them; one for the Engliſh and another for the Duteh: There were yet two or three Forage dayes about our Camp which were reſerv'd for the Horſe, but the Chief Officers and Colonels of the Foot, and others that were oblig'd to have Horſes in the Camp had orders on the 31th to ſend for dry Forage from the Magazines of Bruſſels, for which they were to pay nine Stivers a Ration; This day in the Evening the Elector, being attended with his Court, came to ſee the Camp, and rid along both the Lines, and went to ſee the Retrenchments we had made both for the Securities of the Camp and to cover the Town; but the King keeping ſtill his Quarter at Cockelberg, where moſt part of his Camp-Baggage was left, and a Guard mounting daily upon it (His Majeſty being reſolv'd to come back again, if the French did attempt any thing during the remainder of the Campagne) the Elector therefore thought it fit to go back again and command the Army in Flanders, and execute the Deſign that had been agreed upon at Bruſſels of advancing with the ſaid Army as far as Rouſſelar, where it could now ſubſiſt conveniently for Forrage; which the Marechal of Catinat could not hinder, whilſt the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers were incamp'd ſo near the Canal of Bruſſels and ſo far remov'd from their Frontier. For the Marechal of Catinat could not pretend to paſs the Lys and diſpute this Camp with the Elector, unleſs he was reinforc'd by Montrevel's Troops incamp'd at Grammont, in which caſe the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers could not ſubſiſt where they were, without making great Detachments from their Armies to Grammont and the Scheld, to make good their Communication with their Frontier, and ſecure their Convoys, which otherwiſe could not come to their Camps without very great Difficulties, the Garriſon of Audenarde laying unluckily in the way to cut them off; then, if the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers made ſuch Detachments, the Prince could ſend proportionable Detachments from his Army to guard the Scheld; or if the joyn'd Marechals did ſend any greater Reinforcements to the Marechal of Catinat, then Prince Vaudemont could (by ſlipping of Troops from his Army behind the Canal and ſo to the Scheld) defend the Pays de Waes himſelf, and General Heyden could have march'd from thence to joyn and reinforce the Elector at Rouſſelar: But if only Montrevel joyn'd the Marechal of Catinat, and Villeroy and Bouflers made no other Detachments from their Armies but for the Poſt of Grammont to ſeoure their Convoys, it would be ſufficient for the Prince to ſend a Brigade of Foot and two Regiments of Dragoons to guard the Scheld below Dendermond, whilſt General Heyden ſhould provide for the Defence of it above between Dendermond and Ghendt; where the paſſage of this River is moſt practicable, but was at preſent in no great danger whilſt the French were on the other ſide of the Dender towards the Canal of Bruſſels and the lower Scheld; or otherwiſe if both the ſaid Marechals ſhould paſs the Dender to get between Dendermond and Ghendt, then all the Troops we had upon the Canal of Bruſſels were to paſs the Scheld at Rupelmonde and reinforce General Heyden, and other competent Detachments were to be made by the Prince to put that General in a Condition to hinder the joyn'd Marechals from attempting to paſs the River: This was the Diſpoſition made between the Elector and the Prince at Bruſſels for the marching of the Army of Flanders to take the Camp of Rouſſelar.

According to this Reſolution, the Elector left Bruſſels the ſecond of Auguſt. Auguſt and came to Antwerp, where he had order'd Don Bernardo de Quiros the Spaniſh Plenipotentiary Ambaſſador at the Congreſs of Ryſwick for the Treaty of Peace to meet him, there to conferr together about the Affairs relating to that Negociation. The Third the Elector came to Ghendt, and Don Bernardo de Quiros went back for the Hague; and the ſame day our Flanders Army march'd in two Bodies in order to take the Camp of Rouſſelar the next; the Spaniſh and Bavarian Troops which had remaind'd in the Camp of Nevel march'd to Thilt by Vinck, and Arſeel, where they were joyn'd by the two Battallions of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria which had been all this while behind the Scheld, and three more of the ſame Troops, come ſome days before from the Rhine and incamp'd at Diſtelberg, being a third Battallion of the Elector's Guards, and two of Litſebourgh: The Dutch Forces and Brandenbourg Horſe which had continu'd at Nevel under the Command of Lieutenant Generals Opdam and Heyden and Major General Lindeboom, march'd by Grammen and Wouterghem to Denterghem, where the Prince of Naſſau-Saarbruck joyn'd them with the Troops and Artillery he had with him at Heuſen behind the Scheld, and incamp'd with the Right at Roode Vierſchaer, and the Left at Vondeghem, Denterghem (which was the Prince of Naſſau's Quarter) remaining between the two Lines in the Body of Foot. As for General Heyden, he had the Guard of the Scheld committed to his care, and the 18 Battallions of Brandenbourg Troops, the Regiment of Dragoons and three Squadrons of that Elector's Horſe under his command, were poſted according to this Diſpoſition, at Dendermond one Battallion, from Dendermond to Appels-veer, the Boors of the Pays de Waes were to keep Guard till the coming of the Brigade of Foot that was to be ſent by the Prince; the main Body upon the Heath of Berleer, conſiſting of nine Battallions and the Horſe and Dragoons, was to take care of the Poſts upon the River from Appels to Ʋtberg; at Ʋtberg, were poſted two Battallions; at Schellebelle, upon the Height over againſt the Village, two Battallions; above Wetteren upon the Right, two Battallions to guard the Scheld between Wetteren-Noort and Quatrecht; and higher up towards Ghendt one Battallion upon the Heath of the Chateau d'Anſaut, to guard as far as Claverken; and from thence to Ghendt the Scheld was to be guarded by the Garriſon of the Town; all theſe Regiments had Orders to incamp double to make a larger Front thereby, and the Boors of the Pays de Waes were commanded to have Men of the Country with Arms ready, to ſecure any of the forementioned Poſts, in caſe all the Brandenbourg Forces ſhould be oblig'd to joyn together, by the Motions of the French to attempt the paſſage at any one particular place. The Fourth, The Elector's Army having incamp'd at Thilt and Denterghem the day before, march'd to joyn together at Rouſſelar; the Spaniards and Bavarians from Thilt by Pettem, Ardoye, and Baveren, and the Dutch and Brandenbourghers from Denterghem by Mulenbeck, Ingelmonſter and Emelgem, and ſo incamp'd all together in a Line of Battle with the Right at St. Thomas's Chappel between Rouſſelar and Hooghleede, and the Left near the Bridge upon the High-way from Rouſſelar to Caecktem; the Elector came this day to the Camp from Ghendt, a good Eſcorte being left by the Army to attend His Highneſs along the way, and both the Elector and Prince of Naſſau-Sarbruck had their Quarters in the Town of Rouſſelar: This Army conſiſted at preſent of 29 or 30 Battallions, 18 having been left behind the Scheld, two upon the Canal of Bruges, (being thoſe of Fagel and Reinard) four ſent to Audenarde, and one left in Dendermond. The Marechal of Catinat, whoſe buſineſs it was to obſerve the Motions of our Army in Flanders, left Helchin upon the Scheld on the Seventh, and not being able to hinder the Elector from taking the Camp of Rouſſelar, he came on the Fourth to poſt himſelf behind the Lys, the Foot between Menin and Comines, and the Horſe at Courtray to Forrage without the Lines: And the Fifth, Monſieur Montrevel detach'd eleven Battallions and a Regiment of Dragoons of his Body at Grammont to poſt themſelves at Helchin, there to be in a readineſs to joyn Catinat upon occaſion, and the Brigade of Mouroux from Villeroy's Army, and another from Bouflers, were commanded to reinforce Montrevel, and make up the Number he had ſent to Helchin.

The Prince, being oblig'd on his ſide to provide at preſent for the Safety of the Scheld, and the Reinforcing of General Heyden upon occaſion, commanded on the third Major General Stewart to march with Tiffin's Brigade (except Saunderſon's Regiment) by the Canal to Willobrook and ſo to Rupelmonde, where he was to paſs the Scheld, in order to poſt himſelf in the Pays de Waes, being to be reinforc'd in his March by Eppinger's and Lloyd's Dragoons. The Fourth, Major General Stewart came with the ſaid Forces into the Neighbourhood of Dendermond, where he diſpos'd them Regiment by Regiment to incamp about the Villages near the Scheld, his Quarter being at Berlcer; and the Brandenbourg Troops remov'd from hence to Heuſen, where General Heyden incamp'd with the main Body, but the reſt of the Brandenbourgers remain'd poſted as before: The ſame day in the Morning was a Rencounter near the Wind mill of Releghem, between Zellich and Wemmel, of a Party of the French Life guards and Dragoons, with one of Dutch Horſe commanded by Colonel Balthuin of the Duke of Holſtein-Pleon's Regiment, where the French were worſted; the Prince had been inform'd over-night, that the French had a Deſign to carry off the next Morning our Patrouille of Horſe, which was ſent daily at break of day from one of our Out-guards to the Wind mill of Releghem, whereupon he order'd that very Night a Detachment of 250 Horſe and 50 Dragoons, to be ſent to the Wind-mill of Releghem under the Command of Colonel Balthuin, there to put himſelf in Ambuſcade and expect the French, who accordingly order'd a Squadron of fifty Horſe in the little Plain by the Wind-mill, and poſted himſelf in a Neighbouring Defilé: The French made that night a Detachment of fifty Dragoons of Ste Hermine's Regiment under the Command of the Sieur Sainfal, and 80 Horſe of the King's Houſe commanded by the Sieur Philipes. Exempt of the Guards, all which he divided into three Squadrons, to come and carry off our Patrouille; when, early in the Morning, they came near the Wind-mill, they met with the fifty Horſe and Dragoons we had in the Plain, and Sainfal, who commanded the firſt Squadron, charg'd them ſo briskly that they retir'd into the Defilé, where being purſued by the French, Sainfal got thus into our Ambuſcade, where both he and the Squadron would have been intirely cut off, had not the Sieur Philipes come and reſcu'd them as well as he could, but by his aſſiſtance they got off after a conſiderable Loſs; about twenty were killed upon the Spot on both ſides, of which fifteen or ſixteen were French, and amongſt them a conſiderable Perſon who was buried the next day in the Church of Releghem with Trumpets and Kettle-drum; on our ſide, the Captain-Lieutenant and Quarter-Maſter of Wirtemberg's Regiment, a Lieutenant of Prince Philip's, were wounded and taken Priſoners, and ſix Troopers either kill'd or Priſoners, and two wounded; On the French ſide, a Sub-Brigadier of the Life-guards, two Life guardmen and 12 Dragoons were made Priſoners, and 20 Horſes taken and brought into our Camp: Colonel Balthuin having gain'd this Advantage, did not think it convenient to purſue the French, for fear of falling into an Ambuſcade himſelf, but retir'd, after this Action, to our Camp.

At this time, not only Forrage but likewiſe Straw was very ſcarce about Bruſſels, and the Soldiers lay very ill for want of it; on the Fifth, My Lord Cutts, with the Prince's leave, ſent a Party to the Village of Mais to fetch all the Straw that was there, for the uſe of the Guards and Royal Regiment, which was above half way between Villeroy's Camp and ours, but where we had kept a Guard in the Chaſteau all this while, the French having on their ſide a Safe-guard in the Village; this Detachment was made out of the Guards and the ſaid Regiment, and a Man of a Tent for Straw, who here provided themſelves with it and got back ſafe into the Camp; the Safe-guard was abſent at the firſt coming of our Party, but return'd to his Poſt before they went off, he reported that the Marechal of Villeroy had review'd his Army that day, and therefore had been oblig'd to go to the Camp and repair to his Company; and, may be, had it not been for that, the bringing off of the Straw from this Village could not have been done without ſome Skirmiſh with the French. The Sixth, Colonel Saunderſon's Regiment (the Remainder of Tiffin's Brigade) was order'd to march behind the Canal of Bruſſels, and guard it between the Burnt-bridge and the Fort des Trois Trous on both ſides of Vilvorde, being the Poſt which Colonel Murray's Regiment had before.

The Ninth in the Evening the two Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers had Te Deum Sung at their Quarters for the taking of Barcelona, the Capital City of the Principality of Catalonia, and afterwards all their Artillery and Small-ſhot was fir'd thrice round, and the ſame thing was done this Evening in the Marechal of Catinat's Army: This place had been inveſted the Second of June, the Trenches open'd the Fifth in the Evening, and after having held a Siege of one and fifty Days from the opening of the Trenches, it began to Parley the 26th of July, and a Ceſſation of Arms was agreed upon, but the Beſieged did not conſent to Capitulate till the 27th, under pretext of conferring firſt with the Chief Officers of the Town, and the next day, of giving notice to the Vice-roy of Catalonia incamp'd ſeven or eight Leagues off, but the French allowing no longer term for the Ceſſation, the Hoſtages were exchang'd the 27th in order to Capitulate; yet the Capitulation was not made up and ſign'd till the 31th, becauſe of the great variety of Buſineſs it included, for the Army, Courts of Judicature Eccleſiaſtical and Temporal, Civil Magiſtrates and Burghers, Barcelona being the Head Town of Catalonia, and all this Principality ſurrender'd up to the French with it: The Marquis de Chemerant Brigadier of the Army brought the Capitulation to the French King, who made him a Marechal de Camp or Major General for this Service; and by it, the Beſieged were to march out of the Town and the Fort of Monjouy (which was deliver'd up with it) on the fifth of Auguſt, to go thence to Tarragon, with 30 Pieces of Cannon and ſix Mortars, and to be conducted as far as Martorel upon the River of Lobregat; a Ceſſation of Arms was likewiſe agreed upon by this Capitulation, between the two Armies till the 22th of Auguſt Old Stile, during which time the River Lobregat ſhould ſerve as a Barrere for the French and Spaniards, each to keep on their reſpective ſide: But I muſt not forget (whilſt I ſpeak of this Capitulation) to add, That the Article, made by the Beſteged for the Preſervation of the Authority and Privileges of the Inquiſition-Court held in this Town, was rejected by the French, and conſequently this Court laid aſide whilſt Barcelona ſhould be in their Poſſeſſion, as if 'twas yet a ſeverer Tribunal than the Military Inquiſition of Dragoons. Thus Barcelona fell into the hands of the French, after a Famons Siege, not ſo much for the Strength of the Place, (for 'tis but weak and ill fortified) as for the Defence that was made in it, the Number of the Beſieged, and that of the Beſiegers: The Beſieged, though the whole Army of Spain, by the Communication of the Fort of Monjouy, was concern'd in it, got a great deal of Honour in the Defence of a large and weak Town, and vigorouſly preſs'd with Cannon and Bombs; and the Prince of Heſſe d'Armſtadt who was once Colonel of an Engliſh Regiment and Brigadier of His Hajeſty's Army, and in a manner train'd in our Service in the War of Ireland, had a very great ſhare in the Glory of ſo good a Defence; the French on their ſide, with a ſmall Army of about 28000 Men, out brav'd the great Reſiſtance of all the Spaniſh Army, and carried it, when they did not exceed the Beſieged by above 10 or 11000 Men; which Conſideration muſt help very much to ſet off the Vigour, Boldneſs and Reſolution of the Beſiegers, who ought to have a great deal of Honour allow'd them upon this account: 'Tis true; that they ranſack'd all the Forts and Garriſons in Languedor and Provence, whereby they got a Reinforcement of ſix or ſeven thouſand Men to repair their Loſſes, and were by this means almoſt as ſtrong at the end of the Siege as at the beginning of it; but if the number of Burghers that were in Barcelona, who no doubt had a hand in the Defence of it, be conſider'd, this will not very much leſſen the Glory of taking of it. I do not know the Situation of Barcelona, yet it can hardly be imagin'd, but if the Spaniards (having no other place to defend to put a ſtop to the Progreſs of the French Conqueſts in a Country where they could not ſubſiſt with great Armies) had made by times a good and ſtrong Retrenchment on one ſide of Barcelona for to cover their Army, and at the ſame time good Fortifications and Out-works on the other, that if the French had beſieg'd it in ſuch a Poſture of Defence, Barcelona could have taken by them; and even as Barcelona was, if Spain had tranſported the Troops they had to ſpare in Italy ſince the Peace on that ſide, it would have been an Attempt above their Power: As to this laſt, the Spaniards ſay that the Duke of Savoy kept ſtill the Forces on foot he had during the War, and therefore that they could not leave the Milane's open and expos'd to an arm'd Neighbour, if it was ſo, the Duke of Savoy has done, in that, a ſignal piece of Service to the French King; as to the firſt, the Spaniards pretend that the Engliſh and Dutch were to ſend a good Squadron to their Aſſiſtance, and then that Barcelona would have been in no Danger; for the French Army before this place could not ſubſiſt but by the Communication it had by Sea with Provence and Languedoc, and the Sea-ports they were Maſters of in Catalonia; and if we had ſent a Fleet in the Mediterranean at that time, the French muſt not only have rais'd the Siege, but the Army could not have got off but with very great difficulty: Whatever reaſon the Spaniards might have to expect a Fleet from England and the States, yet no Man can ſay that this does excuſe them from acting their part in providing for the Safety of the Place, and putting of it in a good Poſture of Defence, chiefly conſidering that we had already a Squadron of about twenty Men of War in the Weſt-Indies to watch Pointy's Motions and protect the Galleons, which muſt otherwiſe have fallen into the hands of the French; and may be, this was as much as England could do at that time, conſidering our late Money Difficulties.

Notwithſtanding the great Advantages which the French had over the Allies by this great Conqueſt; and that the French Plenipotentiaries had given in their Project the Tenth of the foregoing Month in the very middle of this Siege, and that no Relief could be expected for the Place, but purely from the vigorous Defence of the Beſieged, yet this did not ſeem to haſten the Negociations amongſt them at Ryſwick: Copies of this Project had been given to the Plenipotentiaries of the Empire, Spain and Holland, according to the Tenour of it; and the Project as well as full Powers of the French, being directed to treat with the Emperor and Empire, the Empire had therefore in the Dyet at Ratisbonne, made a Solemn Deputation to treat on the behalf of all the States and Princes of Germany with the French King; in which, among the Eccleſiaſtical Electors that of Mentz, the Secular, thoſe of Bavaria, Saxony and Brandenbourg; and out of the College of Princes, for the Catholicks, the Arch biſhop of Saltsburg, the Great Maſter of the Teutonick Order, the Biſhops of Wortzburg, Spire, Conſtance, Hilderſheim, Liege and Munſter, the Princes of the Houſe of Auſtria, Palatine and Newbourg, &c. and for the Proteſtants, Brandenbourg for the Dutchy of Magdebourg, Sweden for the Dutchies of Bremen and Deuxponts, Saxen-Cobourg, Saxen-Gotha, Brandenbourg-Cullenbach, Brunſwick-Zell, Brunſwick-Wolfembuttle, Heſſe-Caſſel, Wirtemberg, Holſtein, Anhalt and the Counts of Wetteravia; out of the Imperial Towns, for the Catholicks, Cologne and Augsburg, and for the Proteſtants, Francfort and Nuremberg were appointed, by their Plenipotentiaries at Ryſwick to repreſent the whole Body of the German Empire, and to treat in its Name with the French King's Ambaſſadors. Theſe having a Copy of the Project laid before them, gave in their Anſwer to it, wherein they inſiſted upon the full and entire Reſtitution of every thing as it had been eſtabliſh'd in the Treaty of Weſtphalia, reſerving a Power to the Emperour and Empire of keeping a Garriſon in the Town of Straisbourg, for which they could not accept of an Equivalent; neither could they allow the French King to keep Saar-Louis with the pretended Diſtrict about it in the Dutchy or Lorrain, but that the whole muſt be reſtor'd to that Duke: This was the chief Subſtance of their Anſwer, when at this time the French were preſſing the Siege of Barcelona very hard, that they had taken Ath in Flanders, and that Prince Lewis of Baden was ſtill on the other ſide of the Rhine, notwithſtanding the Weakneſs of the French that way. This Anſwer ſeem'd to raiſe great Obſtacles to the forwarding of the Treaty, if the Empire would inſiſt upon it to the laſt; and yet notwithſtanding theſe Difficulties, 'twas about this time The firſt Conference Auguſt the Sixth. that they began to treat perſonally at Ryſwick in the Mediatour's Chamber, whereas hitherto the Conferences had been carried on in Writing by the Mediatour, the Allies and the French keeping to their reſpective Apartments.

The Term given by the French in their Project was now drawing near, but in the mean while 'tis fit to ſee what the Armies were doing in the Field: The two French Armies commanded by the Marechals of Villeroy and Bouflers, were now advanc'd a great way from any of their Frontier Towns, which made Convoys tedious, and every thing but Forrage very ſcarce in their Camps; and, had it not been for the Conveniency of Water carriage, from Tournay to Renay upon the Scheld, and from Grammont to Aloſt by the Dender (no Land carriage remaining but from the Scheld to Grammont, and from Aloſt to the Armies which were juſt by) it had been impoſſible for them to have ſubſiſted where they were; and the great Rains that fell about this time ſo broke the ways, that the little Land-carriage they had became extreamly difficult, and the Boats could hardly for the ſame reaſon be drawn by Horſes: If this made Proviſions ſcarce and dear in the French Armies, it created no leſs an Inconveniency for the bringing in of Forrage, and they were forc'd at this time to cut down vaſt Quantities of Faſcines for the repairing of the Ways, and the making of Bridges over the Ditches, being all fill'd with Water by the exceſſive Rains. The 12th, the two Brigades of Foot that had been commanded to Grammont, were order'd to return to the two Armies, and the 11 Battallious detach'd from Montrevel came back from Helchin to their former Poſt, becauſe the Brandenbourg Troops had not march'd to Rouſſelar with the Elector, but continu'd in the Pays de Waes, and therefore the Marechal of Catinat did not want Aſſiſtance for the defence of the Lines: But the French having conſum'd by this time all the Forrage hereabouts, and being oblig'd to Forrage the laſt time on the other ſide of the Dender towards Ghendt, began to think of retreating with their Armies and coming nearer to their Frontiers; and thereupon order'd this day 8000 Men to go and cut Faſcines under the cover of a Brigade of Swiſſers and ſome other Battallions, for the Reparation of the Ways and making Bridges over the Dender, which were carried to the places appointed, by the Horſe and Dragoons; for the Weather was ſo bad at this time, that we thought the French could not ſtir at preſent, becauſe they (as ſome ſuppos'd) could not carry off their Artillery; but by the help of vaſt quantities of Faſcines, and of Trees cut down and laid a-croſs under them in the moſt dangerous places, they compaſs'd this Difficulty: The Marquis de Harcourt, who had left Boſſu to come and incamp at Solre lower upon the Sambre, was driven by the Rains from the Banks of this River, to incamp between Walcourt and Florennes. The 14th, The French having repair'd the Ways, and finiſh'd the Bridges over the Dender, the Artillery and heavy Baggage was commanded away out of both Armies, that of the Marechal of Villeroy paſs'd the Dender, and that of Bouflers kept on the right ſide of it. The 15th, The Marechal of Villeroy's Army march'd upon the Left to paſs the Dender, and Prince Vaudemont, who had Information of their Deſign and of the March of their Artillery the overnight, order'd then a Detachment of 1500 Horſe and 1000 Foot to be ready the next Morning, with which he went betimes to obſerve the Marching off of the French, and ſee if any Attempt could be made upon their Rear-guard, having advanc'd for this end, between Zellich and Aſche; but the French march'd off in ſuch order, that no advantage could be taken, and no other Action happen'd but that of ſome Pickeering of our Huſſars amongſt them, and thus paſs'd the Dender upon ſeveral Bridges at and about Aloſt, and incamp'd with the Right near this Town, and the Left at Denderleuwe, where the Marechal of Villeroy had his Quarter: The ſame day the Marechal of Bouflers march'd upon the Right to change Poſt again with Villeroy, and came to incamp at Aloſt, the Dender remaining between them; and 16 Boats came down that River this day from Grammont to Aloſt, laden with Bisket for the uſe of the Armies which wanted it very much at preſent. The 16th, the Artillery and heavy Baggage march'd on before, becauſe of the badneſs of the Ways, having a ſtrong Eſcorte of ſeveral Squadrons and Battallions commanded by the Marquis de Crequi Lieutenant General; The Marechal of Villeroy's Army halted this day, but that of Bouflers march'd from Aloſt up the Dender, which River was upon the right Colomn of the March, and came to incamp at Ninove, keeping ſtill on the ſame ſide of the Dender. The 17th, The Marechal of Villeroy's Army march'd on upon the Left towards Audenarde and the Scheld, and came to incamp with the Right beyond Eſche, the Left at Ste Marie-Oudenhove and General Quarter at Steinhuys, to deſtroy the Forrage, and ſubſiſt between the Scheld, the Dender and Ghendt, where the Armies had not yet incamp'd this Year; but Bouflers Army halted this day, and march'd on the 18th upon the Right higher up the Dender towards Grammont, where it incamp'd for the Conveniency of Forrage on both ſides of the River, with the Right at Stanberg towards Gamerage, and the Left on the other ſide towards the Scheld. The 19th, the Marechal of Villeroy remov'd his Quarter from Steinhuys to Ste Marie-Oudenhove upon the Left, where the French and Swiſſe Guards, and the Dragoons of Fimareon, had Orders to come and incamp to cover his Quarter: The Marechal of Bouflers Army being now poſted near Grammont, Monfiour de Montrevel was order'd to incamp at Helchin with the Body under his command, conſiſting of 16 Battallions and 20 Squadrons.

Theſe Motions of the French ſeem'd to threaten Audenarde, and we were apprehenſive of it; for the Marechal of Villeroy had gone, at his firſt coming to this Ground, to view all the Poſts and Avenues about this place, and the Banks of the Scheld both above and below, with a ſtrong Detachment of the King's Houſe, Light-Horſe and Dragoons, as if he deſign'd to Inveſt it; and the Siege of Audenarde was diſcours'd of very hotly upon this occaſion, in caſe the Peace was not Sign'd by the 20th Iuſtant, according to the Time prefix'd by the French in their Project; and it being now juſt upon the time, every Body long'd to know the Event of that day at Ryſwick: The Affairs relating to the Differences between France, England and Holland were adjuſted, and the Treaty ready to be Sign'd; Spain had juſt now loſt all Catalonia in the loſs of Barcelona, and therefore had no reaſon to ſtand upon very high Terms; and the Empire had as little Proſpect of bringing the French to the Treaty of Weſtphalia; this made moſt People expect that a General Peace would be Sign'd that day; but when it came to the very nick of time, the Imperialiſts pretended to have a longer time for their Inſtructions, which they could not have time enough to Sign at preſent; and inſiſted upon having better Terms than thoſe offer'd by the French, which in ſeveral caſes derogated from the Treaty of Weſtphalia, and thereupon refus'd to Sign: Our Plenipotentiaries and thoſe of Spain and Holland having no Inſtructions to Sign ſeparately from the reſt of the Allies, were therefore oblig'd to ſtand out too: The French, who had their Meaſures ready, as if they expected this from the Imperialiſts, gave in a Memorial to the Mediator the very next day, in which they laid out the great Advantages their Maſter had gain'd over the Allies in the whole Courſe of the Campagne, and eſpecially by the taking of Barcelona, which could not do otherwiſe than give him great Hopes of gaining conſiderably by the farther Proſecution of the War; and, although the Allies had let the Term given in their late Project paſs, and conſequently that they had a Right to enter upon new Propoſitions, yet the French King (to ſhew his great Moderation to the World, and that in the midſt of his Conqueſts he ſincerely deſir'd the Peace and Repoſe of Chriſtendom) was contented, notwithſtanding all his Advantages, to change and alter nothing in the ſaid Project, but in relation to Strasbourg, which he did now pretend to keep to himſelf, and that the Emperour and Empire ſhould be oblig'd to take the Equivalent, without any farther liberty of Choice in that Matter; and likewiſe, that Spain ſhould yield to him about ſeventeen Villages of the Chatellenie of Ath for a Land Communication between Tournay and Condé; and a farther Term was given in this new Memorial to the Allies, till the Tenth of September following.

This Memorial made a great Noiſe at firſt at Ryſwick, and People began to apprehend it might break off the Negociations; the Imperialiſts eſpecially talk'd very much of renewing the War, and proſecuting of it with greater Heat and Vigour than it had been hitherto done; and ſo they had need: But notwithſtanding all this Buſtle, they grew calmer by degrees, and this new Memorial ſeem'd to have been contriv'd on purpoſe to obviate all the Difficulties which otherwiſe muſt have occurr'd in the Choice of the Equivalent for Strasbourg; for the reſtoring of Strasbourg, a Soveraign, Free and Imperial Town, as it was offer'd by the French, did not accommodate the Emperour nor indeed the Empire; becauſe then it would ſtill have been at the French King's Mercy, and muſt have open'd its Gates when ever his Armies ſhould come that way to paſs the Rhine: But the keeping of it accommodated the French King, and the Equivalent the Emperour; and it could not be expected, that, whilſt there was a Liberty of Choice, the Empire could be brought to accept of the Equivalent but with very great Difficulties; though, in Truth, the Equivalent was a better Barrier to the Empire, than the Reſtauration of Strasbourg in the State it was in when the French took it, and they would not offer it upon any other Terms; but the lapſing of the Term given in the firſt Project, and the putting in this new Memorial thereupon, was an Expedient to ſatisfie both Parties, and to compaſs their Ends without any Difficulty. And thus the Negociations were not interrupted by this Memorial, and the French, who ſeem'd to threaten Audenarde with a Siege, and had brought their Armies towards the Scheld upon the Expiration of the Term given in their Project, did not think it fit at preſent to attempt this Undertaking: I have therefore little to ſay concerning them in this place, and ſo ſhall come to ſpeak of the Tranſactions in the Elector's Camp during theſe Affairs, which I have left at Rouſſelar.

The Sixth, the height of Hooghleede commanding very much the Camp, it was thought fit to alter it, and bring the Right to ſecure a Poſt at preſent of ſuch Conſequence for the Army; which was executed on the Seventh, and the Army incamp'd with the Right at Hooghleede, and the Left towards Caectem, extending it ſelf as much as was poſſible. A Field-Officer out of every Regiment of Horſe and Dragoons was order'd at the firſt coming to this Camp, to go with Quarter-Maſter-General Ivoy, and ſee what Forrage was to be found in the Country hereabouts towards Dixmuyde and Ipres, where they found enough for the Army to have ſubſiſted here, much longer than it did, though ſome would have repreſented to the Elector, that it could not ſubſiſt hereabouts for want of it; but nevertheleſs this was a very inconvenient Camp another way, becauſe the Army was but ſmall and far advanc'd from our Frontier, and the Convoys difficult, which conſequently muſt Harraſs it very much by the greatneſs of the Duty; and the Country about it was cloſe and Woody, and very convenient for the Parties out of Courtray, Menin and Ipres, which made them take daily a great many Horſes: For theſe Reaſons it was thought neceſſary to bring the Army back nearer to our Frontier, either towards Dixmuyde or Bruges; and the Elector went this day to view the Camp of Hantſame and Cortemark near Dixmuyde, and that of Torhout near Bruges, with an Eſcorte of 500 Horſe; which was not the only Security His Highneſs had for this Journey, for Major General Fagel was marching at the ſame time that way from Newport, to reinforce his Army at Rouſſelar, where he arriv'd this day with the four Hanover Battallions, of the Guards, St. Paul, Hulſen and Cinqvilles, and two Dutch, being thoſe of Beyma and Swansbeck; and by this Reinforcement the Elector's Army conſiſted now of 35 Battallions: Upon this Motion of Fagel's, Colonel Soutandt had the Guard of the Canal of Bruges, with his Battallion and thoſe of Fagel and Reinardt; and Colonel Buchan's and the Lord Lorne's Regiments were order'd to march for Plaſſendal to be near Newport. The Elector thought to have kept the Field longer in this Camp with this ſmall Reinforcement, but the Rains came on ſo violently, that it would be a very hard Matter to get Convoys from our Frontier, and muſt make Proviſions very Scarce and Dear; for this and the Reaſons above mention'd, it was reſolv'd to leave this Camp, and march either towards Dixmuyde where every thing could come by Water to the Camp, or elſe towards Torhout, which was but between three and four Leagues from Bruges; the firſt, though very Convenient, was not thought adviſeable, becauſe then if the Marechal of Catinat had the Advantage of one March, he would eaſily get to Bruges before the Army could come there to cover it; and therefore the Camp of Torhout, where Bruges and the Canal were at once cover'd, was thought the moſt convenient. Accordingly the Army march'd the 15th upon the Right (all the Infantry upon one Colomn being the Left, and all the Cavalry upon another which made the Right, and the Artillery and heavy Baggage upon a third within the two others, and cover'd by them, towards the Canal of Newport) and came to incamp with the Right beyond the Chappel of Wynendale with the Wood before it; the Body of Foot between the Caſtle of Wynendale on the Right, where the Prince of Naſſau-Saarbruck had his Quarter, and Town of Torhout on the Left, where was that of the Elector; the Left Wing, being all compos'd of Brandenbourg Horſe and Pyper's Brigade, extended it ſelf farther upon the Left beyond this ſmall Town: A Captain of the Bavarians, that had been detach'd with a Party to cover the March, and Scower the French Parties which Sculk'd up and down in this cloſe Country, defeated three of them, and kill'd three and twenty French, beſides ſeveral wounded and Priſoners. The 16th, Major General Fagel march'd back to Newport with the ſix Battallions under his Command. The 17th, the Army made a General Forrage in the Villages of Hantſame, Cortemarck and Werckene, where the Elector went in Perſon; Lieutenant Colonel Pechman of the Bavarian Guards, who was order'd to Scower the Woods with a good Detachment of Foot, defeated two French Parties, kill'd and wounded ſeveral, and brought 25 Priſoners of the firſt, and 19 of the ſecond into the Camp; all the Forragers had their Arms by the Elector's Orders, and this Affair was manag'd ſo well, that the Army did not loſe one Horſe. The 19th, the Elector view'd all the Bavarian Troops in the Heath between Torhout and Wynendale, and went thence to Bruges, being ſtill troubled with ſore Eyes; the ſame day the Prince of Naſſau-Saarbruck left the Camp to go to the Baths of Aix la Chappelle for his Health, and Count d'Arco, General of the Bavarians, was left Commander in Chief of the Army: Upon this going of the Prince of Naſſau's to Aix la Chappelle, My Lord of Athlone had once Orders to go and Command the Army in Flanders, and was preparing to leave the Prince's Army for that purpoſe, but how this came to be alter'd, is what brings me to ſpeak of the Affairs of our Army in Brabant.

The Marechals of Bouflers and Villeroy being now ſeparated, and march'd from the Neighbourhood of the Canal of Bruſſels, a great deal of our Cavalry could be ſpar'd out of our Camp, where there was hardly any Forrage to be had at preſent, to go and ſubſiſt more conveniently ſome where elſe; and therefore all the Cavalry upon Engliſh Pay, being firſt joyn'd with the Dragoons that had been poſted behind the Canal, march'd on the 18th from Diegom to Wavre upon the Dyle for the Conveniency of Forrage, but the Dutch Horſe being left in this Camp, were furniſh'd with dry Forrage from the States Magazines in the Town: Upon this March of our Engliſh Cavalry to Wavre, the Prince of Tilly left Maſy, and paſs'd the Meuſe at Namur to incamp within the Retrenchment upon the Height of Ste Barbe, there to ſubſiſt in the Condros and ſpare the Forrage on this ſide for our Cavalry. The both, the Duke of Ormond and the Prince of Heſſe left the Army, the firſt to go for England and thence to Ireland for his Domeſtick Affairs, and the laſt into Germany, and this day, being the Term given in the French Project, there was no other Diſcourſe in the Camp but of Peace, but how this came to fail, is what I have given an account of juſt now. The 24th, the Prince gave Orders for all the Artillery and Baggage-Horſes to be ſent for from Grazing, and for the Army to be ready to march, upon Information that Bouflérs Army was upon the March towards the Plain of Fleury; the ſaid Marechal having left the Camp of Stanberg and the Neighbourhood of Grammont on the 22th to come to Enghien, whereupon Count Tillard was left at Grammont with 18 Battallions and as many Squadrons for the Guard of the Convoys between the Scheld and Villeroy's Camp, and of the Bread which was Bak'd in this Town for the uſe of the Armies. The 23d, the Marechal of Bouflers continu'd to march upon the Right, and came to incamp at Soignies, where he was joyn'd by the Marquis de Courtebonne and the ten Battallions under his Command, which had been poſted about Mons ſince Bouflers March towards Dendermond. The French being got ſo far towards the Sambre alarm'd the Prince, who (as we have now ſaid) order'd all the Horſes to be ſent for from Grazing, but did not get into the Camp till the 25th, and the Artillery and heavy Baggage could not march till the next day towards Louvain; Major General Stewart with Tiffin's Brigade was now upon his March from the Pays de Waes back to the Canal of Bruſſels, who, with the Body commanded by the Count de Noyelles upon this Canal, was to joyn the Prince's Army at Louvain. Our Engliſh Cavalry and Dragoons at Wavre were to march towards Namur, who, with the Prince of Tilly and the Garriſon we had in the place, might have cover'd it till the coming up of the Prince's Army. The 26th, the Artillery and heavy Baggage began to File off towards Louvain under the Eſcorte of a Colonel with 1000 Foot, and the Army had Orders to follow the ſame way the next day, to march thence towards the Mchaigne, But Count Naſſau Lieutenant General, and Major General Erle, were to be left at Bruſſels with 15 Battallions Engliſh and Dutch, to incamp within the new Line which was now almoſt finiſh'd, there to cover the Town. The Prince had ſent an Expreſs to Loo to give His Majeſty an account of the Marechal de Boufler's Motions, and of his Reſolutions thereupon; but Namur being at preſent an Attempt not to be made by the French, conſidering the Strength of the place with that of its Garriſon, and the Forces we had about it, and the Backwardneſs of the Seaſon; and that, beſides, it would put the Army to great Difficulties to march that way without any preſſing Occaſion, and Boufler's Army being halted at Soignies where it was now Hutted, and in no likelihood to ſtir from thence; it was therefore thought convenient to countermand this March, and it was accordingly countermanded the 27th; for the Engliſh Infantry could not ſtir but with great Difficulty, becauſe they wanted Horſes to carry their Baggage; two Waggons had been allow'd each Battallion till the coming up to this Camp, which had been hir'd by the King the beginning of the Campagne, to ſupply the preſent Neceſſity; but having been diſmiſs'd at the coming to this Ground, only one could be had at preſent, and if the Army had been oblig'd to march, moſt of the Officers muſt have left all their Baggage behind them, for very few had Horſes to carry it; and therefore, not to put them to ſuch a Hardſhip, it was thought more Expedient to let the Foot remain where it was, and that it would be ſufficient to ſend the Dutch Cavalry and Dragoons (being ſtill in this Camp) under the Command of the Earl of Athlone, towards the Mehaigne: Theſe Agitations had ſtopt his Deſign to go and command the Army in Flanders in the abſence of the Prince of Naſſau Saarbruck, and that thought was now quite laid aſide, to go and command the Army we were going to form towards the Mehaigne; where, beſides all the Dutch Horſe and Dragoons, My Lord was to have Tiffin's Brigade from the Pays de Waes, and the two Brigades of Belcaſtel and Oxenſterne from the Canal (making together ſixteen Battallions) which now could be ſpar'd from thence upon the Marching off of Villeroy towards Audenarde, and Bouflers to Soignies; and only one Battallion was left thereupon for the Guard of the Canal. The 28th, all theſe Regiments joyn'd together near Louvain, under the Command of the Count de Noyelles Lieutenant General, and Major General Stewart, and incamp'd behind the Dyle about a League above the Town, with the Left at Corbeck, and the Right extending it ſelf towards Neer-Iſche; but that of Colonel Saunderſon was commanded to incamp with the Artillery at Louvain without Bruſſels-porte, and the Detachment of the Prince's Army that cover'd it was order'd back to the Camp. The 30th, all the Horſes belonging to the Infautry incamp'd at Cockelberg were remanded to Graze as before along the Dyle, between Louvain and Malines, and a Colonel with a Detachment of 1000 Foot was ſent to Louvain to bring the Artillery back again to our Camp: The ſame day My Lord Portland came from the Hague to Bruſſels, in order to have another Conference with the Marechal of Bouflers (as 'twas ſuppos'd) upon what had happen'd at Ryſwick the 20th Inſtant, and to put Affairs in the ſame State as before, for the approaching Term given in the French Memorial; and his Lordſhip was Lodg'd in the Prince's Palace, where moſt of our Generals waited upon him the next day.

The 31th, all the Duteh Cavalry and Dragoons march'd out of the Camp of Cockelberg, under the Command of the Earl of Athlone, to go and Subſiſt towards the Mehaigne (except Iſelſtein's Brigade, My Lord of Albemarle's Carabiniers and Dopft's Dragoons, which remain'd in the Camp to furniſh the Patrouilles and Out-guards) and having croſs'd the Canal upon our Bridges of Boats between Laacken and Bruſſels, they were joyn'd on the other ſide by Ooſt friſes Brigade, which had march'd through the Town from its Camp before the Fort of Monterey, and ſo came to incamp between Neer-Iſche and Roeux St. Auguſtin. The Firſt of September, My Lord of Athlone paſs'd the Dyle at Florival, being follow'd by the Infantry commanded by Count de Noyelles and twelve pieces of Cannon detach'd from our Artillery at Louvain, and incamp'd together this day with the Right at Iudoigne (where was My Lord of Athlone's Quarter) and left at Pietrain on this ſide of the Geet, where they had Orders to Hutt: The ſame day the Artillery came back from Louvain to the Prince's Camp, and all the Horſes were ſent to Graſs, but Colonel Saunderſon's Regiment march'd with My Lord of Athlone: My Lord Portland went likewiſe this day in one of the Prince's Coaches, being attended with Lieutenant General Bellaſſis and Mr. Hill, to Tubiſe beyond Halle, where he was met by the Marechal of Bouflers from Soignies, and after having conferr'd together, they parted with great Expreſſions of reciprocal Eſteem, and My Lord came back to Bruſſels this Evening, but did not return to the Hague till the Third in the Afternoon. This renew'd the Diſcourſes of Peace in the Army, which had very much fallen ſince the 20th of Auguſt, till this Journey of My Lord's. There happen'd very little Extraordinary in this Camp to ſpeak of after this, till the Concluſion of the Peace and the Separating of the Armies on both ſides; this obliges me to leave the Prince's Army, and ſee what was doing towards Flanders.

Notwithſtanding that the French had laid aſide the Thoughts of Beſieging Audenarde, which of it ſelf would have been a Doubtful Siege, conſidering the great Armies the Allies had at preſent, with the Reaſons I have ſpoken of before, and the continuing of the Negociations at Ryſwick, and that therefore the Marechal of Bouflers had left Grammont and the Neighbourhood of the Scheld, to go and incamp at Soignies, yet they ſeem'd to have ſome Deſign on foot for the Marechal of Catinat's Army which was now ſhut up behind the Lys, where it ſubſiſted at the Expence of the Pays-Conquis; but if reinforc'd, could march towards the Elector's Army, and oblige him either to accept of a Battle, or elſe to retire into the Retrenchments of Bruges, and leave all the Country without the Canals for the Conveniency of the French, there to ſubſiſt without being Burdenſome to their own Frontier: For which Deſign ſeveral Pontoons were ſent from Tournay to the Lys for the uſe of this Army, and Lieutenant General Montrevel march'd on the 21th with the Body under his Command from Helchin upon the Scheld to reinforce the Marechal of Catinat upon the Lys, and four Battallions of the King's Regiment, and two of Stouppa, were ſent from Villeroy's Army to incamp at Helchin in Montrevel's place under the Command of Monſteur de Surville Major General, and were follow'd the 23d by the Queens Dragoons, and thoſe of Ste Hermine and Davaray: The ſame day the Marechal of Catinat, being joyn'd by Montrevel, paſs'd the Lys about Menin, and the Horſe at Courtray, and came to incamp at Becelar and Dadyzeel about half way between Courtray and Ipres. The 24th, he went with a ſtrong Eſcorte to reconoitre the Country about Rouſſelar Camp, which had been left by the Elector's Army ſome days before, and ſee what Forrage was to be had thereabouts for his Army; or to viſit the Ways for a March towards Torhout, in caſe the Elector was reſolv'd to maintain his Ground there.

Upon the firſt News of Catinat's paſſing the Lys, the Elector, who was at Bruges ſince the 19th, went back the 23d to put himſelf at the Head of his Army at Torhout, and concert with his Generals what was to be done upon it; immediately after his Arrival a Council of War was call'd, and it was reſolv'd to leave the Camp of Toxhout if the Marechal of Catinat advanc'd as for as Rouſſelar; for Catinat being joyn'd by Montrevel and La Mothe, would be near 60 Battallions ſtrong, but the Elector had not above Thirty; and if Fagel's joyning had been ſufficient, yet it was not ſafe at preſent to have them from Newport; as for the Horſe and Dragoons on both ſides they were pretty near equal: But where to go from Torhout, the Generals were divided upon this Point, ſome were for going to incamp between Ghiſtel and Oudenbourg along the Canal of Newport, where the Army could ſtill ſhare the Forrage of the Country with the French, and ſpare the Free of Bruges with the reſt of the Country behind the Canals, from ſubſiſting of it with dry Forrage; others were of opinion to march directly into the Retrenchment of St. André before Bruget to cover this place; that it was better to put the Country behind the Canals to ſome Expence, than Bruges ſhould be in danger, and if the Elector march'd to Oudenbourg, Catinat would certainly come to Torhout, and endeavour to cut him off from getting within the Retrenchment of St. André: The firſt of theſe Advices ſeem'd to be pitch'd upon for the preſent, and to prevent Confuſion in the March, and execute this Deſign with more Eaſe and Expedition, it was reſolv'd to ſend all the Artillery and heavy Baggage before-hand in the Retrenchment of St. André, from whence it could come and joyn the Army at Oudenbourg and Ghiſtel, or the Army would follow the Artillery if it march'd to Bruges. The ſame day a Detachment was made out of the Army to go and repair the Ways towards Bruges, for the March of the Artillery and heavy Baggage, and towards Oxdonbourg for that of the Army, which Work was finiſh'd by the next Morning. The 24th, all the Artillery and heavy Baggage was ſent to the Retrenchment of St. André, under the Convoy of the two Battallions of Dona and La Mothe, and a French Party attack'd it in a long Defilé between Torhout and the Chateau of Malſtapel, in which caſe 'tis very difficult to cover a whole Line of the Baggage and Artillery of an Army; the Party being in Ambuſcade, took the Opportunity to fall upon it where it was weakly guarded, and rifled the Baggage of three Regiments of Foot, and carried away their Horſes. The 26th, Monſieur Ivoy Quarter-Maſter General, and all the Quarter-Maſters of the Army, were ſent to mark a Camp between Ghiſtel and Oudenbourg for the next day; the Elector's Quarter was appointed at Ghiſtel upon the Right, and the Prince of Naſſau-Saarbruck's at Oudenbourg upon the Loſt; but in the Night they receiv'd Orders to go immediately and mark the Camp within the Retrenchment of St. André before Bruges, for the Elector had receiv'd an Account this Evening that Catinat was marching to Rouſſelar, in order to come and attack him; whilſt a Body of Villeroy's Army which had been detach'd under the Command of Monſieur de Surville to Countray, ſhould endeavour to cut off his March to Bruges; this made the Elector reſolve, without any farther Ballancing, to go and ſecure the Retrenchment of St. André with his Army, upon which this Order was ſent to the Quarter-Maſters at Oudenbourg; and the Army began to march at Ten of the Clock this Night, and got the next Morning within the Retrenchments before Bruges, not without ſome Confuſion and Diſorder; though it prov'd afterwards but a falſe Alarm, for Catinat was not yet ſtir'd from Becelar; however, 'tis true that Surville was come to Courtray with the ſix Battallions and two Regiments of Dragoons above mentioned, doubtleſs upon ſome Deſign: This Retrenchment had been repair'd lately with no Alteration but the taking in of the Abbey of St. André, and Gazoon'd (that is fac'd with Turf) both within and without, and was now in a very good Condition; the Elector took his Quarter during this Camp at Schipſtal, the Landing place from Oſtend to Bruges, and the Prince of Naſſau's was mark'd at the Abbey of St. André.

The 29th, the Marechal of Catinat's Army advanc'd from Becelar and came to incamp at Rouſſelar, with the Right here and Left about Hooghleede, but the Marechal himſelf went this day to Courtray to meet with the Marechal of Villeroy, who had come there to conferr with him: but it is probable that the Elector's March had broke their Meaſures, for Villeroy return'd to his Army the next day, and Monſieur de Surville was order'd back with the Body under his Command to Helchin. The 30th, in a general Forrage along the Scheld, the Marechal of Villeroy took occaſion to demoliſh an old Caſtle which the Spaniards had at Cavre upon that River, ſituated upon a little Mount in the middle of it, where they always kept a ſmall Garriſon of 30 or 40 Men detach'd from the Cittadel of Ghendt, but had now been reinforc'd upon Villeroy's March towards the Scheld, more to run upon Parties than for any Defence; and all the Spaniards were made Priſoners. The Marechal of Catinat, who had come back the 29th from Courtray to the Army, march'd upon the Left from Rouſſelar to Dixmuyde, and incamp'd with his Right at Hantſame near Cortemarck, and his Left at Eſene towards that Town, having the Brook of Hantſame before him and his head Quarter at Zarren, where at his coming up to this Camp, he was joyn'd by Monſieur de la Mothe with the Troops under his Command, which had incamp'd all this while about Furnes and Ipres, conſiſting of eleven or twelve Battallions, and ſome Squadrons of Horſe and Dragoons; ſo that the Marechal of Catinat was now reckon'd near 60 Battallions ſtrong, and about 80 Squadrons: But all the Waters having been let out at Newport, upon his March hither, the Water about this Camp was found too Brackiſh and Unwholſome, and therefore on the 31th; the Army paſs'd the Brook of Haniſame to come more towards Torhout and Wynendale, and incamp'd with the Left upon the Wood of Beeſt, the Right at Werckene, and the General Quarter at Waldeſloo.

The Elector of Bavaria having put Bruges under cover as well as his Army, by Incamping in the Retrenchment of St. André, took care at the ſame time for the Defence of the Canals and Newport, whereupon Lorne and Buchan's Regiments were order'd to guard the Canal of Newport, the firſt at Laffine and the ſecond at Snaeskirk, and Soutlandt's was order'd from the Neighbourhood of Bruges back to Major General Fagel at Lombarzyde; the Duke of Holſtein-Ploen's Dragoons and the Battallions of Harſolt, Marquet, Dona and La Mothe, were order'd, at the coming to St. André Camp, to go and poſt themſelves behind the Canal of Bruges, which, with the Regiments of Fagel and Reinardt already there, they were to guard all along to Ghendt. The 29th, His Highneſs went to Newport to ſee every thing thereabouts in a good Poſture of Defence, and at the ſame time order'd Major General Schlipenbach, with four Squadrons of Dutch Horſe, two of Bavarian Cuiraſſiers, and ſix of Brandenbourg, to march that way with ten or twelve pieces of Cannon; Brigadier Rantſaw was alſo ſent to incamp with the Battallions of Willekens, Rantſaw, Obergen, Schack and Weed, behind the Canal of Oſtend over againſt Plaſſendale; the Waters were let out at Newport to overflow all the Country about it towards Furnes and Dixmuyde, and a Garriſon was put into the Chateau of Ghiſtel; and the Elector, having given his Orders at Newport, came back the ſame day to the Camp at Schipſtall near Bruges: His Highneſs had been inform'd the day before, that the Barrier upon the Line of Furnes had now been ſhut up two or three days together, without ſuffering any Body either to go out or come in, which gave ſome Apprehenſion for Newport; but it was quickly known that it was for the Prince of Conti, who was come Poſt to Dunkirk, in order to imbark with his Retinue and about 1000 choſen Men and Volontiers, on Board of a ſmall Squadron of light Frigats, commanded by the Chevalier Bant, to Sail for Dant: zick, and endeavour to make good his Election to the Crown of Poland by the Cardinal Primate and his Party; which, ſince the Dyet at Warſaw, had again been ratified by the Party in a Rokoſz, or Confederation of the Party met at the Cardinal's Summons, which invited the Prince to come into Poland to take Poſſeſſion of the Crown, and protect his Friends; but this Expedition was made too late, when the Elector of Saxony was already Crown'd and had Poſſeſſion of the Government, which Conti's Party could not now deprive him of; and thus that Expedition fail'd, and the Prince of Conti, after having remain'd a great while on Ship board in the Road of Dantzick, was forc'd to come back without being able to attempt any thing.

The Third of September, the Elector, who had never been at Sea, went to Blankenberg (a little Borough inhabited by none but Fiſhermen Septemb. between Oſtend and Sluys) where he and his Retinue went on board of ſeveral Fiſhing-boats a little way out to Sea, to try the Temper of this Element; two or three Privateers were ſent out at the ſame time to guard the Coaſt, and the Elector had almoſt the Satisfaction of ſeeing a Sea Ingagement, for they were purſued back into Oſtena by ſome French Privateers, which oblig'd His Highneſs, after having been ſome few Hours at Sea, to come back to Blankenberg, and from thence return'd to the Camp. The Sixth, The Elector left the Army to go in Relays to Antwerp this day, where Prince Vandemont was to meet His Electoral Highneſs the day following from Bruſſels, and the Command of the Army in Flanders fell thereby to the Count d' Arco General of the Bavarians. The Seventh, Prince Vaudemont came accordingly from Bruſſels to wait upon the Elector at Antwerp, and conferr together upon the preſent State of Affairs; the Prince went back the ſame day to the Army at Bruſſels, but the Elector remain'd in that Town: The Term prefix'd by the late Memorial given in by the French drawing near, His Electoral Highneſs was more conveniently here, than in any other Town of his Juriſdiction, to ſend Expreſſes to or receive them from Don Bernardo de Quiros the firſt Plenipotentiary of Spain at the Congreſs of Ryſwick, who had receiv'd expreſs Orders from the Court of Spain alarm'd by the Loſs of Barcelona, to Sign then upon the Conditions offer'd by the French, Sign who will for the reſt; and (as 'twas reported) had had a Reprimand for not Signing the 20th of Auguſt, the Term given before in the Project; which was a Tune many Notes lower than at the beginning of theſe Negociations, when Spain as well as the Empire, were ſo unwilling to Treat upon the Foot of the Peace of Nimeguen. The Prince at his return to Bruſſels, began to review the Army, Brigade by Brigade, not ſo much to be ſati fied of the Strength of the Regiments, as to ſee them Exerciſe, there being little to do at preſent for them. The Ninth, Selwyn's Brigade poſted at Laacken exercis'd before him; and the Tenth, the half Brigade of Guards of the firſt Line continued the ſame Paſs-time. The 11th, The Prince being inform'd that the Marechal of Villeroy had advanc'd with his Army from Ste Marie Oudenhove nearer to Ghendt, and was come to incamp at St. Lievens-Houthem, order'd Selwyn's Brigade and the Regiments of Columbine and Granville of Fairfax's, to ſend for their Baggage-Horſes from Graſs, in order to march the next day, being deſign'd for a Reinforcement to the Brandenbourg Foot incamp'd at Heuſen for the Defence of the Scheld between Ghendt and Dendermonde; for if the Peace had not been Sign'd the over-night, of which there could be no News as yet in our Camp, it was expected that the War would begin again with more Vigour and Animoſity than ever; and that Villeroy thereupon might have endeavour'd either to Bombard Ghendt or paſs the Scheld. But it pleas'd God at length to put an end to a War which for nine Years together had Haraſs'd and ſeverely Chaſtis'd moſt Parts of Chriſtendom, and the Peace was Happily Sign'd the 10th at night between England, Spain and Holland on one part, and France on the other: The Spaniſh Plenipotentiaries Sign'd about Midnight, and after them thoſe of the States General, which being done, the French were now oblig'd according to the Preliminary Articles, to acknowledge His Majeſty for King of Great Britain, without any Reſtriction, Condition or Reſerve; our Plenipotentiaries were thereupon introduc'd by the Mediatour, and receiv'd by the French with all the Civility that was due to the Plenipotentiaries of the Crown of England; after which the Articles were Sign'd between England and France in the preſence of the Mediatour, and the Plenipotentiaries on both ſides embrac'd one another with all the Demonſtrations of Friendſhip, Eſteem, and an intire Reconciliation; and the Converſation ſoon fell upon the Panegyrick of the two Moſt Powerful Monarchs in Chriſtendom, whoſe great Actions muſt hereafter make the beſt part of the Hiſtory of theſe Times; the French eſpecially ſpoke of the great Veneration that all Brave French-men had for ſo Renown'd a Prince as King William the Third, and of the great Eſteem and Value the King their Maſter had for him.

As for the Imperialiſts, they ſtill ſtuck out and refus'd to Sign, alledging that they had not time enough given them to have Inſtructions from the Emperour and Empire about the Matters in Debate, and eſpecially one of ſuch Conſequence as the Diſmembring of Strasbourg from the Body of the Empire was, and inſiſted ſtill upon the full Reſtitution of Lorraine, without the Reſervation of Saar-Louis and Longwy to the French: After this ſecond Refuſal of the Emperour's Plenipotentiaries, thoſe of England, Spain and Holland Sign'd without them, according to the Inſtructions they had receiv'd; but a Separate Article was added at the end of every one of theſe three ſeveral Treaties, in which it was ſtipulated between the Mediatour, the Powers that had Sign'd and the French, that a farther time ſhould be allow'd to the Emperour and Empire till the 22th day of October incluſive, next enſuing, (being ſix Weeks time) to regulate the Affairs relating to the Empire; during which time all manner of Hoſtilities ſhould ceaſe between the Germans and the French; for the Performance whereof, the Powers that had Sign'd ingag'd themſelves as Guarrantees; but if by that time the Peace was not Sign'd between the Empire and France, that nevertheleſs the Treaty concluded at Ryſwick ſhould ſtand good, and the Powers that had Sign'd ſhould remain Neuter in the War between France and the Empire. I will not pretend to advance, that there was a Deſign in the refuſing to Sign by the Emperour's Plenipotentiaries, both the former Term and this; but this may be ſaid for Truth, that the refuſing to Sign the time before, put it out of the Empires Choice to take Strasbourg or the Equivalent; and their refuſing to Sign now, left them to Treat with the French among themſelves, which has brought in the Fourth Article of the Treaty for the Empire, ſo Prejudicial to the Proteſtant Religion in Germany, and Derogatory to the Treaty of Munſter in its behalf; which may be look'd upon as the Fundamental Conſtitution of the Empire, as 'tis now divided between the Proteſtant and the Romiſh Religion; which Article, 'tis very probable, would not have been ſo eaſily gain'd to the Prejudice of the Proteſtant Intereſt, if the Imperialiſts had acted and ſign'd in Conjunction with the reſt of the Allies: I need not give an account of the three ſeveral Treaties Sign'd at Ryſwick the Tenth, becauſe they are already Printed by themſelves, to which I ſhall referr the Reader; only I ſhall mention ſomething concerning Luxembourg and the Equivalent offer'd to Spain in lieu of it, namely, That the Equivalent offer'd by the French, being Maubeuge, Condé, Menin and Ipres, was much more Advantagious for the Spaniſh Dominions in the Low-Countries; becauſe it made them more united, and gave them a better and more defenſible Frontier, and for the ſame reaſon was ſo to England; but, the French reſtoring Lorrain, it was better for the Common Intereſt of Europe to have Luxembourg back again for a Communication between Lorrain, the Empire and the Low-Countries, for otherwiſe without it, the French might ſtill have over-aw'd the Empire upon the Lower-Rhine, and have had an In-let into Holland, for which reaſon Luxembourg has been preferr'd to the Equivalent; and the French, who to be ſure expected that it would be ſo, and therefore were aware of it, reſolv'd to retain Saar-Louis and Longwy to have ſtill a Bridle upon the Empire and Luxembourg; and alſo for a Defence to France it ſelf in caſe of ſuch another Alliance againſt it, as the laſt.

Immediately after the Signing of the Peace at Ryſwick the 10th or rather 11th of September, Expreſſes were diſpatch'd to all the Courts in Chriſtendom to give notice of it, and our Plenipotentiaries at the Hague thought it convenient to ſend one to Prince Vaudemont at Bruſſels who commanded all His Majeſty's Forces and Armies in Chief in the Low Countries; the Expreſs paſs'd by Antwerp at Nine of the Clock at Night, and Mr. Hill His Majeſty's Envoy at the Court of Bruſſels, who was then at his Pay-Office at Antwerp, had the firſt News of it before the Elector; about Twelve the Expreſs came to the Prince at the Camp, and the good News were all over the Army next Morning; our Expreſs was follow'd by two Spaniſh Couriers going to Madrid, the firſt with the News of the Signing, and the ſecond with the Treaty in due Form to be Ratified, who both receiv'd the Elector's Orders at Antwerp in their way: And as if Providence had deſign'd this to be mark'd for a Happy day in the Calender, the Elector receiv'd, ſoon after the paſſing of the firſt Spaniſh Courier, an Expreſs from the Emperour, with the News of the Great and Glorious Defeat which Prince Eugene of Savoy had given the Turks at Zanta near the Theyſſe in Hungary on the Firſt of September; which as it appears by the Accounts of it, was as compleat and entire a Victory as has been gain'd for many Ages; and ſo much the more Welcome, that it was gain'd in a time when Men were very apprehenſive for the Emperour's Affairs in Hungary, the Grand Seignior having a much more powerful Army; with which he had already driven the Imperialiſts from Titul, and was now paſſing the Theyſſe, to march towards Peter-Waradin; when, his Army being imprudently divided by the River, either for want of Boats to make ſeveral Bridges, or Conduct, Prince Eugene attack'd that part which had paſs'd under the Command of the Grand Viſier, and gave it an entire Rout, and in the Purſuit over the Bridge (which occaſion'd the loſs of moſt of the Infidels) put that part, which was commanded by the Grand Seignior on the other ſide, into no leſs Confuſion and Diſorder. The Elector having receiv'd this joyful News by the Expreſs, diſpatch'd immediately the Count de Milan to the Electrice and Prince Vaudemont at Bruſſels, with the Letter he had receiv'd from the Emperour upon this occaſion: Several People wiſh'd that this Victory had happen'd a little ſooner for the ſake of the Allies, who (if the Turks had been brought to make a Peace, which would have been much more Honourable than what they at preſent can expect) could then have given the Law in the Congreſs of Ryſwick, and oblig'd the French to much greater Reſtitutions, or elſe have carried on a War that muſt have been Fatal to them; but the French Court has known ſo well how to manage the Turks upon this Point, in all the Misfortunes they have had for theſe ſeven or eight Years laſt paſt, that there was no more reaſon to expect the Turks would ſeek for a Peace after this Defeat, than after that of Salankement, or the Loſſes of Guyla and Great-Waradin.

The 12th in the Evening, the Elector follow'd the good News and came to Bruſſels, and the next day he ſent the Marquis d'Ʋſiés, a Serjeant General de Battaille in the Spaniſh Troops to the Marechal of Villeroy, and Baron Simeoni to the Marechal of Bouflers, to give them an account of the Signing of the Peace on the Tenth at Night, and to know what Orders they had from the French Court about their Armies between this and the Ratification, which was to be made within three Weeks after; Count Monaſterol was ſent at the ſame time by Count d'Arco from the Army near Bruges to the Marechal of Catinat upon the ſame account; they were receiv'd with great Civilities in the French Camps, and nobly entertain'd, but return'd with this Anſwer, That no Orders were yet come from Court to them upon the Signing of the Peace, but that as ſoon as they did receive any, they would give an account of it to His Electoral Highneſs, thereby to regulate Affairs on both ſides accordingly. The 14th, all the Artillery was drawn out before the Camp upon the Height uear the Wind mill of Ganſhoren, and all the Army drew out in the Evening to fire three Volleys for the great Victory obtain'd over the Turks by Prince Eugene of Savoy, but it fell a Raining very hard, and all the Troops were diſmiſs'd to their Tents, and the Artillery commanded back to its former Poſt; which, may be, was not the true Reaſon, but rather it was not thought convenient to have any publick Rejoycing about it, the Peace being Sign'd between England and France; which made England to have no Intereſt in the Emperour's Affairs that way; For I do not remember that there were any publick Rejoycings in England for the raiſing the Siege of Vienna in King Charles the Second's Reign, or even for the taking of Buda in King James's, though a Popiſh Prince: But Te Deum was Sung this Evening in the Elector's Chappel, and all the Cannon fir'd thrice round the Ramparts of Bruſſels, with abundance of Illuminations and Fire-works; and Count d'Arco the Bavarian General, who commanded at preſent the Army of Flanders in Chief, had Te Deum Sung in his Quarter by the Chaplains of the Spaniſh and Bavarian Troops, and the Army and Artillery being drawn out, fir'd three rounds for this Victory. The 17th, Prince Vaudemont left the Camp to go and wait upon His Majeſty at Loo, not only to regulate the Marching of the Engliſh Troops out of the Country, but chiefly to Thank His Majeſty for the great Honours he had receiv'd in commanding of his Armies in Flanders the three laſt Campagnes, and to paſs as much time as he could with the King before His Majeſty went for England, now that the parting would be for ſome time, the Prince being appointed by the King of Spain for Governour of Milan in the Room of the Marquis de Leganés; where we may expect from ſo Brave and Wiſe a Prince, that he will manage Affairs ſo as to conſerve the Peace and Repoſe of Italy, and contribate thereby to maintain that of Chriſtendom in General. The Prince being now gone to Loo, the Duke of Wirtemberg became in courſe General in Chief of the Army near Bruſſels.

The 19th, the Marechal of Bouflers ſent Monſieur de Pracontal a Merechal de Camp or Major General of his Army, to the Elector of Bavaria at Bruſſels, to give His Highneſs an account, that the French King had ſent Orders for his Armies to retire forthwith out of the King of Spain's Territories in that Country, and ceaſe all farther Acts of Hoſtility againſt His Catholick Majeſty's Subjects, or any others belonging to the Powers which had Sign'd the Peace on the 10th inſtant; whereupon an Order was publiſh'd by Beat of Drum in the Armies on both ſides to publiſh the Signing of the Peace at Ryſwick, and prevent all manner of Hoſtilities hereafter upon pain of Death; and all Parties were immediately after drawn off, and commanded back to their reſpective Regiments or Garriſons, and the Countrey left free and open for an intercourſe and Commerce between the Subjects on both ſides in purſuance of an order to this purpoſe proclaim'd in all the Towns of the French and Spaniſh Frontiers.

On the 20th. the Three French Armies commanded by the Marechals of Villeroy, Bouſlers and Catinat, march'd out of the King of Spains Territories to retire into the Pays Conquis, in purſuance of the Orders they receiv'd from the King their Maſter, yet ſo as to ſubſiſt in the Country which they were to reſtore by the Treaty, and ſpare their own: The Marechal of Villeroy came to incamp juſt without the Scheld in the Chatellenie of Ath to Forrage the Countrey between this place, and Mons and Tournay; the Marechal of Bouſlers left Soignies to paſs the Sambre and ſubſiſt between Beaumont and Charleroy, and the Marechal of Catinat repaſs'd the Lys to come into the Chatellenie of Courtray with the beſt part of his Army to demoliſh the Line (this place and Chatellenie being to be reſtor'd to the King of Spain by vertue of the Treaty) and the reſt march'd into the Lines of Ipres. The Marquis de Harcourt had been commanded back, juſt before the Signing of the Treaty, towards the Moſelle and the Rhine, to reinforce the Marechal of Choiſeul; for the Germans had at laſt paſt the Rhine, and the main of the Army commanded by Prince Lewis of Baden was come to incamp at Creutznach between the Electorate of Treves and the Palatinate of the Rhine, whilſt the reſt beſieg'd the Town and Caſtle of Eberenbourg belonging to the Elector of Treves, which the French had poſſeſs'd themſelves of ſince the beginning of the War: Prince Lewis of Baden was carrying on of this Siege at the time of the Signing of the Treaty, and the Marechal of Choiſeul was not in a condition to attempt the relief of it, which oblig'd the Marquis de Harcourt to march back towards Montroyal and endeavour jointly with the Marechal of Choiſeul to raiſe that Siege; for which purpoſe, immediately after the retiring of the French Armies out of the Spaniſh Dominions in the Low Countrey's, great detachments, eſpecially of Horſe, were ſent to follow the Marquis of Harcourt, and no leſs than 150 Squadrons were then commanded that way; which was done, not onely in order to force the Germans to raiſe the Siege they were ingag'd in, but likewiſe to ſend them to ſubſiſt between the Meuſe and the Rhine, where the Peace was not yet concluded, and ſpare their own Frontier by that means; but Harcourt could not come time enough to joyn the Marechal of Choiſeul and relieve Eberenbourg, nor could the beſieged hold out long enough to prevent the loſs of the place by the Ceſſation of Arms agreed upon at Ryswick between France and the Empire; for they were forc'd to capitulate but a day or two before the order came to ceaſe all acts of Hoſtility on both ſides, upon the Six Weeks Truce made at Ryſwick between the Germans and the French: This ſhews very plainly that if the Germans had been as early in their Motions this Campagne, as the Allies were in the Low Countreys, they would have made the French pay dear for the Siege of Ath or elſe would have prevented it; and if they had not paſt the Rhine ſo late, not onely Eberenbourg but Kirne muſt have fallen into their hands; by which means they could have eſtabliſh'd themſelves good Winter Quarters on this ſide of the Rhine in the Electorate of Treves and the Palatinate; which would have been of vaſt conſequence towards a vigorous proſecution of the War, in caſe the Congreſs at Ryſwick had broke up without concluding of a Treaty; or the Imperialiſts would at leaſt have had ſome reaſon to back the pretenſions they inſiſted upon ſo much in theſe Negotiations, which have conſiderably deferr'd the General Peace: But the ſlowneſs of the Germans, where their Operations depend from ſo many Princes and States of different Intereſts, and having often private grudges among themſelves, and no common and General Magazines for an early taking of the Field, will always be an obſtacle to any thing that is Brisk and Vigorous in a Confederate War; and the French for this reaſon will ever be before-hand with them in the Field, which is of very great moment in the operations of a Campagne; and we have ſeen, but the laſt Summer, the Marechal of Choiſeul ſubſiſt a conſiderable while between the Rhine and the Neckre, with an Army that did not dare ſhew its face, when the Germans had once taken the Field.

After the taking of Eberenbourg by Prince Lewis of Baden, the Marquis de Harcourt who was marching that way to reinforce the Marechal of Choiſeul, turn'd with his Army into the Countrey of Liege beyond the Meuſe; which, being a dependance of the Empire the French thought they could very juſtly put their Troops to ſubſiſt there and eaſe their own Frontier, whilſt the Peace was not Sign'd as yet between France and Germany; and accordingly they crouded as many Troops, eſpecially Horſe and Dragoons, as they could thereabouts, and likewiſe in the Dutchy of Luxembourg, which was to be reſtor'd to Spain by the Treaty. As ſoon as the French had retreated with their Armies out of the King of Spain's Territories in Flanders, to get into their own Conqueſts, and that a Ceſſation of all manner of Hoſtilities was thereupon publiſh'd, and a Free Trade and intercourſe between the Frontiers on both ſides proclaim'd, the Elector of Bavaria left Bruſſells and went to Loo to ſee His Majeſty, and partake of the Divertiſements which the Countrey thereabouts afforded in this Hunting Seaſon, and at the ſame time to conferr with the King about the marching of the Allies Troops out of the Spaniſh Netherlands, and retaining a certain number of the States Forces to keep Garriſon in the Frontier Towns of that Countrey, as they were to be after the Ratification and Execution of the Treaty of Rvſwick; as Luxembourg, Namur, Charleroy, Mons, Ath, Audenarde, Courtray and Newport, which the Spaniards were too weak to Garriſon themſelves; Four and Twenty Battallions of the States Forces were agreed upon for this Service, which, with the Seven Battallions of Bavarians, and the few Troops of Spaniards, Walloons and Italians in this Country, were thought ſufficient to Garriſon the Frontier Towns in time of Peace.

In the mean while, till the Ratification of the Treaty, the Armies on our ſide continued incamp'd as before; the Infantry of the Brabant Army at Cockelberg; the Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons at Wavre under General Auerquerque; the Dutch, with Tiffin's, Belcaſtel's and Oxenſtern's Brigades of Foot, at Judoigne, under the command of the Earl of Athlone; and our Flanders Army in the Retrenchments of Bruges; where it was commanded by the Count d'Arco, till the coming back of the Prince of Naſſau-Sarbruck from the Baths of Aix la Chappelle, which was on the 23d, when he arriv'd at Bruges, and took his Quarter (as it had been mark'd at the coming of the Army to this ground) in the Abbey of St. André. The 25th, all the Bavarian Cuiraſſiers and Dragoons left the Camp to march towards the Rhine and Winter in Bavaria, being deſign'd for the Emperors Service in Hungary the next Campagne; but the Foot march'd into the Spaniſh Guelderland to Quarter in that Countrey till the evacuation of Luxembourg, where they were appointed by the Elector to Garriſon in this and other places of that Dutchy, as La Roche and Arlon, and went this day by water from Bruges to Ghendt; Count d'Arco left the Camp at the ſame time and went to Bruſſells with all the Spaniſh Court and Generals. The 27th. all the Brandenbourg Cavalry and Dragoons left the ſame Camp to go and joyn General Heyden and the Brandenbourg Foot in the Pays de Waes in order to march from thence towards the Meuſe and the lower Rhine. The 29th the Prince of Naſſau's Adjutant General came from Loo with the Patents for the March of all the States Troops in Flanders to go and Garriſon, ſome in the States Brabant and Flanders, and others to go from the Sas of Ghendt by Water into Holland, Guelderland, Zutphen, Friſeland, &c. but 15 or 16 Battallions of them were order'd to continue in Flanders under the command of Major General Lindeboom being to enter in the King of Spain's Service for the Garriſon of the Spaniſh Frontiers in that Countrey towards France.

On the Firſt of October being the time ſpecified by the Treaties October. Sign'd at Ryſwick the 10th of September between England, Spain and Holland on one part, and France on the other, the ſaid Treaty was Ratified and Exchang'd in due form between France and Holland; that of England under the Broad Seal could not come over time enough by reaſon of the contrary Winds, and therefore was ratified under the Kings Signet in the Interim, and the Inſtruments were to remain in the hands of the Mediatour; but the Ratification under the Broad Seal coming over that very day, the Treaties between England and France were exchang'd ſome few days after: As for the Ratification of the Spaniſh Treaty from Madrid, it could not come time enough, but the French were ſatisfied to ſtay for it, which was not long. After this, the Marechals of Villeroy and Catinat went to Court, and the French Armies in the Netherlands were diſtributed into Quarters, only the Marechal of Bouflers remain'd in his Government at Liſle ſome time after, to forward the Evacuation of thoſe Towns which were to be reſtor'd by the French to the King of Spain. The Confederate Armies in this Countrey begun to ſeparate at the ſame time; all the Troops we had receiv'd this Campagne from the Rhine march'd off the firſt, to go back into Germany, and the Infantry incamp'd at Cockelberg decamp'd Brigade by Brigade; the Engliſh went all into Flanders there to be in a readineſs to imbark, and were quarter'd in Ghendt, Bruges, Newport and Oſtend, which, for this reaſon, were at the beginning more crowded with Troops than ever: The Engliſh and Dutch Guards came to Oſtend in order to imbark the firſt for England, and all the Foot were to go there on Board of ſuch Men of War as ſhould be appointed to carry them over: All the Engliſh Horſe and Dragoons left Wavre after the Ratification, and were ſent to Quarters, the firſt to Ghendt and the 2d to Bruges, in order to march from thence to Willemſtadt one after another, as Tranſport Ships could be got ready to bring them into England; and the Life-Guards, being the firſt to go over, march'd directly to this place. The Dutch Infantry incamp'd at Cockelberg ſeparated to go into Quarters in the Frontiers of Holland, as Maeſtricht, Boisleduc, Breda and Bergen-op-Zoom, except 7 or 8 Battallions, which, with thoſe of the Flanders Army above-mention'd, were to go into Spaniſh Garriſons. The Danes were Quarter'd at Dendermonde, Aloſt and Ninove, where they remain'd till their accounts were made up, and clear'd out of His Majeſty's Service, in order to march from thence overland by the Meuſe and the Rhine and ſo through Germany into Denmark. The four Battallions of Hanover in the Flanders Army left the Camp near Bruges on the 5th, and were to be joyn'd in their march by the Regiments of Wolfembuttle Guards and Hering then in Garriſon at Audenarde to go into their own Countrey; and thoſe of Naſſau and Brandenbourg out of the Brabant Army, and Willekens out of that of Flanders, which had been upon Engliſh pay all this War, march'd into Holland and were taken back in the States Service. All the Dutch Troops began to break up at the ſame time on all ſides, the Cavalry under the command of Lieutenant General Opdam march'd towards Ghendt on the outſide of the Canal in order to march into the States Dominions. The Engliſh and Dutch Guards and ſome other Engliſh Battallions came down the Canal in Bilanders the 6th from Ghendt to Bruges; and the 7th all the Dutch Foot that was to march to Garriſon in the Frontiers of Holland were ſent to Ghendt by Water in the ſame Bilanders that brought the Engliſh to Bruges, being the Regiment of Naſſau Walloon to go to Boiſleduc, Marquet and Willekens to Heuſden and Bommel, Naſſau-Friſeland conſiſting of two Battallions, were to imbark at the Sas of Ghendt, to be carried by Water through Holland and over the Zuyder Sea to Leewarden, &c. Keppel (being the Regiment which lately was Lieutenant General Tettau's) was to go to Zutphen, the two Battallions of Cappol and one of Lochman, and the Regiment of young Holſtein to Maeſtricht, and that of Fagel to the Grave. The 9th, the Prince of Naſſau Saarbruck went to Holland, and left the Command of the Forces remaining about Bruges to Major General Lindeboom, or in his abſence to the Duke of Holſtein-Norbourg, conſiſting of 17 Battallions which were all to enter into the King of Spain's Service, except two or three that were to Quarter in the Holland-Flanders, as Sluys, the Sas of Ghendt, Hulſt and the Fort of Lillo; of theſe 17 Battallions, Four were incamp'd at Plaſſendale being thoſe of Weed, Rantſaw, Obergen and Schack; Four at Newport, viz. Soutlandt, St. Amand, Beyma and Swansbeck; Six in the Retrenchments of Bruges, being the Regiments of Lindeboom, Holſtein-Norbourg, Dedem, the two Battallions of Swerin and that of Carles, and Three more incamp'd behind the Canal of Bruges, viz. the Regiments of Harſolt, Dona and La Mothe: All theſe Regiments were ſoon after diſpers'd to Cantoon up and down in the Neighbourhood of the Towns that were to be reſtor'd by the French, in order to Garriſon there, except thoſe two or three Regiments which were to Quarter in the Holland Flanders. My Lord of Athlone's Camp at Judoigne was the laſt to break up, either to ſubſiſt the Dutch Cavalry upon the Countrey hereabouts as long as was poſſible, or elſe to provide for the ſecurity of the Meuſe, whilſt Harcourt was on the other ſide with a conſiderable Army to Forrage the Pays de Liege; and did not go into Quarters, but between the middle and latter end of October, when Tiffin's and Belcaſtel's Brigades were order'd to march into Flanders to quarter in Ghendt and Bruges with the reſt of our Engliſh Forces.

The Elector continued all this while with His Majeſty at Loo and Dieren ſometimes at the one and ſometimes at the other, where among their Divertiſements they ſettled the Routes and Marches of the Allies out of the Spaniſh Netherlands, and his Highneſs did not come back to Bruſſells, till the 13th of October, by which time all the Confederate Forces had clear'd the Countrey, except His Majeſties National Troops which were to paſs over into England, Scotland or Ireland, with as much expedition as the Seaſon would permit; and the Danes, which did not begin their March homewards till the November following. But the King ſtill remain'd ſometimes at Loo and ſometimes at Dieren; where His Majeſty had paſs'd the time in Hunting and ſuch other Countrey Divertiſements, from his firſt leaving of the Army to this time, except two or three dayes that His Majeſty went to Soeſtdyke, to have an Interview with the Czar of Muſcovy at Ʋtrecht, which was on the firſt of September; His Majeſty coming to the Czars Lodgings was firſt Harangu'd by the Muſcovite Embaſſy, to expreſs the great Eſteem and Value their Maſter had for his Perſon, and how much he admir d the great reputation of his Government; the fame whereof had fill'd all Ruſſia and Muſcovy, and had brought the powerful Monarch of thoſe vaſt Countreys to viſit a Prince ſo renown'd for his undaunted Valour and Courage joyn'd with a moſt profound and conſummated Prudence! and who has gone through ſo many Dangers and expos'd himſelf to the greateſt hazards for the Defence and Liberties of all Europe, which none but himſelf could keep and ſecure from becoming a Prey to an overgrown formidable Power! And to convince the King that all theſe Proteſtations of the Czars Eſteem and Admiration of ſo great a Monarch, were no formal Complements, they acquainted His Majeſty that the Czar their Maſter was in the next Room himſelf, having come ſo far out of his Dominions to aſſure His Majeſty of it in Perſon: After which they introduc'd the King into the Czar's Chamber, where they were together above an Hour, His Majeſty being attended by the Earls of Albemarle and Jerſey, and Three or Four more Perſons of Quality; but the Czar who Travell'd Incognito in the Retinue of his own Embaſſy could not accept of the Invitation to dine with the King, but went back after the Interview to Amſterdam.

The Czar had contriv'd this way of Travelling in the Train of his own Embaſſy as a private Perſon, on purpoſe to ſee England and Holland, the moſt flouriſhing and wealthy Countreys in the World, and the moſt famous for Trade and Navigation; being very deſirous to improve his own Subjects that way, eſpecially now, that being Maſter of Afoff upon the Mouth of the Tanais he had a very good Harbour open to the Black Sea, by which, if he could gain any Strength on thoſe Seas, he may not onely increaſe very much the Trade and Wealth of Muſcovy, but cut himſelf a way at the ſame time to the Greek Empire, and become Maſter of Conſtantinople. Theſe are thoughts worthy of ſo great a Prince, and to put himſelf thereupon in the beſt way of compaſſing ſuch great ends, he came with his Embaſſy to the Baltick Shore about the beginning of the laſt Summer where he imbark'd to come to Coningsberg the Capital City of the Ducal Pruſſia, belonging to the Elector of Brandenbourg; where his Electoral Highneſs was then with all his Court, to be near Warſaw during the time of the Election for the Crown of Poland. The Czar and his Embaſſy were nobly entertain'd here, and purſued their Travels over-land afterwards through Pruſſia, Pomerania, Brandenbourg, Weſtphalia, &c. to come to the Rhine, and Embark there for Holland; and after a conſiderable ſtay in Amſterdam, the greateſt Town for Trade and Navigation in the World, unleſs this mighty Character be moſt deſervedly due to London, his Czariſh Majeſty is at length come himſelf privately to England, to ſee our Shipping and Docks, where the moſt ſtately, curious and perfect Models for Building of Ships in the World are to be ſeen; and to inſtruct himſelf in Navigation and Maritime Affairs, now that he has the Sea open to him, in a milder Climate than Archangel, whereby he may at once make his Subjects conſiderable for their Trade, and become a Terrour to the Turkiſh Empire, which may one day be ſubdued by his power on the Black Seas; and Viſit the greateſt and the moſt wealthy City in Chriſtendom and Imperial Seat of a Great Monarch, who has all the Power which the Purſes of the wealthieſt Nations of the World can afford without any Arts of Tyranny, Oppreſſion or Arbitrarineſs to have them; who has had Vaſt Fleets at Sea and Numerous Armies in the Field, and the People not oppreſs'd by thoſe heavy Burdens which always attend an Abſolute Power, and without which even Arbitrary Power it ſelf can never be great; and who Rules the moſt Flouriſhing States in the Univerſe ſo happily and with ſuch Juſtice, Equity, Gentleneſs and Wiſdom, that notwithſtanding the vaſt difference of Governments, one may find in the Commonwealth all the duty and reſpect of Subjects without any derogation to its Liberties; and in the Monarchy, all the Liberty of a Free People conſiſtent with the Fealty and Allegiance due to a Sovereign. Theſe are Maſter peices of Government altogether peculiar to our great Monarch, and which (were there no other reaſon) muſt raiſe his Name above all Princes that have Reign'd before him. This Voyage of the Czar's to Holland & England will make ſo conſiderable a Figure in Hiſtory hereafter, that I could not well paſs it over, without omitting one of the Chieſeſt Ornaments of this Account. After this Interview the King went back to Loo where the D of Holſtein Gottorp came to wait upon His Majeſty, and the Prince Vaudemont from Bruſſells, being follow'd about a Week after by the Elector of Bavaria: But notwithſtanding that the Three Treaties Sign'd on the 10th of September were Ratified and Exchang'd, and that the Peace had been proclaim'd upon it, firſt at the Hague, then at Paris the 13th of October, and at London the 19th following, yet the King was reſolv'd not to come to the Hague till the Imperialiſts and the French had made an end of the Treaty depending between them, and therefore ſtill kept at Loo and Diercn, where Prince Vaudemont remain'd after the Elector's going back for Bruſſels; and His Majeſty named here his Excellency the Earl of Portland for his Ambaſſadour Extraordinary to go to the Court of France.

The 22th of October being the Term allow'd in the Separate Article of the 10th of September, the Peace was Sign'd between the Empire and France, according to the Project given by the French Ambaſſadours, and the Memorial of the 21th of Auguſt; and by it the French quitted to the Empire all Briſgow and Alſatia on the Right ſide of the Rhine, with the Towns of Briſach and Fribourg, the Fort of Kehl oppoſite to Strasbourg, and the Town of Philipsbourg, all on the ſame ſide of the Rhine, together with the Territories belonging to the Electorate of Treves, and the Palatinate on the left ſide of the Rhine; and oblig'd themſelves farther, to demoliſh all the Forts they had upon that River on the right ſide of it; and moreover Montroyal and Traerbach upon the Moſelle, after which they were to be reſtor'd to the Elector of Treves, together with the Town of Treves in the Condition it was then: They likewiſe ingag'd to reſtore the Dutchy of Lorrain and Barre in the Condition wherein Charles the Fourth enjoy'd it in the Year 1670, only they reſerv'd to themſelves the Town of Saar-Lonis, with a diſtrict of half a League about it, and the Town and Provoſtſhip of Longwy upon the Frontier of Lorrain towards Luxembourg; for which Towns the French promis'd to give an Equivalent of the ſame Extent and Value in one of the three Biſhopricks, as it ſhould be agreed upon between Commiſſioners appointed by the French King and the Duke of Lorrain for that purpoſe; and farther, to give back the Dutchy of Deux-Ponts to the King of Sweden, the County of Mont-belliard to the Dukes of Wirtemberg, with all the Mannors and Feudſhips belonging to the ſaid Family in the Dutchy of Burgundy and Franche-Comte; the Towns and Biſhopricks of Wormes and Spire, the firſt to the Grand Maſter of the Teutonick Order, and the latter to the Archbiſhop of Treves: And the Elector Palatine re-entering in the Poſſeſſion of all his Territories and Revenues on both ſides of the Rhine by this Treaty, according as they were reſtor'd at the Peace of Weſtphalia, the Emperour and the French King were nam'd to be Arbitrators of the Dutcheſs of Orleans's Pretenſions, in which if they did not agree, that then the Pope ſhould decide that Matter according to the Laws and Conſtitutions of the Empire; and in the mean while that the Elector Palatine ſhould allow the Dutcheſs of Orleans a Yearly Penſion of 200000 Livers French Money. Laſtly, The French promis'd to deliver up the Town and Caſtle of Dinant to the Elector of Cologne as Biſhop of Liege, in the Condition they were at the taking of them before the Treaty of Nimeguen. And in Conſideration of the Equivalent given by the French, the Emperour and Empire conſented that Strasbourg ſhould be diſmembred for ever from the Empire, and annex'd to the Moſt Chriſtian King's Dominions, with a Sovereign Property and Juriſdiction over it; that the Bridge of Philipsbourg ſhould be broke down, and the Fort, which covers it on the left ſide of the Rhine, demoliſh'd; that the new Town of Briſach on the ſame ſide of the Rhine ſhould be diſmantled, and that hereafter the Rhine ſhould be the common Barriere in Alſatia between France and the Empire, ſo that France ſhould have no Forts upon the Rhine nor right ſide of it, nor the Empire upon the left: And, as a common Article, that this Treaty ſhould be Ratified by the Empire and the French King, within ſix Weeks after, But there was a Clauſe in the Fourth Article, whereby the Roman Catholick Religion was to be maintain'd in all the Places reſtor'd by the French, in the Condition and State it was at the Signing of it, which created very hot Conteſtations between the Proteſtant and Bopiſh Deputies of the Empire, as being expreſly contrary to the Treaty of Weſtphalia; this made all the Proteſtant Deputies, and the Mediatour himſelf, as Deputy for the Dutchy of Deux-Ronts in the King of Sweden's Name, refuſe to Sign it as Derogatory to the Treaty of Weſtphalia; except the Deputies of the Houſe of Wirtemberg, and of the Imperial Town of Franckfort: There was not the leaſt mention made of this Clauſe in the General Project given in by the French, nor in their new Memorial of the 20th of Auguſt; but England and Holland having Sign'd before without the Empire, or rather the 10th of September ſeeming to have been laps'd on purpoſe to bring this about, the French, and Popiſh Members of the Empire, took hold of ſuch an Opportunity, to gain Ground upon the Proteſtants in Germany.

The Treaty being Sign'd between the Empire and France, and conſequently a General Peace eſtabliſh'd among all the Parties concern'd, the King came then to the Hague on the 29th, attended by the Prince of Vaudemont, where his Princeſs came to wait upon His Majeſty to Complement him upon the Peace, and take her leave before her parting for Italy with the Prince her Husband, who were lodg'd together in the Oud Hoff, one of the King's Palaces at the Hague. All the Plenipotentiary Ambaſſadours and Forreign Miniſters went to Complement the King upon his Arrival and the Concluſion of the Peace, and among them the three French Plenipotentiaries came there the next day in a Body, by the French King's order, and had an Audience in Form as his Ambaſſadours Extraordinary, to make the firſt Complement to His Majeſty.

The Fourth of November (being the King's Birth day) was kept at the Hague with a great deal of Solemnity, the Court was throng'd Nov. with Forreign Miniſters upon this occaſion, and the French Plenipotentiaries eſpecially made their Complement to His Majeſty upon his Birth-day; and in the Evening a Magnificent Ball was given by the Prince and Princeſs of Vaudemont at the Oud Hoff. After this the King waited only for a fair Wind to bring him over to England, and went ſome few days after to Oranje-Polder to imbark, but the Wind coming about contrary, His Majeſty went back to the Hague: At laſt the Wind coming fair, the King imbark'd at Oranje Polder the 13th in the Morning, and happily arriv'd at Margate on Sunday the 14th of November between Ten and Eleven in the Morning, and went to lay that Night at Canterbury: The 15th, His Majeſty came to Greenwich, in order to make his Publick Entry the next day in the City of London, where His Majeſty was then receiv'd with all the Solemnity and Magnificence that Loyalty and Affection accompanied with an Univerſal Joy could be capable of, to ſee His Majeſty return Safe to his Kingdom after ſo many Fatigues and Dangers, ſo many Campagnes and Voyages, Battles and Sieges, with the Olivebranch of a Happy and Honourable Peace in his Hand; and the Lord-Mayor and Citizens of London had made it their particular Requeſt to receive His Majeſty publickly, to expreſs thereby their Affection, Duty and Gratitude upon ſuch an Occaſion, in a manner ſuitable to the Wealth and Grandeur of that Famous and Renowned City; in the Particulars, of which Magnificent Reception, 'tis not my Buſineſs to enter at preſent, as belonging properly to the Hiſtory of England: I ſhall only add, that His Majeſty receiv'd afterwards Congratulatory Addreſſes from all Parts of his Dominions for his ſafe Return, after having Happily terminated a moſt Obſtinate and Expenſive War; carried on for ſo many Years by our late Enemies, chiefly and on purpoſe to bereave him of a Throne he fills with ſo much Fame and Renown; and to deprive us of his moſt Juſt and Equitable Government, and of what has a neceſſary Dependence upon it (all that can be Dear and Precious to a People) our Religion, Laws, Priviledges and Liberties. Theſe are Exploits which require the utmoſt Gratitude of all True Patriots and Lovers of their Religion and Country, which can do no leſs than expreſs it ſelf in hearty Prayers to the King of Kings, that he would Bleſs His Majeſty with a Long, Happy and Proſperous Reign over us, as a Juſt Reward of ſo many Glorious Atchievements for our Safety and Preſervation.

All this while the French were not yet ready to Evacuate any of the Places they were oblig'd to reſtore to the King of Spain by the late Treaty of Ryſwick; being firſt, by vertue of it, to carry away all their own Artillery, Ammunitions, Proviſions and Stores, and leave behind them the Artillery and quantity of Stores they found in theſe places at the taking of them: 'Tis true, the Evacuating of theſe Towns requir'd ſome time upon this account, but 'tis very probable that the French delay'd the fulfilling of this Article purpoſely, till they ſaw what Succeſs the Treaty they had Sign'd on the 22th of October with the Empire, ſhould have at Ratisbone, where 'twas likely to meet with a conſiderable Oppoſition from the Proteſtant Princes in the Ratification; for if the Treaty, inſtead of being Ratified there, had been declar'd Illegal and Derogatory to the Treaty of Weſtphalia, and to the Articles provided therein in behalf of the Proteſtant Religion, it would not have been very convenient for the French King's Affairs, that Luxembourg, and other places to be reſtor'd by the Treaty of the Tenth of September, ſhould be in the King of Spain's hands.

The Plenipotentiaries of the Proteſtant Princes having refus'd to Sign the Treaty between the Empire and France on the 22th of October, had ſtill ſome Conferences with thoſe of France to find a temper for the fourth Article, ſo as they might Sign joyntly with the reſt of the Empire, but they were all to no purpoſe: England and Holland had bor'n the Burden of a long and very Expenſive War, and their Trade and Commerce (the very Springs of all their Wealth) had been conſiderably impaird, and therefore were not able to meddle at preſent in that Affair, and vindicate the Intereſt of the Proteſtant Religion in Germany, againſt theſe Incroachments upon it ſo contrary to the Weſtphalian Treaty; ſo that the Proteſtant Princes wanting Power, for this Reaſon, to maintain and carry on their Oppoſition againſt the Treaty lately concluded between the Empire and France, the Ratification was Sign'd in the Imperial Dyet at Ratisbone, without any Alteration to the Fourth Article, by which the Popiſh Religion is to continue in ſeveral Towns and Places of the Palatinate, according as it was Eſtabliſh'd by the French King whilſt in his Poſſeſſion; where before the War were none but Proteſtant Churches, to the great Oppreſſion of the Proteſtants, and the Violation of the Treaty of Munſter in their behalf; and France has gain'd this Advantage over the Empire, as to Sow the Seeds of ſuch Diviſions in this Treaty between the Proteſtant and Popiſh States, as may in time be very Fatal to Germany, and increaſe very much the Greatneſs and Power of the Moſt-Chriſtian Kings, which for ſeveral Years laſt paſt, has been found ſo Prejudicial to the Peace and Quiet of Europe.

The Treaty between France and the Empire being Ratified within the Term prefix'd in the Articles, it was thereupon exchang'd at Ryſwick the beginning of December, and the French having ſecur'd this Point, reſtor'd, immediately after, the Towns of Mons, Ath, Charleroy and Courtray in the Low-Countries, and Barcelona, Gironne, Roſes and Belver in Catalonia to the Spaniards; but they did not quit the Dutchy of Luxembourg till the Month of January following, when la Roche and Arlon, little Fortreſſes upon the Frontier towards the Pays de Liege, were deliver'd up to Spaniſh Garriſons on the 17th; and the 19th they took Poſſeſſion of the Town of Luxembourg, whereof the Count d'Autel General of the Palatine Troops had been appointed Governour by the King of Spain, through the Queen's Intereſt, being the Elector Palatine's Siſter.

By this time all or moſt of His Majeſty's National Forces, Horſe and Foot, had left Flanders, and were paſs'd the Seas and got over into England, Scotland or Ireland, except ſix Scots Regiments of Foot, which the States have taken into their Pay and Service; being thoſe of Lauder, Murray, Walter Collier, Ferguſon, Strathnaver and George Hamilton, and the three French Battallions of Refugies of la Meloniere, Belcaſtel and Marton, My Lord Gallway's Horſe, and the Marquis de Mirmont's Dragoons which are ſtill kept in His Majeſty's Service in Flanders: And the French were then working to demoliſh the Works on the Rhine and elſewhere, which are to be Raz'd by the Treaty, and to evacuate thoſe which they are to reſtore to the Empire; but as yet have not perform'd it, however we need not doubt but they will, and News are daily expected of their having begun with Philipsbourg and deliver'd it up to an Imperial Garriſon; but theſe Affairs do not come directly within the compaſs of this Hiſtory, and therefore I need not ſpeak any more about them, leſt that ſhould ſwell this Account to too great a Bulk; which is long enough already, and longer than I would have made it, if it could have been done conveniently without omitting ſome Material Paſſages.

I have no more to add, but ſome few ſhort Reflexions upon the Peace lately agreed upon at Ryſwick, which brings this Hiſtory to a moſt happy Period, and to its wiſh'd for Concluſion; the Negociations whereof have been carried on with more Calmneſs, Tranquility and Expedition, than any General Treaty we can read of before, notwithſtanding ſeveral Occaſions, which have offer'd themſelves ſeaſonably enough to take hold of them, thereby to diſturb or prolong this great Work. We have ſeen the King of Sweden, Charles the Eleventh, (who by his Mediation had ſo wiſely manag'd Affairs, as to bring the Plenipotentiaries of the ſeveral Princes and States ingag'd in the War, together, in order to open their Conferences) April 5. 1697. dye, as 'twere, upon the very Threſhold of the Congreſs, and yet the Treaty not delay'd at all by ſo Fatal an Accident: The Regency under his Succeſſor Charles the Twelfth, who was then a Minor, carried on the Mediation without any Intermiſſion, by diſpatching new full Powers to the Swediſh Miniſter at the Hague, and both the Allies and France receiv'd it without any Wrangling or Heſitation; which, as on the one hand it redounded very much to the Glory and Honour of the Crown of Sweden, ſo on the other, it demonſtrated plainly the Sincerity of the moſt Powerful Parties concern'd in the War, and that they deſir'd in earneſt the Peace and Quiet of their own Dominions, and the General Repoſe of Chriſtendom. We have ſeen France gain conſiderable Advantages over the Allies, both in Land and Sea Expeditions the laſt Campagne, and yet not ſtand upon much higher Terms for it in the Treaty, unleſs it was the keeping of Strasbourg and the giving an Equivalent for it; which, if duly conſider'd, was as much for the Advantage of the Empire, as Strasbourg was for that of France; for Strasbourg, an Imperial Town, would have made but a very weak Barriere to the Empire, but as it is now, that the Empire has the Fort of Kehl oppoſite to Strasbourg, and all the Forts and ſtrong Places on the right ſide of the Rhine, it ſeems to be in a better Condition to hinder the French from paſſing of the Rhine, than in the State 'twas left by the Treaty of Nimeguen: And indeed 'twas well for the Peace and Quiet of Europe, that thoſe met with moſt Succeſs the laſt Campagne, who wanted Peace the moſt; elſe a General Peace could not have been negociated with ſo much Expedition, and ſo few Difficulties to overcome: And for this reaſon we find no Loſers in the Treaty, but it ſeems at once Advantagious for all the Parties concern'd.

Spain has reduc'd the French, by its ſtrict Union with the Allies more than by any Efforts of its own, within the Bounds and Limits of the precedent Treaty, notwithſtanding that the French were Maſters of the whole Dutchy of Luxembourg before the War; whereas before, in all the precedent Treaties ſince that of Vervins, the Spaniards were always giving up conſiderable Towns and Provinces to France, and eſpecially in thoſe of the Pyrenees, Aix la Chappelle and Nimeguen. The Empire has a much ſtronger Frontier by this Treaty than by that of Nimeguen, conſidering the better Conditions given at preſent to the Duke of Lorraine, and that France has quitted all the Country, Towns and ſtrong places it had on the other ſide of the Rhine before, by vertue of the Weſtphalian Treaty and that of Nimeguen; and although the Empire has quitted Strasbourg and deliver'd it up to the French, in lieu of Briſach, Fribourg and all that France had beyond the Rhine, yet having the Fort of Kehl by vertue of this Treaty, on the oppoſite ſide of the Rhine to Strasbourg, it will always be a Curb and a Bridle upon the French, and will hinder them from Subſiſting beyond the Rhine with an Army, as long as this Place is in the hands of an Imperial Garriſon; which Strasbourg of it ſelf could not have done, if it had been reſtor'd to the Empire in the Condition wherein 'twas taken by the French.

The States General have plainly gain'd their Cauſe about the Electorate of Cologne, which was one of the Articles upon which France declar'd War againſt Holland, and by regaining with it the Dutchy of Luxembourg to Spain in the late Treaty, they have remov'd the French altogether from their Frontier, eſpecially from the Rhine, whereby they made that Fatal Irruption upon them in the Year 1672. They have likewiſe Parried a Mortal Stroke to their Religion, Commerce and Liberties, by the Happy and Miraculous Turn of Affairs in England juſt at the beginning of the Wars, which in a great Meaſure was due to their Aſſiſtance; and their Liberty laying upon the ſame Stake with ours, and the Proteſtant Intereſt all over Chriſtendom, but eſpecially in the United Provinces being imbark'd upon the ſame Bottom with the Fate of the Church of England, we may ſay that they have been, together with us, deliver'd from Popery and Slavery.

As for the Advantages of France in this Peace, notwithſtanding that it has loſt all Footing in Italy by the Separate Treaty with Savoy, by giving back Pignerol after a Poſſeſſion of above Sixty Years, to obtain it; that Lorrain is reſtor'd upon much better Terms for that Duke and the Empire, than thoſe agreed upon in the Treaty of Nimeguen; and notwithſtanding the great and prodigious Expences to which the French King has been oblig'd, to carry on ſo long and tedious a War, which in truth he began himſelf, againſt ſo many Confederates, and yet that he is ſtill reduc'd to the Bounds and Limits of the precedent Peace; which for this reaſon looks like ſo much Blood ſhed, and Treaſure ſpent to no purpoſe; that Cazal has been taken by the Allies, Lorrain and Dinant reſtor'd, both which were in his Poſſeſſion even at the Treaty of Nimeguen; and Luxembourg given back to the Spaniards, all which Places were in the hands of the French before the beginning of the War; and that he has been oblig'd to evacnate all the Towns and Fortreſſes he has taken ſince, at the Expence of ſo much Blood and Money; and all the Country he was Maſter of beyond the Rhine, in Exchange for Strasbourg: Yet it muſt be own'd that the French King has manag'd the whole War with abundance of Art and Wiſdom; that he has gain'd very great Advantages over the Allies; that he has brought them to make a Peace upon his own Terms, and extricated himſelf very gloriouſly thereby out of all the Difficulties which a Powerful Confederacy had brought his Kingdom to, not ſo much by the Vigour of their Efforts as by the Neceſſity of his own Affairs, the Conſequence of a Burdenſome and Expenſive War carried on by himſelf againſt ſo many Potent Enemies, which had reduc'd moſt of the Provinces of France to an Univerſal Poverty and Miſery; and at laſt he remains Maſter of Strasbourg in Alſatia, Longwy and Saar-Louis in Lorrain, much more to his Advantage than the Equivalents he gives, being thereby in a Condition to hinder Lorrain (though reſtor'd) from being troubleſome to France, and ſtill to keep the Rhine and the Empire in awe; and has Power enough left by it, to be ſtill formidable to the reſt of Europe, and to diſturb the Peace and Quiet of Chriſtendom as ſoon as his Coffers are repleniſh'd; unleſs his Adherence to the Publick Faith and Sacredneſs of Treaties, conſtrains him more than the Apprehenſion of the Power and Greatneſs of any of his Neighbours.

Yet notwithſtanding theſe Advantages on both ſides in the Treaty of Ryſwick, it is certain that both France and the Allies are fallen very ſhort of their Expectations in the laſt War; France propos'd to it ſelf at leaſt to have chang'd the Twenty Years Truce into a perpetual Treaty, in purſuance of the repeated Inſtances made by the French Ambaſſadour at the Dyet of Ratisbone for that purpoſe; and nothing in the World could have prevented, not only this, but even the Ruin of the Proteſtant Religion every where, and with it the Truckling of the Empire, the Spaniſh and United Netherlands, to the Power of France, ſave the Happy Wonderful and Sudden Revolution in England, when, in all Humane Probability, His Majeſty's Expedition with ſo conſiderable a Body of the States Forces in that Kingdom, muſt have created ſuch Civil Wars, as would have been rather Subſervient to carry on the great Deſigns of France, inſtead of hindering them; which I think is a ſufficient Argument to convince any Man, unleſs he is byaſs'd by his Paſſions, Prejudices and Intereſt, that it was the doing of that over-ruling Providence, who, as the Pſalmiſt tells us, Pſal. 33. Maketh the Devices of the People to be of none effect, and caſteth out the Counſels of Princes. As for the Allies, they had ſufficiently felt the Effects of that Great Power which the French had come to by the Treaty of Nimeguen; and whilſt the Court of England was ingag'd in the Intereſts of France, that turn'd the Scale ſo much, that there could be no reſiſtance for them: But that powerful Kingdom having been ſo happily and ſuddenly drawn out of the Intereſts of France, or rather deliver'd out of its Power, by the late Revolution in the Government, and brought over by it to the ſide of the Allies (in whoſe Cauſe, the Religion, Laws, Priviledges and Liberties of that Kingdom were ſo nearly concern'd as the Liberties of Europe were reciprocally involv'd in the Deſtiny of that Nation) ſo the Allies conceiv'd very great Hopes thereupon of reducing France to much lower Conditions than the Treaty of Nimeguen, and of hindering it hereafter from diſturbing ſo often the Peace and Quiet of Chriſtendom. But ſeveral Accidents have ſtop'd the Progreſs of the Allies Affairs thus far; the firſt has been the War of Ireland, which hinder'd England from bending the Force of its Arms againſt France at the beginning, to imploy them for the three firſt Campagnes to recover a Kingdom which ſo undoubtedly belongs to it, and in which it was certainly the Intereſt of the French to maintain the War as long as poſſibly they could; not to mention the perſidious Malice of a Party of Men and unnatural Patriots, we have at Home, which has weaken'd our Efforts very much, and clogg'd the Progreſs of our Affairs, ſo as to make them often drive heavy: The ſecond has been the Over-ſight of the Imperial Court, in not making a Peace with the Grand Seignior after the Siege of Belgrade, as the Turks ſo earneſtly ſollicited it at that time: And the third, The Obſtinacy of the Turks, ſo prejudicial at laſt to their true Intereſt, in carrying on ſo unſucceſsful a War in Hungary; when by the neceſſity of the Emperour's Affairs, whilſt ingag'd in a War againſt France, they could have made a very Advantageous Peace for themſelves; which they ought to have done chiefly, when they found that, notwithſtanding the great Diverſion they expected from the French upon the Rhine, the Imperialiſts could give them an intire Rout at Salankement, and take in the Campagnes following Guyla and Great-Waradin from them; for which ill Policy they find at preſent but too much reaſon to repent, when they ſee themſelves left in the Lurch, and to deal with a Powerful Confederacy; which, now that there is a General Peace in Chriſtendom, can bend all its Forces againſt a weaken'd and drooping Empire.

The firſt of theſe Obſtacles being at length happily ſurmounted by the Reduction of Ireland, France contriv'd an Invaſion in the Year 1692. to make us look to our own defence at home inſtead of increaſing the ſtrength of the Allies abroad, by which though it miſcarried in the main, yet it gain'd the Town of Namur: And the defeat of Landen in 1693 having ſhew'd the neceſſity there was for England and the States to augment conſiderably their Land Forces, the Scale begun to turn the Campagne following, and the weight of England appear'd very conſiderable in the Ballance chiefly in the Campagne of 1695 by the Glorious Recovery of Namur; which, if it be true that France offer'd to treat upon the Foot of Nimeguen before, upon the Iſſue of the Campagne of 1694, ſufficiently juſtified the Conduct of the Allies in the rejecting of it, when the French loſt Cazal in Italy at the ſame time: And there is a great deal of reaſon to think that the carrying of the War by the Allies thereafter would have been attended with many other Glorious Advantages and very Fatal to the French, had it not been for the Duke of Savoy's deſerting of the Common Intereſt, in the Campagne of 1696; and (what was, may be, in ſome meaſure the Cauſe of it) the Money difficulties which happen'd in England at that time and oblig'd us to Reform our Coin, which had been Clipp'd and Debas'd almoſt to nothing; ſo that it could bear no Price abroad, but muſt have hinder'd our Armies at laſt from Subſiſting in Flander's, and drawn the loſs of the Spaniſh Netherlands after it without a ſpeedy Remedy: And as we could not carry on the War nor indeed our Trade without Reforming our Coin, ſo France expected we ſhould be reduc'd to ſuch Extremities in the doing of it, as might have put a People together by the Ears that is not us'd to want, which would have made it worth its while to continue a War, in which it would once more have had a fair Chance to ſubdue the League and Compaſs its great Deſignes by the Ruine of England. This may be reckon'd the true Cauſe both of the inaction and weakneſs of the Allies for the two laſt Campagnes, and of the continuing of the War then by the French King; But though our Money difficulty's occaſion'd in a great meaſure this prolonging of the War by the French, yet our overcoming of them ſo happily and in ſo little a time, (which demonſtrated the vaſt and unexpected Wealth of a Nation they reckon'd altogether impoveriſh'd, and which was repreſented as ſuch by our Domeſtick Enemies) has made amends for it in opening the Eyes of our late Enemies, and letting them ſee that the Continuation of the War would Ruin France before it could Beggar England; which has contributed very much to facilitate and bring about that Univerſal Peace which Chriſtendom now Enjoys. And though the Allies have fallen ſhort of their Expectations in the War, and that France ſtill continues in the main upon the Foot of the Treaty of Nimeguen, yet England having ſo ſucceſsfully rcover'd its Liberties and maintain'd and vindicated the Liberties of all Europe at the ſame time, it is thereby in a Condition to ballance Affairs enough to keep France quiet and to make it obſerve the Terms of the laſt Treaty, unleſs it would run the Risk of an Alliance which, hereafter, would be more fatal to it than ever.

My laſt Reflexion ſhall be about the Advantages which England has gain'd by the preſent Peace. As for the King, he has rais'd an Eternal Monument of Fame and Glory to himſelf by it, in bringing of a War (in which he had already gain'd an Endleſs Renown in expoſing his Perſon ſo freely to all the Dangers and Fatigues of it every Campagne) to ſo happy a Period, in ſpight of all the difficulties which ſeem'd rather to intail it upon himſelf and his Dominions; in ſteering all along ſo juſtly and nicely among all the different Parties, Nations, Religions and Intereſts that made up the Body of the Allies, as to bring them to joyn and Center together in effecting his Peaceable and quiet Settlement upon the Throne of theſe Realms, even, notwithſtanding too many ill Succeſſes in the Courſe of the War both for his and their Affairs; and by this Union among the Chief Powers of the League ſo ſtrictly carried on, and ſo happily manag'd (of which the French themſelves when Enemies, gave the Father la Rue his Funeral Oration upon the Marechal of Luxembourg. Applauſe to our Great Prince) to compaſs an Honourable Peace for his Allies as well as for himſelf. But the Glory of Kings does not alwayes make the Happineſs of Subjects, this would not amount to ſo much for us, if the welfare of England was not joyn'd with it; and here it is that we muſt take a view of the Advantages which England reaps at preſent by that Peace it owes to the Wiſdom and Valour of our Good and Gracious as well as Great Sovereign; in which caſe it would be enough to ſay that England has gain'd its cauſe by it, and compaſs'd the great and noble deſign, it did chiefly aim at in the War, of recovering under. His Majeſty's Government, its Rights, Priviledges and Liberties, which had been ſo notoriouſly violated before; and of ſecuring thereby the Proteſtant Religion not onely amongſt us but in the reſt of Chriſtendom, which was then in ſo manifeſt and apparent a danger by the violent Irruptions of a Popiſh Government; ſo as for the future we might intail both our Religion and Liberties to Poſterity upon a ſurer and more ſolid Foundation then they could have, when in the reach of Tyranny and Arbitrary Power: But over and above (which indeed is but a neceſſary conſequence of the former) England is again re inſtated in its prerogative of holding the Ballance of Europe, and keeping a due aequilibrium among the contending Powers of Chriſtendom, as it is its true intereſt; for Popery nor Arbitrary Power can hardly be introduc'd amongſt us but by a pernicious Adherence or rather Servility to one ſide or t'other, to render it formidable thereby to the reſt of the World, by this means to compaſs ſuch Tyrannical deſigns under the ſhelter of it; and I think we have had but too much experience already to vouch for the Truth of this Aſſertion.

And as England has ſo gloriouſly recover'd itſelf, and is reinſtated in the Umpireſhip of the Affairs of Europe, by gaining of our Cauſe in the happy Concluſion of a War in which we were ſo neceſſarily ingag'd, ſo conſequently is it in our Power to make the preſent Peace Solid, Laſting and Durable; for neither ſide will think it their advantage to be troubleſome whilſt a powerful Umpire is reſolv'd to maintain the Ballance of Affairs. Whilſt England is in this Condition, it is in its true Poſture, and as it ſhould be; but in order to keep and maintain our ſelves in it, theſe two things ſeem to be abſolutely neceſſary: The firſt is a Careful regard to the State of Affairs abroad, not to look upon them with an indifferency becauſe we are in an Iſland happily divided from the reſt of the World, which frees us from a great many of its Commotions and Diſturbances; but whenever this point of the Umpireſhip (in which our own Safety as well as Glory is ſo nearly concern'd) lies at Stake, then to ingage heartily and freely for the Liberty of Europe; for otherwiſe we muſt at length become a Prey our ſelves, or be involv'd in a War at laſt which will then coſt us more Millions, than in taking things at the beginning it would have coſt us Hundred Thouſands of Pounds; for the Truth of which I need but appeal to the vaſt Expences of the late War: The Second is Peace and Unity among our ſelves; for, beſides, that this Umpireſhip of the Affairs of Chriſtendom wholly depends upon it, which will always ſhelter us from Enemies abroad at the ſame time that it makes us great in the World, it is the onely bottom that the preſent Government, and with it our Religion, Priviledges and Liberties can ſtand upon; for their Fate is at preſent inſeparable, and I may boldly venture to ſay, that as Affairs are now in Europe, if our (unhappy Diviſions ſhould work to that height as to produce a Change, (which God forbid) no Revolution can happen in England from the preſent Government, but for Popery and Tyranny, without a very great Miracle to prevent it; which is a Risk no wiſe Proteſtant can expoſe the Common Intereſt of all that call themſelves Reformed to: And therefore whatever Deſignes too many people amongſt us may directly propoſe to themſelves in carrying off of Factions and Diviſions to work a Change of Affairs either in Church or State to their own Advantage, of what ſide ſoever they may be yet in effect they onely work for their own Deſtruction, and muſt of Courſe be involv'd in the Ruines of that very Fabrick which they endeavour to pull down, and thus open the only remaining Inlet to Popery and Slavery: And I pray God that all that call themſelves Proteſtants may lay theſe things ſeriouſly to their Hearts, that ſo our own Diviſions may not one day effect what all the Power of France prompted and incouraged by the Treacherous and baſe Contrivances of an Unnatural Party of Men at home, has not been able to perform, and to this End may the God of Peace guide our judgements in all things, and endow our Hearts with a healing Chriſtian Charity among our ſelves (which is the onely Bond of Peace) ſo that, though we cannot bring Matters to an exact Uniformity of Sentiments in Matters of Religion, yet thereby we may at leaſt be hinder'd from biting and devouring one another, which cannot end otherwiſe but in a Common Ruin, and united in the Methods of a mutual defence, as we have at preſent, more than over, an Unity of Intereſt againſt the Common Adverſary.

FINIS.