A. C. 'French Batallion therein has obtained leave to retire. 1706. The other two Battallions being Spaniards, and the Governor, have declared for King Charles, and at 6 this Inftant I am informed that our Men are got into the Place. This Morning I received a Letter from Brigadier Cadogan, whom I had fent to fummon Antwerp, whereby it appears, that we had not been rightly inform'd of the ftrength of that Garrifon, fince he informs me that there are five French, and as many Spanish Batallions therein. However, he acquaints me that they feem difpofed to furrender upon honourable Terms, whereupon, having "advised with Meffieurs the Deputies, and Monfieur d'Auverquerque, and confidered the Importance of that Place, and how precious Time is to us, we have fent a full Power to the Brigadeer aforefaid, to grant them reafonable Terms, of which we expect an Account to morrow. eparates. The Hand of God appears vifibly in all this, ftriking the Enemy with fuch a Terror, as obliges them to deliver up fo many ftrong Places, and large Countries, without offering the leaft refiftance. This has encouraged me to fummon the Towns of Dendermonde and oftend, and for that purpose I have fent Detachments with Letters for the 'Governors. We fhall foon know, what this will produce, and I fhall not fail to impart it to your High Mightineffes. We have made our Bridges, and the neceflary Scheld, and the Lys, to tween Deinfe and Nivelle. beyond Courtray. I am, &c. Difpofitions to pass the morrow, to encamp beThe Enemies are retired Signed, The Prince and Duke of Marlborough. P. S. I am inform'd from Monfieur Scholten, that 'the 3 Battallions of the Garrifon of Oudenarde are all marched away, the French to Courtray, and the other towards Mens. Here it is not improper to obferve, That the EneThe Enemy's Army did not continue long near Courtray. MonNy's Any fieur de Chamillard, the French King's chief Minifter, arriving in their Camp the 1ft of june, had a Confer ence with the Elector of Bavaria, and the Marshal de Villeroy, and it was concluded between them, that for preventing the further great Defertion of their Men, and for providing the Frontier Places, and others others of Haynaut, and French Flanders, the Army A. C. fhould feparate, only leaving 2 Flying Camps, one 1706 at Mortagne on the Schelde, another at Armentiers on the Lys. Accordingly the Elector of Bavaria march'd, and reinforc'd the Garrifon of Mons, and took up his Refidence there: And Detachments were fent to Tourney, Life, Ipres, Menin, and other Places. moves on On the 4th of June,the Confederate Army march'd The Confrom Meerlebeck, and having paft the Schelde and thefederate Lys, encamped between Deynfe and Nivelle; where the Army Magiftrates of Audenarde came to wait upon my Lord Duke to defire his Grace's Protection, and af fure him of their Fidelity to his Catholick Majefty King Charles III. The next day the Army march'd again and encamp'd with the Left at Arfecle, and the And EnRight at Caneghen. In the morning Baron Schelde, camps at Treasurer of Antwerp, whith an Officer of the Gar- Arteele rifon, came to my Lord Duke, with Letters from the June 5. City, and the Marquis de Terracena, Governor of the N. S. Citadel, praying, That thefe Gentlemen might have leave to go to the Elector of Bavaria, to receive his Directions upon the Conduct they were to obferve in relation to the Summons they had receiv'd from his Grace; my Lord Duke did not think fit to grant their Requeft, but fent them back to Antwerp with Anfwers to the Letters they brought, and immediately detach'd my Lord Orkney, with 1000 Horfe, to join Brigadier General Cadogan, and inveft the Place, with Directions to form the Siege, affoon as his Lordship could be join'd with 16 Battallions of Foot, who were order'd to march for that purpofe from Flanders. In the mean time his Grace dif patched Orders to Brigadier Cadegan, to give the Garrifon no more than 4 Hours time to confider of the Capitulation that was offered them. The fame Day, Colonel Durel fent an Exprefs to acquaint his Grace, with the Anfwer of the Governor of Dender-The Gover monde, importing, That that Place being well Gar-nor of rifon'd, and provided with all Neceffaries, for its De-Denderfence,he hoped to merit his Grace's Efteem, by discharging monde re his Duty, and the Truft repofed in him. On the 6th of June, the Duke of Marlborough re-" ceived a more welcome Meffage: For an Exprefs, who came from Barcelona thro' Genoa and Germany, brought fuses to Surrender. A. C. brought his Grace two Letters from King Charles; the firft of which was in thefe Words, 1706. ~ My Lord Duke and Prince, King You could never have given me more convinCharles's cing Proofs of your Zeal and Concern for my Letter to Service, and the Good of the Common Caufe, than the Duke of by interpofing your good Offices with the Queen Marlbo-your Miftrifs, in order that the Fleet and Forces rough, 'fhe had defign'd for my Service might ufe the diligence they have fhewn to come hither. My City of Barcelona, wherein I chose to continue to encourage the Garrifon and Inhabitants to a. long and vigorous Defence, was reduced to fuch Extremities, that without the arrival of this Fleet and Succours, it was to be fear'd, that the Enemies, who were actually lodg'd on the point of the Counterfcarp, and had made a fufficient Breach, 'would have taken the Place in a very little time. 'I do hereby acquaint you with fo fortunate an Event; and while I hope that the reft of the Campaign will anfwer this noble beginning, I flatter my felf to hear likewife, in a fhort time, good News from you, and the glorious Operations you have performed by your own Valour, and that of the Troops under your Command. The Queen, your Miftrifs, and Meffieurs the States-General could not oblige me more than in fending hither the Count de Noyelles, and Brigadier Stanhope, affuring you, that their Perfons have always been, and always will be acceptable to me. I do not queftion but you interested your felf in the choice of both, as you do in every thing that may promote my Interefts, and thofe of the Common Caufe: Whereupon I pray God to keep you, my Lord Duke and Prince, in his Holy Protection, and I affure you of my perfect Efteem and Gratitude. Barcelona May 10. 1706. The other Letter was as follows, My Lord Duke and Prince, A C. 1706. BY thefe few Lines, which you fhall receive,in with a Letter of the 10th Inftant, I have been Another willing to fhare with you the New Joy I have of from the feeing my City of Barcelona entirely freed from thefame to Siege. Never was Retreat made with fo much the fame Precipitation, as that the Enemy made just now; having left us all their Artillery, confifting of 140 Pieces of Brafs Cannon, and a vaft quantity of all manner of Ammunition and Provifions, beyond Belief. I do not doubt but you fhall receive, from other Hands, the Particulars of this Siege: Where'fore I write this the fhorter; Praying God to keep you, My Lord Duke and Prince, in his Holy Protection. Barcelona, May 12. 1706. CHARLES R Upon the Receipt of this joyful News, the Troops and Artillery were drawn out the next Morning, and The Garria triple difcharge made of the Cannon and fmall fon of AntArms. The fame day, at Noon, my Lord Duke werp Ca received Advice from Brigadier Cadegan, That the pitulates Day before the Governors of the Caffle and Town June 6th. of Antwerp had figned the Capitulation, by which the Garrifon confifting of Six French, and as many Spanish Regiments, was allowed to march out in three days, and to be conducted to Le Quency. At· the fame time, arrived another Exprefs from Major General Refs, with the Anfwer of the Governor of Oftend, to the Summons made him to furrender, importing, That he had fent to the Elector of Bavaria, and oftend hoped he would be excufed, if he defended the Place, as became him, till further Orders: Whereupon a Dedor, tachment was commanded to march, and pairfelf of Plaffendael, upon the Canal near t facilitate the Siege of that Place. The Dow before. the Affembly of the States of Flanders paid the following Refolution, touching the Recognition of King Charles III. of Flan The Letter which his Highnefs my Load The State Prince and Duke of Marlborough, and their Ex- ders Recellencies Meffieurs the Deputies of the States Ge agrition of neral of the United Provinces, have been pleafed to write to the Affembly of this Province of Flan-Charles ders, i A. C.ders, having been read with due refpect, and the 1706. advantageous Contents thereof being taken into 6 confideration, It has been unanimously refolved to acknowledge, as the faid Affembly acknowledges by thefe Prefents, the Soveraignty of his Catholick Majefty Charles III. to whom they fubmit as good and faithful Subjects, in hopes, and in confidence that his Majefty will maintain this Province in all their Privileges, Ufes and Cuftoms, as well in Temporal as Spiritual Concerns. That his Majefty, as Count of Flanders, will not fuffer that any thing relating thereunto be any ways changed or leffened; and that he will agree to and approve the Conftitution of the Government of the faid Province, Courts, Country, Towns, Chateflenies, 'Offices, and generally all the Districts of the fame, 'either as to the Farms of the Revenue of the Province, or the Sums borrowed to this day, upon what account foever they be, without any exception for the fecurity of the Publick in general, and the fecurity of private Men in particular. And for the performance of what is hereabove expreffed, his Highnefs my Lord Prince Duke of Marlborough, and their Excellencies Meffieurs the Deputies of the States General of the United Provinces, are moft humbly defired to be pleafed to ratify what they have had the kindness already to grant to the Colleges and Cities of this Province, upon the Prayers. and Reprefentations made unto them. And forafmuch as many Inhabitants of this 'Province, as well Clergy-men as Secular, find their 'Eftates were confifcated and feiz'd, 'tis hoped that thefe Confifcations and Seizures will entirely cease from the date of this prefent Submiflion. Done in the Affembly of the Deputies Spiritual and Temporal of the Provinces of Flanders, in the TownHoufe of Ghent, June 6. 1706. Sign'd T. Thyfbaert, and fealed with the Great Seal of the Province of Flanders. . The whole granted in the Name of his Ca- 6 III. At the Collen, J. H. Baron Van Renswoude, J. Van Goslinga, 6 • Cuyper. Thus |