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A TRUE AND JUST RELATION

OF

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR THOMAS MORGAN'S PROGRESS IN FRANCE AND FLANDERS,

WITH THE SIX-THOUSAND ENGLISH,

IN THE YEARS 1657 AND 1658,

AT THE

TAKING OF DUNKIRK, AND OTHER IMPORTANT PLACES;

AS IT WAS DELIVERED BY THE GENERAL HIMSELF.
London, 1699, Quarto, containing Sixteen Pages.

CROMWELL being confirmed in his protectorship by parliament, concludes a league offensive and defensive with the King of France, conditionally, that the Protector should assist the French with six-thousand men, and that they should be put into possession of Mardyke and Dunkirk, when taken. But Cromwell's great aim, in this league, was, to destroy the children of Charles the First, and their adherents. So,

In consequence of this treaty, James Duke of York, and all others that adhered to the fortune of the Stuarts, had notice to leave France; and Cromwell sent his six-thousand soldiers, who, as it plainly appears from all, but especially from the following account, wrought wonders in that expedition, not under the command of Reynolds and Lockhart, two successive ambassadors at the court of France, as Rapin and most historians have erroneously recorded, but under that brave soldier, Sir Thomas Morgan; as this intripid general has avouched under his own hand.

I shall say no more of the value of this piece of history, without which the memoirs of those times are imperfect, but conclude this introduction with the publisher's advertisement. Sir Thomas Morgan, says he, drew up the following relation at a friend's desire, who was unwilling that posterity should want an authentick account of the actions of the six-thousand English, whom Cromwell sent to assist the French against the Spaniards, and thought the right they did their country, by their behaviour, might make some amends for the occasion of their being in that service. It had been printed in the last reign,* if the authority of it had not interposed, because there was not so much said of some,t who were then in the Spanish army, as they expected;

• Of K. James II.

+ The Duke of York, the Earl of Bristol, &c.

and is published now, to let the world see, that more was owing to our countrymen, at the battle of Dunkirk, than either Monsieur Bussy Rabutin, or + Ludlow, in their memoirs, do allow. The former, by his manner of expression, seems contented with an opportunity to lessen their merit; and, being in the right wing of the French, while this passed in the left, comes under the just reflexion, he himself makes a little after, upon the describers of fights, who are particular in what, they did not see; and, whether the latter was misinformed, or swayed, by his prejudice, to those that were engaged to support the new-erected tyranny, is left to the reader to judge. It may not be improper to add, that these papers came to the publisher's hand, from the gentleman, at whose request they were wrote, and to whom Sir Thomas Morgan confirmed every paragraph of them, as they were read over, at the time he delivered them to him: which, besides the unaffected plainness of the stile, may be urged for the credit of the narrative, since Sir Thomas was intitled to so much true reputation, that he had no need to grasp at any that was false.

Jan. 24, 1698.

THE HE French King, and his eminence the Cardinal Mazarine, came to view the six-thousand English near Charleroy; and ordered Major-general Morgan, with the said six-thousand English, to march and make conjunction with marshal Turenne's army, who, soon after the conjunction, beleagured a town, called St. Venant, on the borders of Flanders. Marshal Turenne having invested the town on the east-side, and Major-general Morgan, with his sixthousand English, and a brigade of French horse on the west, the army incamped betwixt Marshal Turenne's approaches and Majorgeneral Morgan's; and, being to relieve Count Schomberg, out of the approaches of the west-side of the town, Major-general Morgan marched into the approaches, with eight-hundred English, The English, at that time, being strangers in approaches, Major-general Morgan instructed the officers and soldiers to take their places by fifties, that thereby they might relieve the point to carry on the approaches, every hour. In the mean time, whilst we besieged the town, the enemy had beleaguered a town, called Ardres, within five miles of Calais. In the evening, Count Schomberg, with six noblemen, came upon the point, to see how Major-general Morgan carried on his approaches; but there happened a little confusion, by the soldiers intermingling themselves in the approaches, so as there was never an intire fifty to be called to the point. Count Schomberg and his noblemen taking notice thereof, Major-general Morgan was much troubled, leaped upon the point, and called out fifty to take up the spades, pick-axes, and fascines, and follow him: But so it happened, that all in the approaches leaped out after him, the enemy, in the mean time, firing as fast as they could. Major

Part II. p. 135. + Part II. p. 561.

Part II. p. 139.

Part II. p. 496.

general Morgan, conceiving his loss, in bringing them again to their approaches, would be greater, than in carrying them forward, passed over a channel of water, on which there was a bridge and a turn-pike; and, the soldiers crying out, Fall on, fall on,' he fell upon the counterscarp, beat the enemy from it, and three redoubts; which caused them to capitulate, and, the next morning, to surrender the town, and receive a French garison; so as the sudden reduction thereof gave Marshal Turenne an opportunity afterwards to march and relieve Ardres.

The next place Marshal Turenne besieged was Mardyke, taken, in twice eight and forty hours, by the English and French. After the taking whereof, Major-general Morgan was settled there, by order of the French king and Oliver, with two-thousand English, and one-thousand French, in order to the beleaguering Dunkirk, the next spring.

The rest of the English were quartered in Borborch. For the space of four months, there was hardly a week, wherein Majorgeneral Morgan had not two or three alarms by the Spanish army. He answered them all, and never went out of his clothes all the winter, except to change his shirt.

The next spring, Marshal Turenne beleaguered Dunkirk on the Newport side, and Major-general Morgan on the Mardyke side, with his six-thousand English, and a brigade of French horse. He made a bridge over the canal, betwixt that and Bergon, that there might be communication betwixt Marshal Turenne's camp and his. When Dunkirk was close invested, Marshal Turenne sent a summons to the governor, the Marquis de Leda, a great captain, and brave defender of a siege; but, the summons being answered with defiance, Marshal Turenne immediately broke ground, and carried on the approaches on his side, whilst the English did the same on their's; and, it is observable, the English had two miles to march every day, upon relieving their approaches. In this manner the approaches were carried on, both by the French and English, for the space of twelve nights; when the Marshal Turenne had intelligence that the Prince of Conde, the Duke of York, Don John of Austria, and the Prince de Ligny were at the head of thirty-thousand horse and foot, with resolution to relieve Dunkirk,

Immediately upon this intelligence, Marshal Turenne and several noblemen of France went to the King and Cardinal at Mardyke, and acquainted his eminence therewith; and desired his Majesty, and his eminence the Cardinal, to withdraw their persons into safety, and leave their orders: His Majesty answered, That he knew no better place of safety, than at the head of his army; but said, it was convenient the Cardinal should withdraw to Calais.' Then Marshal Turenne and the noblemen made answer, 'They could not be satisfied, except his Majesty withdrew himself into safety; which was assented to; and the King and Cardinal, marching to Calais, left open orders with Marshal Turenne, That, if the

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enemy came on, he should give battle, or raise the siege, as he should be advised by a council of war.

The enemy came to Bruges, and then Marshal Turenne thought it high time to call a council of war, which consisted of eight noblemen, eight lieutenant-generals, and six marshals du camp; but never sent to Ambassador Lockhart, or Major-general Morgan. The whole sense of the council of war was, that it was great danger to the crown of France, to hazard a battle in that streight country, full of canals and ditches of water; and, several reasons being shewn to that purpose, it ran through the council of war to raise the siege, if the enemy came on. Within half an hour after the council of war was risen, Major-general Morgan had the result of it in his camp, and went immediately to Ambassador Lockhart,* to know if he heard any thing of it. He said he heard nothing of it; and complained, that he was much afflicted with the stone, gravel, and some other impediments. Major-general Morgan asked him to go with him the next morning to the head-quarters: He said he would, if he were able.

Next morning, Marshall Turenne sent a nobleman to Ambassador Lockhart and Major-general Morgan, to desire them to come to a second council of war. Immediately, therefore, Ambassador Lockbart and Major-general Morgan went with the nobleman to Marshal Turenne's camp; and, by that time they came there, the council of war was ready to sit down in Marshal Turenne's tent.

Marshal Turenne satisfied the council of war, that he had forgot to send for Ambassador Lockhart and Major-general Morgan to the first council of war, and therefore thought fit to call this, that they might be satisfied; and then put the question: Whether, if the enemy come on, he should make good the siege on the Newport side, and give them battle; or raise the siege? and required they should give their reasons for either.' The Marshals du Camp ran away with it clearly to raise the siege; alledging what danger it was to the crown of France, to hazard a battle within so streight a country, full of canals and ditches of water; farther alledging, that, if the enemy came upon the rock, they would cut between Marshal Turenne's and Major-general Morgan's camps, and prevent their conjunction: Two of the Lieutenant-generals ran along with the Marshals du camp, and shewed the same reasons. Major-general Morgan, finding it was high time to speak, and that otherwise it would go round the board, rose up, and desired, though out of course, that he might declare his mind, in opposition to what the Marshals du Camp, and the two Lieutenant-generals had declared. Marshal Turenne told him he should have freedom to speak his thoughts. Then Major-general Morgan spake, and said, That the reasons the Marshals du Camp and the two Lieutenant-generals had given for raising the siege, were no reasons; for the streightness of the country was as good for the French and English, as for the enemy: And whereas they alledged, That, if

• This man had married Cromwell's niece.

But

the enemy came on the bank between Furnes and Dunkirk, they would cut between Marshal Turenne's and Major-general Morgan's camps; Major-general Morgan replied, It was impossible, for they could not march upon the bank above eight a-breast; and farther he alledged, that Marshal Turenne's artillery and small shot would cut them off at pleasure:' He added, That that was not the way the enemy could relieve Dunkirk, but that they would make a bridge of boats over the channel, in an hour and half, and cross their army upon the sands of Dunkirk, to offer Marshal Turenne battle.'

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Farther, Major-general Morgan did alledge, What a dishonour it would be to the crown of France to have summoned the city of Dunkirk, and broke ground before it, and then raise the siege, and run away; and he desired the council of war would consider, that, if they raised the siege, the alliance with England would be broken, the same hour.'

Marshal Turenne answered, That if he thought the enemy would offer that fair game, he would maintain the siege on Newport side; and Major-general Morgan should march, and make conjunction with the French army, and leave Mardyke side open.' Upon Marshal Turenne's reply, Major-general Morgan did rise from the board, and, upon his knees begged a battle, and said, That he would venture the six-thousand English, every soul.' Upon which, Marshal Turenne consulted the noblemen that sat next him, and it was desired that Major-general Morgan might walk a turn or two without the tent, and he should be called immediately. After he had walked two turns, he was called in; as soon as he came in, Marshal Turenne said, 'That he had considered his reasons, and that himself and the council of war resolved to give battle to the enemy, if they came on, and to maintain the siege on Newport side; and that Major-general Morgan was to make conjunction with the French army. Major-general Morgan then said, That, with God's assistance, we should be able to deal with them.'

The very next day, at four in the afternoon, the Spanish army had made a bridge of boats, crossed their army on the sands of Dunkirk, and drew up into battalia, within two miles of Marshal Turenne's lines, before he knew any thing of them. Immediately, all the French horse drew out to face the enemy at a mile's distance; and Marshal Turenne sent immediate orders to Majorgeneral Morgan, to march into his camp, with the six-thousand English, and the French brigade of horse; which was done accordingly.

The next day, about eight of the clock, Marshal Turenne gave orders to break avenues on both the lines, that the army might march out in battalia. Major-general Morgan set his soldiers to break avenues for their marching out in battalia likewise. Several officers being with him, as he was looking on his soldiers at work, Ambassador Lockhart comes up, with a white cap on his head, and said to Major-general Morgan, You see what a condition I am in,

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