THE City of Mentz by the Latins called Ma­gontiacum, said to have been Built by Moguntius, the Son of Hector, the Son of Priam, King of Troy, is the seat of an Archbishop, who is one of the Principal Electors of the German Empe­rour, b [...]ing the Place where Printing was first invented, and [Page 4]is Scituated four Leagues distant from Francfort, where the Main falls into the Rhin; fortified with a Citadel, and adorned with a fair Academy. This City, having for some months groned under the Tiranny of the French Conquests, the Duke of Lorraine being numerously assisted by the Princes in Con­federacy against the common Enemy of Europe, resolved to wrest out of the hands of the French King and restore it to it's former Imperial Freedom.

To this purpose the Duke of Lorraine, upon the 29 of May departed from Francfort, and took up his Head Quarters at Hockheim, about a German mile from Mentz; and the next day went with four hundered Horse to observe the Place, advancing within Cannon shot of the Fort of Cassel which is over against Mentz; tho the French at the same time fired a great many shot, one of which killed two Men very near the Duke's Person.

The 31 of May ten Imperial Regiments, five of Horse and five of foot, encamped between Wisbaden and Morback, His Highness having his Quarters near to Costheim. The Troops of Hesse were quartered from Hocheim as far as the Rhine; and the Forces of Wolfenbuttel were marched to Wisbaden; and the Munsterian Troops, to the number of 5000 Men lay encamped at Ratingen within two German miles of Keiserswert. And in a short time after the Fort of Cassel, lying on the o­ther side of the River, over against Mentz, was taken by the Imperialists.

This done the Duke of Lorraine returned to Francfort in Expectation of the Elector of Saxonie, and the Landgrave of Hesse; there being already come to that Place the Dukes of Saxen Gothen, and Saxen Coburgh, the Bishop of Wirtsbergh, and the Generals Souches, Commercy, Lippe, and Fleming.

Toward the latter end of June Keyserwaert was Besieged [Page 5]by the Elector of Brandenburgh, and upon the finishing his Batteries and their beginning to play into the Town, was surrendered upon Composition. From hence the Elector of Brandenburgh marched forward and invested Bonne, while the Prince of Waldeck, and the Prince of Vaudemont watched the Motions of the French under the Marshal d'Humieres, who had suffered much by a great Tempest, attended with such violent Rains and Floods, that he lost a great part of his Baggage, and several of his Men, himself also with some difficulty escaping being drowned. Other detachements there were of the Confederates which were ordered to have an Eye upon the Duke of Duras, who was forming an Army and lay not far from Philipsbourgh.

The French being thus secured from doing much Mischief to the Besiegers of Mentz, the Imperial Army encamped be­tween Creutsnach and Altzey, about six leagues from Mentz, and there made a Halt till they had made themselves Masters of the Castle of Eberburgh, which they attacked upon the sixteenth of June with their Cannon and Mortars; the Castle being advantagiously scituated, and of difficult Access, and lately fortified by the French with additional out-works.

At the same time Letters were intercepted from Monsieur Louvois to the Marquiss d'Ʋxelles, Governour of Mentz, to let him know that the French King had sent the Arriere-Ban to the Coasts, and that by reason of some disappointments, he was not to expect very powerfull Succours, for that there was every where too great Occasion for his Forces, in regard the Enemy had never been so numerous in the Feild be­fore.

And now all things being ready, and the Methods of pro­ceeding being concerted between the two Princes; the Duke Lorraine advanced with the Imperial Army within two German [Page 6]miles of Mentz, having sent four thousand Croats before, who posted themselves near the Town; upon whom the French Horse in the Garrison made a Sally, but perceiving their Strength, immediately retreated again. The same day the Electour of Saxony with seven thousand of his Foot passed the Rhine in Boats, and joyned the Imperial Army, having sent his Horse to Gernsheime, in ordet to pass the Ri­ver there upon a Bridge of Boats. The forces of Hess and some Saxon Regiments, to the number of eight or 10000 Men, were posted on this side the Rhine, where they had raised se­veral Batteries at Costheim and Cassel, from whence they very much annoyed the Besieged with their Bombs and great shot. But the Confederates resolving to make quick work, upon the eighteenth of July began to work at their Lines of Circumval­lation, to which purpose they summond in three thousand Peasants from the Country adjoinning. And all the care ima­ginable was taken to supply the Besiegers with Ammunition and Provision by Water from Frankfort.

The Lines of Circumvallations and Platforms for the Batte­ries being thus compleated, upon the twenty second in the Evening they opened their Trenches without any disturbance from the Enemy, who were in a little disorder that night oc­casioned by the Bombs which the Hassians shot into the Town from their Battery on the other side of the Rhine, and which set several Houses on sire. The next morning by break of day some of the Horse came out of the Garrison to disturb the Workmen; but were quickly beaten in again. They had also placed several Feild Peices all along upon the Counters­carpe, from which they fired upon the Besiegers Workmen; by one shot from whence the young Prince Frederick of New­burgh was unfortunately slain; and indeed the Enemy often shewed themselves in small Parties, but retired again.

The 24th. the Saxons posted themselves in the Monastery of the Carthusians, and then it was that the Besiegers finished their Lines of Communication.

The next day the Imperialists removed their Bridge of Boats up higher towards the Mill, and secur'd it with a Re­doubt; and by this time they had finished two Batteries, the one of 15, the other of 25 pieces of Canon.

At the same time the Elector of Bavaria joyn'd the Impe­rialists, and all the Saxons were posted on this side the Rhine: And upon the 27th. at night, the Besieged play'd ve­ry smartly from the Town, so that there were 10 of the Be­siegers kill'd and 30 wounded. All this while in order to a general Assault, two Attacks were carry'd on; one upon the left hand by the Imperialists and Lunenburghers, and another on the right hand by the Saxons and Bavarians: In the mean time General Dunwald, was ordered to march with a body of 8000 Horse to observe the D. of Duras, who lay encamp'd with the Forces under his Command near Newstadt.

Upon the 29th. of July, the Sieur Damas de Courmaellon, who had serv'd in the Bavarian Troops in Hungary, was seiz'd as he was endeavouring to get alone into the Town. The next night the Lunenburghers relieved the Trenches, and ad­vanced two Lines upon the Right and Left, and finished the Redoubts, the places of Arms and other Works, with the loss of 5 Souldiers kill'd and 7 wounded; among which M. General du Mont was wounded in the Hand.

Upon the 29th. 3000 Imperialists and 1000 Hassiens, relie­ved the Trenches, and finished the Lines upon the Right and Left; and withal began to raise a Redoubt to cover their Bat­terries, with the loss of 3 Men kill'd, and 4 wounded.

Upon the 30th. the Imperialists mounted the Trenches, and advanc'd them considerably; and the Bavarian and Sazons [Page 8]carried on their Works at the other Attack, with no less Vi­gour and Success; insomuch that the same night they made two Assaults upon the French, who were posted in a Garden near the Town; but the Enemy still maintained their ground.

Upon the last of July at night, the Besieged made a Sally with 1500 Men, and falling upon the Hassiens, at first put them to some disorder; but being seconded by the next Guard, the Enemy was forc'd to retire with loss.

Upon the 1st. of August, Three persons enter'd the Besiegers Camp on Horseback, and got before they were well perceiv'd, into the Enemies Guard of Dragoons, which was a little ad­vanced from the Town. It was afterwards understood that they were the Marquis of Barbasieres, who was to com­mand the Garrison, the Marquiss d'uxelles being said to be sick, the Marquiss of Crequi and another French Officer.

The 2d, 3d, and 4th. of August, the Besigers continued advancing their Trenches, and finishing their Batteries, with all the Success they could desire; considering that the Enemy ply'd them very hard both with great and small Shot; by means of which extraordinary toyl of the Besiegers, they were got within Fourscore paces of the Glacis: And the Saxons had made themselves Masters of the Garden before mentioned.

At the same time also a German Engineer who had serv'd the French, with another person made their escape out of the Garrison; and gave the D. of Loraine a particular Account of the condition of the place, and particularly of their Mines. Du­ring these Progresses of the Besiegers, the grand Master of the Teutonic Order and the Prince of Savoy, were slightly wound­ed.

On the other side the Duke of Duras, in hopes to make some Diversion, cross'd the Rhine with 1500 Men; and having taken a small place upon the Nechar by Assault, put all the [Page 9]Inhabitants to the Sword; after which he advanced toward Heidelbergh, where he began to raise a Battery against the Town: But the Regiment of Wirtembergh, commanded by the Count of Oltinghen, getting in opportunely into the place, the French were repulsed in the Attack which they made upon the Town; with the loss of between 3 and 400 Men: So that the D. of Durass being also informed, That Count Serini with the Bavarian Forces, and General Dunwald with another great Body were upon their March towards him, he drew off, and returned towards Philipsburgh; burning Seven or Eight Villages in his Retreat.

On the 10th. of August, the Redoubt against the Counter­scarp on the side of the Imperialists Attack was finished, and the Bavarians and Saxons at the same time advanced their Trenches toward the Garden of Scadians: That night there were about 20 Men kill'd and wounded on both Attacks. On the other side the Imperialists had continued playing into the Town with a Battery of 25 pieces of Canon; which had al­most ruin'd two Bastions: And the next day they began two new Batteries more, the one of 7, the other 10 Guns. The next morning the Besieged made a Sally with 400 Men upon the Saxons, and possess'd themselves of a Redoubt, which the Besiegers were casting up at the end of the Trenches; where they began to intrench themselves: But Major General Reus, who commanded in the Trenches, hastning to the Assistance of the advanced Guards, the French were beaten back into the Town in great Confusion; having lost the Officer that com­manded them, and a considerable number of their Men: On the Besiegers side Major General Reus was wounded, and Col­lonel Schevenitzan who dy'd afterwards of his Wounds; with several other Officers, with many common Souldiers were slain: Which however did not discourage the D. of Lorain, [Page 10]nor the Electors of Bauaria and Saxony, from being every night in the Trenches.

The 12th. of August the Besiegers advanced their Trenches very considerably, which nevertheless cost them the loss of one of their best Engineers, who was kill'd that night, and another wounded; and they also loft a Lieutenant and 18 common Souldiers: The same day news was brought to the Camp, That the Count de Rabatin, who had been detach'd from the Body of the Bavarian Forces commanded by Count Serini, to observe the motion of the French, had defeated 800 of their Horse, kill'd about 100, and taken threescore Prisoners. The same day also several Deserters came into the Camp from the French Army and one from the Town; who inform'd the Duke, That the Garnison had sustain'd considerable losses, since the beginning of the Siege; but that the Governour was re­solv'd to defend the place to the last.

The next night the Imperialists rais'd a new Battery of 4 pieces of Cannon, and the Saxons planted their Mortars against the Town.

The 14th. the Elector of Bavaria went to view the Lines of Circumvallation, and that Evening received advice, That the two Battalions of his Troops that were posted at Bruchsall, after they had withstood several Assaults, were constrain'd to surrender at discretion, and that together with the Inhabi­tants they were carryed away Prisoners to Strasburgh and o­ther Places; and that the French had burnt Bruchfall, Brach­tam, Dourlack, Ettingen, Heildesheim and Werngarton, and then march'd away towards Baden. Upon the 15th. the Elector of Saxony left the Camp, finding himself not well, and retired to Frankfort, After whose departure, the Be­sieged made a great sally, and at first somewhat disordered the Workmen, but at last were beaten back into the Town with [Page 11]the loss of Two hundred slain on their side, and Fifty of the Im­perialists, besides three Captains.

Within a night or two after, the French made three Sallies out of the Town, but were as often beaten back with great loss, and not without some damage to the Lunenburghers, who had then the Guard of the Trenches, of whom above One hundred were kill'd and wounded with several Officers; the Prince Hanover himself narrowly escaping, for that a Bullet pass'd through his Hat.

By the 24th. of August, on the side of the Lorrain attack, the Besiegers were advanc'd so near the place, that the Cannon from the Town did no longer annoy them. The Bavarians and Saxons were also advanced on their side to the very Glacis of the Counterscarp. But their great Battery could not be finished so soon, in regard the Engineers thought it convenient to make some Alterations in the first design of it; However a thousand Men who had voluntarily offered their Service, were continually at work upon it, for which his Electoral Highness promised them a good Reward.

Much about the same time three French Disserters made their escape out of the Town, by whose direction the Im­perialists discovered three Mines, out of which they took no less than fifty Barrels of Powder; all which could not be done but that some Men must drop every day: Among the rest on the Besiegers side the Counts d'Arco and Goli were wounded, and several others were kill'd and hurt.

Nor did it a little conduce to the benefit of the Besiegers that Marshal d'Humiers was so far from being able to suc­cour his Friends, that he was about this time reduc'd to a worse condition than before by the Forces, under the com­mand of the Prince de Waldeck. For upon the 25th, of August the Foragers of the Dutch Army being abroad by nine of the [Page 12]Clock in the Morning, discover'd from a Hill a great many Squadrons of French Horse being the Van of their Army which was upon its march, who discovering the Dutch Foragers, made up directly toward them. Now between the Dutch and them was a Valley and a Village, where some Squadrons of Dutch Horse and Dragoons, and Coll. Hodges with Six hundred Eng­lish Foot were posted to guard the Foragers. The Dutch Horse being overpowred by the Enemies numbers retired. But Coll. Hodges in the mean time having lin'd certain Hedges that lay very advantagous for him, and kept firing till be­tween ten and eleven a Clock, at what time most of the Fo­ragers were got home. Upon this the French brought Foot and Dragoons to force Coll. Hodges from his Post, who there­upon retir'd to a Mill which he maintain'd, till he receiv'd Orders to retreat, which he did with a Bravery more than or­dinary, still firing upon the Enemy, till about twelve a Clock he came to a little Town call'd Walcourt, about a mile from the Camp and the Pass to it, where lay a Regiment of Lunen­burghers who fired very thick upon the French. And thus with the loss of Lieutenant Coll. Graham, Capt. Davison, mor­tally wounded and thirty Men kill'd, Coll. Hodges got safe to the Camp. But by this time Prince Waldeck had rais'd a Bat­tery, and posted some Horse and Foot upon a Hill which com­manded Walcourt; and the French also rais'd another Battery, and brought nine Battallions of Horse and Dragoons to attack the Town in three several Places. Upon that, Prince Waldeck ordered the English Regiment of Guards, and a German Regi­ment to force their way into the Town, which they did with an extraordinary Resolution about two in the Afternoon: And the Attack of the French continued till fix, both with Canon and small Shot. More especially about Two hundred of the French Guards came up to the very Gate of the Town with [Page 13]Fire and combustible Matter, to have set the Town in a slame; but of them, the greatest part were slain; and so be­tween six and seven of the Clock the French retired in great di­sorder to their Camp, leving behind them between five and six hundered of their Men that lay dead under the Walls of the Town, besides a great many Prisoners; among the rest Monsieur de Saint Gilain, Feild Marshall, killed with a Canon shot as he was speaking to Marshalld' Humieres himself, Mon­sieur de Metz Tiercelin, Commissary of the Artillery; the Che­valier Colbert, Collonel of the Regiment of Champaigne mortal­ly wounded, and Monsieur de Tibergeau, Lieutenant of the Artillery, wounded.

• The Count d'Artagnan, killed.
• Four Captains killed.
• Three Captains wounded.
• Five Lieutenants killed.
• Eleven Lieutenants wounded.
• The Adjutant Major wounded.
• Two Gentlemen Voluntiers killed, and one wounded.

• The Lieutenant Collonel wounded.
• The Major mortally wounded.
• Two Captains killed, Five wounded.
• Two Lieutenants killed, and three wounded.

• An Exemp of the Guards wounded.

• One Captain killed.
• Two Captains wounded.
• An Adjutant Major wounded.

• One Captain killed.
• Two Captains wounded.
• A Serjeant Major killed.
• An Adjutant Major wounded.
• A Lieutenant killed.

Of the Dutch side were lost not above thirty or forty Men, and two Officers.

Upon the 25 of August, being Saint Lewis's day, the Be­sieged not having heard as yet of this Disaster, intended to have made a very great Sally, but were prevented by the firing of three thousand hand Granado's designed to have been made use of in the said Sally, which was occasioned by one of the Besiegers Bombs falling in among them.

The same day the Imperialists threw a great many Bombs into the Counterscarp, and the night following sprang a Mine at the lest Angle of the Attack of the Covered way, and made a Lodgment there, during the heat of which Action the Prince of Weldentz was mortally wounded in the Trenches.

The 26 the Besiegers continued sapping the Glacis of the Enemies Counterscarp, and secured their own two new Redoubts with Palisado's.

Upon the 28, the Saxon and Bavarian great Battery of 36 great Guns and ten Mortars being finished, that morning they began to play upon the Town and the Citadel, the Elector of Bavaria having given Orders, that all the Musketiers should first give three Volleys, and that at each Volley eight Bombs should be shot into the Place, which was performed accord­ingly with the sound of Drums, Kettledrums and Haut-boys. At the same time the Imperialists and Lunenburghers made a­great fire from their Battery of 18 pieces of half Cannon. To [Page 15]which the Enemy answered with their Cannon and Haut-boys from the Rampart. The same night the Besiegers continued their works at both Attacks; and the Imperialists advanced with their sapping above sixty Paces on the right and left, while the Bavarians made a line of Communication to their great Battery, and a new place of Arms.

The 29th. the Besiegers discovered several of the Enemies Mines, and play'd very fiercely on the Bastions of St. James; St. Martin, Alexander, and Boniface, as also upon the Curtins.

Upon the 30th. one of the Bombs which the Besiegers threw into the Enemies Counterscarp, fired another parcel of Hand Granado's, which the Enemy had brought together to make use of our Men that were at work upon the Attacks: In revenge of which, the besieged sprung a Mine, but without any damage to the Besiegers; had not the Besiegers receiv'd a greater prejudice that night by the death of Duke Christian of Saxony, who was kill'd in the Trenches the 2d. of Setem­ber, at night. However, the Besiegers Cannon had made such large Breaches in the Works which defended the Town, that they could see into the Streets of the City.

On the 2d. of September the Besiegers finished their great parallel Line, and the Saxons planted twelve Pieces of Cannon and six Mortars upon a new Battery, in which Action Coll. Schett was mortally wounded in the Trenches, together with fourty or fifty common Souldiers.

Upon the 3d. of September the Garison sally'd out upon the Trenches, but their number was much lessen'd before they got back; not without some loss to the Besiegers, among whom as has been said, was Duke Christian of Sax-Hall, who was wounded at the same time, and dy'd within two or three hours after of his wounds.

And now Orders being given for the storming the Counter­scarp between four and five in the Afternoon of the 6th. of September; after the firing of four Pieces of Canon, and the shooting of a Bomb into the Air, which were the Signals ap­pointed, the Besiegers began the Attack at three several places, with 12000 Men at each place, who were drawn up into se­veral Bodies and Detachments, to second one another as there should be occasion. The Enemy on the otherside, sprang their Mines, but somewhat too early, so that they did the Be­siegers little harm. But the Besiegers Mines had a much bet­ter effect; for they made very large Breaches, while at the same time the Assaylers Canon and Bombs play'd very furi­ously. The Dispute lasted above four hours and a half, and such was the Courage and Resolution of the Besiegers who press'd so hard upon the Enemy, cutting all in pieces that op­pos'd them, that they not only made themselves Masters of the Counterscarp, and lodg'd themselves upon it, but pursued the Enemy to the Gates, and had almost entred the Town with the flying Enemy. The Hessians forc'd their way to a Fort which the Enemy had near the Rhine, which they took by main strength, with their Swords in their hands, but afterward quit­ted it again: For that not thinking they should have been able to advance so far, they were not provided of such Necessaries as were requisite to make a Lodgment. They also possessed themselves of the Galgenbergh, where till then the Enemy had kept a very strong Guard. In this brave Action the Besiegers had about 2500 Men kill'd and wounded, of which two thirds were Imperialists and Lunenburghers, in regard the Enemy made the greatest Opposition on that side; for that they be­liev'd the Bavarians and Saxons made only a false Attack meerly to allarum them; which was the reason that the latter became Masters of the Counterscarp about an hour before the Impe­rialists.

• Gen. Starenbergh died since of his wounds. Gen.
• Souches wounded.
• Gen. Wallis kill'd.
• Count Lambergh who had both his Leggs shot off, is since dead.
• Schomberck wounded.
• Holster wounded.
• Major Haneke kill'd.
• Ensign Sching kill'd
• Sekliger wounded.

• M. Gen. Zahte wounded.
• C. Fitterhof wounded.
• En­sign Glitsing kill'd, and Ensign Grettoff wounded.

• M. Gen. Zirgter wounded.
• C. Dunhoff wounded.
• C. Stange wounded.
• Ensign Kaiser wounded.

• Capt. Clunter wounded.
• Lieutenant Zirgister kill'd.
• Lieu­tenant Niswich kill'd.
• Ensign Welmuth wounded.

• Capt. Pforter wounded.
• C. Sander wounded.
• Lieute­nant Michel wounded.
• Ensign Reiswick wounded.

• The Coll. and Lieutenant Coll. Rotel wounded.
• Capt. Burgs­dorf wounded.
• Lieutenant Rumor wounded.
• Lieutenant Walks Hoffen kill'd.
• Ensign Winkell mortally wounded.
• En­sign Herling kill'd.

• M. Gen. Rodewitz wounded.
• C. Beneck kill'd.
• Lieute­nant Hauwitz kill'd.
• Ensign Walden kill'd.
• Capt. Bistorians wounded.
• Ensign Nostiz kill'd.
• Lieutenant Mans Huffe mortally wounded.
• C. Vicethumb wounded.

• [Page 18]Lieutenant Coll. Bergholtz wounded.
• Serjeant Major Geiers­bergh kill'd.
• C. Techler wounded in both Arms.
• Adjutant Remnitz wounded.
• Lieutenant Grange mortally wounded.
• Capt. Bonekam wounded.

• Six Captains kill'd of which number is Capt. Seietres.

• Fourteen Captains kill'd and wounded, but the number of the inferior Officers and Souldiers is not known.

• Coll. Gorts shot quite through the Body.
• Coll. Schenk and Major Butler receiv'd two wounds apiece.
• Major Loven­steme wounded in the Foot.
• Three Captains wounded, and three kill'd.
• Two Lieutenants wounded and several infe­riour Officers.

And as for the loss which the Besieged received, it was com­puted to be no less than Twelve hundred Men slain, besides those that were disabled.

The next day the Besiegers continued playing upon the Town from their several Batteries, and began to prepare for a general Assault upon the Town.

But then the Governor of the City being sensible of his loss by the taking of the Counterscarp, and no less fearful of the hazard of a general Storm, which he understood the Besiegers were preparing to make, thought it his best way to beat a Par­ley. Thereupon the 8th. of September Hostages were exchang'd on both sides, and the next day the Capitulation was sign'd, and upon the 11th. the Place was surrendred. Of which the Dutch Resident in the Brandenburgh Camp, gave the States an Account by the following Letter.