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Harcour, the French Viceroy in Catalonia, laid Siege to Lerida a strong and important City upon the River Segre, and the Borders of Catalonia and Aragon. Before this place he * 1.1 lay five Months, hindring all manner of Succours from being put into it. The Marquis de Leganes the Spanish General, after he had taken several small places to give a diversion
to the Enemy, and cut off some of their Convoys, finding them not quit their Enter∣prize, being joined by the Duke del Infantado, and his Army now amounting to 25000 Men, resolved to attack the French in their Trenches, which accordingly he did, and after a hot dispute put them to flight, forcing them to take shelter at Balaguer. All their Bag∣gage, Cannon, and great store of Ammunition and Provisions were taken. This Victory cost the Spaniards much Blood, being forc'd to drive the Enemy out of their Works, but the importance of relieving Lerida made amends for all.
Prince Thomas of Savoy who commanded the French in Italy in May, appear'd before * 1.2 the Ports Telamon and S. Stephen with a powerful Fleet and 20000 Men. He soon made himself Master of both those places, which done he possessed all the Posts about Orbitello, where Charles de la Gata a Spaniard commanded, and laid close Siege to it. He raised several Batteries which play'd furiously upon the Town, making large breaches in the Walls, and still carried on his Works with great Labour: But the Governour was no less industrious and vigilant, still making up what the Enemies Cannon had ruin'd, and with often sallies, firing and destroying their Works. At length the Fleet of Naples came to the Relief of the Besieged, and in some Encounters with the Enemy had always the best. The Spa∣nish Forces also of Naples and Milan being joined, and approaching to the assistance of the Besieged, Prince Thomas finding his Army much diminish'd not only by the Assaults he had given, but much more by Sickness, caused by the excessive heat of the Weather, retir'd back with his Army into Piedmont. Thus after a Siege of 60 days Orbitello was de∣liver'd from danger, whereas most Men judged it could not have held out above 20. It was not long before the French retrieved this Disgrace; for their Fleet being soon refitted, returned under the Command of the Mareschal Meleraie, who possessing himself of Porto Longone in the Island Ilva, opposite to the City Plombin, with the same ease brought that City also to Subjection.
The War with Partugal was not this Year carried on with any great vigour, nor any nota∣ble Action done on that side. Several Incursions were made by our Parties with good success, defeating those of the Enemy, and bringing away great Booties of Cattel. At last the Enemy with a powerful Army took the Field, designing to besiege Badajoz, and threatning the whole Province of Estremadura. All this Preparation fell to nothing, for they compassed not the razing the Fort of Telena as they intended, but retired from before it with much precipi∣tation upon the approach of the Spanish Army, leaving the Fort as they found it.
In the Low Countries the Duke of Anguien with an Army of 40000 Men, took Courtray * 1.3 and Winoxberg, and recover'd Mardike, before surprized by the Spaniards. This done they laid Siege to Dunkirk, which had been his principal design; this place being of great importance, as the chief Port the Spaniards then resorted to, was bravely defended by the Marquis de Lede with a Garison of 4000 Men. But the Duke having a numerous Army which he no way spared, and the Hollanders with their Fleet lying before the Harbour, so that no Relief could be put into the Place, it was at last surrendred upon honourable Conditions.
King Philip having made choice of D. John Enriquez de Cabrera, Great Admiral of Ca∣stile and late Viceroy of Naples, for the Embassy to Rome, to yield Obedience to Pope In∣nocent the X. he performed that Ceremony on the 28th. of April, with the greatest Pomp and Magnificence that had been seen in Rome for many Years.
Balthasar Charles, Prince of Spain, and then the only Heir of the Crown, having lain * 1.4 sick but 3 days died the 9th. of October, in the flower of his Age, to the unspeakable Grief of all these Kingdoms. Also Mary the Empress departed this Life at Lintz in Austria, leaving 3 Children.
This Year the wonderful Bell of Vililla in Aragon rung of it self three times in one day, which was Monday the 30th. of April; the first time it gave 11 strokes, the second 8, and the third 7.
Over∣throw of the French.
French in Italy.
Places in the Low-Countries taken by the French.
Pr. Baltha∣sar dies.