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AN ACCOUNT OF THE SIEGE of MONS.
Published by Authority.
Hague, March 30. N. S. 1691.
THE King parted from hence the 26th instant for Breda, where His Majesty intends to stay till Sunday next, and then to go on for Flanders, to Head the Army, which is drawing together for the Relief of Mons; Ten Thousand Brandenburghers quartered in the Countrey of Liege, are already advanced as far as Leeuwe, and the rest of the Forces march with such Diligence, that they will be to morrow at their place of Rendezvous, between Louvain and Brussels, and together make a Body of 50000 Men, without reckoning the Scots Regiments that are newly arrived at Sluyce in Flanders.
In the mean time we have this Account of the Siege. On the 15th in∣stant Mons was invested by the French Horse; The next day part of their Foot came up, as the rest did the day following, and took their several Posts. On the 19th the Enemy began to work on their Line of Circum∣vallation, having for that purpose summon'd in several thousands of Coun∣trey People. On the 22d the French King arrived in the Camp, and it was thought the Trenches would have been open'd that day, but it was not done till the 25th at Night, when the Enemy began likewise to play up∣on the Town from three Batteries, but one of their Batteries sunk and dis∣mounted their Cannon. The French King did not stay in the Camp, but went to St. Guislain, where he has his Quarters; and the Dauphin his at Maubeuge.
On the other side the Town is well fortified, and has in it a Garrison of 7000 Men, besides the Burghers, who make as considerable a Body, are most of them Men well Disciplined and experienced in War, and very re∣solute and active in the Defence of the Place, in order whereunto they have uncovered their houses, and unpaved the Streets, to hinder the effects of the Enemies Bombs. They are very well Stored with Provisions and Ammunition, and the Prince de Bergue, the Governor, has sent Word to the Governor of Flanders, that he wants nothing, and doubts not but to give the Enemy work enough. The Besieged have made two Sallies, in which, 'tis said, they have killed 700 of the French, and very bravely repulsed the Enemy, in an Attack they made upon a Wind-Mill and a small Redoubt which lies at some little distance from the Town, and in this last Action the French lost almost a whole Regiment, and 'tis very confi∣dently reported that their Famous Enginier Monsieur Vauban was likewise killed here, Several Spanish Officers are got into the Town; From whence in a word, we have as good an Account of things as can be expected.