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Subject Area: Political Theory
Subject Area: History
Topic: The English Revolution

Lieut-Col. Hughes to General Monck - Sir William Clarke, The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, vol. 3 [1899]

Edition used:

The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, Secretary to the Council of the Army, 1647-1649, and to General Monck and the Commanders of the Army in Scotland, 1651-1660, ed. C.H. Firth (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1899). 4 vols.

Part of: The Clarke Papers. Selections from the Papers of William Clarke, 4 vols.

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Lieut-Col. Hughes to General Monck

June , 1659.—

May itt please your Lordshippe,

f. 102b.Had I nott bin kept 48 houres in the trenches I would have yesterday given your Lordshipp an accompt of God’s great mercyes to us on Fryday the 14 instant, which was the day of battell. Don John, Condi, Yorke, Gloster, with other Grandees, drew neer our line on Thursday night with some 18000 horse and foote, and Thurin sent to us for 3 battalions or halfe regiments, but before we were ready orders came for all our 7 regiments to march except 14 companyes, which were to storme the counterscarfe (who have been repulsed). Our bodie being come to Thurin (which was 7 miles march) were ordered for the left winge of the armie, and horse appointed for our wings. In this posture we marcht halfe a mile where the Spanish army was drawne up in battle aray; the Spaniards themselves led by Don John were on the right winge, drawne on a great hill naturally fortefied; the Scotts and English were next them; Flemish, Walloones, and French on the left. Our whole army mooving made a stand within halfe a musquet shot of them on another hill without any firing, where they were ordered not to stirr untill such tyme as the enimie had quitted the great steepe hill, but our men could not be kept in without ingageing, went into the valley without orders given (yea, contrary to orders), and on hands and knees krept up the hill, and gave the enimies foote two good volleys, and with our pikes forced them to retreate. On which Don John with his horse gave the Generall’s regiment and Colonel Lillingston’s a violent charge, that they were forced to give ground a little confusedly, but soone rallied, and forced Don John to retreate with the losse of his foote and many of his horse; the French horse appointed for our wings standing still without giving the least assistance till they saw the enimie rooted, having no stomack to fight. The Duke of Yorke[s] English, and Midleton’s Scotch, [and] Ormond’s Irish were soone beaten, the English only fighting; the Scotts and Irish, as our regiment and Colonel Alsop’s were coming up to them, vail’d their collours, and made shew of yeilding, but ours judging it a defyance as they had done before we mooved, gave fire at them, but it was very reall, for they had laid downe there armes, and cryed for quarter, and on our fireinge they strugled a litle, and were soone quelled, all beinge killed and taken: amongst whom it is reported my Lord Musgrave was slayne, and severall English Gentleman. Such as wee mett of our runawayes were knock’t in the head,1 and such as wee mett amongst the French wee forced from them, and intend to doe justice on them. Martiall D’ Hoquincourt is slayne, fower Lieutenant Generalls prisoners. All there foote beinge neere 5000 are killed and taken. York’s horse was killed, and Charles is left without 20 men to invade England of his owne. Had Thurin’s horse done anie service at all, the whole armie would have beene kill’d and taken, havinge three mile of good ground to persue them, the enemy beinge in a greate confusion, but the French horse would persue not one step further then our foote went. And thus through God’s greate goodnes wee have beene instrumentall and the reall actors of gaineinge this seasnable victory, which I trust wee shall make good use of. Had wee not ingaged the French would have beene soundly banged, and the towne relieved, which the Spaniards were confident of. And indeede the French have this 10 dayes left all the worke and hard attempts in a manner to us, whether it bee to breake and destroy us, or otherwise I know not, but wee are resolved to attempt all hazards and difficulties, and to bee there slaves untill this towne bee taken. Wee have six times stormed the counterscarps, and alwayes beaten of with greate losse of our officers and souldiers. Wee lost at the batle fower captains, four lieutenants, and not 50 men; one collonell, one majour wounded, with most of the officers. Wee have two captains, six lieutenants, twelve serjeants of our regiment wounded desperately in the batle and aproaches. Litle Captain Sherwin with his lieutenant and ensigne were slayne in the field. Wee have 500 recruits come this day, and within 12 howres we expect the remainder of Collonel Salmon’s and Gibbon’s regiments heere, beinge already shipt. Wee are to alarme the towne on all sides this night to divert there forces from our aproaches. I beg your Lordships excuse for this broken attempt, and that the Lord of heaven may blesse and preserve your Lordship and family shalbee the earnest prayers of,

Rich: Hughes.

From the Leaguer before Dunkirke, 16 June, St. Nov., 1658.

Our tents are just now come, and Mr. Kent for a firemaster.

[1 ]Thurloe, vii. 170.