wards sold to a Dutch jew for a third part of their value.

As the citadel was taken by assault, few of the garrison escaped with life, and not one of those who did carried off with them rags enough for a cut finger.

We, after this, attacked the fort of the Carthusians on the other side the Maese. Our batteries began to play the 29th, with great fury; the garrison, terrified by the example made of that citadel, and fearing an assault, in less than three hours asked to capitulate. Articles were that day agreed upon, and the French marched out the next.

The taking of these places proved a great refreshment to the army, for we found a great quantity of good wine, and excellent bread.

Thus ended our first campaign in Flanders; the success of which did not a little raise the hopes of the allies.

I forgot to take notice of the declaration of war; for though hostilities were begun before any was made, yet they were carried on but a little while; for the emperor declared war the 15th of May, 1702, N. S., as did the English queen and the Dutch on the same day.

In Italy, prince Eugene, in October this year, surprised Cremona, got into the town through an aqueduct, and had kept possession had not the courage of my countrymen, so much despised in England, driven out the Germans; who, however, carried off prisoners marshal Villeroy, monsieurs de Mongon, d'Egrigney, and some other persons of distinction. The honour of taking the marshal fell also to an Irishman, captain of horse in the imperial service.

I was ordered into quarters at Venlo, and a night or two afterwards, was one of those commanded by the governor to escort the earl of Marlborough along the banks of the Maese, the troops which brought him from Ruremond having been dismissed. During our

march, by the darkness of the night, we mistook, and going up the country, fell in with a hogsty, where was a sow with five pigs, one of which I made bold with. I was possessed of it some time, when one Taylor, a corporal, belonging to brigadier Panton's regiment of horse, attempted to spoil me of my booty; on which some words arising, he drew, and made a stroke at my head, which I warding with my hand, had the sinew of my little finger cut in two; at the same time, with the butt end of my pistol, I struck out one of his eyes, When we returned to our quarters, I got the sinew sewed up. In the interim, our general was taken prisoner by a party of thirty-five soldiers; but got off by means of a sham pass. The next day we heard of this accident, but not of his having escaped. The garrison, as the earl was entirely beloved by all the forces, was greatly alarmed, and the governor of Venlo, placing himself at our head, marched straight to Guelders, to which place he imagined the earl had been conducted, threatening to come to the utmost extremities if he was not delivered up. In the mean while, he received certain advice of our general being in safety; on which we marched back to our quarters, without attempting any action, and soon after had the joyful news of the queen having rewarded his virtues with the titles of marquis of Blandford and duke of Marlborough; on which the rejoicings customary were made, and we were regaled at our bonfires with good liquor.

As we lay quiet all the winter, my husband, whom the hurry of the war had in a manner banished, occured to my memory, and I made what inquiry I could after him, but in vain; wherefore, I endeavoured, as I concluded him for ever lost, to forget him, as the melancholy the remembrance of him brought upon me, profited him nothing, while it consumed me. To do this, I had recourse to wine and company, which had

the effect I wished, and I spent the season pretty cheerfully.

The duke of Marlborough parted from London in March, 1703, N. S., to put himself at the head of the army, and open the campaign. He stayed some little time at the Hague, to be present at, and give his advice in the conferences then held; after which he took upon him the command, and invested Bonn on the 24th of April. This town was the residence of the elector of Cologne, who had received into it a French garrison, for which reason we ravaged the countries of Berg, Cologne, and Cleves, and wasted them with pillaging and contribution.

We opened the trenches before Bonn, and the fort on the other side of the Rhine, the 3rd of May, in the night. Our fire was so brisk, and we pushed on our attacks with so much fury, that the garrison in the fort set fire to their barracks, blew up their magazines, and got into the town sheltered by the smoke. On the 12th, the breach was large enough for a regiment to mount at a time: we carried the covered way, made a lodgment on the palisades, and everything was ready for a general assault; when monsieur d'Alegre hung out a white ensign. The capitulation was signed that night, and four days after the garrison marched out through the breach, with only six pieces of cannon, and were conducted the shortest way to Luxemburg.

The duke having provided for the security of this place, the greatest part of the troops employed against it marched towards Brabant to join the grand army, which field-marshal Auverquerque had drawn together at Maestricht, and which observed the motions of marshal Boufflers and Villeroy. After this junction, the allies marched towards the lines the French had thrown up from the Scheld to the Maes, near Namur, to cover Brabant.

On the other hand, baron Spar and monsieur Coehorn, with a part of the army, put great part of Flanders under contribution. The grand army was designed to attack the French lines in Brabant, and in case of succeeding, to, afterwards, besiege Antwerp; and to this end, baron Obdam had taken post at Ekeren, pretty near that city, with thirteen battalions and twenty-six squadrons. The grand army was marched to encamp before the lines, between Courselle and Beringhen.

The distance between the two armies, and the feebleness of that commanded by the baron, made Boufflers resolve on surrounding him; and accordingly, having placed troops in all the passes through which the Dutch must necessarily retreat, with fifty-three battalions, seventy companies of grenadiers, and fiftytwo squadrons drawn out of the neighbouring garrisons, on the 29th of June, in the night, he began his march, which was so secret and expeditious, that the baron, though he had information of the enemy being in motion, had not time to send off his heavy baggage to Bergopsoom; and when he thought of retreating, he found himself enveloped by the enemy, who attacked him so briskly, that his men were driven from the posts they had taken. The baron, being gone some distance from the gross of his troops, to give orders, had the misfortune to have his return cut off, and was obliged to fly to Breda. The fight, which began at three in the afternoon, grew hotter and hotter; the Dutch taking courage from their despair, being entirely surrounded, and the French being irritated at so obstinate a resistance, when, on account of their great superiority, they flattered themselves with an easy victory. The battle lasted till night, when the Dutch foot beginning to want powder and ball, with their bayonets fixed, attacked and carried the village of Otteren; took one piece of cannon, two kettle-drums, seven colours, with two standards, and passing the

night in this village, they retreated in good order to Lillo.

The battle of Ekeren was very bloody; but the Dutch troops gained more honour in it than their general, who if he did not want courage, could lay no claim to conduct.

It was now resolved, in a grand council of war, since we could not bring the enemy to a battle, which had been often, in vain, offered them, to draw together all the troops dispersed in different posts, and besiege Huy; it being thought too hazardous to attack them in their lines, where they had sheltered themselves.

When our army drew near to Huy, the garrison withdrew into the castle, and we took possession of the town. Before I proceed, I must take notice of one action, which had liked to have slipped my memory. Monsieur de Villeroy, some little time before we opened the trenches before the town, spread it abroad that he would give us battle; upon which our army drew up, but he not liking our countenances, altered his mind, if before he was in earnest, and retired into his lines. Our lieutenant, with thirty of our dragoons, fell in with a party of forty horse of the enemy, but they took to flight at the first fire, and we pursued them to the barriers of their intrenchments; and being there ordered to stand our ground, we maintained it, in the midst of many smart fires, till we had taken a view of the enemy's situation, which was the errand our regiment and some others were sent upon.

The baron de Trogné opened the trenches before Fort St. Joseph on the 17th of August, N. S., and, the next day, ground was broke before Fort Picard. They surrendered on the 27th, and count Sinzendorff taking possession of the place for the emperor, we prepared for another siege. Monsieur de Bulau, lieutenantgeneral of the Hanoverian troops, was, on the 8th of September, detached with twenty-four squadrons to invest Limbourg, and the rest of the troops designed