But after they had almost thus destroy’d that late fair City, Villeroy, finding he could not raise the Siege of Namur, by that vigorous Attack upon Brussels, decamp’d at last from before it, and put his Army on the March, to try if he could have better Success by exposing to Show his Pageant of one Hundred Thousand Men.  Prince Vaudemont had timely Intelligence of the Duke’s Resolution and Motion; and resolv’d, if possible to get there before him.  Nor was the Attempt fruitless:  He fortunately succeeded, though with much Fatigue, and no little Difficulty, after he had put a Trick upon the Spies of the Enemy, by pretending to encamp, and so soon as they were gone ordering a full March.

The Castle of Namur had been all this Time under the Fire of the Besieger’s Cannon; and soon after our little Army under the Prince was arriv’d, a Breach, that was imagin’d practicable, being made in the Terra Nova (which, as the Name imports, was a new Work, rais’d by the French, and added to the Fortifications, since it fell into their Hands in 1692 and which very much increas’d the Strength of the Whole) a Breach, as I have said, being made in this Terra Nova, a Storm, in a Council of War, was resolv’d upon.  Four entire Regiments, in conjunction with some Draughts made out of several others, were order’d for that Work, my self commanding that Part of ’em which had been drawn out of Colonel Tiffins.  We were all to rendevouze at the Abbey of Salsines, under the Command of the Lord Cutts; the Signal, when the Attack was to be made, being agreed to be the blowing up of a Bag of Gun-powder upon the Bridge of Boats that lay over the Sambre.

So soon as the Signal was made, we march’d up to the Breach with a decent Intrepidity, receiving all the Way we advanc’d the full Fire of the Cohorn Fort.  But as soon as we came near enough to mount, we found it vastly steep and rugged.  Notwithstanding all which, several did get up, and enter’d the Breach; but not being supported as they ought to have been, they were all made Prisoners.  Which, together with a Wound my Lord Cutts receiv’d, after he had done all that was possible for us, necessitated us to retire with the Loss of many of our Men.

VILLEROY all this while lay in fight, with his Army of One Hundred Thousand Men, without making the least Offer to incommode the Besiegers; or even without doing any thing more than make his Appearance in favour of the Besieged, and reconnoitring our Encampment:  And, at last, seeing, or imagining that he saw, the Attempt would be to little purpose, with all the good Manners in the World, in the Night, he withdrew that terrible Meteor, and reliev’d our poor Horses from feeding on Leaves, the only Inconvenience he had put us to.

This Retreat leaving the Garrison without all Hope of Relief, they in the Castle immediately capitulated.  But after one of the Gates had been, according to Articles, delivered up and Count Guiscard was marching out at the Head of the Garrison, and Bouflers at the Head of the Dragoons; the latter was, by order of King William, arrested, in reprize of the Garrison of Dixmuyd (who, contrary to the Cartel, had been detain’d Prisoners) and remain’d under Arrest till they were set free.