The life of Lewis of Bourbon, late prince of Conde digested into annals, with many curious remarks on the transactions of Europe for these last sixty years / done out of French.

THE HISTORY OF LEWIS de BOVRBON, Prince of Conde. First Book. (Book 1)

THE World has no such reason to won∣der,* 1.1 that tho' the Prince of Conde has been dead for so many Years, yet no Body attempted any sooner to write his Life.

He was a Prince whose Life was intermix'd with so many Varieties and Changes of Fortune,* 1.2 who signaliz'd himself by so many great and glorious Actions, and whose retiring from Business had some∣thing so Heroick in it, that it must be thence con∣cluded, that such a History, delightful in the Ge∣neral Knowledge of it, could not choose but be acceptable, when inlarg'd into particulars. And

it would be so much the more kindly entertain'd, in regard the Publick is encourag'd to believe that some Body will undertake it. For my part I have neither Memoirs anow, nor Ability sufficient to Enterprise so great a Work; so that I shall not ad∣venture to presume so far. The Design which I propose to my self, is only to collect together such Relations, as have been made from time to time, of the most remarkable Actions of this Prince, and to tack these Pieces in such a manner, one to another, as to make an Epitome of his Life, from his Birth to the time of his Decease: to the end, the Reader may have a view of the Battels which he won, or wherein he signaliz'd his Courage; the Sieges of the Towns which he took, and of the Consequence of those great Victories, to which indeed the Monarchy of France is beholding for her Grandeur.

* 1.3Lewis of Bourbon, the II. of that Name, that is to say, the Hero of whom I am now to speak, was born at Paris, the 8th. of September, in the Year, 1621. Lewis the XIII. his God-Father, gave him his own Name, and while his Father liv'd, he bore the Title of Duke of Enguiens. This Young Prince was Grand-Son to Lewis the I. that famous Prince of Conde, who after the Death of Henry II. put himself at the Head of the Male-contents, in the Civil-Wars about Religion, for those Reasons which are known to all the World; and Son of Henry of Bourbon, and Margaret of Monmorenci.

After the Death of Lewis I. Prince of Conde, who was slain after a most execrable manner, by a Captain of the Duke of Anjou's Guards, Hen. IV. who to preserve his Crown, found himself con∣strain'd to renounce his Religion, was desirous that the Young Henry should be bred up in the same Principles which he had embrac'd himself, and had begun both to practise and profess. To

which purpose, he was put into the Hands of those who were made choice of for his Education. And such extraordinary Care was tak'n to infuse into this Young Prince an early good Opinion and Af∣fection for the Catholick Religion, that never was any Prince more Zealous then He for the Roman Worship. Insomuch, that it may be said of him, that he was born for the Re-establishment of the Catholick Religion, which the Prince, his Father, would have rooted out of France; that he only li∣v'd to defend it; and that he was the Ornament and Glory of it.

It may be readily conjectur'd by this Portrai∣cture,* 1.4 that Prince Henry of Bourbon was no less desirous that his Son, the Duke of Enguien,* 1.5 should be brought up betimes in the knowledge of a Reli∣gion of which himself was in some measure the Support and Column. And he had a Passion so ex∣traordinary for it, that so soon as he arriv'd to be 8 Years of Age, his Father sent him to Bourges, to the Colledge of Jesuits, where he was committed to the Tuition of two Persons of that Order, the most able and learned that could be found. Thus the Young Prince continu'd Three Years in that House, going regularly every day to his Form or Classis, as well as the Rest of the Inferiour Schollers. And in regard he had a quick and piercing Wit, a retentive Memory, and a great number of Natural Endowments, his Tutors understood so well to cultivate his Genius, that at Twelve Years of Age he was able to discourse of Religion after a very rational manner, and at Thirteen Years of Age, he had improv'd himself so perfectly in his course of Phylosophy, that he maintain'd several Thesis's and Arguments in publick, with that subtlety and solidity that he became the wonder of all that heard him.

Certain it is, that this Great Prince was a pro∣per Receptacle for all manner of Sciences and Learning, but his predominant Passion led him to a Martial Life. For that reason he was desirous to understand the Art of War, so soon as he found himself in a Condition to undergo the Fatigues and Hardships that attend it. And he no sooner set forward in that Illustrious Career, but he made surprizing Progresses. His most Early Years were remarkable and signaliz'd with all the happy Pre∣sages that usually accompany the Infancy of Extra∣ordinary Men; and the Accomplishment of 'em was so quick, that People had hardly time to di∣stinguish the Effects from the Hopes.

The Marshalls de Chaunes, de Chatill••n, & de la Meilleraye, besieg'd the City of Arras, in the Year, 1640.* 1.6 And having repuls'd the Cardinal Infanta,* 1.7 who attempted to raise the Siege; they carri'd the Place two months after. The Duke of Enguien perform'd his first Campaign, under these Generals, as a Volunteer: and he signaliz'd himself, in this Siege, for his Bravery, all along, from the very first day that the Trenches were open'd; nor was it a little that he contributed to repair the Ig∣nominy of that ill Success which had some days before befall'n the French Army at the Sieges of Charlemont and Mariembourg, which they were con∣strain'd to raise.

He was Marrid the Year following, and espou∣sed Clara Clementia de Maille-Breze,* 1.8 who was Weal∣thy to abundance; for she was the Daughter of Marshal de Breze, who being Cardinal Richlie••'s Brother-in-law,* 1.9 had been advanc'd to Places of great Dignity and Importance.

'Tis said, that the Duke of Enguien, who aspi∣r'd to a higher Alliance, shewed at first a Re∣luctancy to match himself into the Family of that Minister, and that he stood upon his Punctilioes,

like a Person of great Honour and Gallantry. But in regard that Cardinal Richlieu, to speak properly was then King; some there are who say, that Lewis XIII. gave him to understand, that 'twas his Pleasure to have the Match concluded, unless he had a mind to incur his Anger; and that the Car∣dinal, whose will was a Law, had layd a Contri∣vance to have him arrested under some specious pretence, if he should hesitate never so little upon the Proposal which was made him; nay, if he did not make the first steps of Courtship to the Lady. However it were, the Duke of Enguien went to visit the Cardinal, who at that time was at Ruel: So that the Match was concluded at that Visit; and the 11th. of February the Nuptial Ceremonies were perform'd with Royal Magnificen••e.

War, as I have already said, being the prevail∣ing Passion that sway'd the Duke of Enguien,* 1.10 no sooner the French took the Field, in the Year, 1641. but he accompani'd Marshal de Meil••eray into Elan∣ders, and was at the Siege of Aire, which was a most remarkable Siege, and where he signaliz'd himself with no less Gallentry then in the Tren∣ches of Arras.

Aire Surrender'd upon Composition; but the Spanish Garrison was hardly march'd out of the Town, before the Spaniards made themselves Ma∣sters of Lil••ers, and immediately after, were re∣solv'd to fall upon the French in their Lines, or to starve 'em in their Entrenchments, if they refus'd to fight.

General Lamboy's Army, which the Spaniards had brought into Alsatia, puft up with the Victory which they had won at La Marfee, near Sedan,* 1.11 march'd just before the Van-guard, in the very Face of the French Army. Of which, so soon as Marshal Gassion had Intelligence, he Salli'd out of the Camp, with a part of his Regiment, to ob∣serve

the March of the Enemy, and to Charge 'em in the Rear, if they pass'd forward. But he was so surpriz'd to see so numerous an Army ma∣king towards him, that he retreated about a Mile, and made a stand, upon a Rising Ground, at the corner of a little Copse, where he stood secure. But that which stopt the Marshal de Gassion, could not stop the Duke of Enguien, who being mounted a Horseback, in Company with Marshal de la Me∣illeray, and about three or fourscore Lords, and some Volunteers, to view the Enemy, advanc'd so far, that all of a suddain they found themselves environ'd with two great Squadrons of Horse, from which they had much ado to free themselves; but at length they did get rid of 'em, in such a man∣ner as redounded highly to their Honour: For af∣ter a short, but very hot Conflict for the time, they regain'd their Lin••s, without much loss; and particular Commendations were bestow'd up∣on the Young Duke, for the Bravery and undaunt∣ed Courage which he had shew'd upon that Occa∣sion.

* 1.12In the Year 1642. Lewis XIII. being desirous to make himself Master of Perpignan, he order'd the Marshalls de Schomb••rg and Meilleray to besiege it; and that great Monarch was present, in Person, at the Siege,* 1.13 for some time. Nor could the D. of Enguien, who follow'd the King, fail of Employment in an Enterprize of that Nature. He commanded the Gentry and Nobility of Languedoc, and behav'd himself with so much Honour, that the Town be∣ing constrain'd to yield, a••ter a Resistance of four Months, believ'd she could not make a more glori∣ous Surrender then by delivering the Keys of her Gates to the Young Prince. How many Lives would those Marks of Valour have suffis'd to Ho∣nour, which the Duke of Enguien gave in his first three Campaignes! He shew'd an Ability to Com∣mand

so extraordinary, mo••e especially at the Siege of the last Place, that Lewis XIII. who in part had been a Witness of his great Actions, thought he could not do France a greater piece of Service,* 1.14 then to put him at the Head of his Armies.

After the taking of Perpignan, which was atten∣ded with the Surrender of Salces, and the total Reduction of the whole Country of Roussillon. Cardinal Richlieu dy'd upon the 4th. of Decem∣ber, 1642.* 1.15

All People imagin'd, that upon the Death of that Minister, the Face of Affairs would have strangely alter'd; and that Lewis the XIII. who had been as it were a Slave for twenty Years toge∣ther, would take that opportunity to break his Chains. But through a strange Fatality, not easie to be parallel'd, that Prince who had boasted, up∣on the News of the C••rdinals Death, that now he should begin to be a King, had not however the Courage to shake off so base and ignominious a Yoke; and notwithstanding the aversion he had for the Memory of that Cardinal, he saw himself constrain'd, through his own Cowardliness, not only to dissemble one part of his Sentiments, but to authorize the Disposal, which that Minister had made by his last Will, of the Principal Employ∣ments, and most important Preferments in the Kingdom. In a word, the Kindred and Favou∣rites of Cardinal Richlieu enjoy'd all the Advanta∣ges which he had procur'd 'em, altogether as pea∣ceably after his Death, as they did in his Life-time. And Cardinal Mazarin, who was the only Person of all his Creatures, in whom he most confided, and who was most deeply engag'd in his Interests, was made choice of to Succeed him in the Government of Affairs. Bu•• according to all probability, there was some Prospect of a suddain Change. For Lewis

XIII. had so long labour'd under a decaying and languishing Distemper, that there was no hope of any Cure, and then all People believ'd that so soon as the Queen, or the Duke of Orleance cam•• to the Regency, that Richlieu's Party would be utterly discarded; but they fla••ter'd themselves in vain. For Cardinal Mazarin, who fore-saw every thing that could happen, and who moreover had very powerful Reasons to side with the Queen, and pre∣serve his Authority by that means, made use of all his Power over the King, to infinuate into his mind, that it behov'd him of necessity to declare that Princess Regent.

The King was no way dispo'd to follow the Cardinals Advice. For besides the little Kindness which he had for the Queen, he was so ill satisfi'd with her Conduct, in regard of the Tyes which he believ'd she had with the Spaniard, by the Mediati∣on of the Dutchess of Chevreuse, who was fled for Sanctuary to Brussels; and he was otherwise so pre∣posess'd, that out of the design which the Dutchess had to Marry the Duke of Orleans, she had had a hand in the Conspiracy of Chalaes, Grand Master of his Wardrobe, who would have assassinated him, that tho' he gave great Credit to the Cardinals Advice, yet he would not give him any positive Answer touching that Matter. And indeed the King was at a great loss which way to turn himself. There was no Body could pretend to the Regency, if the Queen were Excluded, or oblig'd to have a Partner; and both the Queen, and the Duke of Or∣leans, were equally hateful to him. But Cardinal Mazarin would not be so put off. For in regard he sooth'd the Queen with every thing that could flatter her Hopes, he lost no time either in sollici∣ting the King, or causing him to be importun'd in Favour of that Princess. And the better to bring about his Design, and that at the same time he

might have the greatest part himself in the Man∣agement of Affairs, he took a Resolution to pro∣pound Conditions, so little to the Queens Advan∣tage, that Lewis XIII. who saw himself just drop∣ping into his Grave, thankt him for having disin∣gag'd him out of that Irresolution, wherein he had hesitated so long. For in short, altho' he consent∣ed, at last, that the Queen should be declar'd Re∣gent; yet the Power which he gave her was ex∣treamly limited, that Princess not being able to undertake any thing of her self, without first im∣parting the Business to the Counsel, of which the Cardinal was to be the Chief, and where things were to be carrid by Plurality of Voices.

But how disadvantageous soever these Conditi∣ons were to the Queen, the King however thought he had done enough, and the Queen, and the Car∣dinal, who had their Prospects, and their Ends, were highly satisfid that Things were brought to that point. Nevertheless, in regard the Business was not concluded, and for that the Kings mind might alter, the Cardinal left nothing omitted to keep the King steady in the Resolution he had ta∣ken, while the Queen,* 1.16 on her side, labour'd to win to her Party all the considerable Persons in the Court; of which number was the Duke of Enguien: and it was a long time before she thought of him.

But the Duke de la Roche Foucaut, who had always an Antipathy against Cardinal Richlieu, and sought all Opportunities to be serviceable to the Queen, having one day put it into her Head, that it would be of great Advantage to her to gain this Young Prince, she took it for good Advice. And the Duke of Enguien, who was glad of an opportuni∣ty to oppose the Authority of the Duke of Orleans, who aspir'd to the Regency, willingly accepted the Queens offer. The Queen promis'd to prefer him

before the Duke of Orleans, not only by the Mark of her Esteem and Confidence, but also in all Em∣ployments from whence it lay in her Power to Ex∣clude the Duke of Orleans, by such ways as they two should agree upon together, and which migh•• not provoke that Prince to a Rupture with her•• On the other side, the Duke of Enguien promis'd to be inseparably devoted to the Queens Interest, and to be beholding to her alone for all the Favours which he desir'd at Court. And now the Queen thought her self strong enough, when she saw her self assur'd of the support of this Young Prince; and therefore relying on the other side upon the Cardinal, she waited for the Kings Death with a great deal of Confidence.

* 1.17About that time the Duke of Enguien departed to Command the Army in Flanders, and lay the Foundations of those great Things which he per∣formed with so much Honour. Lewis the XIII. al∣so dy'd within a short time after,* 1.18 that is to say, the 14th. of May, in 1643. the very same day that he began his Reign.

After the Death of this Monarch, there happen'd one thing which perhaps never happen'd before in France, where there is a greater regard had to the Kings Pleasure, then in any other Monarchy, that the Parliament of Paris,* 1.19 which according to the Institution of it, is the Trustee and Guardian of all the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom, and which derives its Jurisdiction only from the King, cancell'd the Declaration of Lewis XIII. by which, as has been already said, he order'd a Councel for the Regency, to the end, the Queen, whom he thought incapable to manage the Government, might be under a kind of Tutelage. For the Queen, Four days after the King's Death, went to the Parliament, and there did what she pleas'd her self, in a manner so Advantageous to her self, that

••here could nothing more be done; the whole As∣••embly testifying that they desir'd nothing with so ••uch fervency, as that her Authority should be ••bsolute. In short, the Queen was confirm'd Re∣••ent by a Declaration of Parliament, bearing date ••he 18th. of May.

This Digression was absolutely necessary, as you ••ill find by what ensues. Now therefore to return ••o the Duke of Enguien, while these things were ••hus transacted in France, and that they were pre∣••aring to carry the King's Body to St. Denis, the ••paniards besieg'd Rocroy, and so vigorously press'd ••he City, that it was greatly to be fear'd it would ••all into the Enemies hands, unless it were speedily ••uccour'd. But the Duke of Enguien, who was al∣••eady set forward to Command the Army in Flan∣••ers, resolv'd to relieve the Place, and no less ••riskly to attack the Enemy, who seem'd as willing ••o come to a Battel; and he perform'd what he ••ndertook, as he had laid his Design. This Prince was then not above Two and Twenty Years of Age, and one of his Panegyrists has said, and that not without doing him Justice, that he had form'd •• Design which was above the reach of the Old Experienc'd Hoary-headed Captains; but which Victory however justifi'd. The Enemies Army ••as much more numerous then that which he Com∣••anded. It was compos'd of those Old Bands of Walloons, Italians and Spaniards, which never had ••een broken before; but all that could not make ••he Young Duke desist from his Enterprize. Don ••rancisco de Melos stay'd his coming, with a firm Resolution to engage him. He was a Captain for∣midable for his Consummate Experience, and for •• great many Victories which he had won, and be∣••ides all that, he lay entrench'd among Woods and ••oggs. All the Forces of the Kingdom, were ••ow to be ventur'd in one single Combat. Upon

that day depended the good or bad Fortune of the Regency. For in short, had the Duke lost that Battel, it would have been impossible for France to have stopp'd a Torrent, which would certainly have delug'dall Champaigne, Picardy, and the Neigh∣bourhood of Paris. The Consideration of so ma∣ny Dangers would have terrify'd any other Person but the Duke of Enguien. However, never did any General appear more Sedate, or more Un∣daunted. He lay the Night preceding that famous Battel, as if he had not thought of any such thing as fighting, and slept so soundly, that they were forc'd to wake him the next Morning. This Prince, who by that Battel open'd the way for so many others; upon that Occasion acted not only like a Man of his Birth, but like a Common Offi∣cer. He was in all places where danger appear'd. He receiv'd several Shot in his Cloaths, and in his Boots; he had a Horse wounded under him, with Two Musket Bullets; and he underwent all the Hazards and Fatigues of Combat, with so much gaiety, and a Look so chearfully unconcern'd, that he was the equal wonder as well of the Spaniards as the French.

Toward the end of Lewis the XIII. Reign, the Spanish Army was Master of the Field.* 1.20 Don Fran∣cisco de Melos, Governour of the Low Countries, had re-taken Air, and La Bassee, and won the Battle of Hannecourt. The Designs which were laid were vast; nor was his Ambition satisfid with re-ta∣king only those Places which Spain had lost. He foresaw that the King's Death would occasion great Troubles in France, and the Physitians had all ad∣judg'd his Distemper incurable; and every body was studying to make their best Advantages of the ensuing Minority. The French also, who were wont to loose by their Dissentions all the Advanta∣ges which they us'd to get in their Foreign Wars,

were about to have furnish'd Melos with a favoura∣ble opportunity to extend his Conquests.

Upon these Considerations he alters his design of Besieging Arras, the Preparations for which had taken him up all the Winter, and he resolvd to attacque Rocroy; as being a serviceable Post that gave him an Entrance into Champaigne, and there∣fore fit to make a Place of Arms, that lay conveni∣ent for all his Enterprizes. In a very short time after, Lewis the XIII. dyed, and his Death divided all the Court, as Melos well foresaw. The Cabals that were secretly held to get the Regency, threat∣ned France with a General Revolution. All the States of the Kingdom were unwilling to fall again under a Ministry like that of Cardinal Richlie••. The great Lords and Peers could not be easily in∣duc'd to buckle before a Minister, who possess'd a Station, of which every one thought themselves more worthy then himself. The Magistrates were unwilling to depend upon any Person, but the King, in the Exercise of their Duties, and could not brook the receiving Laws from a private Sub∣ject. And as for the People, they never fail to charge upon the Counsels of the chief Minister, all the Taxes and Impositions which have been layd upon 'em; and generally all Men are inclin'd to envy the Fortune. and hate the Person of a Fa∣vourite.

Thus the Remembrance of what was past be∣came Odious, and the future was to be fear'd; the Present was full of Trouble, and therefore great Care was to be taken of the Kingdom under so great a Change. All People wish'd for a Govern∣ment more Gentle and Free, but no Body agreed upon the means to bring it to pass.

Nevertheless, the King, before his Death, had nominated and appointed the Persons that were to compose the Council of the Regency. He had

also, at the same time, given the Command of his Armies to the Duke of Enguien; but to curb and moderate the Early Flames and Heats of Youth, frequently transported with desire of Glory, he gave him the Marshal de l' Hospital for his Lieute∣nant General and Counsellour. But notwithstand∣ing this same Settlement of Affairs, and all the Intreagues at Court, the Queen was declar'd Sole Regent with Absolute Power.

There was some likelyhood at first, that she would have call'd the Bishop of Beauv••is to the Mi∣nistry; and she had also some thoughts of procu∣ring a Cardinals Cap for him upon the first Promo∣tion. But that Prelat, instead of managing himself prudently and cautiously in the dawn of Favour, went about to ruine all those that Richlieu had ad∣vanc'd, and by that means drew upon himself a great number of Enemies. Now while he was un∣seasonably endeavouring to overturn all which that Minister had done, Mazarin took his Advantage of the whole, and made his Leagues with the Per∣sons that were in most Credit with the Queen. They whom the Bishop sought to pull down had recourse to the Cardinal's Protection. The Q. there∣fore fearing least he should create her a great deal of Trouble, took distaste at his Services; finding the Cardinal, at length, much more fit to supply the Place of Chief Minister. And they in whom ••he most con••ided, perswaded her to make this choice so that she resolv'd to send the Bishop back to his Diocess, and openly to declare her Inclinations to the Cardinal.

At first she met with great Obstacles; the very Name of Cardinal dreaded the minds of Men, re∣call'd past Mischiefs to their Memory, and caus'd 'em to fear worse for the future. Thus the Queens Creatures were divided, every one took his side, and Affairs were worse embroyl'd then before. Ne∣••ertheless,

the Cardinals Policy, and good Fortune, ••he Services which he had done France, the Queens ••esolution•• and the respect which all People had ••or her appeas'd the Male-contents. Nor did the ••lot layd against him by the Dutchess of Cheuruse, ••nd the Duke of Beaufort serve to any other pur∣••ose then to Settle and Confirm his Authority. And thus Melos was deceiv'd in his Prognosticks, as ••re all Foreigners that ground great hopes upon the Divisions of the French. For tho' their Natural Levity sometimes excites 'em to revolt; yet the in∣••ate respect and affection which they have for ••heir King, reduces them always to their Obedi∣ence. In short, the Grandees, the Parliament, and the People, submitted to the Queens Choice, and all Authority bow'd under the Ministry of Cardinal Mazarin, tho' he were a Foreigner, and that his Enemies publish'd him to be Originally a Subject of Spain, which was a Nation that had no Kindness for the French; and tho' but a little before he ap∣pear'd under an Eclipse far distant from so splendid an Elevation.

The Duke had carry'd himself imprudently in the management of the Enterprize against the Car∣dinal, and the Dutchess believing her self more Crafty, and more in the Queens Favour, scorn'd his Submissions. So that at the same time that the Duke and she were consulting to destroy him, the Duke was arrested, the Dutchess disgrac'd, the rest of the Cabal dispierc'd themselves, and France en∣••oy'd a more pleasing Calm then ever.

While the Court was busi'd in these Intreagues,* 1.21 the Duke of Enguien was preparing for the next Campaign. Amiens was the place appointed for the Rendezvouse of the Army, where the Prince ••rriv'd toward the end of April, 1643. and there ••et Gassion with part of the Forces: Espenan drew others together about L••on. Marshal de Grammen••

had put himself into Arras at the beginning of the Winter, and had a considerable Body in that place. The Duke of Enguien stay'd Three Weeks in Amiens in expectation of the Forces that were to meet there, and to penetrate the Designs of the Spaniards: He had also sent Gassion to Dourlens, with Orders to observe 'em more narrowly. At length he understood that Melos had drawn all his Forces together about Dovay, and that he was upon his March toward Landrecies, with a great Train of Ar∣tillery.

The Duke of Enguien muster'd as many men as possibly he could draw together near Amiens, and sent Orders to those that were more remote to join him in his March. The second day he lodg'd his Army near Peronne, whither La Ferte Seneterre brought him some Reinforcements of Infantry, and the Troops that had Winter'd in Arras, join'd him at the same place.

And now the Prince began to be impatient of coming to a Battel, choosing rather to hazard all, then to bear the ignominy of seeing a Town lost at the beginning of his Command. But in regard the Marshal de l' Hospital was altogether averse to this Design, the Duke of Enguien thought it requi∣site to bring that about by Policy, which he was unwilling to over-rule by his Absolute Au∣thority.

For this Reason he discover'd himself to no Bo∣dy but Gassion only; who being a Man that made slight of the most dangerous Attempts; he had soon brought the Business to the point which the Duke desir'd. For under pretence of putting Men into the Place, he had insensibly drill'd on the Marshal de l' Hespital so near the Enemy, that it was not in his Power to avoid a Battel.

The Army march'd forward to Guise, which was a place the most exposd of the Frontiers, and which might have been with ease reliev'd by the Spaniards. But the French Vanguard was hardly lodg'd in Fan∣some, when the Duke of Enguien was inform'd that the Spaniards were past by Landrecies, and Capelle, and that they made long marches toward the Meuse.

This made the Prince believe they had some de∣sign upon the Garisons in Champaign; and he had rea∣son to fear that he should not be able to overtake Me∣los, till the intrenchments of his Camp were finish'd, and perhaps not till he had taken some one of those places, which he knew to be ill furnish'd with Men and Amunition. This foresight caus'd him to send Gassion before, with a Body of two thousand Horse, to observe the designs of the Spa∣niards; and to put the Dragoons and Fuzeliers in such places as had most need.

All this while the Duke of Enguien contriv'd his March with all speed, and the Troops which E∣s••enan Command'd, met him at Ieigny: and there it was that he receivd certain intelligence that Mel••s had invested R••c••oy, and that he had began the same night to open his Trenches.

Upon which the Prince laid all thoughts aside, but those of speedily succouring that Place, when the news was brought him that Lewis the XIII. was Dead. Perhaps upon the same occasion, any other then the Duke of Enguien would have laid aside his Design of relieving Rocroy. His high Quality, his Affairs, the interest of his Family, the advice of his Friends recall'd him to the Court. Never∣theless, he preferr'd the General Good before his Private Advantages; nor would his eager per∣suit of Honour permit him to take a moments Consideration. Thereupon he conceal'd the news of the Kings Death, and march'd the next Morn∣ing

toward Rocroy; making Marshal de l' H••spital believe that his March so near that place, was only to supply it with a Reinforcement of Men and Ammunition, through the Woods that envi∣ron it.

Gassion rejoyn'd him in his March at R••migni, and gave him full information of all the Spaniards Proceedings; describ'd all their Posts, and shew'd him which way to come at 'em. For Gassion had march'd with that speed, that being arriv'd at the entrance into the Wood of Rocroy, in a very short time after they had posted themselves before the Place, he had put in a hundred and fifty men into it, and had observ'd by the s••ituation of the Places, that the whole Success of the Enterprize consisted in passing the Lanes, and presenting the Army in Battel Array between the Wood and the Town.

Rocroy is seated in the midst of a Plain environ'd with Woods so thick, and full of Boggs, that which way soever you go to it, 'tis impossible to avoid very long and incommodious Lanes, and nar∣row Passes. 'Tis true, that on that side next Cham∣pagne, there is not above a quarter of a League of Wood, and the Lane it self, which is very nar∣row of it self, grows broader and broader after∣wards; and the Plain is discover'd by degrees. But in regard the Country is full of heathy Ground, and very Boggy, there is no marching but in small Companies, till you come near Rocroy it self, where the Ground insensibly rising is much more dry then in the Wood; and affords a spacious Field sufficient for the drawing up two great Armies.

Melos, being arriv'd the 10th of May before the place, had divided his Army into six Quarters, made his Entrenchments, and plac'd the principal of his Forces on that side next the Lanes and nar∣row Passes, contenting himself to secure the rest by the general disposal of his Men; to the end

he might spare that time which is usually employ'd in raising a Circumvallation. Besides these precauti∣ons, which he had observ'd in the Enemies Posts, he found that they had placd a great Body of a Guard upon the Road to Champagne: And his Sentinels, and his Scouts were so well laid, that nothing could enter into the Plain but they must have knowledge of it. His Army was compos`d of Eight thousand Horse, under the Leading of the Duke of Albuquerque, and Eighteen thousand Foot, Commanded by the Count of Fontaine, among which were the Select Spanish Infantry.

The Duke of Enguien, being inform'd of all these things, call'd together all the Officers of his Army at Rumigni, and after he had lay'd before 'em all that Gassion had inform'd him, he declar'd that 'twas his resolution to do all that could be done for the relief of Rocroy, to which purpose he would pass the narrow Lanes with all the speed he could. That if the Spaniards undertook to defend 'em, they must be oblig'd to leave their Quarters ungarded, and consequently there would be a way left open for the Relief, which he intended to put into the Town; or if they suffer'd him to pass the Lanes without fighting, it would prove other∣wise to their advantage, so that the Army having room and space enough in the Plain, the Spaniards might be induc'd to come to a Battle; or at least that the French might be able to take Posts, and fortifie themselves, till they could amply provide for the Relief of the Besieged.

At last, the Prince told 'em, that the King was dead, and that at such a Conjuncture of trouble and Confusion, it behov'd 'em to hazard all, ra∣ther then loose the Reputation of the Armes of France. That for his part, there was not any thing which he would not venture, to prevent the taking of Rocroy. Thereupon they all conclud∣ed

upon giving Battle, and the Marshal de ••' Hospital made a shew of giving his consent.

For he imagin'd it may be, that the Spaniards would dispute the narrow Pass,* 1.22 and so the Enterprise would end in a bickering within the Wood; that in the mean time relief might be put into the Town; and that the Army not being engagd beyond the Pass, it would be easie to make a re∣treat, without coming to a General Battle.

Upon this a resolution was taken to march di∣rectly toward Rocroy: and the Duke of Enguien advanc'd the same day as far as Bossu, and dispos'd the Order of his Battle, to the end that every one might prepare himself for an Action, the success of which was of such importance to his Glory and the safety of France.

His Army was compos'd of Fifteen Thousand Foot, and Seven Thousand Horse, and they were to fight upon two Lines, supported by a Body of a Reserve; the Command of which was given to Sicot. The Marshal de l' Hospital took care of the Le••t Wing, and La Ferte Seneterre serv••d under him as Camp-Marshal. Espenan commanded all the In∣fantry; Gassion was under the D. of Enguien, in the Right Wing; and because they were to fight in difficult places, there was a Devision of fifty Mus∣queteers put between every Interval of the Squa∣drons. The Carbines, the Dukes Guards, and those of the Marshal de L' Hospital, together with the remainder of the Dragoons and Fuzeliers were plac'd on the right and left side of the Wings. These Orders being given, the Duke sent away the Baggage to Aubenton, and whatever else was useless in a day design'd to fight, and march'd in Battle Array, to the entrance of the Wood.

Mel•••• prest Rocroy so vigorously, that had it not been for the S••cour which Gassion had put into it, the French would hardly have had time to raise the Seige. The Garrison was so weak and ill provided, that the Spaniards made no attempt but what succeeded. And indeed they had been rightly inform'd of the bad condition of the place, which made 'em believe that the Town could never hold out till the arrival of any Succour, in regard the Duke of Enguien was at such a distance from them.

But the French Army was reinforcd by degrees with little Bodies of men which joynd them in their march, which was the reason that the Spaniards could not discover their Strength: besides that Intelligence was hard to come by, in regard the Country was all French. So that M••los never knew the true number of the Duke of En∣guien's Army, till the very day that they enterd the Pass. The last intelligence that he had of it was, that they were not above Twelve Thousand men; but he understood when it was too late that they were three and Twenty Thousand fighting Souldiers, and that they were also marching into the Wood.

Melos was constrain••d to a quick deliberation, whether he should defend the Pass, or whether he should stay in the Plain till they came to Attack him. 'Tis true there was nothing more easie for him to have done, then to have disputed the passage of the French Army, by planting his Infantry in the Wood, and supporting them with a good Body of Horse. It was also in his power, by a good management of the advantages which he had of the Woods and Boggs, to have found work enough for the French Army with one part of his men, and to have pusht forward the reducing of the Town with the other, which could not have held out above two days longer. This seem'd to be the most certain

Course, and every body thought that Melos would have taken it. But his Ambition was not be to limi∣ted by the taking of Rocroy. He imagin'd that the winning of a Battle would open him a way into the very Bowels of France; and the Victory which he had won at Honnecourt, put him in hopes of the same good Success before Rocroy. Besides that in hazar∣ding a Fight, he thought he could venture no more then the least part of his Army, and some Fron∣tier Towns. Whereas by the defeat of Enguien, he propos'd to himself infinite advantages, in the beginning of a Regency not well settl'd.

Upon these considerations Melos, who according to the Spanish genius, let go the Present, out of an extraordinary greediness after the Future, resolv'd upon a General Battle. And to the end he might the more easily induce the D. of Enguien to it, he stay'd for him in the Plain, and made not the least Effort to dispute the Passage of the Narrow Lanes. Not but that Melos might have been constrain'd to have done that by Force, which he did of his own ac∣cord; in regard that while he stood consulting, the time was almost over for debate. For the formost Troops of the Dukes already appear'd, and the French Army had already past the Lanes, be∣fore Melos could draw all his Quarters together. Nevertheless, had he done in time what he ought to have done to oppose his passage, the Duke of Enguien would have been hard put to it to have ••orc'd him; in regard there is nothing so difficult as to get clear of long incumbrances of Woods and Marshes in the sight of a Potent Army drawn up in a Plain. However it were, we find that Melos had prepar'd himself for a General Battle, since he took all the care he could to get his Forces to∣gether; and had sent for Beck, who was gone ••oward the Palatinate, to joyn him with all speed.

The Duke march'd in Battalia, drawn up in two Columns, from Bossis to the entrance of the Pass; while Gassion rod before with a Party of Horse to observe the Enemy; and finding the Pass defended with no more then an ou•• Gaurd of Fifty Horse, he repuls'd 'em, and brought the Duke word how easily he had made himself Master of the Pass.

In this place it was that the Duke thought it convenient to speak his mind more plainly to the Marshal de l' Hospital, because the Marshal saw, that if they advancd forward into the Plain, it would be impossible to avoid a Battle. Gassion also usd all his Rhetorick to engage him to it, but still the Marsh••l oppos'd him. But the Duke put an end to the Dispute, and told him in a Commanding tone, that he would take the event upon him∣self.

Upon that the Marsh••l no longer contested, but put himself at the Head of the Saquadrons which he was to Command. He then causd the right Wing to advance through the narrow Passes, lodging the Infantry in the most difficult places, to secure the passage of the rest of the Army. At the same time also he advancd with a Party of Horse to a small rising ground, within half Canon shot of the Spaniards. So that if Melos had then Chargd the Duke he had certainly De∣feated him. But immediately the Duke so well cover'd that rising ground, with the Squadrons which he had about him, that the Spaniards could not discover what was done behind.

Melos could not imagine that so great a Body of Horse, would have advanc'd so far without being seconded by Infantry; however; all he did was only to try by slight Skirmishes, whether he could open a way to see behind the Rear of the Squadrons: but not being able to break through, he began to think of nothing else but puting his men into Battalia.

Thus both Generals concurr'd in one and the same Design•• The Prince made it his whole business to pass the Woods, and M••los labour'd only to unite his seperated Quarters together. The place which the Duke made choice of for the field of Battel was wide enough to range his whole Army in the same order as he had contriv'd before. The ground was there somewhat more raisd then in the parts adjoyning, and extended it self insensi∣bly into all the rest of the Plain. There was a great Bogg upon the lefthand, and the Wood not be∣ing very thick in that part was no hindrance to the Squadrons from drawing into Order. Just op∣posite to that Eminency which the Duke possessd, there was another rising Ground almost resembling it, where the Spaniards planted themselves, and made the same Front as the French, and between the two Battels a hollowness ran along in the na∣ture of a Valley.

By the situation of this place 'tis easie to judge, that neither of the two Parties could attack each other without ascending. Nevertheless, the Spa∣niards had this advantage, that upon the declensi∣on of their rising ground and before their Left Wing, there grew a Cops of Underwood, which descended a good way into the Valley, where it was an easie thing for them to plant Musketeers to gall the Duke as he marchd toward 'em.

The Two Generals labour'd with extraordinary Diligence to Marshal their Troops as they came se∣verally up, and instead of Skirmishing, as is usual when Two Armies meet, they spent their whole time in ordering their Men.

All this while, the Spanish Canon annoy'd the Fr••nch much more then the French Canon did the Spaniards, because they had a greater number, more advantageously planted, and better ply'd. Th••refore still as the Duke extended the Wings

of his Army, the Enemy play'd furiously with their Canon, that had it not been for their extra∣ordinary Resolution, the French could never have kept the Ground which they posess'd. There were above three Hundred Men that day slain and wound∣ded by the Canon Shot, among whom the Marqui••s of Persan, Camp-Master of a Regiment of Infan∣try, receiv'd a Shot in his Thigh.

About Six a Clock in the Evening, the French Army had pass'd the Defile, and the Body of the Reserve being got clear of the Wood, advanc'd to the Ground which was assign'd it. The Duke also, unwilling to give the Spaniards any longer time to secure their Posts, prepar'd to begin the Fight; and the Order of March was given throughout the whole Army, when an unlucky Accident not to be foreseen had like to have put all into an ex∣tream Confusion, and given the Victory to Melos.

La Ferte Seneterre alone commanded the left Wing in the Absence of the Marshal de l' Hospital, who was with the Duke. That Wing of the Ar∣my was defended by a Bogg on the one side, so that the Spaniards could not attack it; and therefore la Ferte had nothing to do but to keep ••irm in his Post, and expect the signal of Battel. The Duke had never quitted the right Wing, where while the O••ficers were ranging the Squadrons in their pro∣per Places, he made it his chief Business to observe the Countenance of the Enemy, and in what pla∣ces it would be most to his Advantage to Charge 'em. But then it was that la Ferte, perhaps by some secret Order of the Marshal, or else out of Emulation and Envy to Gassion, to Signalize him∣self by some extraordinary Exploit, would needs be trying to put a considerable Reinforcement into the Town. And to that purpose order'd all the Cavalry to pass the Marsh, together with Five Bat∣talions

of Foot; by the sending away of which Detachment the Left Wing became naked of Horse and much weaknd by the want of a great Body o•• Foot.

But so soon as the Duke had Intelligence of it•• he order'd both Horse and Foot to make a halt, and flew to the Place where the Confusion call'd him. At the same time also, the Spanish Army mov'd forward, their Trumpets sounding a Charge, as if Melos had design'd to take his Advantage of the Disorder. But the Prince having supply'd the void space of the first Line. with some Troops of the second, the Spaniards stopt; which shew'd that they had no other intent then to gain Ground to range their second Line.

There are certain Critical Minuits in War, that flie away with the winged swiftness of Lightning, if a General has not a piercing Eye to watch 'em, and a presence of Mind to seize upon the Oppor∣tunity. Fortune never sends 'em again; nay, ma∣ny times she turns with Indignation against those that were so blind as not to lay hold of her Fa∣vours. The Duke of Enguien therefore sent to Command la Ferte back again, so that the Detach∣ment re-pass'd the Bogg, with all speed, and before Night, the whole Army was re-settl'd in their ap∣pointed Posts. Thus, this Accident did but only delay the Battel, and wrought no other Inconveni∣ence, only that it gave the Spaniards time to spread themselves more at large, and put themselves into somewhat better Order then they were be∣fore.

The Night was very dark, but the Forest being near, the Souldiers kindl'd such a vast number of Fires, as enlightn'd all the Plain, and both Ar∣mies were surrounded with an Enclosure of Wood, as if they had been to ••ight in a Box. Their Corps du Guards were so near each other, that there was

no distinguishing the French Fires from the Spanish, and both Camps seem'd to be but one.

So soon as it was Day, the Duke gave the signal to March; and the Duke himself, at the Head of his Cavalry, charg'd a Thousand Musqueteers, which the Count of Fontaines had lodg'd in the Wood; and tho' they fought in a place, as it were intrench'd by Nature, and advantageous for Foot, the Attack was so Vigorous, that they were all cut to pieces upon the Place. However, for fear the Squadrons should be Disorder'd, and Bro∣ken, by crossing the rest of the Wood, where that Infantry was Defeated, the Duke, with the second Line of the Cavalry, turn'd to the Left, and com∣manded Gassion to lead the first Line about the Wood upon the Right. Thereupon, Gassion ex∣tended his Squadrons, marching under the Covert of the Wood, and Charg'd the Enemies Cavalry in Flank, while the Duke attack'd 'em in Front.

All this while, the Duke of Albuquerque, who commanded the Left Wing of the Spaniards, knew nothing as yet of the first Action, nor had he fore∣seen that he might be Attack'd in two places at once. For he rely'd upon the Musqueteers that were lodg'd in the Wood, and cover'd his first Line; to that finding himself in some Disorder upon this Attack, he thought it proper to oppose some Squadrons against Gassion, by whom he was ready to be surrounded. But there is nothing so dangerous for a General, as to make great Moti∣ons before a Potent Enemy just ready to assail him. For those Squadrons, already tottering, were bro∣ken at the first Charge, and all Albuquerques's Troops overturn'd one another. The Duke see∣ing 'em flie, commanded Gassion to pursue 'em, and turn'd short against the Foot.

Marshal de l' Hospital fought not with the same Success, for having gallopp'd his Horse upon the Enemy, they were out of Breath before they came to join. The Spaniards therefore stood firm to re∣ceive 'em, and broke the French upon the first En∣counter. The Marshal, after he had fought with an extraordinary Valour, had his Arm broken with a blow of a Pistol, and had the Misfortune to see all his Wing betake themselves to headlong flight. The Spaniards follow'd their Blow vigorously, cut some Battallions of Infantry to pieces, gain'd the Canon, and never stay'd till they came within sight of the Reserve, which put a stop to their Victory.

While the two Wings fought with such unequal Success, the French Infantry march'd against the Spanish. And already some Battallions were enga∣ged. But Espenan, who commanded the Foot; understanding the Misfortune that had befallen the Left Wing, and seeing that all the Spanish Infantry stay'd for him in good Order, and with a more then ordinary fierceness in their Countenances, thought it convenient not to be too rash, but to hold the Enemy in play with light Skirmishes, till he saw which of the two Cavalries had the better.

In the mean time, the Duke of Enguien had over∣thrown all the Walloon and German Foot, and the Italians had betaken themselves to flight, when he perceiv'd the Rout of the Marshal. Then the Prince clearly saw that the Victory depended wholly upon the Troops which he had with him; and therefore giving over the pursuits of the Foot, he march'd behind the Spanish Battallions, against their Caval∣ry, which gave Chase to the Left Wing of the French Army; and finding the Enemy Disorder'd by the pursuit, he easily put 'em to a total Rout.

La Ferte Seneterre, who was taken Prisoner in the Rout of the Left Wing, where he fought with an extraordinary Courage, was found wounded in several places, and rescu'd by the Duke. Thus the Right Wing of the Spaniards enjoy'd their Vi∣ctory but a short time. They that pursu'd were now forc'd to flie themselves; and Gassion meeting 'em in their flight, put the greatest part of 'em to the Sword.

Of all Melos's Army, there now remain'd only the Spanish ••oot; and they were serrid in one Bo∣dy together near the Canon. More then that, the good Order which they kept, and their sower Looks, shew'd that they would sell their Lives at a dear Rate. They were commanded by the Count of Fontaines, who was one of the greatest Captains of his Time, and tho he were forc'd to be carry'd in a Chair, because of his Infirmities, yet he would be every where giving Orders.

But the Duke understanding that Beck was Mar∣ching with Six Thousand Foot toward the Entrance of the Wood, never stood to consider whither he should Charge the Infantry or not, tho' he had but a small number of Horse with him. The Count of Fontaines also stood him with a brave Resolution, not suffering his Men to Fire till the Fernch were within Fifty Paces of him. But then his Battallion open'd, and of an Instant a Discharge of Sixteen Canon, laden with Cartouches, saluted the French Infantry, which was accompany'd with a showre of small Shot, as thick as Hail. This was such a terrible welcome that the French were not able to brook it, so that if the Spaniards had had but Horse to have follow'd their Blow, the French Foot could never have been rally'd.

But having no Horse to disturb 'em, the Duke soon rallyd 'em again, and brought 'em on to a se∣cond attack; which had the same Success as the

former: and in short, he charg'd those Veterane Spani∣ards Three times without being able to break 'em. But then the Body of the Reserve came up, and several Squadrons returning from the pursuit of the Spanish Horse re-joyn'd the Prince••s Body. And then the Spanish Infantry being surrounded on every side, and overlay••d with Multitude, was constraind to give way to Number. So that the Officers layd aside all Thoughts of any longer defending them∣selves, but by the motion of their Hats made a sign of calling for Quarter.

Upon this the Prince advancing to receive their Parole, and give them his, the Spanish Foot thought that the Prince had been going to make another Attack upon 'em, and upon that mistake discharg'd a full Volly at him, which was the grea∣test danger he was in, during the whole bloody Work of the Day. Which his men perceiving, and attributing it to the Treachery of the Spani∣ards, chargd 'em on every side without expecting any Orders, and reveng'd the Risco which their General had escapd, with a most dreadful Slaugh∣ter of the Spaniards.

The French pierc'd into the midst of the Spanish Battallion, killing all that stood in their way, and notwithstanding all that the Duke could do, gave Quarter to none, but more especially to the Swit∣zers, who are usually more Merciless then the French The Prince flew about every where, cal∣ling to the Souldiers to give Quarter: The Spanish Officers also, and likewise the Common Souldiers, crowded about him for shelter, and Don George de Castelui, Camp-Master, was taken by his own hand. In short, all that could escape the Fury of the Soul∣diers ran in heaps to beg their Lives of him, and beheld him with Admiration.

So soon as the Prince had given Orders for se∣curing the Prisoners, he made it his Business to

••ally his Men, and to put himself in a Condition ••o fight Beck, if he should happen to worst Gassion, ••r if he should adventure to engage him in the ••lain. But Gassion returning from the pursuit of ••he Fugitives, told the Duke, that Beck made no haste to come out of the Forest, only contented himself to pick up the shatterd Wrecks of the Defeat. That he had done it in so great Disorder, and with so little Knowledge of the Advantages he might have made of the narrow Passes of the Fo∣rest, that any one might plainly perceive that the Terrour of Melos's Men, had struck his Souldi∣ers with the same dismay. In a word, after he had savd some remnants of the Spanish Army, he retreated with an incredible precipitancy, leaving behind him two pieces of Canon.

The Duke finding his Victory absolutely secure, fell upon his Knees in the midst of the Field of Battel, commanding all his Men to do the same, and gave God Thanks for his great Success. And certainly all France was no less obligd to pay her Thanksgivings to Heaven, and her Thanks to Him. For assuredly it may be said that for many Ages, France had never won a Battel more Glorious, nor of greater Importance.

And indeed great Actions were perform'd on both Sides. The Valour of the Spanish Infantry can never be sufficiently applauded. For it is a thing but rarely heard of, that after the Rout of an Army, a Body of Foot deprivd of Cavalry, ever had the Resolution, in open Field, not only to stand One but Three Attacks, without being so much as stirr'd; and it may be truly said, that if the Reserve had not come up, the Prince as Victori∣ous as he was over the rest of the Army, could never have broken that stout and Courageous In∣fantry.

One extraordinary Action of the Regiment of Velandia was remarkable. In the first Onset which the Duke made on that Regiment, the Musketeers being cut in pieces, and the Body of Pikes being surrounded on every side by the French Horse, they made a ••low retreat, in a Body, to the Gross of the Spanish Infantry.

When the Left Wing of the French was broken, Word was brought to Sirot that he should save the Body of the Reserve, and make his escape; that there was no other remedy, in regard the Battel was lost. To which he answer'd, without being mov'd in the least, 'Tis not yet lost, because Sirot and his Companions have not yet fought. In short, his Courage contributed very much to the Victory. But by the report of the Spaniards themselves, no∣thing appeard so worthy of Admiration as the Presence of Mind, and Sedateness of the Duke, in the hottest Fury of the Battel: particularly when the Enemies left Wing was broken; for in∣stead of greedily following the pursuit, he pre∣sently turnd upon their Infantry. By which reserv'd∣ness he kept his Men from breaking their Order, so that he was in a Condition to assail the Spanish Cavalry who thought themselves Victorious. Gas∣sion won Eternal Honour, and the Duke gave him great Marks of his Esteem. For upon the Field of Battel it self, he promisd to procure him a Mar∣shal of France's Battoon, which the King granted him some time after.

Of Eighteen Thousand Foot, of which Melos's Army consisted, there were above Eight Thousand slain upon the Place, and near Seven Thousand Prisoners. The Count of Fountaines, Camp-Master General, was found dead near his Chair, at the Head of his Men. The Loss of him was a long time after bewaild by the Spaniards. The French applauded his Courage, and the Prince himself said,

That if he ••ould not have got the Victory, he wo••ld ••••ve dy'd as he did. Valandia, and V••lalva, under∣went the same Fate: All the Officers were either ta∣ken or slain.

The Spaniards also lost Eighteen Pieces of Canon, and Six Battering Pieces, Two Hundred Colours of Foot, and Sixty of Horse. The Pillage was great; for that besides the Booty of the Baggage, there was the Money of a whole M••ste••, which the Army was to have receivd after the taking of Ro••roy. Of the French were kill'd in all about Two Thousand, but very few Officers or Persons of Quality.

The D. lodgd his Army in the Enemies Camp, and after he had given Order for the wounded, ente••'d a Victor into Rocroy. The next day, he understood that Melos retird out of the Battel, upon the rout of the right Wing of his Army, and never minded the rallying of the Fugitives till he was got under the Canon of Philip••ille.

His Cavalry re-join'd him in the same Place, but the Foot were utterly ruind, and the following Campaigns made appear the Vastness of the Loss, which Spain could never yet repair. So true it is, that a good Army of Foot cannot be too carefully preservd, whether in War or Peace; seeing it is not in the power of the greatest Kings, in a long time to recover a lost Body of Old Officers and Souldiers, accustom'd to fight together and endure the Fatigues of War.

The Duke, after he had stayd at Rocroy Two days, led his Army to Guise, the same way that he came. There he rested some days, during which the Prince prepard every thing ready to enter the Enemies Country. For in regard the Magazines had been only provided for the Defensive part, there was a necessity of Storing up Provisions and Ammunition, in the most advancd Places of the Frontiers.

Flanders lay open on every side; which way soe∣ver the Duke had a Design to Lead his Victorious Army, there was nothing to oppose his Passage. He might either attack Mets, or the Towns upon the Scheldt, or the Moselle.

There was also great probability that all these Enterprizes•• might prove extreamly Beneficial. But the winning of the Sea-Towns seemd the most Advantageous, which would not only be an Assistance to the Hollanders, but deprive the Low-Countries, at the same time, of the most speedy Succours which they receiv'd from Spain. But the Duke of Enguien knew, that the Hollanders were afraid of nothing so much, as of having the French to be their Neighbours, and that they would ra∣ther make a Peace, and Confederate themselves with the Spaniards, tho their Natural Enemies, then endure that France should extend her Con∣quests over those Places, which serve as Barricades between the Spanish Territories, and those of the Vnited Provinces. Moreover it was impossible to take either Gravelin or Dunkirk, without a Fleet: Nor were the Kings Fleets in a Condition to keep the Sea. So that there wanted both Time, Money, and Negotiations, to vanquish the Mistrusts and Jealousies of the States-General, and engage em to lend their Ships; so that the Duke gave over that Design.

There remain••d Two other Places, the Scheldt and the Moselle. The first was very difficult, in regard the Remains of the shatter'd Spanish Army were got thither, besides that the French had no Magazines on that side. The last Design was of great Importance toward the Conquest of Flanders, because Thionville, and all the other places upon the Moselle opend an Entrance for the German Ar∣mies into Flanders. So that the Duke not being in a Condition to take Sea Towns, could not under∣take

any thing more Advantageous then the Siege of Thionville, to the end that by possessing himself of this Place, he might hinder the Enemies Commu∣nication between Germany and Flanders, and by this Conquest settle the posture of his Affairs, against the next Campaign, for greater Enterprizes.

It was easie to furnish his Army with Subsistance on that side next Champaign. All Preparations ne∣cessary for a great Siege had been Stord up there during the Winter. The Deceasd King had caus'd Provision and Ammunition to be transported thither, with a Design to carry the War into Fr••nche Conte: and Marshal de Meilleray was to have undertaken that Enterprize. But the Kings Death having overturnd all those Projects, and the Army in Italy being too weak to keep the Field, Meilleray's Forces were parted into Two Bodies. One part pass'd the Alps under Viscount Turenne, and the other commanded by the Marquiss de Gesvres, servd under the Duke. Nevertheless, it requir'd time to fetch out of Burgundy and Cham∣paign, all the Ammunition and Train of Artillety. And therefore the Duke would not encline toward Thionville, for fear General Beck should reinforce it with Men. The Prince therefore Marchd into the middle of Flanders on purpose to alarum the Principal Cities, and to oblige the Enemy to streng∣then the Garisons, his Designs being to return the same way he came, and to sit down unexpected be∣fore Thionville.

To this purpose he dispatchd away St. Martin, Lieutenant of the Artillery, with Order to bring Ammunition to the Frontiers of Champaign; and he wrote to the Intendant of that Province to provide great quantities of Corn and Provision for the Subsistance of the Army, and then marchd to∣ward Hanault, through Landrecies. Emery and Bar∣lemont* 1.23 Surrender'd after some few Discharges of

the Great Guns, and Mauberge open'd her Gates without Resistance. He mov'd forward as far as Binch, which the Enemy had reinforc'd with some Men; and that he might still carry on his Counter∣feit show, he attackd that small Place, which Sur∣rende••'d the same day at Discretion. There the Prince stay'd Fifteen days without undertaking any thing, till the Preparations for the Siege of Thion∣ville were all ready. On the other side, as the Prince foresaw, the Spaniards were retir'd, with their Cavalry, under the Guns of the fortifi'd Towns, and the remainder of their Infantry was disperc'd into the Cities adjoining to the French Army. So that 'twas easie for the Prince to get before 'em by wheeling of a suddain toward Thi∣onville.

He sent strong Parties from Binch, to the Gates of Brussels, and struck a Terror into the Cities that lay most remote. But at length, word being brought him that every thing was ready in Cham∣paign for the Siege, and that the Marquiss of Gese∣res was arrivd with the Body under his Command; the Duke set forward from Binch, and return'd by the way of Barlemont and Mauberge, re-entring into the Plain of Roeroy, through the same Pass, thorough which the Spaniards retreated after the loss of the Battel.

Upon his departure, he sent away d•• Aumont with Twelve Hundred Horse to join the Marquiss of Gesvres, and invest Thionville. Sicot was order'd to convoy the heavy Artillery by the way of Toul and Mets, while the Infantry, with some Field-pie∣ces, marchd toward Thionville.

All these things were executed according to the Duke's Orders. Nevertheless d' Aumont, and de Gesvres did not arrive before Thionville, till Two days before the Prince. For, notwithstanding the great falls of Rain, and the Hardships which the

Foot suffer'd in their March, he was but Seven days marching between Binch and Thionville; choosing some of his way through the Country of France, the more to conceal his Design, and passing the Meuse at S••dan, he cross'd Luxemburgh, and sate down the Seventh day before Thionville.

This Town is Seated upon the Banks of the Mo∣selle, on Luxemburgh side; not above Four Leagues below Metz. The Plain where it is Seated is very fertile; and Border'd on Two sides with little Hills cover'd with thick Woods. The Advantage of the Place, and Beauty of the Country, was the reason that great Expence and Art had been be∣stow'd upon the Fortifications of it. It had been all along in the Possession of the House of Austria, only when it was taken by the Duke of Guise, in the Reign of Henry the II. till the First Treaty of V••rvins, at what time it was restor'd to the Spani∣ards. The Misfortune that befel F••quieres in 1639. had render'd it Famous, during the last Wars, and every Body lookt upon it as a Conquest of Im∣portance, but which would cost dear.

The Moselle secures it wholly on the one side; so that on that side there is only one Rampart termi∣nating in a right Line. The remaining Circuit is fortifi'd with Five great Bastions, lin'd with Free-Stone, and Two Demi-B••stions at the Two Ends that re-join the River. The Mote is large, deep and full of Water. The Counterscarp is very broad, and the Courtins cover'd with Five Half Moons; and before the Gate on that side next to Cirque, stands a great Horn-work. The Country round about it is so plain and level, that there is no approaching the Town without being expos'd to great and small Shot; and the adjoining Hills command the Plain in several Parts, which makes the raising a Circumvallation difficult. There were Eight Hundred Foot in the Town, and Store of

Ammunition and Provisions when the Duke sate down before it.

So soon as the foremost Troops began to enter the Plain, he caus'd the Commander Grancy to pass the River, with the Cavalry, to hinder the En∣trance of any Relief, before the Quarters were as∣sign'd. This Grancy, had commanded at the First Siege in 1639. and was ••ully acquainted with the Situation of the Places and Passes, through which the Spaniards could steal in Relief. But many things happen in War which all the Prudence of a General, and his Principle Officers, cannot pre∣vent.

While Grancy pass'd the River, the Prince stay'd in the Plain, and as his Forces came up, order'd 'em to be posted in all the Avenues which were most to be suspected; referring till the next day the Appointment of their several Quarters, and the Settlement of the Camp. The whole Army also stood to their Arms all that Night, without hearing the least News of the Spaniard. Yet by break of day word was brought to the Duke, that a Reinforcement of near Two Thousand Men was got into the Town, through the Count of Gran••y's Quarters.

Nevertheless, the Count had plac'd his Corps du Guard with all the Care imaginable; besides that he visited all the Posts himself, with an extra∣ordinary Vigilance. Nor had he had any Alarum all the Night long. However, an Hour before day one of his Parties brought Two Country-Men to him, who affirm'd that some Spanish Troops had p••ss'd the River at Cirque, and that they march'd along the Bank of the River, and got into Thion∣vil••e; and they told their Story with so many Circumstances, and so much Probability, that Grancy believ'd 'em. At the same time therefore he chang'd the Order of his Guards, and leading

all his Forces to that Place which the Peasants had describ'd to him, he left but Two Regiments to Guard the Post toward Mets.

In short, Two Thousand Men had pass'd the Ri∣ver at Cirque, but they took another way, then that which the Peasants Information mention'd. For, instead of keeping close to the River, they had ta∣ken a compass round about the Wood to enter into the Plain on that side next Metz. And indeed the Spantards perform'd their Business with extraordi∣nary Diligence and Courage, so that by peep of day they were discover'd, marching directly to the Half-Moon; so that the French Guards, astonish'd at this Alarum, Charg'd the Relief too late, and with some Disorder. And whether the Spaniards perform'd any Exploit more remarkable then usu∣al, or whether the Guards were remiss in their Duty, that Reinforcement enter'd Th••onville with∣out any loss.

The Duke was not a little displeas'd at the News; he saw it would much retard the taking of the Place, and by Consequence delay those other Con∣quests which depended upon this, if it did not quite put 'em off till the next Campaign. A place like Thionville well fortifi'd and defended by a nu∣merous Garison, could not be carry'd in a small time, nor without a great Loss of Men. But all these Inconveniencies did not hinder the Prince from continuing the Siege: On the contrary, he apply'd himself to it with so much the more Dili∣gence, as the peril and difficulties were the greater which he had to surmount. He foarded the River that he might be able to assign his Souldiers their Posts on that side, and he order'd Two Bridges of Boats to be made both above and below the Town. After he had Lodg'd his Men also in Two little Villages on that side next Lorraine, he appointed the Guards, and mark'd out the Place where he

would have the Line of Circumvallation drawn along; which done, he re-pass'd the River to give the same Orders on Luxemburgh side.

Immediately he divided his Army into Five Quarters. The greatest Body of his Horse he en∣camp'd in a Meadow, along the River, on that side next Mets; where Gassion was also Quarter'd to Command 'em. The Head Quarters were taken up near Gassion's, in a small Village, almost a Mile from the Plain, upon the Bank of a Rivolet which crosses it, and which falls into the Moselle at the Foot of the Counterscarp of Thionville.

There the Duke Lodg'd himself, with the Prin∣cipal Body of the Infantry, and extended his Camp into the Plain, as far as the Foot of the Mountains; and the Regiments of ••ambuzes, and the Swisses un∣der Molendin Posted thems••lves upon the rising Grounds, near the Woods, with which the Hills were cover'd.

There was one much higher then the rest, which Commands not only all the Plain of Thionville, but all the Hills that lie round about it. The Impor∣tance of that place constrain'd the Duke to settle there a Powerful Quarter; for which the Camp was mark'd out in the middle of the Hill, and d' Aumomt had the Command of it. Dand••••••t com∣manded the other Quarter. Ges••res undertook with his little Army to Guard that side next to Cirque, from the River to the rising Grounds. Pal∣luau and Sicot had the Care of all that lay beyond the River, in regard Grancy was fallen Sick, and had left the Camp.

So soon as the Quarters were dispos'd, the Duke order'd the Line of Circumvalation to be cast up, and large Forts to be trac'd out upon the rising Grounds, which commanded the greatest part of the Plain. At the same time he also secur'd his Line

with Redoubts, supplying the weakest parts with sharp pointed Piles of Wood; and Pallisadoes.

All this while the Convoys arriv'd from all parts with Amunition and Provisions; and for twenty days together that the Circumva••lation was fini∣shing, the Duke caus'd to be brought from Mets thirty battering Pieces, and order'd great provisi∣on to be made of Planks and Oken Timber, Sacks of Earth and Bavi••s to carry on the Trenches, and for the service of the Artillery. On the other side, the Besieged prepar'd all things necessary for their Defence; and while their Infantry was imploy'd in raising new Works, and repairing the Old, their Cavalry Sally'd out every day to annoy the Besiegers.

The Sally which they made two days after the Division of the Besiegers Quarters, was so vigorous that they came on so far as the Duke of Engui••••'s Camp; and the Count of Tavans had his Arm broken with a Pistol Shot•• The Plain was every day full of Skirmishes, and some of them happen'd to be such obstinate Conflicts, that as many men were lost on both sides as in many more remark∣••ble Encounters. But the last was the most vi∣gorous of all. For at the time that the Duke was providing a great number of Gabions and Faggots near a Chappel in the midst of the Plain; the Besieg'd, resolving to see what he was doing, ••al∣l••'d out w••th the greatest part of their Horse, to view those preparations near at hand, which they could not so well discerne at a distance.

The Afternoon was almost spent in skirmishing, when the Duke incens'd to see the Enemy keep the Plain so long, commanded Dandelot to drive 'em into the Town. Dandelot perform'd his Orders with extraordinary Courage, but with great precepitancy, for that he could not be fol∣low'd but by a small number of Volunteers: the

Skirmishers also gave way upon the first Charge that he made, and retreated under the Counterscarp of the Town, but then the Squadrons that were to s••∣cond 'em advancing, Dandelot found himself sur∣rounded on every side, and he had been taken, but for a small Guard of thirty Troopers led by Mous∣saye, who rescu'd him out of the hands of the Enemy.

However those Squadrons still prest upon Dande∣lott and Moussaye, with so much vigour, that they could never have made good their Retreat, had not the Duke ran to the main Guard, and brought it on himself in all hast to their relief. Gerze and Dandelot were wounded; and so the Spaniards re∣tir'd after an obstinate Combat.

However all this could not prevent compleating the Circumvallation, nor fortifiing the Camp with all things requisite, the Duke being every where present, as well to encourage the Workmen, as to observe what places were most proper to make his Attacks. And after due consideration he re∣solv'd upon two; Both upon the Face of one of the two Bastions, that lookt toward the middle of the Plain, to the end that being near together, they might the more easily support each other.

There was a wide space left between the two openings of the Trenches, and that space lessend, as the Trenches advanc'd toward the Town: One of these Trenches cover'd it self to the Right, and the other to the Left, and the Regiments of Pi••a••∣dy and Nav••rre, were the first that Mounted the Guard. In the night time two Great Shouldrings of Gabions were rais'd, which cover'd two places of Arms, wide enought to contain each a hunderd Horse; for that they stood in need of Horse be∣hind the Trench, to support it against the terrible Sallies of the Enemy. The same Night the Duke order da long Line to be drawn, and two Redoubts to be begun, Spacious enough to lodge a hunderd

Men: and in all the returns of the Lines he or∣der'd large places of Arms to be made, and that that Trench should be carry'd on with all speed; so that maugre the continual firing of the Besieged it was advancd the fourth Night within two hundred Paces of the Counterscarp.

In that part the Duke resolv'd to have a Com∣munication between the two Attacks, which were already in good forwardness. And instead of mak∣ing his Communications with the usual Line, he joyn'd 'em together with a large Battery of four and twenty Pieces of Cannon. The diligence of the Officers was so great, that the sixth Day after the Trenches were open'd, the Cannon began to play upon the Town. In the same place of Com∣munication also, the Two Batteries took a diffe∣rent way, and separated at some distance one from the other, to turn themselves toward the Face of the two Bastions which were opposite to 'em.

On the right Hand of the Duke of Enguien's Trench, stood a Mill, upon the Rivolet already mention'd, which was fortifi'd with a good Pali∣sado, and wherein the Besieged had planted some Musketeers, who very much annoy'd the carrying on of the Trenches, in regard they had a view of 'em behind. Ther upon, the Duke resolving to clear that Post the same Night, which was the Seventh after the opening of the Trenches, order'd it to be Stormd, notwithstanding the obstinate Resist∣ance of the Besieged, and their continual Firing from the Rampart and Counterscarp. And before Day, this Lodgment was join'd to the Trench by a Line, and the Mill serv'd the Besiegers, instead of a Redoubt, against the Sallies out of Mets-Gate.

At the other Attack, the Line was carry'd on with equal Diligence; but the Eighth••Day the Be∣sieged made a furious Sally upon Dandelot, who was

upon the Guard, with the Regiment of Harcour••. And while all the Cavalry that belong'd to the Be∣sieged fought against the Horse that seconded the French, their Infantry powr'd upon the Head of the Works, and forc'd the Out-guard to retreat to the Battery. Thereupon, Dandelot who was in the other Attack near the Prince, marchd along the Counterscarp to Succour the F••ench; so that the Besiegd, fearing to be intercepted, retreated in great haste. The Horse-Guard also being rein∣forcd with some Cavalry from the Camp, repell'd the Town-Cavalry to the very Barricados of the Gate, and the Infantry was forc••d back by Dandelot to the Counterscarp.

But the more the Duke labour'd to advance the Works, the more the Besieged re-doubl'd their Efforts. For before the Besiegers were got to the Counterscarp, they had cut in the Glacis a second Covert-way well Pallisado'd, and more difficult to take, then that of the Counterscarp; in regard the Defence it obtain'd from the Town was nearer, and had a greater power to cut off those that came to attack it. Nevertheless, the Ninth Night, this new Covert-way was carry'd on two sides. But it cost the Lives of a great many Men, and it was impossible it should be otherwise, when Men are to be Lodg'd at the Foot of a Glacis of a Counterscarp open on every side to the Enemies Defence. A∣mong the rest, Perseval, who had the Leading of the Duke's At••ack was here mortally wounded.

This Lodgment of great Importance being made, they labour'd in the next place to Lodg themselves upon the Counterscarp; to which purpose, upon the Tenth Night Musketeers were planted on the Right and Left to support the Enterprize, which was put in Execution the Eleventh Day. They who understand what belongs to War agree, that there is nothing more difficult in Sieges then Lodg∣ments

upon Counterscarps, when the Besiegers are resolv'd to carry it by the point of the Sword, in∣stead of making use of the longer delays of Sap∣ping and Mining. That of Thionville was very strong, by reason of the breadth of it, and the Traverses which the Besieged had made in it: Be∣sides, that it was not an easie thing to choose out a Place proper to make a Lodgement; for whether you made it opposite to the Face of the Half-Moon, or the Bastion, the Besiegers Works must lie open to one of those two Fortresses.

But notwithstanding all these Difficulties, a Re∣solution was taken to force the Covert-way in those Parts which lookt toward the Face of the Bastion. For the Duke was of Opinion that while the two Trenches gave their Onsets both at a time, they that defended the Counterscarp would give way, for fear of being enclos'd betwee•• the two Attacks, and so the Lodgement might be made by Shouldrings, high-raisd, to cover 'em against the Defenses of the Bastions, and the Half-Moon.

Upon the Night appointed for this Attack, E∣spenan commanded the Right, and Gesvres the Left; and so soon as the Signal was given, their Men marchd directly to the Palisado's; at what time the Granadeers, that were foremost, fir'd their Granadoes so furiously, that the Besieged could not make much Resistance; but observing in their Retreat, that they who oppos'd the Marquiss of Gef••res had made a more stout Defence, they join'd with them, which occasiond such a desperate Con∣flict in that part, that the Marquiss lost abun∣dance of Men before he could drive the Besieged from the Covert-way.

In the mean time, Espenan, who met with no other Opposition then that of the Half-Moon and Bastion, began his Lodgement; but La Plante, who perform'd the Duty of an Engineer in that

Action, was wounded, while he was tracing out the Work. This Accident put those that carry'd the Materials into Disorder; for the Line was but half drawn; no Body knew where to throw the Faggots, nor how to go about to begin the Lodg∣ment. And indeed, a good Ingeneer, is as one may say, the Soul of an Attack; nor can they be too much valu'd who have both Courage and Un∣derstanding to acquit themselves well of such an Employment.

To this part therefore the Duke of Enguien flew, and set all the Tayl of the French at work to carry empty Barrels, Faggots, Sacks of Earth, while some of the Officers trac'd out the Lodgment as well as they could. In this Lodgment, such as the Disorder would permit 'em to make; Fifty Men secur'd themselves before Day-break, and after∣wards more strongly fortifi'd themselves with Blinds and * 1.24 Chandeleers, in such Places where they saw themselves expos'd. Thus the Duke became Master of the Covert-way; nor could the besieged any longer defend their Traverses between the two Attacks.

The Nights following, they did nothing but ex∣tend their Lodgments; to the end they might em∣brace the point of the Half-Moon and the Bastions. But so soon as they had lodgd themselves before the Face of the Half-Moon, the D. gave Orders for making a Descent into the Mote: He also caus'd a vast number of Faggots to be thrown into it to fill it up, and at the same time the Miners went down. But the besieged had made a little Lodgment with Barrels of Earth upon the † 1.25 Berme of the Half-Moon, which sometimes with Bombs, sometimes by stroak of Hand hindred the Miners from Lodging them∣selves. The Duke therefore seeing that unless he could destroy the Lodgment upon the Berme, with his Canon, it would be impossible to secure the Mi∣ners,

caus'd a Battery to be rais'd of Four Pieces of Canon, against the Face of the Half-Moon, which ruin'd the Lodgement upon the Berme in a short time.

The Works of the other Attack were advanc'd very far, and the Lodgments were enlarg'd in such a manner to the Right and Left, that the Batteries design'd to ruine the Flanks were rais'd almost the same day. The Lodgments clos'd together at the head of the Half-Moon, and in less then Eight days the Counterscarp was secur'd. And then it was that they began their Descents into the Moat, just opposite to the Faces of the Bastions; and the Duke orderd the Materials to be got ready for building Galleries.

This is a Work long and difficult, when the Moat is wide and deep, like that of Thionville. Be∣sides, the Impatience of the French will not permit 'em to use all the Precautions which the Art of War requires for the sparing the Lives of Men. Till the Siege of Hesdin, they contented them∣selves with only filling up the Moat, by throwing Faggets into it at hap-hazard, without covering themselves either above or in the Flanks. The Marshal de Meil••eray who commanded at that Siege, being assisted with all things necessary to procure his good Success, and having in vain attempted all the usual ways to Pass the Moat made use of a means till then unknown in France. For Courteilles found out the Invention of a Gallery of Bavins, so inge∣niously contriv'd, that it was fortifi'd with a Co∣vering, and Parapets like a Gallery of Earth.

With such Galleries as these it was, that the Duke of Enguien past the Moat of Thionville. For he order'd a great number of Bavins to be brought to the Tayl of the French, where he had Men rea∣dy to carry 'em continually to the Head of the Works. So that as soon as the Descents were in a

little forwardness, he began his Work in this man∣ner. He order'd Bavins to be thrown into the Moat, till they came to be five or six foot high a∣bove the Water. When the Heap of Bavins was rais'd so high as he would have it, they finish'd the Sapping for entrance into the Moat. Six Men went into the Sapping, and secur'd themselves against the Face of the Bastion, behind the Heaps of Faggots•• and so soon as they were secure, they began to range the Bavins, to the Right and Left, in order to make the Parapets, enterlacing 'em sometimes long ways, sometimes a cross, and sometimes a•• the ends, to render the Work more Solid. Now as the foremost Workmen dispos'd the Bavins, o∣thers thrust 'em together with Forks; and the Men appointed to fetch 'em from the Tayl to the Head of the French, threw 'em without ceasing into the Moat. Afterwards they plac'd all the length of the Gallery, Blinds and Chandeleers, to the end that the Workmen might not be seen from the top of the Rampart. They also carry'd on their Works by degrees toward the Wall, at what time the besieged were amaz'd to see a heap of Faggots insensibly crossing the breadth of their Moat, and yet not to be able to discover the Persons that ad∣vanc'd the Work. Moreover, while these Galle∣ries were finishing, Batteries were rais'd against the Flanks of the Bastions. The Canons also were so well ply'd, that the Great Shot from the Town, no longer annoy'd the Works; besides, that the besieged were constrain••d to remove the greatest of the Guns to a Chand••leer, from whence they might shoot into the Plain, and play upon the Tayl of the French.

The Battery rais'd to break their Lodgement up∣on the Berme of the Half-Moon, had so shaken the Rampart, that it was an easie thing to make a Lodgment there without Springing a Mine. For

which reason the besieged despair'd of being able any longer to defend the Half-Moon, and there∣fore had made a Mine in that part where they fore∣••aw the Besiegers would Lodge, and when they saw ••em preparing for an Assault, they gave 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to it, but it Sprung before the Men Com∣manded were mounted the Half-Moon. So that the Effect was so fortunate for the Besiegers, that it open'd 'em a convenient space to fix their Lodg∣ment, and did that in an Instant, which the La∣bour of several Men could not have done in a day.

So soon as that Post was secur'd, the Duke or∣der'd 'em to go on with other Lodgements upon the Gorge of the Half-Moon. Which done, a Battery was rais'd against the Curti••s and the ••lanks; and while the Canon play'd to ruine all those Defences, the Duke order'd a Bridge to be lay'd like the rest, directly to the middle of the Curtin.

At the same time that the Bridges were building, the Duke orderd holes to be made with Canon, which he planted at the bottom of the Covert-way, to fix the Miners in the midst of the Faces of the Bastions; and these holes being wide enough to lodge two Men, he orderd the Miners to be wa••••ed over in little Boats, to the end the Mines might be ready against the Bridges were finish'd.

On the other side, the Besieged omitted nothing on their part to hinder the Progress of these Works; for besides their continual firing with their Small-sho•• from the Bastions, they ply'd without ceasing, the besiegers, with Bombs, Grana∣does, and other Artificial Fire-works, and from t••me to time made such Resolute Sallies, that had it not been for the continual Vigilance and Dili∣gence of the Duke, the Souldiers would have been wearied out and repuls••d.

In one of the Sallies, upon the Attack on the Right hand, the besieged beat the Guard from the Batteries upon the Counterscarp, made themselves Masters of the Canon, nail'd 'em, and retreat•••• without any loss: And this Accid••nt 〈…〉〈…〉 the Duke to raise two good Redoubts to 〈…〉〈…〉 defend the Batteries. However, the besieged wo•••••• not desist; but attempted one of the most ex••r••∣ordinary Actions that were ever known in a Siege•• For while they kept the Guard of the French in Play with a numerous Sally, some Foot cross'd the Moat in Boats, threw themselves upon the Counterscarp, and enterd into the Battery through the Embra∣sures, kill'd or drave away the Guards, naild the Canon, and retir'd safe into the Town.

Such dangerous Actions are not performd with∣out the Loss of many Officers and Souldiers. A∣mong the rest, the Marquiss of L••non Court, Go∣vernour of Lorrain, being come from Nanci, to visit the Duke of Enguien, out of Curiosity would needs go view the Works, but he was hardly got to the First Battery, but he was shot through one of the Embrazures. At the same time a Canon Bullet fell upon a Sack of Earth, against which Dandelo•• was leaning, and threw all the Dirt in his Face, without doing him any other Harm, only that it caus'd a swelling, and pain in his Eyes.

So soon as the Galleries were finishd, and the Mines had play'd, the Duke caus'd an Assault to be given, with an Intention to try whether they could make a Lodgement upon the top of the Ba∣stion. The Conflict was very sharp on both sides, but the Besiegers were repuls'd with Loss. The Duke therefore perceiving that the Mine had only beaten down the Lining of the Wall, which was not sufficient to Lodge themselves upon the Bastion, made a little Lodgement only at the Foot of the R••ine which the Mine had made.

In the same place also he began another Mine to fetch down the Earth of the Bastion; but it was a difficult thing to carry on new Mines, in regard ••he Ground was so loosen'd, that they could not ••••ke a Gallery there, but with Oaken Plants and Chandeleers, under-setting it by degrees; for that when they shoar'd up the Earth on the one side, it tell down on the other.

However, the Miners finishd two little Mines, under each of the two Attacks, and the Besiegers prepar'd for a considerable Effort. So that after an obstinate Combat at the Attack on the Right Hand, notwithstanding the Bombs, Granadoes and Stones that flew from the besieged, the Besie∣gers made themselves Masters of the top of the Breach, but they were constrain'd to quit it a quarter of an hour after, not being able to stand the firing from an Intrenchme••t which the Besie∣ged had thrown up upon the Gorge of the Bastion.

Gassion, who commanded the Guard of the French, was there dangerously wounded in the Head, and Lescon, Lieutenant of the Duke••s Guards was killd. The Ch••va•••••••• d•• Chabot also, and several O••ficers of the King's Guards were wounded. Nor was the Onset given at the other Attack any thing more Successful. For the two little Mines not springing at the same time, the Marshal of Gesvres went on at the noise of the first, so that as he was just going to fall on with several Officers, they were overwhelmd with the Ruines of the second Mine. The Loss of so brave a Commander cool'd the Courage of those that were under him. Thus the Attack on the Left hand was made with little Order, and less Vigour; and the Duke saw well that it behov••d him to proceed with more caution, against Men that defended themselves with so much Stoutness and Resolution.

There was a necessity therefore to penetrate above the Intrenchment, and to level with the Ground those Bastions which they could not carry by Assault. La Pomme, Capt••i•• of th•• Pion•••••• undertook this Work, notwithstanding the co••••i∣nual Rains and difficulties whi••h he met with•••• the Ground. The River had so overflowd her Banks, that the two Bridges for the Communi••••••tion of Quarters were carryd away by the for•••• of the stream; so that Pallua••'s, and Sicot's Qua••∣ters were in great danger; for that if General Beck who lay at Luxemburgh with his Army, had attack'd 'em before the Bridges were repaird, the Duke could never have relievd 'em.

In the mean time the Miners which the Duke had set to the middle of the Curtin, found only so much Earth behind as just su••fizd to Lodge them∣selves; which shewd that the better way was to ruine it by a battery. In short•• Four Great Guns in three days made a considerable breach; and in less then Six days the Mines under the Bastions were finishd.

Upon this, the Duke order'd the Enemy to be inform'd of the Condition they were in; to the end, that by a speedy Capitulation they might a∣void the Destruction of their Men, the Ruine of their Fort••fications, and the Misfortunes and Cala∣mities which usually at••end the Sack of Cities ta∣ken by Assault. There••pon, the besieged view'd the Mines, and seeing themselves assaild on every side, without hope of Relief, they desird to Ca∣pitulate. The Duke allowd ••em Honourable Con∣ditions, so that after a long and stout Resistance, the Garison march'd out the 22d. of August, and the 30th. day after the opening of the Trenches.

Of two Thousand eight Hundred Men, of which the Garison consisted at the beginning of the Si••ge, the whole number was reduc'd to twelve Hundred.

••he Governour was slain, and the greatest part of ••••e Offi••ers that remain'd were either slain or ••ounded. The Duke order'd 'em to be conducted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Luxemburgh, where Beck had layn during the ••hole time of the Siege, with the Body which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commanded•• And now besides that the French ••••fantry was very much impair'd, the Season was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spent•• and the Mines had ruin'd the Place to ••hat degree, that the Fortifications requir'd long ••ime to repair 'em. So that the Army did nothing more for three Weeks together then only labour to repair the Fortifications, and to level the Line of Circumvallation. The heavy Canon were sent back to Mets; the Place was furnish'd with Ammu∣nition and Provisions, and Maro••••es made Gover∣nour of the Town.

But for the further security of this Conquest, and to render himself absolute Master of the Mo∣selle, the Prince spent the rest of the Campaign in taking Cirk, and some Castles between Treves and Thionville. Cirk is a small Village in Lorain,* 1.26 seated upon the Banks of the Moselle, in that part where the Channel of it is very much streightned by the Hills on both sides. It has no Fortification, all the security of it depending upon a Castle which com∣mands the Town, and which is Flank'd with very large and thick Towers, and is accounted the strongest C••stle in all the Country; and the Duke of Lorrain kept a Garison in it of a Hundred Men•• The same Evening the Duke arriv'd before the Town he made himself Master of it, caus'd a Battery to be rais'd before the Castle, and fix'd his Miners to the Walls. Thereupon, the Governour terrifi'd with the Attack, and being hopeless of Succour, was unwilling to hazard the Loss of the Men which he commanded: So that after a defence of Four and twenty Hours, he Capitulated and March'd out upon an Honourabble Composition.

The Duke also sent to take in several other Ca∣stles that lay upon the River, which made no Re∣sistance. Which done, he led back his Army into France, where he put 'em into Quarters of Refresh∣ment; Esp••nan and Dandelot stay'd with the Army•• and the Prince order'd 'em to March toward Estai•• while he made an Incursion with two thousand Horse into the Heart of Luxemburgh. He advanc'd to the very Gates of the Capital City, where Beck with his Cavalry were constrain'd to keep them∣selves close, not daring to stir out. After that, he March'd into the Neighbourhood of Arlon, with∣out meeting any Enemy, in all which Places his Men having got considerable Booty, he re-joyn'd his Army at Villers La Montagne.

This done, he gave the Command of the Army to the Duke of Angoulesme,* 1.27 who had been during the Campagne, with a small Force upon the Fron∣tiers of Picardy; and having left such other Or∣ders as he thought requisite, he return'd to Court, in hopes that he might have stay'd there for some time, and take his Repose; but he was no sooner arriv'd, when the Affairs of Germany enforc'd him to return to the Army.

Mercy had cha••'d Marshal de Guebriant on this side the Rhine; his Army being so enfeebl'd, that without a speedy and numerous Re-inforcement, he was no longer able to keep the Field. And there was a necessity for some Person of equal Quality to the Duke of Enguien to lead that Re-inforcement, for fear they should Mutiny and Disband of them∣selves, in regard the Souldiers were afraid of Mar∣ching into Germany.

The Count of Ranzau therefore was made choice of to Head that Army, which was to join Marshal de Guebriant; nor did the Duke of Enguien stay above Fifteen days at Paris, being forc'd to Ride Post, that he might join Ranzau in Lorrai••; where

he found him near Delme, which was the General Rendezvouse, and marching through Sarebourgh, at length he joyn'd the Marshal at Dackstem, near Stras••••rgh, with five thousand Men.

After he had view'd the whole Army, and as∣sur'd the Marshal that he would return as soon as the season would permit to take the Field,* 1.28 he went and visited the Places upon ••he Rhine, and by the way made himself Master of Sainte Marie aux Mines, where he assign'd the Army their Winter Quarters. At last he return'd to Court, having in one Summer gain'd a Famous Batt••l, won a Town of great Importance, and carry'd a considerable Reinforcement into Germany.

The Battel of Rocroy was attended with several other Conquests, but chiefly with the taking of T••••••nville,* 1.29 the reducing of which place was of ex∣traordinary Moment. For it was a place that se∣cur'd Mets and the Pays Messin from the Incursions of ••uxemburgh; it made the French Masters of the Moselle; it ass••rd a Communication between France and the Electorate of Treves, which it behov'd the French to be no less chary of, then of their own Country, by reason of the Elector, who with an extraordinary Zeal•• and incredible Resolution, had espous'd the Interests of France. And lastly, it was a Barricado for the French, between Luxemburgh and the Lower Palatinate, where the Spaniards were then powerful.

Cardinal Mazarin had a long time had it in his Head to attempt this Siege,* 1.30 for the Reasons al∣ledg'd. He had caus'd it to be twice propos'd to Lewis the XIII. by Marshal de •• Hospital, who was much in his Favour. But the Design would never take in his Life time. However, the King was no sooner Dead but the Cardinal proposd the same thing to the Queen, who seeing the Success of the Battel of Rocroy, surrender'd her self wholly to

the Cardinals Counsels, and withstood the open Opposition, and secret Thwartings which lay i•• her way in reference to the design of this Siege, which others would by no means have to go for∣ward, because most People believ'd that the Cardi∣nal was sway'd by a Spirit of Jealousie, and that because he began to suspect the growing Favour and Glory of the Duke of Eng••ien, his main end was, that he should miscarry before Thionvil•••• However it were, ever after this Campagne, the Duke was look•• upon as a great Captain, no less formidable in Sieges then in Battels. And here observe one thing in a Young Victorious Prince, no less great then the Victory it self. The Court which had prepar'd against his Arrival those Applauses which he deserv'd,* 1.31 was surpriz'd at his manner of receiving of 'em, as if he had been insensible of the Honour which they did him. He rejected their Encomiums•• as if they had been affronts, and as one indocible to Flattery, he gave them to un∣derstand that he was afraid even of the shadow of it. Such was the Niceness, or rather the Solidity of this Prince. In like manner, he observ'd this for a Maxim, that it was for a Person of Honour only ••o mind well-doing, and to let Glory follow Vertue.

* 1.32While these things were transacting in Flanders, the Queen turns out of Favour those who had had the greatest share in the management of Affairs. The Bishop of Beauvoise, who had been in Credit, was enforc'd to retire to his Diocess. Des••uyers and Chavigny were excluded, and Mazarine taken into the chief Ministry.

The Queen, who was willing to shew that 'twas none of her fault that the War between France and Spain was not brought to a Conclusion,* 1.33 by fair and moderate ways, gave ear to the Propositions of Peace that were made her; and to that Effect, the

Court appointed two ••lenipotentiaries,* 1.34 the Counts l•• Av•••••••• & de Serviers, with Orders forthwith to re∣pair to Munster, where the Peace was to be nego∣••••••••ed. But certain Broyles that happen'd between the Swedes and Danes prevented the good Success of that Assembly, which was the reason that nothing more was thought of but to make the best of the Advantages they had gaind upon the Spaniards. Flande••s therefore was to be the Theatre of the War•• during the Campaigne of the next Year, 1644. and the Command of the Army was given to the Duke of Orleans, who design••d to Pesiege Gravelin. Now in regard that Prince had no mind that his Enterprize should be known, he divided his Army into three Bodies. The Marshal de Meil∣leray, as Lieutenant General commandd one part, with Orders to enter Flanders on that Side next Am••ens; the Count of Ranzaw commanded another part, as Sub-Lieutenant General, with Instructions to enter on that Side next to Abbeville. And as ••or the Duke, he reserv'd a longer March for him∣self, and the most hazardous, that is to say, through Peronne and Bapaume, where the Marshal Gassion, who commanded a separate Body was to join him. And in regard there were several Forts that might obstruct the Siege of Gravelin, Gassion, after he had laid a Bridge over the River Aa, pos∣••est himself of Bajette••. Afterwards, the Forts of La Capelle, and St. Folquin, were taken in to facili∣••ate the great Work. In a Word, Gravelin was besiegd; the Town was taken;* 1.35 and the French made themselves Masters of Sas de Gand, and of all the Forts that could impede their Entrance into Flanders.

Now, at the same time, the Duke of Orleance was acting in Flanders, the Duke of Enguien Signa∣liz'd himself in Germany, whether he was gone, to Succour Friburgh, which the Bavarians had besieg'd.

To which purpose he order'd his Forces to March with all the speed imaginable; but all his haste prov'd Fruitless. For that City was in so bad a Condition to hold out, that it was Surrender'd be∣fore he arriv'd. However, this Accident, which the Duke did never expect, no way disheartend him; for since he could not relieve the Town, he was now in hopes to join, and Fight the Enemy, and no less confident of Victory. He had no De∣sign however to retake the Place, nor to force the Imperialists; for that his Forces were not strong enough to undertake those Enterprizes: But he thought he might repair himself by a Battel, for the Loss of a Town which he had not time to re∣scue. The Design was great and hazardous, and there was something more formidable that present∣ed it self to his Eyes then at Rocroy. He had not only to Fight against Men, but inaccessible Moun∣tains, against Innundations and Precipices, on the one Side; on the other, against an impenetrable Wood, at the bottom of which was a large Bogg; against Rivers and Prodigious Entrenchments; a∣gainst Forts rais'd up and down in every Place; a∣gainst Timber, Trees cut down, and laid athwart most deep and dreadful Roads; and in a Word, a∣gainst one of the Greatest Captains of the Age. Nevertheless, not all these Obstacles together were sufficient to daunt this Youthful Hero. Nothing would content him but a Battel, wherein he prov'd Victorious; tho the Victory was not so considera∣ble for the Number of the Slain, as for the Impor∣tance of the Conquests that ensu'd. For the Field of Battel, as barren as it was, in appearance, was worth whole Provinces to France, through the Conduct of this General; so well he understood to make the best of his Advantages. Which is that we are going to make out, by the following Relation of the Campaign of Friburg.

The Battel of Rocroy, and the taking of Thion∣ville had restor'd the Reputation of the Arms of France, in the Low-Countries. The Spanish Infantry was quite Ruin'd;* 1.36 terrour and dread had seiz'd the Enemies Forces; the greatest part of the Cities of ••landers, were in no Condition to hold out long; and a General might do what ere he pleasd with good Success, and the Duke of Orleance had taken upon himself to manage the War in those Parts.

In Germany, the Service was not so easie; for af∣ter the Duke of Enguien had led a Reinforcement thither, the Marshal de Guebriant was Slain before Rowil, and the Army had no other Chieftains, but Ranzan and Roze. Ranzan was a Person of great Courage and Wit; he was also end••'d with a cer∣tain Natural Eloquence, which was very perswasive in Councils of War, and which drew others to be of his Opinion; but his Conduct did not always answer his Elegant Discourses; for Wine causd him to commit great Errors, and many times put him out of being in a Condition to Command. He had Quarter'd the Foot at Tutlinghen, without ta∣king any Care to prevent their being Surprizd, and he had embroyl'd himself with all the German Princes. So that the Bavarians, and Lorrainers, fell upon him before he had the least Intelligence of their March, and Iohn de Wert having enforc'd him to Surrender, with all his Men, all the Officers were Prisoners of War. The German Cavalry be∣ing dispiers'd into several Parts, retir'd toward Brisack, under the Command of Raze, and took up their Winter Quarters in Lorrain and Alsatia.

As soon as the News of this arriv'd at Court, Turenne, had Orders to rally together the shatter'd Remnants of that Army, and take upon him the Command of it; and he spent all the Winter in bringing it into better Order; but notwithstand∣ing

all his Care, it was not in a Condition to op∣pose the Bavarians, whose Army was become more Numerous after Ranzan's Defeat. Mercy therefore who commanded it, seeing himself Master of the Field, invested Friburgh, which was not in a Con∣dition to hold out a long Siege.

The Duke of Enguien had Intelligence of it at Amblemont, near Mouzon, and receiv'd Orders from the Court to joyn the German Army, and endeavour the Relief of the Town. To that purpose, he March'd the 20tith. of Iuly to Mets, where his Forces past the Moselle, and left their heavy Baggage. Which done, in thirteen Days he marchd threescore Leagues, and came to Brisack, with Six thousand Foot, and Four thousand Horse.

By the way, the Prince understood that Friburgh was Surrender'd to the Bavarians, that Turenne was Encamp'd not far from em, and that Mercy made no shew of having any design to change his Station. Upon this Advice, he March'd toward T••renne, with Marshal Grammont, and gave Orders to Martin to cross the Rhine, at Brisack, with the Army; which he did the 13th. of August.

The Duke stay••d no longer in Turenne's Camp then to observe the Post where the Bavarians lay, and to consider where to attack 'em. So that he returnd to his Army the same day that it cross••d the Rhine, and the next day he March'd to put in Execution the Enterprize which he and Tur••nne had consulted and contriv'd together.

Friburgh is Seated at the Fort of the Mountains of the Black Forest. They enlarge and open them∣selves in this part of the Country in the Form of a Crescent, and in the middle of this space you may discover, near to Friburg, a Plain bounded on the Right Hand, by very high Mountains, and sur∣rounded on the Left by a Boggy Wood. This

Plain is watered with a R••volet, which glides a∣long by the Wood, and afterwards falls upon the Left of Friburgh, into the Hollow of a Narrow Valley•• inter••nt with Woods and Marshes. They that Travel from Brisack cannot enter into this Plain, but through narrow Lanes and close Passes, at the Foot of a Mountain almost inaccessible, which commands it on every side, and the other ways that lead into it are much more difficult.

Mer••y was Posted in a place thus Advantageous; and in regard he was one of the greatest Captains of his time, he had omitted nothing to make the best of the Situation. His Army consisted of Eight thousand Foot, and Six thousand Horse. He had extended his Camp all along the Rivolet; but be∣sides that Defence, and the Advantage of the Woods and Boggs, he had fortifi'd it, toward the Plain, with a large Entrenchment. Nor was there any way to get at him but by the road that leads from Brisack to Friburgh; and by consequence, there was a necessity of passing by the Foot of that Mountain which defended the best part of his men. And for that reason, this great General had em∣ploy'd all his Industry to secure that part of his Camp from being forc'd.

Upon the sloping of the Mountain toward the Plain, he had rais'd a Fort with Pallisadoes, where∣in he had put Six hundred Men, together with his Artillery; by which means he assur'd himself of that part of the Mountain which was most easie of Access. From thence he carry'd on a Line, a long a Wood of Firr-Trees, still ascending to the top, where it was impossible to be past. This Line was defended by Redoubts, at the distance of two hun∣dred Paces one from the other; and to give those that design'd to molest him still more trouble, he had laid all the whole length of the Line, a great Number of Fir-Trees, the Branches of which

were half cut, and inter-twisted one within ano∣ther, and were as Effectual for the same use as Friesland Horses.

* 1.37Between this Mountain which the French Army met with upon the Right Hand, and another that lay nearer Friburgh, there was a Hollowness, which gave entrance into the Bavarian Camp, but to come at it, there was a necessity of going a great way about, and to pass through Places which had never been view'd. This part was naturally fortifi'd, by a large and deep Innundation of Water; and Mercy thought it sufficient to cut down a great number of Trees, and lay athwart that Inundati∣on. In short, never was an Army Encamp'd in a stronger Situation, and better Entrenchd.

Nevertheless, the Duke of Enguien was resolv'd to drive Mercy out of it, and he prepar'd for his Attack in this manner. He march'd with all his Army against the Line, at the top of the Moun∣tain that ran along the Wood of Firr-Trees, lea∣ving the Fort upon the Left hand, and making it his sole business to carry the Redoubts that defend∣ed it; to the end, that having gain'd the top, which commanded all the rest, he might make him∣self Master of the Fort, and so descend in Battel Array into the Bavarian Camp.

Turenne was to make his Onset where the Trees lay that defended the Vally, and provided that both Onsets were made at the same time, there was great Hopes, that the Enemy being busied in two Places at once, would be hard put to it to defend themselves; and that if they should happen to be forc'd on that side next the Water, the Duke co∣ming down from the High Grounds, and Turenne, at the same time, entring the Plain, Mercy would not be able to withstand 'em.

So soon as the Forces were all arriv'd, the Duke gave Order that they should prepare over Night to fight the next Morning: and Turenne having a great Compass to fetch, set forward before break of day; but the Difficulties which he met with in his March retarded the Onsets which both Armies should have made at the same time.

The Duke dispos'd of his Men, in this manner. His Infantry was compos'd of Six Battallions, each consisting of Six hundred Men. Espenan, Camp-Marshal, was commanded to make the first Assault, with two Battallions of the Regiments of Persan and Enguien. The Count of Tournon, put himself at the Head of the Regiments of Conti, and Ma∣zarine, to Second Espenan. The Duke reserv'd two Regiments to himself, to be imploy'd as occa∣sion shall require, and Marshal Grammont, Martin, L' Eschelle, and Mauvily, remain'd about his Per∣son. Palluau Seconded the whole Attack, with the Regiment of Horse of Enguien, and the Gentlemen were posted at the Entrance into the Plain, in a very close Place, to hinder the Bavarians from flanking the Infantry.

To come at the Enemy there was a necessity of clambring up a very steep side of a Place, cross a Vineyard, wherein were Walls, at such a distance, about four foot high, that serv'd the Bavarians, instead of Entrenchments. However, the com∣manded Men got up into this Vineyard, and drave the Bavarians into their Entrenchments of Firr-Trees, behind which they fir'd with more then ordinary fury. Nor could the French Infantry force those Trees, so entangl'd one within an∣other, as they were, without loosing a great ma∣ny Men, and breaking their Body.

The Duke therefore, who was advanc'd to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Effect of the Onset, observ'd that the fir•••• Line of his Men gave ground, and that they we•••• got part within the Entrenchments of Firr-Tree•••• and part without, neither flying, nor moving for∣ward. They began also to slide along the Bavarian Camp, toward the Right hand, and fall upon ••em at the top of the Mountain. But the Prince, who had observ'd before that that same part was not to be forc'd, rightly judg'd that the Success of his En∣terprise depended more upon carrying the Ene∣mies Line in the middle.

For that reason, he resolv'd to renew the Assault with what remaind of the first Regiments, tho he had no more then two with him self, and those discourag'd by what they had seen then Fellow•• suffer. And indeed, at first it seem'd a piece of Rashness, with two thousand repuls'd Men, to at∣tempt the forcing of three thousand well En∣trench'd, and puft up with the Advantage the•••• had got. But it was impossible otherwise to dis∣ingage and bring off those that had got beyond the Entrenchment of Fir-Trees. For in abandon∣ing them, the Duke must have been forc'd to have retreated with Vexation, to have fail'd in his Enterprise, and Sacrific'd in vain the best part of his Infantry: Besides that, all the Bavarian Army would have fallen upon Turenne, not having any other to oppose.

The Prince consider'd all these things in an In∣stant; alights from his Horse, and putting himself•• at the Head of Conti's Regiment, march'd directly against the Enemy. Tournon, and Castelnau-Ma••••villiere, did the ••ame, with the Regiment of Ma∣zarine; Grammont, Martin, L' Eschelle, Mauvilly, La Moussaye, Ierze, the Chevaliers Chabot and Gra••mont, Isigny, Me••lles, La Baulme, Tourville, Barbantane, Disbrotteaux, Asp••emont, Viange, toge∣ther

wi••h all the Officers and Volunteers alighted, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this Action gave new Life to the Souldiers, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Duke being the first that pass'd the En∣••••enchment of Firr-Trees, all the rest following 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Example throng'd over the Entrenchment, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they that defended the Line f••ed into the Wood, by the favour of approaching Night.

After this first Advantage won, the Duke moun∣••ed into a Redoubt which he found quitted•• but the Condition he was in, was no less dangerous ••hen the Action he had perform'd. One part of his Infantry was kill'd, the rest had broken their Order in pursuit of the Fugitives. The Enemy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 held the Fort where they had planted their Ar∣tillery, and Mercy was in a Posture able to Charge the Prince in this Confusion; but it may be the Night which drew on a pace, hinder'd him from making the best of his Advantage.

Therefore, while there remaind as yet some glimmerings of day, the Prince rally'd his ••••ot•• fortifi'd the Redoubts which he had won, and notwithstanding the Di••••iculty of the way, caus'd his Cavalry to mount to the top of the Hill which he possess'd: And after he had got all his Men together he order'd all ••is Trumpets to sound, and all the Kettle-Drums to beat, that so he might give Turenne notice that he had gain'd the Top of the Hill; and then prepar'd every thing ready to renew the Conflict the next Morning.

Ti••••nne, on his side, had with great Vigour at∣tack'd the Trees that were layd in the Vally, be∣tween the Mountain•• which the Duke had carry'd, and that which lay near Friburgh. But Mercy, not dreaming they could force his Camp on that side next the Mountain, considering how it was forti∣fi'd, h••d sent away his Principal Strength to defend the Vally; and this is that which usually happens in the attacking of Lines, that those parts which are

deem'd to be the strongest are soonest taken. The Place was wide enough behind his Entrenchment to draw up his Men in order of Battel; so that when Turenne's Men had driven back the Infantry which defended the Entrance into it, all the Bava∣rian Cavalry were ready, and in a Capacity to se∣cond their Foot, without breaking their Squadrons, which was the Reason that Turenne meeting with so vigorout a Resistance, could by no means force the Bavarians. Sometimes he gain'd some Posts, then he lost 'em again; so that Tur••nne's Attack was no∣thing but continual Skirmishing, without being a∣ble to break into the Enemies Entrenchments; th•• he did all that the Courage and Conduct of a Great Captain could do, to surmount the Disadvantages of Ground and Number.

The Duke of Enguien had heard from the Top of the Mountain, the Noise of this Attack, and prepared for another Onset the next Morning. And his Design was to March over the High Grounds•• to the Bavarian Camp, on purpose to make the E∣nemy turn one part of their F••rces against him•• to ••acilitate Turenne's Entrance into the Plain•• and every body prepar'd for this Enterp••ise, as it they had been assur'd of Victory; it being impos∣sible that Mercy should sustain Two Onsets, at the same time, one from a••ove, and in the Rear of his Army, while the other assail'd him every where else.

Nevertheless, Mercy would not run such a dan∣gerous Risco, but got away as fast as he could•• To that purpose he drew off his Men from the Top of the Mountain next to ••riburgh, and before day sent away his Canon that was under the Duke••s Arm•••• ere the French Generals had notice of it. So that they were surpris'd the next Morning to see the Bavarian. Entrenching themselves upon the Moun∣tain next to Friburgh, the Camp deserted, and the Fort quitted.

The Duke seeing that Turenne's Men had spread ••hemselves over the Plain, came down with his Army; but no sooner had he a near view of the ••everal Places, but the thundring from the Bava∣••i••ns new Camp, gave him to understand that they ••ad wholly possess'd themselves of the Mountain ••djoining to Friburgh. Thereupon, the D. not a little ••exed to have miss'd in his Enterprise, order'd his Army to be drawn up in Battalia, notwithstand∣••ng it had Rained hard all that Night. But finding his Men wearyd with their hard Duty the day be∣fore, and the bad Weather, he deferr'd driving the Enemy from their new Entre••chments till the next day: So•• that the Army had all that day and the next night to rest themselves.

Upon the Right Hand of Friburgh, coming from ••••isack, lies a Mountain, which is not so extreamly rugged, for above the third part of the Highth; but afterwards becomes very steep: Yet when you come to the Top, there is a wide space of level Ground, sufficient for the drawing up Three or Four Tho••sand Men, in good Order of Battel. At the end of this little Plain stood also certain Ruins of a Tower, at the Foot of which, the Highest Mountain of the Black Forest rises insensibly. But in regard that as it rises, it runs very far back∣ward, the Highest part of it commands but very little over the Plain.

Mercy had posted the greatest part of his Infan∣try in the Parts adjoining to the Tower; the rest was Encamp'd behind a Wood approaching to Fri∣burgh. His Cavalry was planted all along from the Wood to the Walls of the City. In short, that General had as well managd the Advantages of his Ground, in that Place, as the former. He had also added for the Defence of it all the Inven∣tions which the Art of War, and the Conveni∣••••cies of the Wood could afford him in so little

time. The Lines which he had cast up during th•• Siege, serv'd him in part to enclose his new Cam•• so that he had no need of ••ortifying any more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that part which lookt toward the Vally, where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 layd rows of Trees, with their Bows entangle•• one within another, and his choicest Infantry la•• behind this Entrenchment supported by his Cavalr•• the Squadrons of which possess'd all the Ground be••tween the Row of Trees and the City.

So soon as it was Day, the Duke advanc'd to th•• Foot of the Mountain, where Mercy lay entrench'd and in his March took in some Redoubts which were still guarded in the Vally by the Enemies Dra∣goons. Turenne's Army had the Vanguard that day and was to make the greatest Onset. D' 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Lieutenant General, commanded the Infantry•• L' Eschel••e march'd at the Head of all the rest, with a Thousand Musketeers, drawn out of both Ar∣mies; and his Bu••iness it was to attack the entrance that cover'd the biggest Body of the Bavarian Foot•• next the ruin'd Tower; which was the place most easie of Access to get at 'em. For which reason•• Turenne caus'd all the Canon of the Weymarians to be drawn on that side.

The Dukes Body of Infantry, commanded by Espenan, was commanded to force the Trees. Be∣tween these two Attacks also, there was a false As∣sault to be made, with a few Men only, to favour the real Onset. Marshal Grammont had likewise Orders to keep himself drawn up in Battel array in the Plain, with the Cavalry, to act as the Suc∣cess should direct him,

The Bavarians Camp afforded 'em great Advan∣tages, whither it were to defend themselves, or attack the Enemy. One of their Wings was sup∣ported by the Canon and Small-Shot of the City•• the other was posted upon a Mountain, the Heighth•• of which alone was sufficient to secure the Forces

••••at po••sess'd it. But they had too large an ex∣••••nt of Entrenchment to defend, that the Infantry ••••ch weakn'd by the Hardships of the Siege, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 preceding Combats, was not sufficient to guard 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Camp.

••' Eschelle began already to play with the Arti∣•••••••• of his Attack, never staying for the Arrival 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Rear-••uard, or the Signal of Battel; tho 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Duke had commanded that all the Attacks and ••nsets should be given together. Besides that, ••' Eschelle had Orders not to March up to the Ene∣••y, till he heard the noise of the Musquets toward ••••e Tre••s, and toward the false Attack in the mid∣le. But an Accident, not to be fore-seen, as fre∣••uently it happens in the best consulted Contri∣••ances of War•• overturned all the Dukes Orders, ••nd sav'd the Bavarians from a Total Defeat.

For while the Rear-guard was expected, which ••ould not come up so soon, by reason of the bad∣••ess of the ways; the Duke attended by Turenne ••nd G••a••ment, was got up to the top of the highest ••ountain, to discover the Rear of the Enemies ••rmy, and observe their Order of Battel. In his ••bsence, Espenan detach'd some men to make a ••alse Attack, upon a small Redoubt that lay in h••s ••ay to the Enemy. And tho he sent but very few ••en at first, both sides were insensibly engag'd in a ••oody ••ight, while the Bavarians seconded those ••hat defended the Fort, and Espenan reliev'd those ••hat attack'd it; insomuch, that it came to a very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 C••nflict in that part. Upon the noise of which, ••' Eschelle thought it high time for him to begin his ••ssault, and his Errour ranvers'd all the Designs of ••he Day.

The Duke beholding the Enemies firing from the ••op of the Mountain, rightly judgd that Espenan, ••nd L' Eschelle, had made a mistake, and that his ••rders had not been obey'd. So that he ran into

the very thickest of the Engagement, where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found L'Eschelle slain, and his men neither darin•• to fight nor retreat. ••or remedy of this Disorder he commanded Tournon to put himself at the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the astonish'd Souldiers, and to assu••e ••em tha•• he himself would second 'em with a Powerf•••• Succour.

Thus the Pre••ence of the Prince giving new Lif•• to the Souldiers, the Ba••••rian Infantry began 〈◊〉〈◊〉 totter: two Battallions, and that which defende•• the Entrenchment, began to Face about with thei•• Colours, and gi••e all the marks of men that we•••• just ready to be••••ke themselves to their Heels. Bu•• they that were next the Line fir'd so furio••sly; th•••• the Fr••nch Infantry were qui••e dishearten'd they that were far••hest off began to retreat, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were in a terrible fright, and the Officers also be∣gan to give ground.

In vain the Generals told 'em of the Disorder which they beheld in the Bavarian Camp, they press 'em, threaten 'em, and drag 'em back to the Fight. But when a panick dread has once seiz'd upon a Souldier, he neither see•• nor hears any longer either the Example, or the Orders of his General•• so that the Duke was forc'd to give over the Attack, and draw off his Men; and in this Action, the Prin••e, and all that attended him were in very great danger. For he was still 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Horseback, not above Thirty Yards distance from the Enemies Entrenchments. So that of Twenty Men that were about his Person, there was not one that did not carry away some marks of the danger to which he was expos'd.

The Duke himself had the Pommel of his Saddle ta••en off with a Canon Bullet, and the Scabbord of his Sword was broken with a Musket Shot; Gram∣mont had his Horse kill'd under him, and all the rest were wounded. Nevertheless, this Acciden••

did no way dishearten the Prince; so that he only alter'd the design of this Attack, and instead of making his greatest Onse•• upon the Lines as he had resolvd in the Morning, he order'd the most furi∣ous Onset to be given upon the Entrenchment of Trees. To that purpose D' Aumont was comman∣ded to keep the Bavarians in Play with the Souldiers which had fought already, causing a Diversion thereby in the same place where the first Onset had ill succeeded. The Duke and Turenne, with the whole Body of the Infantry, lead by Mauvilli, sup∣por••ed by the Gensd'armes and Roze's Cavalry, march'd directly to the Entrenchment of Trees.

Scarce were the foremost Ranks of this new At∣••ack enter'd into the Wood, but the Bavarians fir'd with an extraordinary fury; nevertheless, the French advanc'd in very good Order, with a Reso∣lution to try whether they could force the En∣t••enchments of Trees or no. And the fight was so obstinate that after they had been driven back se∣ver••l times, and several times had repuls'd the French, at length Gasper de Mercy, Major General of the Cavalry was forc'd to make his Horsemen alight, to second his Infantry that began to give Ground. Upon that, the Dispute grew hotter then before, and both Parties fir••d with so much Fury that the Noise and the Smo••k put all things into ••onf••sion, so that they could not distinguish one another but by the Flashes of the Artillery and Small Shot. All the surrounding Woods and Fo∣rests b••llow'd forth most dreadful Eccho's, and aug∣mented the Horrour of the Battel. The Souldiers were so bloodily eager, the one to force, the other to defend the Entrenchment, that if Night had not parted 'em, there had been one of the most deadly Slaughters tha•• had been in our days.

The French Gend••r••eri•• perform'd a very noble Exploit at that time. They were commanded by Boulay, who led on the Squadrons to the very brink of the Entrenchmen•• and ma••g••e the Enemies furious firing, fought a long time within Pistol•• Shot. Never was so desperate a Combat, where without grappling Hand to Hand, so many fell up∣on the spot on both sides. The French in this Conflict lost Ma••villy, and the Bavarians, Gaspa•••••• Me••cy, their General's Brother.

After this, the Duke having brought back his Army into the Camp, layd aside all other thoughts, but those of cutting off the Bavarians Provisions, to the end he might enforce 'em to quit so Advan∣tageous a Post. To that purpose, he gave his Men four days time to refresh themselves, and the wo••nded, of which there was a great number, w••re sent away to ••risach, that there might be no∣thing left in the Camp which might retard the Design which the Duke had contriv'd in his Mind.

The Mountains of the Black Forest derive their Original from the Mountains of Switzerland, and follow the Course of the Rhim, till they join with the Hills that lye upon the Banks of the Ne••••••. These Mountains are very long, and more or less broad, according to the Countries where they ••x∣tend themselves; but their widest breadth is from Friburgh to Filinghen about ten or twelve Le••g••es. There is no way of Communication between these two Cities, but through a Vally, which is very narrow, and very Incommodious for the marching of an Army. Nevertheless, this was the Part through which Mercy, in all probability, would make his Retreat. Which, nevertheless he would not presume to do in view of the French Army; ••o that the Duke of Enguien was of Opinion that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 intercepting this way between Friburgh and Fi∣••inghen,

he should cut him off from his Provision and For••ge, and thereby c••nstrain him to a Gene∣ral Battel, or to retre••t in Disorder.

With this Resolution, the Ninth of August, the Prince caus'd his Army to march toward Langsde∣lingh••n, a Village ••eated in the most easie place of A••••ess in all those Mountains. This Place was very proper to annoy the Bavarians, or to fight 'em in their Retreat. For, as for the Duke, he could have Provisions from Brisack, in case he advanc'd any f••rther among the Mountains. But the Road which gave him entrance into this Valley was ex∣tremely difficult, by reason of the Boggs, of which the Woods are full. Besides, that the Front of the Army being once engagd in these Woods, and having pass'd the Rivolet that runs along by 'em, the Rear-guard would be expos'd to the Bavarians, without any possibility of being reliev'd by their own Men.

The D••ke therefore took all the Precaution which the Advantages of the Ground, and the Presence of a vigilant Enemy requir'd. To this purpose, in regard the Horse could not march but one and one, and for that many times the men were forc'd to alight and lead their Horses, the Prince order'd a great body of Infantry, at the Tayl of the Army, to support the Rear of his Cavalry; he also plac'd little Bodies of Musketeers, upon the Wings, to defend the Passes through which the Bavarians might come to charge 'em.

By break of day, Turenne set forward with his Army, which compos'd the Vanguard that day. The D. took care to bring up the Rear, and kept himself in view of Mercy's Army till all his Men were past; and after he had in this manner cross'd the Woods and Boggs, rejoin'd his Vanguard at Langsdelinghen, the Bavarians not making the least attempt to dispute his Passage over the River, or his Entrance into the Wood.

Mercy observing the March of the French, rea∣dily apprehended their design, and as he was one of the most politick Generals in the World, he presently judg'd that his safety consisted in preven∣ting the Duke, and not in disputing the Incum∣brances of the Pass. Nor indeed had he more then just so much time to retreat before the fore∣most Troops of the French Vanguard could over∣take him; and doubtless, this was that which hin∣derd him from falling upon their R••••r. There∣fore, so soon as he saw the French upon their March, he decampd his Army, keeping the top of th•• Mountains, and ordering his Baggage to be con∣ducted through St. Peter's Valley, which leads to∣ward Filinghen.

Upon notice of Mercy's March, the Duke ha∣sten'd his own as much as it was possible. But he had Mountains almost inaccessible to cross that he might shorten his way, besides that his Men were extreamly tir'd. For which reason he was enforcd to de••ach Roze with all speed, only with eight hun∣dred Horse to amuse the Bavarians, and disturb 'em in their Retreat, while the rest of his Army pass'd the Defiles.

Roze perform'd his Orders vigorously, and began to Skirmish with the Bavarians near St. Peter's Ab∣by•• and so soon as he had overtaken the Bavarians•• he gave notice to the Duke that he was at their Heels. In the mean while, the French Army passd File after File through a very narrow Valley, at the end of which they were to ascend to the top of a very high Mountain, and withal, so steep and cover'd with Wood, that there was no going for∣ward but for one single Man at a time. Neverthe∣less, the Duke surmounted all these difficulties, and his Vanguard was no sooner got to the top of the Mountain but he discover'd the Bavarians in Batta∣li••, and Roze close at the Heels of their Rear.

Now to go from the Mountain where the Head of E••g••in's Army stopp'd, to the place where the Bav••••••••ns were posted, there was a necessity of pas∣sing two Defiles, in the midst of which was a space wid•• enough to contain four Squadrons; but before ••ou could get at it, there was a Descent through a ••ery narrow Hollow way, and then an Ascent again more difficult then the former, which gave an En∣••rance into the Plain where Roze skirmis••'d with the Enemies Rereguard.

Mercy no sooner discover'd the foremost Battal∣lion of the French Vanguard upon the top of the Mountain, but he rightly judg'd that the whole Army was behind. And in regard that Roze very much disturb'd the hindmost part of his Rear, he resolv'd to make a push for it, that he might rid himself of so great an Incumbrance, before the Duke got any nearer to him, and had Men ••now to second him; and that he might do his Business all at once, he whell'd about to the Right with his whole Army, and marchd directly against Roze's Cavalry.

But Roze, instead of retiring speedily into the Defile, rally'd his Squadrons toge••her, and daring∣ly stood the whole Bavarian Army in the Plain. He had the Enemies Army, and the Plain before him; on the Right Hand the Great High Road to ••••ling••en, crowded with the Bavarian Baggage; up∣on the Left a vast Precipi••e, and behind him the Defile through which he was to rejoyn the Duke. Presently, Roze detach'd one of his Squadrons to cut the Harness of the Horses that drew the Car∣ri••ge Waggons, and with the rest he advanc'd to charge the foremost Squadrons of the Bavarian Army. But to preserve the Defile open and free to himself, he left four Squadrons to guard it, be∣hind the Rear of which he retreated, after he had made-three Charg••s upon the Enemy. Those four

Squadrons sustain'd the shock of the Bavarians, till the rest of their Cavalry enter'd Pell Mell into the Defile. At length Roze left no more then two of the four Squadrons to defend the Pass, who after an incredible Resistance, seeing their Fellows out of danger, threw themselves into the Precipice upon the Left Hand, through Places that never had been pass'd before by Men nor Horses.

This was a vigorous Action of Roze, and man∣ag'd with all the Art which it was possible to pu•• in practice in so great a danger. But it was im∣possible for him to have escap'd, if Mercy had no•• discover'd upon the Neighbouring Mountains the Bodies that drew into Order by degrees, and that the Duke was advancing to second Roze's Cavalry. For in regard he was afraid of nothing so much as of coming to a General Battel, he rather chose to let those Squadrons escape, then enter too far into the Defile.

In a word, the Duke observing from the Top of the Hill this valiant Action of Roze, and what a Condition he was in, had rally'd as many Men as he could get together about his Person, with a Re∣solution to bring him off. He was already got within the space of enclos'd Ground between the two Defiles, at what time Roz•• rejoyn'd him. And thus the Resolution of the Duke, and the Prudence of Mercy, were in part the cause of that Honour which Roze acquir'd by his Retreat.

Mercy at the same instant began to make his Re∣treat likewise, but withal that good Order which could be expected from a Great Captain, who would never be constrain'd to a Battel, and un∣derstood how to take his Advantages when oppor∣tunity offer'd 'em. Nevertheless, he quitted his Artillery and his Baggage, and leaving some Dra∣goons to dispute the Passage out of the Defile, h•••• march'd with that speed thro••••h the High Road

to Filinghen, that the French Army lost sight of him in a moment.

While Mercy thought of nothing else but to ha∣sten and secure his Retreat, the Duke rally'd his Men together with a Resolution to follow him; but it prov'd a thing so difficult to do, that before he could get his Army in a Body together, the Bava∣rian had gai••'d above a League of Ground before him.

There is a Mountain between St. Peter's and Fi∣linghen, much higher then any of the rest; at the top of which there is a level sufficient to contain an Army drawn up in Battalia, and which com∣mands all the Hills round about. The Water, the Past••••••ge, and the Fertilty of the Soyl, which is every wher•• manur'd under that place, both very Commodious and very Secure to Encamp in. They who were acquainted with the Country made no question but Mercy would have pitch'd his Tents there•• which made the Duke to hasten his March with all Dilligence. Nevertheless, when the Ad∣vanc'd Curriers of the French Vanguard were got to the top of Holg••••ve (for so the place is call'd) they found that the Bavarians, after they had only broke Ground, in Order to Entrench; were ad∣vancd farther, with more haste then the French could follow 'em.

Thereupon, the Duke being quite out of hopes to overtake 'em return'd the same way he came, and ••ncampd at St. Peter's Abby. His Men were so tird, that he was constraind to let 'em rest the next day, while they burnt the Bavarians•• Baggage, and brought away their Canon, and two Morters, which the Bavarians left behind 'em. The next day he took in a little Castle seated upon the Moun∣tai••s, and which might prove serviceable to his De∣signs, and sent the Count of Tournon to convey the Artillery to Brisack.

Thus the Retreat of Coll. Roze was the last re∣markable Action perform'd at the Battle of Fri∣burgh, which is more properly to be call'd a series of several bloody Conflicts, then a pitch'd Battel. On the one side was to be observ'd a Courage which not being to be daunted either with the badness of the Weather, nor the disadvantages of Ground, hazards all for Victory, and proves Victorious at length. On the other side, behold a Prudence which nothing could shake, that made the best of every thing for defence, yet still accompany'd with extraordinary Valour. It is a difficult thing to judge which of the two merited most Honour•• Whither he that attackt an Army entrench'd in places almost inaccessible, and forc'd ••em to quit their Holds; or He that preserv'd a resolute and undaunted Judgement in a long Retreat, in view of a Restless, Urging and Victorious Enemy, and at length, made choice of a Post, from whence he could never be forc'd. However, this may be truly said, that a General who quits his Artillery and Baggage may be said to be beaten, and that the Honour of the Retreat cannot be thought to be compleat, unless he saves all. It may be also said that all Mercy's Prudence could never have pre∣serv••d him from a Total Rout, had it not been for the Error which Espenan and L' Eschelle committed in the Execution of the Duke's Orders. In short, it so falls out for the most part that an Army which Vigorously Attacks an Enemy in his Trenches, has generally the Advantage of him that de∣fends 'em.

After the Duke of Enguien had sent away the Count of Tournon, he return'd toward Landsdelin∣ghen, where his Cannon and Baggage stay'd for him. And then he thought of nothing more then of what Advantages he might make by Mercy's Retreat. 'Twas the opinion of the Principal Of∣ficers

that he should retake Friburgh; that their March into Germany was only to relieve that Place, and consequently it ought to be the first Fruits of their Victory. That the Bavarians had not been able to level their Lines, that they were already far remote, that there was but a slender Garrison in the Place, ill provided of all things, and terri∣fi'd with the ill Success of the Combats which they had beheld from their own Ramparts.

But the Duke was of Opinion, that 'twas of greater Consequence to undertake the Siege of Philipsburgh,* 1.38 the other Design not appearing Great enough at the end of a Campaign, which it behov'd him to crown with some Exploit much more Illu∣strious•• Besides, that by bounding his Conquests with the taking of Friburgh, the Arms of France would be no farther advancd into the Country, and would be also constraind to repass the Rhine, to take up their Winter Quarters in Alsatia.

Not but that the Siege of Philipsburgh was ex∣tremely difficult; in regard it requir'd a long March to lie down before it; because the Infantry was much lessend in number, and for that their Mony was spent, and Provisions were to be brought a great way; but the Duke contemning these Diffi∣culties, the Siege of Philipsburgh was resolvd upon. To that purpose he sent Champlastreux, the In∣tendant of his Army to Brisack, to bring away ten battering Pieces, in Boats, which would be also farther serviceable to lay a Bridge over the Rhine.

Champlastreux, who was both Active and under∣stood his Business, soon dispatchd away those Pre∣parations; and the Prince set forward from Langs∣delinghen, the 16th. of August, with his whole Ar∣my, and March'd along by the Rhine, after he had sent Tu••al before, with one part of the Weymarian Cavalry, some Musqueteers and some Dragoons.

Roze follow••d Tubal with the remainder of the Weymarians; the Duke reserving to himself the lea∣ding of the Infantry of both Armies, and the French Cavalry.

In this Order he march'd toward a Castle, seat∣ed five or six Miles from Strasburgh, fortifi'd with Towers after the ancient manner, and defended with a good Moat full of Water, which he took by the way, to secure himself of a Communication with Strasburgh. From thence he advanc'd to Ku∣penheim, which Roze had taken as he march'd along•• Tuball had also possess'd himself of Ethinguen, For∣sen, Bretten, Durlack, Baden, Pruessel and Willock, small Villages enclos'd with Moats, the most of which had Castles also belong'd to 'em. And Tu∣renne went on and invested Philipsburgh it ••elf, with three Thousand. Horse and seven Hundred Foot, and the Duke arriv'd before the Place in ten days March from Langsdelinghen.

Philipsburgh is Seated near the Rhine, upon the Confines of the Dutchy of Wirtemberg, and in the lower Palatinate, three Leagu••s f••om Spire. From Brisack to Hermestein there is not any strong Hold but Philipsburgh. It was formerly calld Vdenheim, and was the Seat belonging to the Bishops of Spire; and the Troubles of Germany insensibly constrain'd the Bishops to fortifie it. But when they had put it into a condition to defend it self, it remain'd no longer in their Hands. For the Imperialists, and afterwards the Swedes, made themselves masters of it: the French also possess'd it for some time•• but afterwards it returnd under the Emperors Dominion.

To this Town belongs a Fort which commands the Rhine, and which Communicates with the City, by means of a Causey six foot broad, and eight hundred foot long. Over against Philipsburgh, the River forms a large Elbow, and causes a great

many Boggs round about half the Place. The Forti••ication is only of Earth, but the Ramparts are very thick: It is surrounded with large and deep Moats, nor is there any more then one way to a••••roach it; and the Body of the Place is com∣posd of seven•• Bastions almost regular. The Berm is so large that it serves for a false Bray, and this B•••••• is secur'd by a Quick-set Hedge very thick. The Moat is full of Water, two hundred foot wide, and four fadom deep, with a Counterscarp well Pallisado'd. On that side next the Elbow, which the Rhine makes, there is only a Bogg co∣ver'd with Wood in some parts; on the other side the Ground is somewhat higher, and intermix'd with Heath, Wood and Ploughd Fields.

When the Duke invested it, Bamberg was Gover∣nour•• the Garrison was compos'd of two hundred Horse, and five hundred Foot; there were a hun∣dred pieces of Canon mounted, and Ammunition sufficient for a long Siege.

After the Duke had view'd the most Advantage∣ous Places to secure his Circumvallation, he spent the rest of the day in taking his Posts, and ap∣pointed the Night for attacking the Fort upon the Rhine. The French Army took up their Quarters from K••audenheime to a River that Waters the Plain, half-way from Rheinhausen, and the German Army was posted from the River to Rheinhausen.

Night being come, the Souldiers prepar'd to Storm the Fort. The Duke march'd thither through the Woods, while Tu••ennne approachd it over small Damms that are rais'd athwart the Mersh. But the Duke could not get thither till break of day, because the way he had chose was long and difficult.

Bamberg, not having Foot sufficient, sent for in∣to the Town both the Men and every thing else that was provided for the defence of the Fort; so that Turenne finding it quitted took Possession of it, and fortifid it with all things necessary against the Attacks of the City.

After that, the Duke minded nothing but to se∣cure his Circumvallation. He caus'd Forts and Redoubts to be rais'd in all places where the Ground was proper, and cut down the Trees in the Boggs to stop up the High-ways. Turenne met not with so many Obstacles in the Fortifying his Quarters; for he made use of a great Flood of Water that ran along from one end of his Camp to the other, which he made a good defence by adding a Parapet to it. So that the Circumvallation was finish'd in four days, and the Camp enclosd on all sides from Knaud••nheime to Rheinhausen.

In the mean time, the Bridge of Boats arriv'd, laden with Canon, Ammunition and Provisions. In twenty four Hours it was laid over against Germe∣sheim and Knaudenheime. Germesheim is a small City of the lower Palatinate, seated upon the Banks of the Rhine, fortifi'd with Bastions of Earth and a drie Moat, on that side next Spire, but full of Wa∣ter on that side next Philipsburgh. The taking of it was necessary to command the upper part of the Rhine; for in regard there could be no Circ••m∣vallation made beyond the River, they could no•• be assurd of the River without taking in those pla∣ces which commanded it.

Therefore, so soon as the Bridge was finishd, the Duke order'd d' Aumont to pass the River with six hundred Foot, and three hundred Horse, and at∣tack Germensheim, which he did in two days after the Trenches were opend; and after that he marchd toward Spire. This City, tho it stands upon the Rhine is only considerable for being the

Seat of the Imperial Chamber; for it is only sur∣rounded with a Wall, garnishd with Towers, after the Ancient manner, and a nasty Moat.

Thus, while D' Aumont made himself sure of the most necessary Posts upon the Rhine, the Duke began the Attack of Philipsburgh. And it has been already by us observ'd that there is but one way to approach the Town, where the Earth is Gravelly, all along to the very Counterscarp of the two Ba∣stions of the Place.

In this part the Duke orderd two Attacks to be rais'd; o•• which Grammont undertook to carry on the Left, and Turenne took Care of that on the Right Hand. Both the one and the other made use of above fifteen hundred paces of the Course of a little Rivolet that waters the Plain, after they had turn'd the Water another way, in order to make their Approaches toward the two Bastions which they were to Attack. The Trench was open'd the first of September, and the same Night they made a Place of Arms common to both Attacks; each of which carry'd on their Approaches to the opposite Bastion.

Espenan, with the Regiment of Persan, comman∣ded the Guard, the first Night in Grammont's Trench, and after he had carry'd on the Line near 200 Pa∣ces, he began to raise a great Redoubt, where he settl'd a Corps du Guard of a hundred Gendarms at the Head of the Workmen; and those Horsemen had Orders to retire, in the day time, behind the Ruines of an old Building, near the opening of the Trench.

The Night was quiet enough; and the Besieged who knew not as yet where the Pioniers were at work, never gave any Interruption to the Besiegers. But so soon as day appear'd, and that they descry'd the Earth cast up, they resolv'd by a Salley to ruine the Work which had been carry'd on in the Night.

To that purpose they detach'd two Hundred Foot, and a Hundred Horse, who advanc'd toward the Line; and tho it were full of Pioniers Espenan prepar'd to receive 'em, commanding the Gendarms to oppose their Cavalry.

But that Squadron marchd against the Enemy in so much Disorder, that they were utterly broken at the first Charge, and la Boulay was there slain upon the Place. However Espenan had put the Line in so good Order, that the Besieged durst not attack it; nor pursue this their ••irst Advantage any farther; in so much that the Gendarmes had time to rally and return to the Charge; and this second time they so well acquitted themselves, that notwithstanding all their firing from the Bastions, all that remaind of those that sally'd were driven to their Counterscarp.

Thus the Besiegers continued their Work with∣out Opposition, but that their Infantry was lessen'd to that Degree, that the Dukes Army did not a∣mount to above three thousand Me••, and the to∣ther was not above two thousand strong. With so few Men the Prince had an Incredible deal of Trouble to guard so spacious a Circumvallation, and to furnish Men sufficient to guard the Trenches, and other necessary Occasions.

His Infantry consisted of Four Battallions; of which that which was relievd in the Trenches was order'd for the extraordinary Guard of the Camp. The other two wrought in the Approaches, and the last provided Faggots to fill up the Trenches. Palluau, with the Regiment of Enguien relievd, the second Night, Espenan and Persan, & carry'd on the Line and finishd the Redoubt. Tournon and Marsin, the two next Nights advanc'd the Works much farther, and made a Battery of six Canons.

Turenne had made n•• less haste on his side. The fifth Night the two Attacks made a Lodgement upon the Counterscarp; neither did Bamberg op∣pose these Works, but with his Canon and Small-Shot. Neither did the Duke hear any thing of the Bavarian Army; only he had Intelligence that Iohn de Wert was upon his March with a Thousand Horse and as many Musketeers, to try whether he could put any Relief into Philipsburgh; and this advice constraind the Duke to redouble his Guards, and to ride the Rounds every Night.

So soon as the two Attacks had made their Lodgements upon the Counterscarp, the Work∣men began to pierce it, and raise Batteries to ru∣ine the Defences of the Place. As for the Descent into the Moat, it was not very difficult, but it would be very troublesome to secure it. For in regard the Water was almost even with the Coun∣terscarp, the Besiegers could not come at it under Ground, and it requird a great deal of time to make a Gallery coverd with Oaken Planks. So that the D. only drew a streight Line which butted upon the Moat, and which was coverd with Bavins upon Blinds and Chandeleers.

Espenan and Palluau, during the two Nights that they kept Guard, brought their Works to so much Perfection as to be able to fill up the Moat. Tour∣non also had already thrown into it a great number of Bavins, bu•• as he passd along the piercd Line that led to the Work, he was slain with a Musket Bullet.

La Pomme the Engeneer was expert at making Mines and passing Moats: but he met with a great many Difficulties by reason of the Canon that playd from the Town, which the Besiegers Ca∣non c••uld not Master, for that having so great a number as they had, no sooner was one Piece dismounted, but presently another was mounted

in the room; and beside those which they had in their Flanks with which they batter'd the Bridge side-ways, they had a Row upon the Face of the Bastions which pierc'd and ruin'd the whole Ap∣proach.

'Tis true the Flanks were so small that they could not plant above three pieces of Canon upon 'em. Which is a usual Fault in the best Fortificati∣ons to ha••e the Flanks either too narrow or too open•• But the first of these defects is the worst, in regard that between the two opposite Batteries the great∣est number of Canon always prevails. In a word, the Besiegers having rais'd two Batteries, each of four pieces of Canon, presently put to silence the Enemies Canon from the Flanks. But the Besieged planted so many upon the Faces of the Bastions, the Rampart of which was very low, that they ru∣in'd those of the Besiegers. For which reason, the Duke was constrain'd to raise Shoulderings to hide his Batteries, and cover the Faces of the Bastions. By which means his Canon got the Mastery, and the Besiegers labour'd with more security to perfect their Bridge.

Then Bamberg found that it would not be in his Power to hinder the M••at from being fill'd up, and therefore knowing his Garrison to be but weak, he thought it not convenient to stay till the Miners were set to work, in hopes before that, to make a more Advantageous Capitulation. Thereupon, he beat a Parley, Hostages were given on both sides, and the Garrison march'd out the twelfth of Septem∣ber, to the number of five Hundred Men, with two Pieces of Canon. The Duke put Persan's Regiment into the Town, and made Espenan Governour.

The winning of this Place, tho more easie then the Prince fore••saw or expected, gave great Repu∣ta••ion to the Arms of France; insomuch that seve∣ral Cities sent their Deputies•• Nor did 〈◊〉〈◊〉

till D'Aumont summon'd 'em, but sent Commissioners with their Keys to the D. who receiv'd 'em Honou∣rably; and after he had confirm'd their Priviledges, sent 'em back with Order to dismiss the Imperialists, and receive a French Garrison, which a' Aumont had Instructions to put into the Town.

But the Duke could not reap himself the Fruits of the taking of Philipsburgh, nor could he remove from thence before he had repair'd the Fortificati∣ons. For the Enemy was at hand; his Men were much lessen'd and weary'd; his Canon had made great Ruins which were to be repair'd; nor was the Prince in a Condition to stand Mercy, who had both refresh'd and recruited his Army since his re∣treat from Friburgh. So that all the Duke could do was to settle his Quarters in the Places along the Rhine, in such a manner, that the Enemy could nei∣ther regain what he had won, nor force him to a General Battel.

He had the River on the one side, the City on the other, the Fort of Rhine before him, and the Mersh, and the Woods behind him. His Army being thus Advantageously Posted, he detach'd Turenne, to go and attack Wormes. This City is not Inferiour either in Dignity or number of Inha∣bitants to any of the Cities of Germany, being Sea∣ted upon the B••nks of the Rhine, and fortifid as much as the Largeness and Situation of it would permit. Duke Charles of Lorrain kept Garrison there, and since the Loss of his Territories, he had hardly any other Place of Retreat but that.

Turenne sent away the Foot,* 1.39 his Canon and all o∣ther things necessary for his Design by Water. Which done, he march'd through the Palatinate, with two thousand Horse, and defeated six hundred M••n, which General Beck had sent to Frankendale. The Inhabitants of Wormes also open'd their Gates, and sent away the Lorrainers. Thereupon Turenne

continu'd his March toward Mayence, and detach'd away Roze to take in Oppenheim, a little City seated in a Pain, ill fortifi'd, but defended with a very good Castle. Roze found no Resistance there; and Turenne at the same time presented himself before Mayence, and Lodging himself in the Subburbs, sent a Trumpe•• to those that commanded in the Ci∣ty, with Offers of Honourable Conditions.

M••y••nce is the Seat of an Archbishop, who is one of the Electors, and one of the Principal Ci∣ties of Germany; besides that, it is Large, Popu∣lous, and well Built, considering that it lyes in a Country where good Architecture was never much known or practis'd. The Situation renders it con∣siderable, being seated just opposite to the mouth of the Mein, which washes one part of the Walls: On the Land side it is defended by a Citadel, with four Bastions. But as it is usual in great Cities, the Fortifications had been long neglected, so that the Principal defence of the Town consisted in the number of Inhabitants, not in the strength of the Ramparts.

At the lower end of the City, upon the Bank of the Rhine, st••n••s a Magnificent C••stle, which is the Residence of the Elector. In the time that this City was under the Power of the Swedes, the King had caus'd a Fort of six Bastions call'd Gu∣stawburgh, to be built in that part where the two Rivers meet. But the Imperialists having at length retaken Mayence, the Fort was quitted by the Swedes, and the Electors let it run to ruine.

When Vicount Turenne enter'd the Subburbs, there was in th•• Town an Imperial Garrison of eight Hundred Men: Nevertheless, the Elector not believing he could remain there in safety, was retir'd to Hermestein; so that the Chapter, which has all the Authority of the Government in the Absence of the Arch-bishop, caus'd all the Bodies

of the City to meet together, and after several Deliberations, they resolv'd to send their Commis∣sioners to the Duke of Enguien, and to present the Keys of the Town to himself, to make their Capi∣tulation the more Honourable, by the Quality of the Person that receiv'd 'em.

Turenne sent this Answer to the Duke, who lay still with his Army near to Philipsburgh; who thereupon departed with a Convoy of four Hun∣dred Horse, and came to Mayence in a day and a half. And while both sides were drawing up the Articles of the Surrender. Mercy lay posted upon the Hills between Hailbrun and Neckersulm, leaving the Necker before him.

Hailbrume is not above fourteen Leagues from Philipsburgh, and M••rcy pretended from thence to put a stop to the Progress of the Duke. To which purpose he detach'd Wolfs, a famous Collonel among the Bavarians, with two hunder'd Horse, and five Hunder'd Dr••goons to put himself into Mayence; tho Wolfs could not get thither above a quarter of an hour before the Duke of Enguien. So that the Trumpet which the Duke sent to give the City notice of his coming found Wolfs harang••ing the Townsmen, and encouraging them to stand upon their own defence, offering the Reinforcement which he had lef•• on the other side of the Rhine, as also the Assistance of the whole Bavarian Army, which would follow him in a little time.

But the Inhabitants, who knew the Duke was in their Subburbs, stood to their Word which they had given to Turenne, and after they had dismiss'd Wolfs out of the City, sent their Deputies to the Duke to conclude their Treaty of Capitulation. The Chapter also oblig'd themselves to send out the Garrison, which they kept in Binghen, a small City, and to admit the French. The Duke gave th•• Government of Mayence to the Count of Cour∣val,

and put a strong Garrison into the Town, with all things necessary to repair the old Fortifi∣cations and make new ones.

Turenne likewise took Creussnack in his March, and d' Aumont invested Landau with twelve hun∣dred Foot, and fifteen hundred Horse. This is a City seated in a Plain, four Leagues from Philips∣burgh, well Peopl'd, and having a Rampart flank'd by two Towers, after the antient manner, with a Moat defended by some Half-Moons and a Covert way. There were in the Town four hundred Lor∣rainers; and it was the only place which the Pala∣tinates had preserv'd in the Palatinate, on this side the Rhine, except Frankendale, where the Spaniards kept a very strong Garrison.

While ••' Aumont was taking up his Quarters, and beginning his Approaches before Landau, the Duke rejoin'd his Army close by Philipsburgh, that he might be near the Siege which d' Aumont had undertaken; where he understood that the Tren∣ches were already open'd, but that d' Aumont go∣ing to visit the Works was dangerously wounded. Thereupon Turenne was sent to continue the Siege•• who carry'd on the Trenches with that speed, that in three days a Battery was raisd, and a Lodgement made upon the Counterscarp.* 1.40 The fifth day, the Duke being come to visit the Works, the Lorrainers capitulated with Turenne, and march'd out of the Place.

After the taking of Landau, Newstad, Manhei•• and Magdeburgh, made but little Resistance. So that in one Campaign, the Duke saw himself three times Victorious over the Bavarian Army, Master of the Palatinate, and the Course of the Rhine, from Philipsburgh to Hermenstein, and of all the Country between the Rhine and the Moselle.

There are three things which have not been ob∣serv'd in the Campaign of Friburgh,* 1.41 which are not to be omitted. The First is, that the Duke, as it is credibly reported, the more to encourage his Souldiers to force the Bavarian Camp, threw his Ba••toon, the Ensign of his Generalship, over the Entrenchments, shewing by that Action, that to prevent his Ba••toon from falling into the Enemies Hands, there was a nece••••ity of gaining that part where he had thrown it, and that it was to be lookt upon as the Prize which the Duke propos'd to himself to win; and which it behov'd all the Souldiers also to be no less eager of gaining.

The Second thing necessary to be observ'd is this, that the Defeat of the Bavarians at the Battel of Friburgh, gave the French an easie opportunity to make such considerable Progresses, that they no sooner presented themselves before a Town, but the Garrison surrender'd. So that the Marquiss d' Aumont having summon'd Gemersheim to open her Gates, she did it immediately. The Deputies also of that Place, accompany'd with the Clergy and Magistra••y, met the Marquiss, to assure him of their Obedient Submission to the King of France, and besides Landau, which Marshal Turenne took, they made themselves Masters of Magdeburgh, and the City of Bacara••

The Third thing worthy to be observ'd, and which will shew the Terrour which the Duke of Eng••i••n's Name had struck into the Hearts of the Enemies of France was this, that when Turenne had sent Roze to invest Mayence, and that Mercy had sent Wolfs with six hundred Dragoons, and four hundred Horse, to Succour the Place, with promise of all other Assistance necessary, those Offers were rejected. The Besieged answer'd that they were only fair Promises. That never the less the City was Besieg'd, and that when they were to re∣sist

the still Triumphant Arms of the King of France, they must make use of other Weapons the•• Words, and that the Duke of Enguien's continud Victories gave them great reason to fear that they should not be able successfully to withstand a Force that carry'd all before it. Which Answer to sur∣priz'd Coll. Wolfs, that he immediately retird. And then the Chapter of Mayence sent their Commissi∣oners to the Duke, to inform him of the Resolu∣tion they had taken, to Surrender the City into his Hands, upon Condition that the Prince would Sign the Capitulation as it was drawn up, and that he would come and receive their Oathes of Fidelity. These Offers and Conditions were accepted the Sixteenth of September. The Principal Articles of the Capitulation being, That the Administration as well Ecclesiastical as Secular should remain Free to the Chapter. That Iustice should be administer'd according to the usual manner; and that under that Clause, the Officers should be preserv'd in their Employments and Priviledges. That the Chapter having put themselves under the King of France's Protection, the Duke should not Charge 'em with any new Impositions; and that he should put a Garrison of Five Hundred Men into the Fort. The Duke also made a particular Agreement with the Governour, which immediately concernd the Emperor and the Imperial Garrison that was in the Place. So soon as the Capitulation was Signd, the Duke sent advice of it to their Majesties, and then made his Entrance into the City, where he was receivd with that Pomp and Magnificence which carry'd along with it the Aire and Shew of a Triumph. All the Corporations of Mayence went forth to meet the Prince, and made their Compli∣ments to him in Latin. And the Duke, who under∣stood other things as well as the taking of Towns, and winning of Battels, answerd all their Com∣plements, and all their Speeches in Latin, in so Elo∣quent

a manner, that not only they who had the Advantage to hear him speak were charm'd and ravish'd with Admiration, but the noise of his Wit and Learning spread it self all over Germany, if I may not say all over Europe. Some compard him to Alexander, others to Caesar. The First observd in him that Impetuosity, that Ardour, that Activity, that Heroick Bravery, and Daring Boldness, which in Alexander were joyn'd to the Love of Letters and Learning; and the others believ'd him to be the Living Image of C••sar, not only in respect of the Capacity, Prudence and Conduct of that Illustrious Roman, but also in regard of his Eloquence.

The End of the First Book.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Design of the Work.
• * 1.2

  1621.
• * 1.3

  The Birth of the Prince of Conde.
• * 1.4

  1629.
• * 1.5

  His Studies.
• * 1.6

  1640.
• * 1.7

  He is pre∣sent at the Siege of Arras.
• * 1.8

  1641.
• * 1.9

  H••s Mar∣riage.
• * 1.10

  He is pre∣sent at the Siege of Aire.
• * 1.11

  An occasion wherein the Prince of Conde signalizes himself.
• * 1.12

  1642.
• * 1.13

  He is at the S••ege of Perpignan, and ••om∣mands the Arrierb••n of Langu••d••c.
• * 1.14

  He is made General of the King of France his Army.
• * 1.15

  Death of Card. Rich∣lieu.
• * 1.16

  The Queen endeav••ur•• to draw the Prince of Conde to her Party & succeeds.
• * 1.17

  1643.
• * 1.18

  The Death of Lewis XIII.
• * 1.19

  The Queen confirm'd Regent, by a De••laration of Parli∣ament.
• * 1.20

  A Relation of what pass'd in the Cam∣paign of Ro∣croy, in 1643. by M. de i•• Chapelle.
• * 1.21

  The Prince of Conde desirous to relieve Ro∣croy.
• * 1.22

  Th•• Battle of Rocroy.
• * 1.23

  The taking of Emery, Barlemont and Mau∣berge.
• * 1.24

  Two pie∣ces of Wood five or six foot long, set up an end upon a Tra∣verse five or six foot one from the other, the Spaces being fill'd with Ba∣vins.
• † 1.25

  A way three foot broad, at the foot of the Rampart, between the Rampart & the Moate.
• * 1.26

  The taking of Cirk.
• * 1.27

  The Prince of C••n••e arrives at Court, and leads a numerous Re∣inforcement into Ger∣many.
• * 1.28

  H•• returns to Court.
• * 1.29

  The Advan∣tages of the taking of Thionville
• * 1.30

  Why the Siege of this place was op••os••d.
• * 1.31

  The Prince refuses the Encomiums of the Court.
• * 1.32

  The Queen turns out some Mini∣sters ••••kes Mazarine.
• * 1.33

  Nego••iations o•• Peace Fruitl••••s.
• * 1.34

  1644.
• * 1.35

  The Prince of Conde acts in Germany, where he resolves to relieve Fri∣burgh, or fight the Enemy••
• * 1.36

  A Relation of the Cam∣paign of Friburgh, 1644. by M. La Chapelle.
• * 1.37

  Great Beams of Timber with Stakes driven into 'em, bearing their points outwards, resembling a Hedg-hog.
• * 1.38

  The Siege and Taking of Philips∣burgh.
• * 1.39

  Wormes, Ma••ence, and several ••ther ••lg••es taken.
• * 1.40

  He dyed at Spire, within a ••••w days after.
• * 1.41

  Three things not observ'd in the Cam∣paign of Friburgh.