In the Year 1676, the Prince of Orange having, in concert with the Spaniards, resolv’d upon the important Siege of Maestrich (the only Town in the Dutch Provinces, then remaining in the Hands of the French) it was accordingly invested about the middle of June, with an Army of twenty Thousand Men, under the Command of his Highness Prince Waldeck, with the grand Army covering the Siege.  It was some Time before the heavy Cannon, which we expected up the Maes, from Holland, arrived; which gave Occasion to a Piece of Raillery of Monsieur Calvo, the Governor, which was as handsomely repartec’d.  That Governor, by a Messenger, intimating his Sorrow to find, we had pawn’d our Cannon for Ammunition Bread.  Answer was made, That in a few Days we hoped to give him a Taste of the Loaves, which he should find would be sent him into the Town in extraordinary plenty.  I remember another Piece of Raillery, which pass’d some Days after between the Rhingrave and the same Calvo.  The former sending Word, that he hoped within three Weeks to salute that Governor’s Mistress within the Place. Calvo reply’d, He’d give him leave to kiss her all over, if he kiss’d her any where in three Months.

But our long expected Artillery being at last arriv’d, all this Jest and Merriment was soon converted into earnest.  Our Trenches were immediately open’d towards the Dauphin Bastion, against which were planted many Cannon, in order to make a Breach; my self as a Probationer being twice put upon the forlorn Hope to facilitate that difficult Piece of Service.  Nor was it long before such a Breach was effected, as was esteem’d practicable, and therefore very soon after it was ordered to be attack’d.

The Disposition for the Attack was thus ordered; two Serjeants with twenty Grenadiers, a Captain with fifty Men, my self one of the Number; then a Party carrying Wool Sacks, and after them two Captains with one Hundred Men more; the Soldiers in the Trenches to be ready to sustain them, as Occasion should require.

The Signal being given, we left our Trenches accordingly, having about one Hundred Yards to run, before we could reach the Breach, which we mounted with some Difficulty and Loss; all our Batteries firing at the same instant to keep our Action in countenance, and favour our Design.  When we were in Possession of the Bastion, the Enemy fir’d most furiously upon us with their small Cannon through a thin brick Wall, by which, and their hand Grenadoes, we lost more Men than we did in the Attack it self.