From Bordeaux, the 27th. of May.
The Forces which issued out of this Town, to the number of six thousand Men (among
whom there were 400 Horse, all under the Comand of the Sieur de Chambaret,
an ancient Field Marshall) having besieged at Land, the Castle of Libourne, about
seven Leagues from this Place, whil'st four well armed Ships, and some Galeotts
beset it by water; and made a Breach, able to let ten men a-breast, into it; which
put them in hope, that the Place would very soon be yeilded unto them; and upon that
hope, and the small likelyhood they discerned of any Succour coming unto it, had not
at all entrenched themselves; yet were they much astonished, when they saw, yesterday,
about ten in the morning, some half a League from their Camp, a Body of eight hundred
Foot, and a hundred Horse, whom the Duke of Espernon, had sent to sieze upon some
advantageous Post, whil'st he himself arrived with other Forces. The Sieur de Cha[unr]baret
hereupon having sounded an Alarum, sent cut some Volunteers, and a Regiment
for their support, to get notice of his Enemies; who finding themselves in a place sit
to give battell, and a good distance from the Body of our Army, so rudely entertained our
Forces, (the most whereof were but raw, and undisciplin'd Burghers) as they give way
at the very first charge and strucke, by their Flight, such an affright into the rest of
th' Army, that all disbanded, and fell into a Rout. The said Sieur de Chambaret indeavoured
to have rallyed his Horse; but was so ill seconded therein, that when he came
near th' Enemy, he had but one Horse in all with him; so that he was easily slain with
a pistoll shot; which having again increased the Confusion, happy was he that could
the soonest escape, some to the ships, & others by swimming; wherein the greatest part of
them was drowned. The Duke of Espernoon's Forces, desirous enough to pursue this victory,
so much unexpected by them, fel upon our Ships; where into th' Affright being likewise
gotten, the two nearest were very soon abandoned unto them, without one shot of a
peece of Ordnance bestowed on them, and the rest saved themselves with much ado,
and with in them a part of those defeated Troops; whose disgrace hath bred a great
Confusion among us, notwithstanding a Bruit got up, that our men being all rallyed, upon
the Receit of some Succour, are gon back, and again set down before the said Castle of Libourne:
But of that (if any such thing there be) you shall h[unr] are more hereafter.
From Antwerp, the 28th. May.
The Archduke Leopold staies still at Bruxells, and does not purpose to take the Field,
untill his wearied Forces he somewhat refreshed; and untill th' Arrivall of Generall
Lamboy, whom he hath sent for in lieu of Duke Charles; who is gone to observe the
March of Generall Erlach, whose approach hath bred agreat affright within Hainault.
In the mean while, there is a rumour spred hereabouts, that a Part of the Garrison of
Ipres hath taken a little Fort, between Furnes and Vinoxberg, with go French Souldilers
in it. And that two hundred men of Dixmude, having a while after, light on
seventy Inhabitants of the said Town of Furnes, had slain seven, wounded nine, and
taken the residue of them prisoners. The six and twentieth of this Moneth, the Prince
of Tarante arrived here, with his late espoused wife, daughter to the Lantsgravesse of
Hessit.
From Compiagne, the 4th. of June.
The 30th of the last Moneth, his Eminencie (the Cardinall Mazarini.) entertained
at dinner the King, his Royal Highnesse (the Duke of Orleans) the Prince of Conde,
the Duke of Vordosme, the Marshall Villeroy, and divers other great Lords. Yesterday,
about eight in the Morning, the said Prince of Conde, having taken his leave of their
Majesties, and received the Visits of all the Princes, and Great ones of the Court, departed
hence, to go to Chantilly, by Paris, and from thence, unto his Government of Burgandit.