Several Causes, I remember, were assign’d for this Miscarriage, as they call’d it; Some there were who were willing to lay it upon the Dutch; and alledge a Saying of one of their Generals, who receiving Orders to relieve some English and Scotch that were over-power’d, was heard to say, Dam ’em, since they love Fighting let ’em have their Bellies full.  But I should rather impute the Disappointment to the great Loss of so many of our bravest Officers at the very first Onset.  General Mackay, Colonel Lanier, the Earl of Angus, with both his Field-Officers, Sir Robert Douglas, Colonel Hodges, and many others falling, it was enough to put a very considerable Army into Confusion.  I remember one particular Action of Sir Robert Douglas, that I should think my self to blame should I omit:  Seeing his Colours on the other Side the Hedge, in the Hands of the Enemy, he leap’d over, slew the Officer that had them, and then threw them over the Hedge to his Company; redeeming his Colours at the Expense of his Life.  Thus the Scotch Commander improv’d upon the Roman General; for the brave Posthumius cast his Standard in the Middle of the Enemy for his Soldiers to retrieve, but Douglas retriev’d his from the Middle of the Enemy, without any Assistance, and cast it back to his Soldiers to retain, after he had so bravely rescued it out of the Hands of the Enemy.

From hence our Regiment receiv’d Orders to march to Dixmuyd, where we lay some time employ’d in fortifying that Place.  While we were there, I had one Morning stedfastly fix’d my Eyes upon some Ducks, that were swimming in a large Water before me; when all on a sudden, in the Midst of a perfect Calm, I observ’d such a strange and strong Agitation in the Waters, that prodigiously surpriz’d me.  I was at the same Moment seiz’d with such a Giddiness in my Head, that, for a Minute or two, I was scarce sensible, and had much a-do to keep on my Legs.  I had never felt any thing of an Earthquake before, which, as I soon after understood from others, this was; and it left, indeed, very apparent Marks of its Force in a great Rent in the Body of the great Church, which remains to this Day.

Having brought the intended Fortifications into some tolerable Order, we receiv’d a Command out of hand to reimbarque for England.  And, upon our Landing, Directions met us to march for Ipswich, where we had our Quarters all that Winter.  From thence we were order’d up to London, to do Duty in the Tower.  I had not been there long, before an Accident happen’d, as little to be accounted for, without a divine Providence, as some would make that Providence to be, that only can account for it.