to whose particular Conduct the Care of that Siege was committed, drew off from before the Place, leaving scarce enough of his Men to defend the Trenches.  The Prince was under the Necessity of marching his Forces over a Morass; and the Duke, well knowing it, took care to attack him near Mont Cassel, before half his little Army were got over.  The Dispute was very sharp, but the Prince being much out number’d, and his Troops not able, by the Straitness of the Passage, to engage all at once, was oblig’d at last to retreat, which he did in pretty good Order.  I remember the Dutch Troops did not all alike do their Duty; and the Prince seeing one of the Officers on his fullest speed, call’d to him over and over to halt; which the Officer in too must haste to obey, the Prince gave him a Slash over the Face, saying, By this Mark I shall know you another Time.  Soon after this Retreat of the Prince, Saint Omers was surrender’d.

Upon this Retreat the Prince marching back, lay for some time among the Boors, who from the good Discipline, which he took care to make his Troops observe, did not give us their customary boorish Reception.  And yet as secure as we might think our selves, I met with a little Passage that confirm’d in me the Notions, which the generality as well as I, had imbib’d of the private Barbarity of those People, whenever an Opportunity falls in their Way.  I was stroling at a Distance from my Quarters, all alone, when I found my self near one of their Houses; into which, the Doors being open, I ventur’d to enter.  I saw no body when I came in, though the House was, for that Sort of People, well enough furnish’d, and in pretty decent Order.  I call’d, but no body answering, I had the Curiosity to advance a little farther, when, at the Mouth of the Oven, which had not yet wholly lost its Heat, I spy’d the Corpse of a Man so bloated, swoln and parch’d, as left me little room to doubt, that the Oven had been the Scene of his Destiny.  I confess the Sight struck me with Horror; and as much Courage and Security as I enter’d with, I withdrew in haste, and with quite different Sentiments, and could not fansy my self out of Danger till I had reach’d our Camp.  A wise Man should not frame an Accusation on Conjectures; but, on Inquiry, I was soon made sensible, that such barbarous Usage is too common among those People; especially if they meet with a Straggler, of what Nation soever.

This made me not very sorry when we decamp’d, and we soon after receiv’d Orders to march and invest Charleroy; before which Place we stay’d somewhat above a Week, and then drew off.  I remember very well, that I was not the only Person then in the Camp that was at a Loss to dive into the Reason of this Investiture and Decampment:  But since I at that time, among the Politicians of the Army, never heard a good one, I shall not venture to offer my Sentiments at so great a Distance.