XXVI. Marlborough au Grand-Pensionnaire

Merlebeck, May 31 (+), 1706.

Sir,

Ï had this morning yours of the 28, sent me by the Elector of Bavaria; for the postillion that braught those letiers was so folish as to 90 by Antwerp. — None of the letters were. open ‘4, but that which the States did me the honour to write me. You will know by these letters that our iniension was to have pass’ d the Scheldt at Gavre this day, by which we shou’d have gote between the

(*) V. le caractère du celèbre Secrétaire d'État, auparavant Speakes de la Chambre des Communes, dépeint par Coxe, Memoirs of John Duke of Marlborough, I. 107 suiv.

(+) Le Duc vint à Meerlebeke le 30 Mai & y resta quelques jouxs. Dispatches, IT. 544—560.

French army and their old lin’s, to prevent which thay abandon’d Gand (*) this morning, so that we are now camp’d with our left at Gavre, and our right in less then a league of Gand. T intend to send to morrow a detachement to Bridge (+), not doubting of their having abandon’d that town also; so that my next wishes are to have the necessarys for the attacking the castel of Antwerp ; for thay have not left troupes sufficient for the deffence of the town. LE shall take care to send some troupes to the post of Burg, which shal block them upon that side; we shou’d have this place before we undertake any thing else.

If you aprove of itt, I think it might be for the publick service, that I take a time when [I shal not be wanted here, to come to the Hague for two days, to settle with you what is proper for the descent, as also to let you know my thoughts for the plan of this campaogn, which with the blessing of God I think may be such a one as may make France olad of a reasonable Peace this next winter. — ÂÀAs we do not march to morrow, the army returns their thankes to God for the great success it has pleas’d him to give us.

June 1.

I had write thus far before the Deputys sent me word that the express did not go til this day. I have this morning sent two battallions and one hundred horse to take possession of the town and cittadel of Gand, and I have order’d Brigadier Cadogan with a detachement of horse

(9) Coxe II. 368. V. ia lettre de Marlborough et des députés hollandais (31 Mai 1706) au Premier, aux échevins et autres magistrats de la ville de Gand. II. 545.

(f) Bruges. — Dispatches, II. 548.

to Antwerp with letters to the Governor (*) and the town, to requier their submitting to King Charles the 3%, which I hope thay will do; for I sent yesterday by a friend of the Governor, to asure him, that if he wou’d declare for King Charles, he might asure himself of his favour. — Déndermont is under watter, but I am indeavoring to make the Governor propositions (+) that may tempt him to declare for King Charles; for if we had that place, Ostend und Audenar ((), all this country wou’d be cover’d by those three places.

I have this minute receiv’d yours of the 30t* with one from Mons. de Buys, by which [ am conferm’d, that it may be for the service that [ come to the Hague for two days; for Î am of opinion, that the descent is more necessarie then ever, and that the troupes we shall send from hence, will do us much more service then if we keep them here.

The inclos’d is a copie of a letter I have receiv’d from the Elector of Hanover.

T am with truth,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble servant, Marlborough.

(*) Dispatches, IT. 545, 546. To the Marquis de Terracina, Governor Of Antwerp; To the Magistrates and Regents of the city and marquisate of Antwerp; p. 548, 555. Summons of Antwerp.

(t) Dispatches, IL. 558, Lettre de Marlborough aux États-Généraux, 3 Juin 1706.

($) Lettre du Duc au Général Ross, 3 Juin 1706, Dispatches, II. 557 : “Since the writing these letters, Oudenarde has likewise surrendered,”