of the middle Arches, and when fix'd there, by firing the Powder to have
blown up the Bridge, and by that means to have prevented the Return of
the Garrison to oppose a real Attack at that instant of Time to be made
upon the Town of _Maestrich_ by the whole Army.

The false Attack on _Wyck_ was accordingly made, which, as propos'd,
drew the Main of the Garrison of _Maestrich_ to its Defence, and the
Boat so furnish'd fell down the River as projected, but unfortunately,
before it could reach the Arch, from the Darkness of the Night, running
upon a Shoal, it could not be got off; for which Reason the Men in the
Boat were glad to make a hasty Escape for fear of being discovered; as
the Boat was, next Morning; and the whole Design laid open.

This Stratagem thus miscarrying, all Things were immediately got ready
for a general Storm, at the main Breach in the Town; and the rather,
because the Prince of _Orange_ had receiv'd incontestable Intelligence,
That Duke _Schomberg_, at the Head of the _French_ Army, was in full
march to relieve the Place. But before every Thing could be rightly got
ready for the intended Storm (though some there were who pretended to
say, that a Dispute rais'd by the _Spaniards_ with the _Dutch_, about
the Propriety of the Town, when taken, was the Cause of that Delay) we
heard at some distance several Guns fir'd as Signals of Relief; upon
which we precipitately, and, as most imagin'd, shamefully drew off from
before the Place, and join'd the grand Army under Prince _Waldeck_. But
it was Matter of yet greater Surprize to most on the Spot, that when the
Armies were so joyn'd, we did not stay to offer the Enemy Battle. The
well known Courage of the Prince, then Generalissimo, was so far from
solving this Riddle, that it rather puzzled all who thought of it;
however, the prevailing Opinion was, that it was occasion'd by some
great Misunderstanding between the _Spaniards_ and the _Dutch_. And
Experience will evince, that this was not the only Disappointment of
that Nature, occasion'd by imperfect Understandings.

Besides the Number of common Soldiers slain in this Attack, which was
not inconsiderable, we lost here the brave _Rhingrave_, a Person much
lamented on account of his many other excellent Qualifications, as well
as that of a General. Colonel _Ralph Widdrington_, and Colonel _Doleman_
(who had not enjoy'd _Widdrington's_ Commission above a Fortnight).
Captain _Douglas_, Captain _Barnwell_, and C