HIs Majesty having resolved to begin his Campagne with the Siege of Maestricht, thought it necessary however to conceal his Intentions, as far as could be from the Enemy, and leave them onely uncertain Conjectures where he would first Attack them, until his arrival before Maestricht had unfolded the Mystery. This was the reason of his Majesties assembling his Troops on the Lys; his coming with his Army to the Walls of Ghent, and his conti­nuing there some time; his sending out a Body of Men to pass the Vaert, between that place and Bruges, under the Command of the Duke de Feuillade, and afterwards several Squadrons of Horse under the Command of Monsieur; his sending the Mar­quess de Rochefort with 6000 Horse towards Vilvoerden; and lastly, of his Encamping before Brussels, that so he might disguise his design of besieging Maestricht, and give equal jea­lousie to the Dutch and their Allies; who being thus concerned for themselves, could not send the Forces, they would other­wise have done, into Maestricht to reinforce that Garrison.

His Majesty having thus passed through Flanders, the Third of this instant June, S. N. Commanded the Count de Lorge, one of his Lieutenant Generals, with 6000 Horse and Diagoons to go and invest Maestricht. He parted with this Body of Men about Midnight, taking his way through Tilemont, S. Truyen, and Tongres, and arrived the Fifth, in the Evening, before Maestricht, where he found the Count de Montal, Go­vernor of Charleroy and Tongres with 1500 Horse drawn out of this latter place and Maseyck.

At their first arrival they were saluted from the Town with several Shot, notwithstanding which, they gave every where the necessary orders; and the next day, about Six a Clock in the Morning, began to Invest the place on this side of the Meuse.

The Seventh arrived the Sieur du Piloy with 3500 Horse of Monsieur Turennes Army, and the next day the Sieur de Reveillon Brigadier, with several Regiments of Foot from the same Army. The same day the Sieur de la Talèc arrived like­wise with other Troops, who all together finished the Investure of the place, on the other side, called wyck, and a Bridge of Boats was made over the River for the Communication of the several Quarters. In the mean time, the Count de Montal having caused Seven thousand Bores to come out of the Neigh­borhood of Liege, began to work on the Lines of Circonval­lation and Contravllation: This let the Governor see we were in earnest, who thereupon omitted no endeavors for the defence of the place, being very glad that he had some days before re­ceived into the Town 1000 Spanish Foot and 500 Horse: Ac­cordingly he caused all the Inhabitants, as well as Soldiers, to work for the raising of Three Batteries on Three Cavaliers, from whence they could see all our Quarters and incommode them very much; and besides, caused frequent Sallies to be made through by-ways, and undiscernable by us, by reason of the Redoubts which were far advanced, and the very high Corn that was round the place.

The first Sally, they made out of the Tongres Gate with 150 Horse, who with great courage fell upon one of our Out-Guards, which were but 20 of the Kings Muskettiers com­manded by the Sieur de Paygnace, the Enemy making slight ac­count of this small number, whom they thought to destroy with ease, put not themselves into that posture they would per­haps otherwise have done, and so were deceived by the great courage of our Men, who made so brave a resistance, that they killed 20 of the Assailants, and beat the rest as far as their Counterscarp, notwithstanding they fired violently with their small Shot from thence. The Sieur de Paygnace was killed with a Cannon Bullet, with one Muskettier more, and two wounded.

The Ninth the Enemy made an other Salley by the favour of their Redoubts, and the high Corn, they killed two of our Men, and forced our Out-Guard to retire; but the Count d' Auvergne having notice thereof, went immediately out with [Page 5]a Party, and forced the Enemy back; Their intention was to have taken the Standards, which stood along the Line, and three of their Officers had already Seized Two Standards of the Kings Regiment, though they held them not long, for one of these Officers was killed with a Musket Bullet, and the other two taken Prisoners.

During these first days of the Siege, there were several other Skirmishes, in which the En [...]my had no farther Advan­tage; They lost the Marquis de Vervic, Nephew to the Count of Rrouay, who was very much wounded, and taken Prisoner.

The Tenth the King who parted at Midnight from St. Truy­en, seven great Leagues from Maestricht, arrived in the Camp about noon, accompanyed by Monsieur, with his Gens d Armes, and part of the Infantry, notwithstanding the difficulty of the Ways, and the slow march of the Foot; his Majesty was no sooner arrived, but went to visit the several Posts, to observe the Scituation of the Place, and its Fortifications, and to assign the Troops that came with him, their several stations. On this occasion there happened a new Skirmish, in which the Kings Dragoons took one Prisoner, whom his Majesty imme­diately gave his Liberty again, with this Commission, that he should tell the Besieged, That unless they Surrendred suddainly, they could not expect any Quarter.

The following night his Majesty was at the By-watch, as he hath been ever since; The next Morning he caused the Bridge of Communication to be finished, and the rest of the Infantry being come up, he assigned them their several Quar­ters round the place. That day Monsieur went and took his Quarter on the side of Wyck, with 6000 Horse, and 9000 Foot; The King took his at a Village called oilre, which is about half Canon shot from the place, and secured in some mea­sure from the Enemies Cannon, by a small Hill that covers it.

The Twelfth was imployed in working at the Lines of Cir­convallation and Contravallation: That night his Majesty cau­sed a Redoubt of the Enemies, which was far advanced, and incommoded us very much, to be Attacked, which after a short dispute was taken, most of them that defended it, which were 30 in all, having been killed or taken Prisoners.

The 13 happened a small Skirmish between 50 of the Enemy, and some of our Guards, who at first, as being much the weaker, were forced to give way, but being assisted by a Party sent to them from the Camp, they beat the Enemy to the foot of their [Page 6]Counterscarp. That night his Majesty caused the Infantry to match nearer to the Place, being secured by the Cavalry, and Monsieur did the like on his side, so that the Besieged could not stir out of their Counterscarp, without coming under our Shot.

The Fourteenth we seized on a close way, by which the Ene­my securely made all their Salleys; 2000 Horse were Posted there, and a Retrenchment made to secure them against the Enemy. This day the Lines, as well on this as the other side the Meuse, were finished, although that of Contrevallati­on is about four Miles about, and that both are 12 Foot broad, and six foot deep.

The Fifteenth great Provision was made of Faggots, and other Necessaries for the Siege, the King in the mean time with his accustomed Vigilance, observing what Places were fittest to be Attacked, and taking care that all things were in the po­sture they ought to be, before he opened the Trenches.

The Sixteenth his Majesty resolved that the Trenches should be opened the next Morning, not far from the Tongres Gate, and in the mean time our Men began to work, for the raising of two Batteries on this side the Serre, and a third on the other side, on the Mount St. Peter, in Monsieur Montals Quarter, on the side of Lietembergh, the Guns being so ordered, that they could not onely dismount those of the Enemy, but also incommode them very much in their Out-works, which the Enemy were Fortifying all they could, the Women as well as the Men being employed at the Work; and in the mean time fired more furiously then they had done before.

The Seventeenth about Nine at Night, the Trenches were opened in the places his Majesty had appointed, which are on the side of his Quarter, by two Bataillons of French Guards, and one of Swisses, Commanded by the Duke de la Feuillade, Lieu [...]enant General, on the Right, and by a Bataillon of Picar­dy, and two of the Royal Regiment, Commanded by the Mar­quis de Vaubran on the Left, being in all 4800 Men, and assisted by eight Squadrons drawn out of the Kings Guards, Gensdarmes and Light Horse, under the Command of the Che­valier de Hautevilie; The Enemy all this while fired very brisk­ly upon us, but killed onely three or four of ou [...] Souldiers, and wounded a Lieutenant of the Royal Regiment; the night was very favourable to us, and our Men continued their Works till Morning, without any opposition, with so much vigor, that by break of day, those under the Command of the Duke, [Page 7] de Feuillade, had advanced 1000 Paces, counting the turn­ings; and those under the Command of Monsieur Vaubrun 200, and besides made a Line of Communication between the two Trenches, which were at first distant from each other, above 800 Paces, and now there remained onely 1500 Paces to the Counterscarp; The Enemy who had been very silent all night, about three a clock in the Morning began to fire very warmely with their small shot upon our Musketeers, though without any great effect, there having not been above five or six killed, and some few wounded, and amongst others the Marquis de Termes, Ayde Camp, and the Sieur de Villeron; likewise Ayde de Camp, received light hurts; Here I cannot omit to tell you, that the day before, in the taking of the Redoubt, the Sieur de Charlieu, Captain of the Kings Regiment, was shot in the Shoulder.

The Eighteenth by break of day, our three Batteries began to play upon the Town, one having 12 Pieces of Cannon Mounted on it, the second 8, and the third 6, each of them carrying Bullets of 24 pound weight; This day 3800 shot were made into the Town, not without doing considerable executi­on, In the Morning we Battered down two of the three Ca­valiers, which they had raised upon their Rampart, and by four in the afternoon we had likewise Battered down the other; However the Enemy with much difficulty Mounted two of their Guns again, with which they fired into Monsieur Montal's Quarter, though without any effect, whilst he was acting with all imaginable vigor: About 11. a Clock this day, Monsieur Montal sent out a Party of 50 Men, of the Regiment of Ban­devile, to seize on a House, which stood in his Quarter, which was Guarded by 18 Souldiers, Commanded by a Lieutenant and a Sergeant, who had orders from the Governor not to yield, he having promised to send them on all o [...]casi [...]ns, such Suc­cors, as the importance of that Post would require; Our Men soon made themselves Masters of one Place, taking the Lieu­tenant and his Souldiers Prisoners, with the loss on our side of three Men killed, besides five or six, with two Sergeants woun­ded, as was likewise the Sieur de Covrelle, Major of the Re­giment of Bandeville.

The Eighteenth Night, the Marquis de Rothefort, Lieu­tenant General, [...]elieved the Duke de la Feuillade, with a Ba­taillon of Navarre, another of the Crown, formerly called Artois, and a thirds of the Kings; The Chevalier de Lorraine Mureshaq de Camp, Relieved the Marquis de Vaubrun, with [Page 8]Bataillon of Piedmont, and two of the Regiments of Dauphin, being Guarded as the day before, by eight Squadrons of Caval­ry, under the Command of the Marquis de Chazeron, Briga­dier of the Gensdarmes; That Night the Trenches were advan­ced 600 Paces, and within 900 of the Counterscarp, the Enemy all this while firing very violently to repair their silence the night past, no withstanding we had onely two Men killed, and 14 or 15 wounded, besides the Sieur Permangle, Mareshal of the Kings Guards of Light-Horse, and the Sieur de la Bossiere, Captain in the Kings Regiment, were both wounded with a Shot from a Musket. This Night the King, who still like the meanest Soldier, exposes himself to the greatest danger, came to visit the Trenches, accompanied by Monsieur, who had been likewise in the Trenches the Night before.

The Nineteenth our Batteries began to Fire again very furiously upon the Town, and with that success, that we again dismounted all the Enemies Cannon, and battered down their works. In the Evening, the Count de Lorge, Lieutenant Ge­neral, relieved the Marquess de Rochefort, with a Bataillon of the Marine, and two of Anjou, and the Chevalier de Fourilles, Mareschal de Camp, relieved the Chevalier de Lorraine, with three of the Kings Regiment; the Trenches were advanced very near to the Counterscarp, and we began to dig, to dis­cover the Enemies Mines; notwithstanding, there fell a great deal of Rain, and the constant Fire of the Enemy. A Lieu­tenant in the Regiment of Anjou was killed, with two Sergeants of the Kings Regiment, and the Major of the Regiment of the Marine was dangerously wounded, besides 17 or 18 Soldi­ers which were killed and wounded. The King according to his custom visited the Trenches, being accompanied by Mon­sieur, who to that purpose, was come from his own quarter on the side of Wyoke: And whilst every one, with a great deal of bravery, endeavored to put himself in the greatest danger, the King commanded, that no Voluntiers should go into the Tren­ches without order.

The Twentieth the Duke of Monmouth, being the young­est Lieutenant General, relieved the Count de Lorge with two Bataillons of the Royal Regiment, and one of Swisses, and the Count de Montal Mareschal de Camp, relieved the Che­valier de Lorraine, with a Battaillon of the Regiment of Ban­deville, and two of Alsace. This Night the Trenches were advanced to within thirty paces of the Counterscarp, the [Page 9]Enemy all the while Firing very thick from their Palisadoes, though without doing us any considerable hurt.

The One and twentieth the Duke de la Feuillade, and the Marquess de Vaubrun, mounted the Trenches the second time. The Two and twentieth, the Marquess de Rochefort, and the Chevalier de Lorraine; the Three and twentieth the Count de Lorge, and the Chevalier de Fourilles, during which three days, they carried their Trenches to the Foot of the Counterscarp, the Enemy making all the opposition they could: We lost some Men, but nothing near so many, as might have been ex­pected, considering the smartness of the Service. The Twenty fourth it was the Duke of Monmouths, and the Count de Mon­tals turn to Mount the Trenches, which being now advanced as far as could be, their next work was to lodge themselves upon the Counterscarp. In order to which, four several Attacks were made, two False and two Real; the Count de Lorge, le chevalier de Lorraine, and Monsieur Vaubrun commanded the False Attack on the side of Wyck, which they did with that Success, that they beat the Enemy out of their Outworks, being 400 Men; the Officer that commanded them as killed with a great many others, and about 30 of them taken prison­ers; and had they been prepared to go farther, they would certainly have taken Wyck; in this Action they had about 100 Men killed and wounded. At the same time the Duke of Mon­mouth, and the Count de Montal, (for all the Attacks were made together upon Firing of Five Pieces of Cannon from the Main Battery) fell likewise on, Monsieur Montals Attack be­ing on the Left of the Duke of Monmouth, who had at this time under his command the Kings Regiment commanded by Monsieur Monbron, and the Grand Muskett ers commanded by Monsieur ??d' Artognan. The Attacks were made with extraor­dinary courage and resolution, and after a brisk disput, our men gained the Counterscarp, and from thence advanced farther, and Attacked the outward Half-Moon which was before the Brussels Gate, which they likewise carried, though the Enemy all this while was not idle, but gave us good store of small Shot, and besides blew up three Fourneaux, though without any great effect. In the mean time the Duke of Monmouth stood ready, in case our men should give ground to Sally him­self in person to their relief, which our Success prevented him in; for our men fell immediately to lodge themselves in their new Posts; several prisoners were brought away to the number of Fourscore, amongst which, a Spanish Lieutenant Colonel. [Page 10]The loss on our side was not inconsiderable, there having been in this Action above 400 men killed and wounded, and many of them Officers and Persons of note, and amongst others Sir Henry Jones, who that Night waited upon his Grace as a Vo­luntier, and was unfortunately shot dead in the Trenches with a Bullet through the Throat, at the first great discharge of the Enemy, as the Sally was made. Our men still continued their Works to make a Communication between the Trenches and the Half-Moon, whilst the Enemy retrenched themselves on the other end of it. In working we discovered a Mine, in which was Six Barrels of Powder, ready to be fired: By Ele­ven of the Clock the Line of Communication was finished, when on a sudden a Mine sprang on the Right-hand, by which, above 50 men were killed, with a Captain, and an Ensign, which was immediately followed by a Sally from the Town, who fell upon our men with a number so far exceeding ours, that they were forced to give ground; whereupon the Duke immediately sent away a party of the Grand Muskettiers to go and make good that Post; but the Enemy were already in possession, and not easie to be dislodged, when his Grace with an undanted courage, and a resolution befitting the occasion, resolved to go himself in Person to endeavor the recovery of these Posts, being onely attended by about a dozen English Voluntiers, Persons of Quality; with this Company, his Grace too impatient to pass by the ordinary way of the Sally Port, leaped over the Works, and through a storm of Shot that fell on all sides, marched along the Palisadoes, and passed through a Sally-Port of the Enemies to come to the Half-Moon, which he saw the Soldiers forsaking, not being longer able to main­tain it, till he with his presence encouraged them to return, which they did with new vigor, and being followed by what force they could rally up in the Trenches; the Enemy was the second time beaten off, though not without the loss of several Officers and Soldiers which were wounded and slain in greater numbers, then at the Night Attack. Monsieur d' Artagnan, Captain of the Grand Muskettiers, was killed, as he stood near his Grace, with a Shot through his Reins, and Captain O Brien was Shot in the Leg. The Kings Musket­tiers, who behaved themselves with extraordinary gallantry (as indeed all in general did) were most killed and wounded: And now came 400 Men from the Camp to reinforce us, though we had not any farther occasion for them; for the Duke continued absolute Master of his Conquest, and left the quiet [Page 11]possession of it to the Duke de la Feuillade, who came to relieve him at the usual hour. The King was at the end of the Trenches at his Graces coming out, who received him with expressions of joy for his safe return, and all manner of satis­faction in his Conduct. In these Attacks 700 Men, together with Officers were killed and wounded.

The other Attack commanded by Monsieur Montal, had not the like success, though it was managed with all the cou­rage and gallantry imaginable, his Men having gained the Half-Moon, were again beaten off with the loss of 500 killed and woun­ded.

The Twenty fifth at Night, and the next day, was employed in For­tifying our selves in our new Posts, and preparing for a new Attack, which was resolved to be made the Tuesday following, and accordingly the Count de Lorge, and le Chevalier de Fourilles, whose day it was, had Orders to make two several Attacks, our Cannon having as well this day as the day before, fired very furiously upon the Enemy, and very much Battered their Fortifications, where the Attacks were intended to be made, though in the mean time the Governor omitted no endeavors to repaie them again, and to put all things into the best posture of de­fence he could; The Count de Lorge had Orders to Attack a Horn. work, which was on the left hand of the Half-Moon, taken the 24 and 25 instane, and the Chevalier de Fourielles, to attempt a Green Half-Moon on the Right hand of the Brussels Gate, near that part which is set under Water. About eleven of the Clock at Night, the Sign being given by two pieces of Cannon, a Mine of ours which was fixed under the Horn-work, was Sprung, and immediately thereupon, our Men made the Attack; The Enemy made a stout residance, firing very fu­riously upon us from all parts, casting abundance of Granadoes amongst us, and besides Springing seven Mines, one after another; notwithstan­ding which, we beat the Enemy, and gained the Post, having killed many of them, and taken several Prisoners, amongst which was, the Ma­jor of the Italian Regiment, and several Miners, who discovered seve­ral other Mines, and which were by that means prevented from Spring­ing; In the mean time le Chevalier de Foureille, advanced as successully on the other side, who after a hot dispute, made himself Master of the Green Half-Moon, and thence advanced farther, and gained all their Out-Works; Some of the Prisoners said, that the Governor himself Com­manded in the Out-Works, the better to encourage his Men, and that he ran great danger of being taken Prisoner; This done, our Work was to secure our selves in our new Acquisition, which had cost us this day, about 400 Men.

Wednesday Night the Duke of Monmouth Relieved the Count de Lorge, and Monsieur Montal the Chevalier de Foureille, who advanced some­what farther, till within 10 or 15 Yards of the Ditch, which was dry, there being nothing between us and the Town, but this Ditch, and the Walls, which were very much Battered; In the mean time the Enemy [Page 12]omitted nothing on their part, to defend themselves; that night they Sprung five Mines very near us, yet not so near, as to do any execution, which we thought they would have followed with a Salley, but they did not; The Thursday which was the 29, the Duke de Feuillade, and Mon­sieur Vaubrun came upon the Guard, but nothing past that night; on our side we were preparing for a general Assault on the Town, and the Besie­ged began it seems to think on a Surrender, looking upon them­selves to be unable, after the loss of all their Out-Works, and having no hopes of Relief, to hold out, accordingly on Friday Morning early they desired a Parley, and in two hours time the conditions for Surrender were agreed, and immediately the Kings Regiment of Guards marched in, and took possession of the Brussels Gate: The Articles were, That the Garrison 5000 Foot and 1000 Horse, should March out with Bag and Baggage, Drums beating, Colours flying, &c. with two pieces of Can­non, and one Mortar piece, either to Boisleduc or Breda, as they thought best. The Governor pressed hard, to stay in the Town till Mon­day, but at length agreed, to march out the next day, the 31 instant.

THus we have seen an end of this Siege in three weeks time, to the great Surprise of all people, who consider the strength of the place, and the great Garrisen that was in it, and especially of those who thought it im­pregnable, or at least, that the taking of it would have cast the King many Months, and greatest part of his Army; Though certainly it may chiefly be attributed to the great Conduct and extraordinary Courage of the King, who hath himself during this Siege, performed all the parts of a General, with an unintermitted Industry and Vigilance, In this Siege we have had 2000 killed, and as many wounded And the Enemy has lost 1000, the Italian Regiment that was in the Town, being quite destroyed; and to do them right, they defended themselves very stoutly, and perhaps might have made the Siege last longer had they not put so much confidence in their Mines, on which account perhaps they used the less opposition, to hinder our approach at first.