1674. n Orange upon notice of the French Attacking Prince A. C. Vaudemont, had fent three Battallions of his beft Foot to their Affiftance, with all the Diligence that could be, but the Spaniards already broken brought the Dutch into Disorder, and oblig'd them to retreat, being purfu'd with great Vigour, and overpower'd by the French, which was the reafon that they loft feveral of their Principal Officers; among the reft Young Prince Maurice of Nassau was taken Prisoner. Affoon as the Infantry of the Confederates, was retired the French fell with redoubl'd Fury upon the Spanish Horfe, and the Prince of Condé began to range his Army in form of Battle, commanding his Foot to march fecretly under the covert of the Hedges and Bufhes. The Confederate Horse were order'd to Charge them, but they found the way fo hollow between the Enemy and them, that they were oblig'd to turn about to the Right, and joyn the reft of the Army. The French, obferving this, turn'd to the Left, and made fo much hafte to Charge the Body of Horfe, that Prince Vaudemont had fcarce time enough to range his three Battalions, to endeavour to ftop the Career of the Enemy. This onfet prov'd fatal to the Confederates, for the three Commanders in chief of this Brigade were made Prifoners, with feveral Perfons of Quality,as the Duke of Holftein, the Prince de Solis, and Monfieur de Langerac, not to mention the number of the Slain.Prince Vaudemont gave Proofs of an extraordinary Valour and great Prefence of Mind; but whatever Endeavours he used to make his Men rally again, it could not be effected. If the Prince of Condé had contented himfelf with this Succefs and Execution, he had left no difpute of a Victory; but lured on by the hopes of one more entire, and believing the Dutch,whom he esteem'd the worst Troops, would not ftand, after the Spaniards and a great part of their own were wholly Routed, he followed the Chafe, and drawing out his whole Army upon them, brought it to a fet Battle, which was more than he Intended. In the mean time the Prince of Orange marchE 2 ing A. C. ing to the Relief of the Spaniards, and the Battali 1674. ons he had fent, was at firft invelop'd by his own flying Men, whom he could neither ftop by Words nor Blows, by Promifes or Reproaches, till joyning the rest of his own Troops, and the Spaniards, Commanded by the Duke de Villa Hermosa, that ftood firm, and Count de Souches coming up with the Imperialifts to enforce him,the Battle began with as great Obftinacy and Fury as any was ever Fought, continued fo for about eight Hours till Sun-fet, and about two Hours after by Moon-light till that failing too, the Fight ended, rather by the Obfcurity of the Night, than the Wearinefs or Weakness of the Combatants The Prince of Orange in the whole Course of this Action, gave all Orders with fuch Prudence, and Obfervance of all Advantages, led up his feveral Squadrons with that Bravery, made fuch bold ftands against his own broken Troops, as well as against the impetuoufnefs of their Purfuers, for fix Hours together, in the hotteft of Fire; fometimes Charging with the thickeft of the Enemies; fometimes over-born by his own that fled, till he rallied them and led them back to the Charge, expos'd to more Danger than most private Soldiers in the Field: So that Count de Souches in his Letter to the States upon this Occafion, told them, That in the whole Course of the Action the Prince had fhewn the Conduct of an old experienc'd Commander, and the Valour of a Cæfar. And indeed his Allies, his Friends, and his Enemies, agreed in giving him equal Glory upon this Adventure: But he had none greater than from the Prince of Conde's Teftimony, That he had done like an old Captain in all, but only in venturing himself too much like a young Man. Yet this old General had done the fame in this Day's Action, as much as the youngest Cavalier in his Army could do, when he found the Battle fought fo defperately, and all at stake; whereas 'tis certain that nothing could have given Vigour to the Confederate Troops, after the firft Rout, but the repeated Examples and Dangers of the Prince, and fhame of not following fuch a Leader, in all the bold Charges which he made that Day, which both the Generals feem'd refolv'd rather to die than to lofe. As the Numbers were not much different when the Fight began, fo were those esteem'd that fell in this Battle, and to reach between fix and feven Thoufand on either fide; but of the French many more Officers and Men of Note, than was ufual in Proportion to the Common Soldiers; for among their Slain were reckon'd the Marquis de Chauvalan, de Clemerant, de Bourbon and D'iliers; three Counts, two Cornets of the King's Guards; above Forty Officers of the Guards du Corps; Forty three of the King's Regiment, and Fourfcore of the Queen's Guards. In the Lift of the Slain on the fide of the Allies were the Marquis of Affentar, Major General Vane, the Sieur de Villamaire, the Sieur de Langerac, five Collonels, four Lieutenant Collonels, and a proportionable number of Cap-. tains and Inferiour Officers. When the Night parted the Armies, the French retired back to their former Quarters, and next Morning the Confederates march'd to that which they defign'd when they broke up the Day before. The Allies claim'd the Victory, because they remain'd Masters of the Field; and the French upon the greatest number of Prifoners and Standards they carried away; but whoever had the Honour, they both felt the Lofs. A. C. 1674. The Day after the Battle his Highness march'd with the whole Army by the way of Mons, and put them into Quarters at S. Guillain, where he receiv'd five Regiments of new Recruits; and the Imperialists retired to Queverain. After the repair sir W. neceffary in each Camp, upon this fharp Encoun- Temple's ter, each Army took the Field again, and gave a Memoirs, General Expectation of another Battle before the p. 26. Campaign ended. The Prince of Orange fought it all he could, but the Prince of Condé chofe and fortified his Encampments fo, as not to be forc'd ta fight without apparent odds, and contented himfelf to watch the Motions of the Allies, to preferve the French Conquelts in Flanders, and prevent any E 3 Irruption A. C. Irruption into France, which was defign'd this Sum1674. mer, with great Confidence, by the Confederates, both on this fide, and that in Alface, but with e qual Difappointment, unless it ware to Monfieur Starenburgh, who in the beginning of the Campaign, complaining of the Wine at the Prince's Table, the Prince told them, He would make them Drink good Wine in Champagne before the Summer ended. He, who lov'd it well, defir'd his Highness to be as good as his Word, was afterwards taken at the Battle of Senef, carried to Rheims, with feveral Dutch Officers, where fitting down to Dinner, and finding the Wine Excellent, he drank the Prince's Health, and faid, He would trust him as long as he liv'd, for he had kept his Word, and made them drink good Wine in Champagne. The Prince The Prince of Orange finding no other way of of Orange Action, Decamp'd with the whole Army on the Befieges 12th of September, pafs'd the River Hayne near Oudenar- Tournay and Aeth, fat down before Oudenarde, and de. had his end of drawing the Prince of Condé out of his cautious Marches, who came immediately to relieve it, and fight the Allies before they were ready to give any Affault to the Town. Upon the approach of the French Army the Prince of Orange call'd a Council of War, and propos'd to draw out and attack them immediately, before they had recover'd their Fatigue after their hard Days march. The Spaniards were content, but Count Souches was not to be found all that Day, or as others relate it, would not agree to it, and. Sir W. fo this Occafion was loft, and with fuch discontent Temple. among the Generals, that next Day the Germans left their Trenches, and march'd away about a League, and left room to the French to put what Relief they pleas'd into the Town. Upon this the Raifes the Prince of Orange was forc'd to draw off with the Siege. reft of his Army, and upon Conferences with Monterey, as well as Souches, finding he fhould not be able to effect any thing with the Imperialists, his Highness refolv'd to leave the greatest part of the Dutch Forces with Count Waldeck, and with the reft to go himself and prefs the Siege of Grave. And And here began thofe Diffentions among the Con- A. C. goes to the |