A True ACCOUNT of all the Transactions of the last Sum­mers Campaign in the Spanish-Netherlands, &c.

'TIS none of my business, at this time, to write the Reasons, why so many Princes should be now Armed against the French King: Any one who has but little Judgment in Human Affairs, or is any way concern'd for the good of his Country, must needs know: And indeed 'twas high time for us, of this Na­tion to take the Alarm, and to look to our selves, seeing the great Storm, which so much threatned others, if not timely provided against, would fall, at last, more heavily on us, though we seem to be at a greater distance.

The Emperor, the Duke of Savoy, the Princes Electors, the Princes of Hannover and Lunenburgh, the States Gene­ral, the Spanish King; and, which is more considerable than any one of the rest, the King of Great Brittain: I say, all the Forces of these Princes, by Land or Sea, have as yet bin so far from making any great Impressions on that one Mo­narch, that he seems as yet to be greater than at first; and his Arms thus far have had the Advantage; but the first Winners are generally the last Losers: And I don't doubt, but that their late Braveries, and little Successes, will be as [Page 2]so many Alarms to awake the Fury of the Confederates, and prick them on to early, vigorous, and pressing undertakings this next Campaign. The French indeed are at the beck of one, They are very quick and alert for Execution, and the great Fortune of their Grand Lewis, both open and fraudu­lent, for so long a Time, against so many Princes, their ma­king War in their Enemies Countries, the raising of vast Contributions, their burning of Villages, and daily Plunders, have raised such a Vain-glorious Spirit in their Men of War, as to think that nothing can stand before them, and that they are, as it were, born to be Lords of Europe; but I am very confident, should their prosperous Sun-shine look but once a little Cloudy, and they were but well beaten in a Battle or two, their insolent Temper would soon shrink into a slavish Fear; and the miserable consequences of Distrust, Mutiny, and Cowardliness, would crowd thick upon them.

Now, I hope, this Honour is reserved for the Subjects of my Nation, who have bin the only People in the World that have best talked with the French with Sword in hand, and given the greatest Checks and Corrections to their da­ring Confidence: And seeing then that the King of England, as he is Prince of Orange, is Captain General of all the Forces of the United Provinces, and hath several English Regiments now actually in the Service of the States; seeing we, of this Nation, are so much interested in the War, and because the business of this last Campaign was of the greatest moment, little being done in the first, against the French, but what was done by the English; seeing the Hollanders, notwithstanding all their pretentions to Hardiness and Valour, have scarce bin yet able to oppose the French, without most obliging helps from the good-natur'd English; and because we British Regi­ments, last Summer, had not the Honour to be at the Battle of Fleury, which was the great business of the last Cam­paign, [Page 3]but was chiefly managed by the Dutch Army, I shall come to the main thing which I here design, to wit, to give you a particular account of the Transactions of the last Sum­mer; for the better performance of which, I have made my chief business to know the particulars, from the best, most able, and most skilful Gentlemen, who had not little share in those Grand Affairs.

The Prince of Waldeck, who is a German, and Related to the King, supplies the Place of His Majesty of England, and Commands the Forces of the States General, is about the Age of Seventy, very little inclining to Fat, and of a hand­some Stature, but somewhat stooping under the great weight of Age and War: A Prince second to none in Military Affairs, and is worthily esteem'd one of the greatest Captains of his Age: He hath not had the Reputation of a very Fortunate General; but this ought rather to be imputed to the Forces which he Commanded, than to any deficiency in his Skill or Courage: His great Age doth not in the least hinder him from the most Toilful Cares: He very seldom goes to Bed till Twelve at Night, and is commonly dressed and ready by Five in the Morning, either to send forth Scouts and Spies, or to receive them; or to examine Draughts and Maps, and Grounds and Passes; or for Council, or to give necessary Orders to his Army: His Parts are as fresh and vigorous as ever; he gives the best Reasons for what he doth of any Man living: If he hath any Fault, 'tis for having somewhat in him of the old Roman Fabius; and sticks too close to his Art and Rules.

Under him, in the last Spring, the Campaign began to be opened about the 14th of May, towards the Country of Namur; and after three or four Marches, and about the 12th of June, his Forces being about 25000 Fighting Men, he Encamped his Army nigh a Village called Fleury, on a great [Page 4]and a plain Corn-Field, than which, there is scarce a more Fertile spot of Ground in Europe, and now made more Lux­urious by the Blood of one of the greatest Battles, according to the number of Men, that hath bin Fought in these Parts this great while.

Not much above Four Miles from this Place, is the River Sambre, Fordable in most Places in the Summer, but boun­ded very much on both sides with craggy Banks, and thick Woods; on the other side of this River lay Encamped the French Army, Commanded by the Famous Monsieur Duke d' Luxemburgh; the number of his Army not much exceeding that of the States: He is of the Ancient and most noble Fa­mily of Montmorancy, about the Age of Fifty, prodigiously ill-shaped and deformed in his Person, but Skilful, Haughty, Politick and Brave. Now, besides the main Bodies or stand­ing Forces on each side, there are also Two Camp-Volants, or Flying Armies, consisting of Eleven or Twelve Thousand Men each; that of the French, Commanded by Marschal D' Hu­miers; ours of the Confederates, sometimes by Prince Vau­demont, but commonly by the Marquis D' Castanaga, Go­vernor of the Spanish Netherlands, in his own Person. These Flying Armies are for sudden Onsets, or for seizing of Passes or Towns, or else for joyning the main Army on all occa­sions: They consist generally of good Horse and Dragoons, and are seldom Encamped above ten or twelve hours March from the main Body: Now, D' Humiers being not above ten Leagues, or hardly so much, from Monsieur Luxenburgh, Castanaga was to observe his Motion.

The Forces of England, in this Country, the first Cam­paign were considerable, but the Horse, and five Regiments of Foot being called for Home, we had only Six Battallions left, which, except one, which was at Mechlin, were all in Garrison at Ghent; the Regiment of Schonberg, Commanded [Page 5]by Sir Robert Douglas; Two Battallions of the English and Scotch Guards; The Regiment of Hodges, and the Regiment of D' Offerel: Our Commander in chief was Major General Tolmach. We had Orders to March and joyn Prince Waldeck, above a Fortnight before the Battle, but our Money coming not timely enough from England, and we having contracted some Debts in that City, could not conveniently be permit­ted to March till our Money came. Indeed, if we had bin at the Battle, we could have done no great good; 'tis very probable, in having our Post of Honour, we might have bin all cut off in an Army which was left immediately without Horse.

The Army of the Duke of Brandenburgh down towards the Moselle, had the Year before, taken the strong Garrison of Bonn, and was now Marching to Besiege another Cittadel, called Mont Royal, whom our Army was to cover: Affairs standing in this Posture, and Monsieur Luxenburgh knowing, that without a Battle their Towns would be pick'd away by degrees, one after another, was resolved to Fight, or else the Brandenburgh Army could not be hindered; yet he would be sure so to order his Business, that he would not Fight unless with an advantagious Policy: He therefore sends a strict Express to Marschal D' Humiers, to this Effect:

According to these Orders Marschal D' Humiers Equips his Detachment on a Wednesday Even, and a Thursday Af­ternoon joyned Luxenburgh, just as his advanced Horse be­gan to pass the Sambre: In the mean time the Spies and Scouts of Castanaga being careless, and not going farther than in sight of the other Camp (having often seen it) and not dreaming of the Policy in hand, might see their Tents pitched, and standing as before in the same order as when they first Encamped; so that the Spies returned well satisfied, that all things were at quiet, and that the Enemies posture was even as at the first: But on Friday about Noon, when the dismal noise of Cannon, and the uncessant Vollies of a mortal Engagement had Proclaim'd the Design, Castanaga was too late Alarmed; the rest of the French Camp remo­ved in the Night, and the Battle was over and lost before 'twas in his Power to Arrive half the way.

Indeed, in this Adventure, Monsieur Luxenburgh run'd a great Risque, and yet such as 'twas necessary for him to do; for if Castanaga, as he had with him excellent Regiments of Lunenburgh and Hannover Horse, with the young Prince of Hannover himself; I say, if he had known the motion of D' Humiers, and Marched after him, so as to come at that time when the Battle was begun, and have fallen on the Rear; or else if he had come in to Prince Waldeck when the Dutch Horse began to run, it would soon have Rallied the Loping Dutch Horse, unless they were possessed with more than a pannick Fear, turned the day upon the French, and must needs have given them a great Repulse. It is reported, That none can have better Intelligence than the French Ge­nerals, because they give more to Spies than usually others [Page 7]do; they Fee them after an extraordinary liberal manner; which, as I have bin told, is somewhat neglected in the States Army. Prince Waldeck had either very few Spies out, or else they who were sent, were not skilful enough to give warning of the great encrease of the French Army: The Prince, indeed, was not surprised as to the main; he had suf­ficient notice that the Duke D' Luxenburgh was passing the Sambre, and would not be perswaded to oppose his Attempt: He thought his Army as good as that of the French, and in­deed to outward appearance they always were: Few Soldi­ers having better Aspects than the Dutch Troopers, if their Hearts were but so good. The Prince knew his Army to be well rested, free from fatiegue, in Health, and to look well and promising: He had the advantage of Sun, Wind, and Ground; and if his Army would but do as Soldiers ought, he could not well be beaten; but if Soldiers won't Fight, 'tis no fault of the Generals if the Victory be lost. The Troops that could best be spared were left with D' Humiers, in case of necessity, to Guard the Passes, and make good the Retreat again over the River.

Their Army having all passed, very early in the Morning, put themselves in Array, as the Ground would give leave to March to the Dutch. The States Army was drawn skilfully up in two Lines: The Holland's Horse on the left, being most in number, were Commanded by the Brave Prince of Frizland, the Grave Van Nassau, Lieutenant General Aylna, and Count Fladorf, all said to be brave and experienced Men of War: The Right was mostly Spanish or Flanders Horse, Com­manded by the Brave Count D' Tubee, than whom, 'tis said, there is scarce a better Horseman living: The main Battle was guided by the Prince himself. The Battle began first on the Right: The Spaniards had the Post of Honour, and did what Men of Honour ought to do: They first of all re­ceived [Page 8]the French Fury, and then Charged through them with such Courage and Bravery, three or four times, that they soon brake them, though more in number by far, and made themselves Masters of Eight Pieces of the French Cannon.

But here comes the misfortune of all; The French, who pretty well knew the Dutch Horse, had placed against them their Gens d' Arms, the choice of the Kings Houshold, and, as 'tis said, 2000 Gentlemen Volunteers, than which, they say, unless among the Germans, there are scarce their Equals: They advanced against the Hollanders with Sword in hand; at the sight of which, without so much as Firing of Carabin or Pistol, maugre all the Threats and Perswasions of their skilful Generals and great Officers, they turned tail, and ran all away; which gave leisure enough to some of those Con­quering Squadrons to go and help their Brethren on the Right; so that Tubee, with his 2000 Horse, for he had no more, was soon over-powered; so that soon the States In­fantry were left all naked, both on Right and Left, without any Horse to cover them: However, they were resolved to do like Men of Honour, and to sell their Lives at the dearest rate they could, and accordingly cast themselves into the most requisite Postures; so that the Enemy, by their close and punctual Fire, were so often Galled and Shattered they knew not what to do; the French Infantry could not so much as dare look them in the face; could the Dutch be left alone to them, they would esteem them as nothing: The Carnage, the mean while, was great on both sides: The French Horse were forced to rally their Foot several times, and to bring them up under their Covert; till at last being over-powered by too vast Bodies, both of Horse and Foot, and some of their own Cannon being turned upon them, they were at last Beaten, and forced to yield to unequal numbers: The [Page 9]Regiments which defended the Cannon, were almost all cut off, and whole Battallions, scorning to turn, were cut down almost Rank and File as they stood; so that the Foot fight­ing so brave, though the French had almost two Horse for one, if the Dutch Troops had but again Rallied, and but in a manner only shewed themselves about again in Order, the French had bin really dismayed, and would have made their best shifts to have quitted the Field; but they were gone and scattered, and rather than helping, fell to the Plundering of the Vivandeers of their own Army. The Battle began on Friday the 13th of June, as I take it, about One a Clock in the Afternoon, and the Evening drawing on, the Gene­ral, with his best Skill, endeavoured to bring off what Bat­tallions he could, and Marching away by Night towards Nivelle, by hard Passes, he came and Encamped on the other side of the Canall of Brussels, which looks towards Machlin or Holland.

The French lost in the Battle, notwithstanding their Con­quest, nigh 5000 Men; a great many of their Officers be­ing Buried in the Church at Fleury, as I was informed by the Priest of the Parish; and the heaps of their Dead lay very thick over all the Field. The Dutch had as many Kil­led, and a great many Wounded, besides above 7000 taken Prisoners: They lost their Cannon and Copper Boats, all their Artillery Waggons, and most of their Baggage; and left the Spoil and Plunder of the Field to the Conquering French: And now a great Consternation was presently spread over all the Netherlands, and People began immediately to fear what great Progress the French might make in pursuit of their Victory; some thought they would March and Be­siege Charleroy, which was reported, at that time, to be but ill Stored: Others thought they would press on and follow the broken Army of the States General; and most, that they [Page 10]would try to force Castanaga, but none of these surmises hap­pened; the French Army stay'd nigh Three Weeks near the place where they won the Battle. They had receiv'd a se­vere Blow in getting the Victory; their Army must be again refreshed and recruited, which would take up some time; that the Camp-Volant of Castanaga was strong and firm, con­sisting of 13000 strong, and could, in spight of them, retire and joyn Waldeck.

Immediately, upon the Loss of the Battle, the States had sent a Passionate Express to the Duke of Brandenburgh, who, with his Army, lay towards the Moselle, That he would be pleased to March with all speed and joyn their Army, or to lye nigh them, to be able to assist on all occasions; and those all joyned together would make a Formidable Body. The French indeed assay'd, if they could, to hinder their joyning, but it came to nothing, the Elector Marching another way than what they imagined.

In the mean while, we the British Brigade, were Ship'd on Bilanders, at Ghent, on the River Scheld, and in three or four days came to a place called Vilvord, on the Canall of Brussels, about two Leagues from the City, and not above a Mile and half from the Camp of Prince Waldeck: It was not thought convenient for us to take our Posts, and to Incor­porate in the Army in one Camp, but we were alotted a Piece of Ground by our selves, at a Village called Park, to­wards the said Castle of Vilvoord: This is an Ancient Palace or Cittadel, now very Ruinous, especially on the Inside; and by its Ruines, Height, Compass, and Scituation, shows it was the Place of great Personages; but in these latter Times, 'tis very Famous for being the Noble Prison of the Spanish Ne­therlands: If any great Courtier, or Lord, or any Governor of a Town, or considerable Officer of an Army, shall be sus­pected of Falshood, or Betraying his Trust, he, without any [Page 11]noise, is presently seized, and sent to this Castle, where he must undergo strict Imprisonment, and a stricter Tryal. In former Times they had there a strange Contrivance for a strange, suddain, and barbarous Execution, having a great Wheel in the bottom of the Prison, so that the Prisoner be­ing brought into a Room just over it, not thinking what might happen, perhaps as he sate at Dinner, and not at all knowing of his Condemnation, the Chamber, like a Scene, would, on a suddain, be opened into Two Parts, and imme­diately the Condemned would fall into the under Engine, and, in a short time, be torn to pieces, and never be more heard of: But this way of Proceeding and Punishment is now left off, though still this State Inquisition is very severe, and there is but small hopes of any one that is cast into it.

Here it was that I first saw the Dutch Army this Cam­paign, about five or six days after the Battle: The Battallions of Foot looked thin, and grievously changed; and Brussels was crowed up with Wounded Men: The Horse indeed look'd as they were wont, and pretty well gathered together, as having a far better way of Self-preservation: Here we Encamp'd above four Weeks, till Prince Waldeck had sent off the shattered Regiments, and had received new from the Frontier Garrisons, with Cannon, Boats, Artillery and Wag­gons, as was necessary. The Country all about Brussels is exceeding Pleasant and Fruitful; the City is large, very thick Peopled, and full of Coaches and all sorts of Gallantry a la mode of France; and the French Language is spoken there by the meanest Tradesmen: 'Tis very Hilly, which in these Countries is a great Rarity: The Pallace and the Park stand on the highest Ground, and seem to overlook the rest; the Park is but little, but sweet and beautiful, besides Adorned with some of the finest Water-works in Europe: There is also the Royal Armory, which most Travellers that come [Page 12]into those Parts desire to see; wherein are curious rarities and devices in Armour, and Trophies, and Banners, and Standards of the Ancient Earls and Governors of Flanders, and Kings of Spain.

When the Army was recruited, and all necessaries made up, and every thing put in order, about the 23d of July we had orders to March, and Encamp'd that day at a place called Overiisk, where we of the English joyned the Dutch in order, had our Post of Honour on the Right, and made a very pretty addition to their Lines: Here it was, that one might well perceive a very good alteration in the face of our Ge­neral: He look'd sad, discontented, and pensive after the Battle; and was heard to say, That he wish'd he also had fallen among so many Brave Men as he had lost at Fleury, but that he hop'd GOD had spared him for a greater Re­venge; so that nothing could have pleased him more at that time, than to see his Army again look Vigorous and Strong, and himself put into such a condition as to be able once more, before the Summer was over, to return Monsieur Luxenburgh his former kindness. We stayed in this Camp but one Night, we Decamped the next Morning, and came to a Place, a pretty Village called Wauvre, where, in a most delightful Valley, about Three in the Afternoon, we came to the Camp of his Electoral Highness the Duke of Brandenburgh, and joyned our Armies: His Forces consisted of about 5000 Horse, and 13000 Foot, and Thirty Pieces of Cannon, all looking Brave, well Cloathed and Warlike; a finer Army not to be seen, according to their number: The Duke, with his Dutchess, and Two Brothers, with the great Officers and Ladies of his Court were with the Army: He is very short and crooked, as to his Person; he is about the Age of Thirty, his Face indeed is fine and comely: His Brothers, Prince Charles and Prince Philip, are both Tall and well Shap'd Gen­tlemen; [Page 13]His Court was exceeding Splendid: Besides his Guards, he hath an hundred French Gentlemen Refugees, all well Mounted and Clad in Scarlet, with a broad Gold Lace on the Seams, every one looking like a Captain; They are called his Grand Musqueteers, and always attend his Person: He had also with him several Ministers of Forraign Princes; amongst others, was the Honourable Mr. Johnson, Envoy from the Court of England. Here it was that Prince Waldeck re­ceived a Letter from our King, that he was Conqueror at the Boyne, and was immediately going to Besiege Lymerick; and hoped to be with us at the head of our Army in Twenty days; upon which news, the English Envoy made a most splendid Feast for the Duke and his Dutchess, Prince Waldeck, and all the Generals and great Officers of the whole Army: Where the General made the news publick, and was secon­ded with Drinking of Healths, Huzza's, Drums, Trumpets, and Ho-boys.

Our Army now consisted of nigh 45000 Fighting Men: We had no Talk among us now, but of Victory and Con­quest; all Officers fitting and preparing for a Battle, by send­ing all the Baggage they could conveniently spare into the Neighbouring Towns, that so we might speedily advance towards the Enemy, who were not above Eight Leagues from us: And, 'twas said, the Brandenburghers had received Orders, neither to give nor take Quarter: From hence we removed, and Encamp'd at a place called Genap: In this place we staid about six days; and, on the Sunday, which was the day before we Decamp'd, all the Chaplains of the English and Hollanders received Orders to have particular Prayers and Sermons on the occasion of the King's Victory in Ireland; and 'twas appointed a day of Rejoycing throughout the whole Army. Here it was that I saw the Order of a Triumph in a Field, much beyond any that is possible to be represented [Page 14]in the most Pompous Cities. On the Sunday Evening, a little before Sun-set, the whole Army was compleatly drawn up in Battle-Array, in Two Lines, the Horse on the Right and Left, in exact Order, with Trumpets sounding, Drums beat­ing, and Colours flying: The Prince, and the other Generals of the Army riding up and down, and giving particular Or­ders of the Time and Signals punctually to be observed; so that at the shutting up of the day, that the Action might look more terrible Comely, after the Firing of Seventy Pieces of Cannon, there was a running Fire, which look'd but as one continued Volley, or rather a long rolling Clap of Thun­der, through both Lines, beginning on the Right of the first Line, till it came there about again to the second. This was done three times with Cannon and Volley, which seem'd to rend the very Skies, and made the Earth to tremble; in­somuch as the Enemy might easily hear the sound, and judge of the Triumph; after which we Camp'd our Arms, made the Night a Festival, by plentiful Suppers, Drinking of the King and Queens Healths, and the Grandees of the Army with Huzza's and Musick.

Here it was that we first heard of another Victory gained by the French under Monsieur Catinat, against the Duke of Savoy, and Papers Printed at Brussels were Sold up and down the Army, of the manner and method of Monsieur Luxen­burgh's sending Expresses to the French King of his Fortune in Flanders: He had with him in his Army, one of the Sons of the Famous Marquess d' Boufflers, who was one of the Dauphin's Generals at that time on the Rhine; to him he gave the second Honour, by sending of him first to Versaile; and he was ordered to speak to the King no more than these words,

From hence we advanced about Three Leagues towards the Enemy, to a place called Segnioria de Bosch, or Our Lady of the Woods; here we stayed about four or five days; and here was the first place that our Talks of a speedy Battle be­gan to abate, and the Grandees to disagree in their former Resolutions. Not much above two Miles from this Place is a pleasant little City called Nivelle: 'Tis walled round accor­ding to the Ancient Fortification; but if 'twere Modern, it would signifie nothing, for it lyes in a Bottom, and there are high Hills looking over it on every side: In this place are the Church and Cloysters of the Famous Lady's Canonesses, of the Order of St. Gertrude, who was a Daughter of the Ancient and Noble Family of Trisnie, who first settled this Order, and Endowed it with large Revenues; and no Woman can be Canoness here unless Nobly Born: They have no Confinement but to Sing their Prayers four times a day; they may Walk or go Abroad, Converse with Men, and Marry if they like, but when Married, like Fellows of our Colleges, they lose their Collegiate Stipend: They are dressed, as to the fore Parts, all Topping and Modish; their Habit is a white Veil hanging from the hinder part of the Head down to the Mid­dle, and a long Robe faced with rich Furrs, which they may put off if they please when they come from Chappel: When in our Marches at any time we come nigh this Place, multi­tudes of the Gentry of the Army flock here, to hear them Sing at their Devotion, and to drink Wine in their Tavern, which they have within the Gate of their Cloysters, where, by Servants appointed, Wine, as Champaign and Rhenish, is sold by Retail, as part of their Revenue.

From our Lody of the Woods we Marched next to a little Town called Nostre Dame, or Our Lady of Hall; here was the Head Quarters of the Duke of Brandenburgh, and Prince Wal­deck had his at a place called Lambeck: This was a strong Pass, and by our Encamping there, an hindrance of the Ene­mies making Excursions into any of the adjacent parts of the Country: Here our Army was encreas'd to a vast bigness; for at this Camp we joyn'd the Forces of Castanaga; so that our Army reach'd almost five Miles in length, and was so­berly judged to amount to nigh Six and Fifty Thousand Men strong. In this Camp we had very bad Weather, much Light­ning and Thunder, and Rain for nigh six or seven days to­gether; so that we could hardly stir all that while out of our Tents unless Booted.

The French lay Encamp'd at a place called Lessines, not far from Valenciennes, with an Army very little in number infe­rior to ours; the great Plain of Cambron lay between us, from whence Monsieur Luxenburgh sent word by a Trumpet, that he there expected to meet us: And, I am fure, our General Prince Waldeck would have accepted the opportunity with all his Heart, but the French-man was Satyrical, and meant no such thing; and had taken care enough to devour and destroy all the Forage that lay in those Plains, and every where else before our Army; and there was no coming to them, with such a Body as ours, unless we could come to them without Horse or Waggon, or both Men and Horses could live without Meat.

But however, this was not all which might hinder a se­cond Battle, the Confederates were at variance in their Coun­sels: The Elector, though he be a great Prince, yet he is but a young Man, and not very much experienced in the Art of War: Now, from the time that he joyn'd us, all Orders were given out at his Quarters; the Councils of War were [Page 17]held at his Court: And his Electoral Highness, as 'tis report­ed, is too much enclin'd to hearken to his General, who is said to be now nigh Ninety years old, and to be too much decay'd in his Abilities of Mind, which were never very Fa­mous; therefore our General went but seldom to Council, as loath to have a passionate positive Dotage to take place of his Oracles: Besides, the Governor of the Spanish Nether­lands was loath to venture a second Battle, and it could hardly be agreed about our Posts of Honour; so that after we had staid here about three Weeks, and had made the Country look like a Desart, which we found almost like a Garden, we Marched and came a little nigher the Enemy, at a place called Wanbeck; not far from hence, is the most delightsome Palace and Garden of Enghien, belonging to the Duke of Arescot; a Place which Art and Nature have both contrived in a most Luxurious manner to make lovely, wonderful, and almost a Paradice; from hence, 'tis said, the French King took his Pattern for his prodigious Contrivances at Versaile. Here we staid a considerable time, (I think above three Weeks) and having Eaten up all the Forage that we could possibly get, the Winter coming on, and the Rains beginning to fall, which continues usually this time of the Year almost a Month together. The French, as well as we, thought 'twas high time to break up, which we did about the middle of October, within a little while one of the other: Thus our mighty Ar­my, which was enough to Fight almost all Europe for a day, was broken up for this Season, without any other Engage­ment, than that of Wind, Rain, and bad Weather, and we went to our Winter Quarters wet and weary: And thus ended the Campaign.

And here now we may see the great difference that is be­twixt an Army, the Subjects of one King, and under the Command of one Captain General, and another which is [Page 18]compounded of several National Interests, and under divers Princes which are not subordinate one to another; for the one is still ready to Moove, to Stand, to Execute, even at the very Nod and Sign of their Commander, whilst the others are disputing about their Posts, differing in their Councils, and endeavouring to promote their own Interests and Affairs; so hard is it to Order so many different Nations, to promote one common Good and publick Design. This is the only great advantage that the French have against us: That Force must needs be very strong and vigorous which is so truly united. And I hope the Confederate Princes, from the mistakes of the Last, will so order their Councils against the Next Campaign, that with one Heart and firm Resolution we may Early and Briskly push the War upon the French; or else, I fear, little Progress will be made against so Skilful, Politick, and well compacted an Enemy.

Indeed, if the King of Great Britain had been able to come at that time that he designed to be with us, when he Writ to his General out of Ireland, and had Headed our Army, we might have made the Enemy look about them; for all Disputes would soon be composed by a Crowned Head; and all the Generals would easily submit to be Led on by a Great Monarch: And I doubt not but this will be our Honour and Happiness this Summer; for we shall have an Army of Brit­tains this following Campaign in Flanders, to the number of Twenty Thousand Horse and Foot, which, with the States Army, and the Reputation we have always wone against the French, will make a Force Formidable and Glorious; and if we are Conducted by our own Warlike King, we shall put Monsieur Luxenburgh to his last Shifts, notwithstanding all his Skill in Magick or Conjuration: And indeed, this is the thing which the French King this long while mistrusted: The Wisdom, Skill, and Courage of our KING, when but [Page 19] Prince of Orange, always gave him a secret Concern; and he has bin heard to say, as I have been credibly Informed, That he more feared the Petit Baron of Breda, (as his Pride was pleased to Stile him) than the Emperor, or all the Con­federate Princes besides. Indeed, to our great Scandal and Misfortune, we have a sort of People here in England, who are Mutinous and Abusive under any Government, who are Brave and Daring at Play-Houses and Taverns, but would rather see their Country turned into Ruines, than honestly Fight for it against an Invading Enemy: That rejoyce be­cause Turks and Infidels are helpers of the French: That va­lue neither Liberty, Religion, or Laws, nor Honour, so their Pockets might be fill'd to satisfie their Lusts: These are the Enemies of our Brave King; and would pretend to sully the Actions of the best of Princes, by their Impotent Railings: but let them breath out their black Murmurings till Hemp will permit them to breath no longer: 'Tis impossible they should hurt his most Glorious Name, which long ago has bin Famous over many Nations; and Loved, Honoured, and E­steemed by the greatest Captains and Generals of the Age. He is every where known to have all those Vertues which tend to make a most Renowned Hero: He is Just, Sober, Tem­perate, Wise, and Valiant: He is such a Prince as a Philosc­pher would delight to represent to the World for a Pattern; and has not one Quality but what tends to the Greatness, Prosperity, Honour and Reputation of a Christian Nation: He never saw Fear but in the face of an Enemy: He has often stared Death in the Face, even in its most terrible Postures; and has grasp'd at his Laurels through streams of Blood. It is not to us alone, I mean to the English Nation, to whom he hath done the greatest Good; The States General, the Spanish King, the Duke of Brandenburgh, with all the other German Princes; nay, the Emperor himself are all preserved [Page 20]by him, and do declare it to the World, by the most grate­ful Testimony, that they really are so: For if our late King had kept his Post till this time, and carried on his Designs with the French King, as he had contrived it; nay, though he had stood neuter, or only a Spectator, whiles the other should pour his Legions into the Spanish Netherlands, we should soon see how like a Deluge they would run into the Provinces, swallow up all before them; and then what the Neighbouring Princes might expect, is easie to be imagined; our turn here in England would soon come after; our Reli­gion and Laws would first suffer a Convulsion, and what might become at last of our Kingdoms in general, is easie to be guessed, when King James should have trusted him so far. They are not only Protestants whom he hath obliged, but many other Princes of the Roman Catholick Religion: And His Excellency, the Marquis d' Castanaga, Governor of the Low-Countries, when he had receiv'd the News of the King's Suc­cess in Ireland, was heard to speak these Words with the greatest Affection, viz. That he was perswaded, King William was Born to be a Scourge to the French: That by Him the Con­federate Princes might expect Justice against the Grand Tyrant, and by His means a Firm and Happy Peace would be established over all Europe.

But among the other Blessings, which we His Subjects shall enjoy from Him, this is not one of the least, That as He is a Valiant and Warlike Monarch, so he will raise again, among us, the Ancient Genius of true Brittish Valour, which was so very much decay'd to our great Dishonour, under the Lux­ury and Easiness of the Two last Reigns: For the Plenty, Riches, and Fertility of a Kingdom, conduce very little to its Security and Honour, unless 'tis also well stocked with skil­ful Men of War, and a good Soldiery: And that Nation hath the best pretence to Riches, good Traffique, an easie and free [Page 21] Commerce, and the most obliging Respects of Forreign States, who have the best Swords. Now, these Two Years of War, which we have had in Ireland and Flanders, have con­siderably stocked us with able Officers, and have so hardned and emboldned the ordinary Soldiers, that they are now pretty well fitted for any difficult or brave Undertaking; who, first when they were drawn into the Field, were fitter to have Nurses to attend them, than Officers to Command them. And, notwithstanding at present, the publick Taxes of the Kingdom, and the Expences for carrying on the War by Sea and Land, are burdensome and heavy to the Subject, which indeed are nothing to the Troubles of other Subjects beyond the Sea, yet I doubt not, but in a short time, we shall confine the French King to his proper Bounds, force him to seek Terms of Peace at our Will and Discretion, have our Religion and Properties firmly and truly settled at Home, and a free Trade and Commerce over all the World.

I come now to give a brief and cursory Description of the Lower Flanders, not in a Geographical Sense, but as 'tis the Seat of War, and a Place convenient for the good Living and Subsistance of Soldiers; so that those of my Nation, who have not yet been Abroad, and by the KING are Com­manded to serve there in His Army, the Next Campaign, may not be disheartned or affrighted by the impertinent Tales of unexperienced People, concerning the condition of a Low-Country Soldier, that so they may be encouraged chearfully to go, and learn to be Skilful, to be Brave, and to Conquer, in that Place which is the Nursery of Men of War; and where Wealth, Honour, and Glory may be gotten by the Va­liant and Victorious. The Countries of Brabant, of Heynolt, of Namur, of Flanders, are so Pleasant, so Fertile, so aboun­ding in Corn, in Flax, in all sorts of Provisions, as Beef, [Page 22]Mutton, Bacon, all sorts of Fowls, and plenty of Cheese, But­ter, and the like; all sorts of good Beer, and good cheap Wine, that a Man cannot propose to live better, or at an easier Rate, in the cheapest or fattest County in England, than he can in any of those Places; so that I may say of it, what once the Famous Marschal d' Turene Merrily promised to a Brigade of English, who had behaved themselves well in the Army which he Commanded, That he would March them to their Winter Quarters, through such a Country, where they should have fresh Cocks and Hens every day. Our Camp can scarce ever be above seven or eight Mile from some fine City or great Town, where you may be furnished with all Conveniences that you can honestly desire: Where the Peo­ple are thick, well Dressed, and well Bred, and look so un­concerned, as if the noise of War had never come nigh them. The Air indeed in the Winter, though it lies nigher to the Sun than England, is sharp, piercing and cold, though far drier than ours; but this may be born with, whil'st we have all Necessaries in a good Garrison: But in the Spring and Summer, the Season is so Refreshing, the Temperature of the Heavens so convenient and wholsome for lying in the Field, that, bating the hazzard and danger of Battle, 'tis more plea­sant lying in the Camp than in any City. Very few Places in those Parts are Rocky or Stony. The Soil is of such a Fat and Fertile Nature, that it needs no Care or Pains of the Boors to force, or to dress it. In that Place, which by a long Camp is made Desart, you shall see the next Year all sorts of Grain in such a flourishing condition, as if it had bin kept up by the greatest Art, Skill, and Industry of the Husbandman: When the Season comes, they but just turn up the Earth with a Plough, and cast in the Seed, and they don't doubt of a plentiful Harvest, if we don't prevent them. And who­ever sees this Country, and knows it well, must needs con­fess, [Page 23]That Providence, in some measure, is Merciful to the Inhabitants, in permiting it to be the Seat of War; for else they must needs wallow in too great a Plenty, and become the most Wanton and Luxurious of any People under Hea­ven. They confess themselves, that if they could have but Three Years Peace out of Seven Years War, they should sub­stantially Recruit, and be well enough contented: And in­deed where-ever we March, or where-ever we Encamp, we have so great a Plenty of Flesh, Bread, Wine, Beer, and Fruits, or what is desired by the nicest Palate, brought after us in such Method and Order, and at such Reasonable Prizes, that I am sure there could be no such cheap living in King James's Camp on Hounslow-Heath, nor Eating or Drinking more wholsome and plentiful.

'Tis true, in this Country, every where, are abundance of Apples, Cherries, Green-Peas, and the like, which our unma­nag'd and foolish Soldiers, the first Campaign, eating greedily and unseasonably, were severely punished with Fluxes and Calentures; by which a great many of them miserably Perish­ed: But now all Officers are obliged, by a strict Care, to forbid them the Eating of Raw-Fruits, and to lay out their Money in good Flesh and Broaths, and to warn them daily of the sad Consequences of Intemperate Living: So that last Sum­mer our Men held out Brisk, Healthy, and Vigorous to the last; and do live as well, if they please, with as much Plenty of good Meat and Drink, as they can wish or reasonably de­sire to have in their own Country.

Moreover, in these Countries, in Times of War, there are often opportunities in which a Soldier may raise himself to a considerable Fortune: He that takes care of his Health, that lives Neat and Clean, that studies his Imployment, and is di­ligent in his Duty, lives always easie under his Officers, and has their Love and Commendation: And if he happens, in [Page 24]Service, to Survive a Battle, or a Siege, besides part of the Spoils and Plunder of the Field, which may happen to his share, he may often have his turn and tower of Spoiling and Moroding in the Country of his Enemy, in exacting of Con­tributions and burning of Villages, by which he may often get Purchases Rich and Valuable, as is allowed him by the Rules of War: But to conclude,

Our KING now sits Arbiter in one of the most August, the most Princely Assemblies that hath bin known these many Ages; and if He shall be the fortunate Instrument, as I hope He will, in making of a Peace, or at least-wise a Truce, be­tween the Ottomon and the Roman Emperors; if He shall lead his own Army, next Summer, in the Neterlands, I don't doubt, but that the old hardy German Army on the Rhine, and ours on the other side, on the Lower Flanders, will make such forcible Impressions on the French Territories, (which is the only thing they have still feared) as will soon alter the Title of Lewis le Grand, and scatter the People that delight in War.