BOOK V. in it of pluralities, non-residence, and the fla1704. grant and scandalous neglect of cures.

Memorial of Count

In the month of January 1704, count WratWrattislau. tislau, the imperial ambassador, presented a memorial to the British court, in which he represented the alarming and dangerous situation to which the emperor and the empire were reduced in consequence of the rapid success of the French arms in Germany, and the defection of the elector of Bavaria, who had entered into a strict confederacy with France; had joined the armies of that monarchy with all his forces; seized the cities of Augsburg, Ulm, and Passau, and threatened to attack even the imperial capital of Vienna itself. The emperor therefore implored the aid and protection of the queen and people of ENGLAND to save the ROMAN EMPIRE from impending ruin.

Campaign in Germany, &c.

This application, so glorious to the English nation, was not made in vain. The duke of Marlborough received orders from the queen to concert with the States the most eligible means of accomplishing this great object. On his arrival at the Hague, he represented to their high mightinesses the necessity of making a powerful effort for the relief of the empire; and proposed, that, as the frontier of Holland was now perfectly secure, he should be permitted to march with the grand confederate army to the banks of the Mo

ANNE.

selle, there to fix the seat of the war. And as the French court would, in consequence of this diversion, be led to entertain serious apprehensions for the safety of their own territories, they would be compelled to desist from any farther prosecution of their vast and ambitious projects in Germany. Under this veil did that great commander conceal his real design, which he communicated only to the pensionary Heinsius, and two or three other leading persons, whose influence might obtain a sanction to the measure whenever a public avowal of it should be deemed necessary. The consent of the States being with some difficulty procured, and the campaign at length opened, the proposed movement to→ wards the Moselle took place. M. de Villeroy, who again commanded in Flanders, attempted to follow the English general in his first marches, but was soon left at a great distance by the rapidity of his manœuvres. Maréchal Tallard, to whom the defence of the Moselle was entrusted, apprehending Traerbach to be in danger, and that the duke's intentions were to penetrate into France on that side, took no steps to obstruct his grace's farther progress to the east. To the amazement, however, not only of the French generals to whom the duke's movements were wholly incomprehensible, but of all Europe, whose attention was now fixed on this interesting

BOOK V. scene, the allied army passed the Rhine May 1704. 26th, and in a few days after the Mayne and the

Necker. On his arrival at Ladenburg, June 3d, he thought proper to throw off the mask; and he wrote from thence a letter to the States, acquainting their high mightinesses "that he had received orders from his sovereign the queen of England, to adopt the most vigorous measures to deliver the empire from the oppression of France --that for this purpose he was proceeding on his march to the Danube; and he hoped their high mightinesses would not hesitate to allow their troops to share in the glory of this enterprise." The States, finding it impracticable to recede, thought it advisable to comply with a good grace, and immediately dispatched a courier to inform the duke, "that his design met with their unanimous approbation-that they entrusted their troops entirely to his disposal, placing the most perfect reliance on his grace's skill, experience, and discretion." This difficulty being thus happily surmounted, the duke proceeded on his expedition and at Mildenheim he had an interview with prince Eugene, in which these two consummate generals agreed upon their future Bavarians plan of operations. On the 1st of July, the Schellen- duke, being previously joined by the imperial army under the prince of Baden, came in sight of the lines of Schellenburg, in which the flower

defeated at

burg.

1704.

of the Bavarian troops lay strongly entrenched, BOOK V. near the town of Donavert, situated on the banks of the Danube. Early the next morning the English and imperial generals resolved on the attack, and leading on their respective armies with an emulation of valor, the English and Dutch commencing the action, and being supported with equal intrepidity by the Germans, after a very gallant resistance, in the course of which the prince of Baden was slightly wounded, with general count Stirum, mortally, and many other officers, the lines were forced with great slaughter, and Donavert immediately surrendered at discretion,

Bleinheim

But this success, though brilliant, was lost in Battle of the splendor of the subsequent victory, The elector of Bavaria obstinately refusing to listen to terms of accommodation, though he saw the country desolated around him to the very gates of Munich; and being at length joined by M. Tallard, who had with great danger and difficulty traversed the immense forests of Suabia with a view to his relief; it was resolved by the duke of Marlborough and prince Eugene—the prince of Baden being occupied in the siege of Ingolstadt-to engage (August 13) the combined armies of French and Bavarians, then posted near the village of BLEINHEIM, a name ever memorable in the annals of British and of Gallie

BOOK V history. The enemy were very advantageously 1704. encamped on a rising ground. Their right flank was covered by the Danube and the village of Bleinheim, into which the maréchal had thrown a great body of his best troops: their left wing, commanded by maréchal Marsin and the elector, in person, was protected by the village of Lutzingen and the adjoining woods; and they had in front of the camp a rivulet, whose banks were steep and the bottom marshy. The battle began with an attempt upon the fortified post of Bleinheim by some battalions of English infantry who formed a van guard: but though vigorously supported, they were compelled, after performing prodigies of valour, to retreat with the loss of one third of their numbers, amongst whom was the gallant brigadier Rowe their commander. The duke of Marlborough, perceiving that the village could not be carried without a vast effusion of blood, ordered a detachment to take possession of the defiles leading thereto, by which means the troops inclosed in the village were rendered useless. On a common occasion this repulse might have been construed into a defeat, but upon the present it served only to animate to still greater exertions. It being determined that the duke of Marlborough should command the attack against marshal Tallard, about noon the left wing of the allied army passed the rivulet