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A. C. by feveral Marches and Countermarches he made, 1691. as Umbrages he gave him of Attacking Maubeuge or Mons; but the cautious French General very induftriously avoided Fighting, and would afford no opportunity for it, but upon very great Advantage. The King having blown up the Fortifications of Beaumont, a Place he had made himself Master of, march'd the Army towards Aeth, from whence he The King parted on the 17th of September for Loo, leaving leaves the the Forces under the Command of Prince Waldeck. Army, The fame Day the Confederate Army march'd from Sept. 17. Irkonwell to Leuze, and decamp'd again on the 19th in the Morning, advancing towards Cambron; and about Eleven a Clock, the whole Right Wing, with the Body of the Foot, and the greatest part of the Horfe of the Left Wing, had pafs'd the little River and Defile near Catoire. The Duke of Luxemburgh being inform'd of this Motion, and encouraged by His Britannick Majefty's Abfence, advanc'd at the fame time with the Troops of the French King's Houfhold, and a strong Detachment of his CavalLuxem- ry, making together Fifty five Squadrons; his swift burg at March not being difcover'd by reafon of a great tacks the Fog, and charg'd the Rear-guard of the Allies with Rear of the great Fury. Count Tilly, who commanded in the Confede Rear, drew up his Men as well as the fuddenness of rate Army, the Attack would permit, and receiv'd the fhock Sept. 19. with great Bravery, but was foon over-power'd and

put into Disorder. By this time feveral of those that had already pafs'd the River were brought back by Ithe Lieut. Generals Over kirk and Opdam, and forming a Second Line, gave an opportunity to the First to rally. Two Battalions were likewife pofted behind the Hedges adjoining to the Defile, who much gall'd the Enemy. Here the the Conflict was very fierce, till the Second Line was alfo forc'd to give Ground before the Enemy; but the Cavalry being foon rallied by Monfieur Overkirk, who fignaliz'd his Valour and Conduct on this occafion, the French, who were unwilling to push the Action too far, for fear of the Dutch Infantry, which was alfo marching up, retreated in fome hafte and confufion, contenting themselves with having kill'd about a Thou

fand

fand of the Confederates, and amongst them, fome A. C. Men of great Diftinction, with the lofs themfelves 1691. of about half the Number. And with this Action the Campaign ended on that side.

The Spaniards had already loft in Flanders the Im-Campaign in Catalo• portant Place of Mons, but yet they receiv'd a more fenfible Mortification near Home. For the nia. Duke de Noailles, who commanded the French Forces, advancing with part of the Army to Belver, to make Head against the Spanish Troops, fent the reft under the Command of Lieutenant General Chazeron, to befiege Urgell in Cardagne. Though the Place was not altogether undefenfible; befides that it had a Garrifon of 1500 Men, and most of them Difciplind, yet they bafely furrendred it in a little time, and themfelves. both Officers and Soldiers, to to be Prifoners of War: Only the Militia' were difmifs'd home. Thereupon the Court of Madrid fent feveral Reinforcements to the Duke of Medina Sidonia, Vice-Roy of Catalonia; but nevertheless he could neither hinder the French from Fortifying Belver,nor make any other Diverfion; for advancing to attack Prato-Melo, most of his daftardly Troops abandon'd him. Nor did the Spaniards make a better Figure at Sea than on Land, fince they could not prevent the Marefchal D' Eftrees's Bombarding Barcelona for three Days together, which wrought a terrible Defolation in that City.

Nice or

Nor were the Arms of France lefs Profpe- Afairs of rous in Italy, than in Catalonia, at leaft in the be- Italy. ginning of the Campaign. Monfieur Catinat having taking the Field early, with a defign to make himself Master of Nice, Invefted that Place on Nizza in the 13th of March; but before he profecuted that d Siege in Form, he thought fit to detach Parties to March13. fummon Villa Franca, and the Forts of St. Aufpice, N. S. and Montalban, which furrender'd without any Refiftance. He met with almoft the fame good fuccefs at Nice; for on the 26th the Confuls of the City fent their Deputies to him, who agreed at a certain Hour, and upon a certain Signal, to receive the French King's Troops. The Governor upon notice of their defign attempted to make himself Ma

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fter

A. C. fter of one of the Gates, in order to prevent its 1691. being put in Execution; but the Citizens being refolv'd to fecure their Houfes from the Ravage of the

Bombs, immediately got to their Arms, fir'd upon

the Governor's Detachment, and deliver'd up the The City of City to the French. The Governor of the Caftle, Nice Sur enrag'd at the Perfidioufnefs of the Burghers, enTendred, deavour'd to fire their Magazine, and play'd his March26 Cannon upon the Convents and private Houses,

N.S.

notwithstanding the Threats of the French, that if he fhot against the City the Garrifon should have no Quarter. On the other Hand, the French made three Attacks upon the Cattle, which were carried on with great Vigour; and on the 30th one of their Bombs fet the Powder Magazine on fire, which fpread it felf in a Moment through all the Caftle, and blew up not only a good part of it, but kill'd above 600 of the Gatrifon, and about 50 of the Befiegers in their Trenches, by the pieces of Stone and Timber that were carried thither. This Dif after, together with the French being Mafters of As alfo the the Cover'd-way, and fecond Inclofure, oblig'd the Caftle April 2. Governor to Capitulate, which he did on the 2d of April; and after all, obtain'd honourable Terms.

N. S.

Immediately after the lofs of this Important Place, Prince Eugene of Savoy went to Vienna to follicite Succours; and the Duke of Savoy_repair'd Incognito to Milan, to confer with the Count de Fuenfalida, the Governor, and haften the Departure of the Troops of that Dutchy. But befides the flowness of the Germans and Spaniards, in aflifting his Royal Highness, another Caufe very much contributed to the ill condition of his Affairs, His Britannick Majefty and the States of Holland allowed the Duke of Savoy, the Sum of a Hundred Thoufand Pounds per Annum, chiefly for the Entertainment of feveral Regiments of French Refugees and Vaudois; which Money was mostly diverted to other ufes, by thofe who had the Management of his Royal Highness's Affairs, who were in the French Intereft, and inveterate Enemies to the Proteftants; fo that the Officers not receiving their full Pay, the Regiments were left uncompleat, and the Soldiers undisciplin❜d.

WILLIAM the Third.

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undifciplin'd. To remedy thefe Disorders, and caufe A. C. the War to be effectually carried on against France, 1691. King William thought fit to fend the Duke of Schomberg, the Marquis de Miremont, Monfieur D' Obercan, a Swiffer, and fome other brave and experienc'd Officers, into Piedmont; but before they could reach Turin, the French made fuch a confiderable Progrefs, that few Places were left in the Duke of Savoy's Hands, befides his Capital City. The Summer was not far advanc'd when Monfieur Catinat made himfelf Master of Villana (or La Veillane) which encourag'd him to undertake the Siege of Carmagno- Carmag44, a Place feated in the Marquifate of Saluffes, and nole Be not above nine Miles diftant from Turin. The fieg'd and Trenches were open'd the 8th of June, and three Surrendred. Attacks carried on with fo much Vigor, that the Befieged, finding themfelves clofely hemn'd in on all fides, and without hopes of Relief, confented to march out, the Difciplin'd Men with their Arms, the Militia without, and to be conducted to Turin. This was no fooner done but the Marquis de Feuquieres was commanded with a ftrong Detachment of Horfe and Foot to inveft Coni, a Place defend- Coni ixed by nine Baftions, and fome Qutworks, but prin- vefted. cipally ftrong by its Situation on a steepy, craggy Hill, and Garrifon'd by 700 Vaudois and French Refugees, about foo of the Militia of Mondovi, and fome other Troops commanded by the Count de la Rovere. The Duke of Savy being inform'd of the Enemies defign, order'd the Regiment of Saluffes, with fome other Troops to the number of near Three Thoufand, to throw themfelves into the Place; but Feuquieres having notice of their March, attack'd them with great Vigor, and being receiv'd with no lefs Courage, abundance of Men fell on both fides. The iffue of this Encounter was, that part of the Relief entered the Town, which was prefently invefted by the French to the number of 12000 Men, who profecuted the Siege berga very smartly.

The Duke

of Schom

rives at

The Duke of Schomberg arriv'd at Turin the 18th Turin, of June, where he found Affairs in a moft defperate June 18. Condition, and the Minds of People under the N. S. deepeft

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A. C. deepest Confternation: Carmagnola was lately taken, 1691. Coni actually Beficg'd, and given for loft; Monfieur La Hoguette had forc'd the Paffages of the Valley of Aoft which gave him Entrance into the Verceillois and the Frontiers of the Milaneze; and the Duke of Savoy inftead of oppofing the Enemies Career, Encamp'd with his finall Army on the fide of the Hill of Montcallier, from whence he had the Mortification to fee his Towns taken, and his Palace at Rivoli deftroy'd. Turin was under the Apprehenfions of a Bombardment,and the Removal of the Princeffes with the Court and all their most precious Goods to Verceil, had ftill encreas'd the Desperate Fright of the Inhabitants. The Emiffaries of France, Condition faid aloud: That his Royal Highnefs would be dif of the Duke poffefs d of all his Dominions this Campaign; of Savoy' That the Confederates entertain'd him with ChimeAffairs.

rical Succours; and that the King of England who was his laft Refource, fent him only the Duke of Schomberg with a Magnificeent Retinue, inftead of real Ailitance; and therefore that the best way for his Royal Highness was to betake himfelf betimes to his moft Chriftian Majefty's Mercy. Things being at this pafs the Duke of Schomberg had a very difficult Part to play, especially at a Court, and in a Country which he had never feen, but in printed Relations and Maps; His Grace therefore employ'd fome time in making himfelf acquainted with both, and till then, was very fhy of fpeaking his Thoughts. The first thing he judg'd neceflary to be done was to revive the drooping Spirits of People, by giving Life and Motion to the Army, and fhewing fome Vigor to the French. He advis'd his Royal Highnefs to order his Infantry to defcend to the Foot of the Hill; and to extend his Horse to the Right, between the Hill and the Po; And made the Colonels of the Army fenfible,that the best way to render both Officers and Soldiers brisk and active, was to fend them often upon Parties. And because the French, being us'd to defpife the Duke of Savoy's Men, came and forrag'd even in fight of his Grand Guard, the Duke of Schomberg was of opinion to go and infule them. Accordingly, on the 22d of July, his Royal Highness

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