tain, which Levies were, at laft refoly'd upon, the Portu gueze Army would then be in a Condition to act offenfively. He added, that the Forces on Board Rear-Admiral Baker, would be of far greater Service in Catalonia, even with refpect to Portugal itself, by giving a strong Diverfion to the Enemy; which Argument had certainly a great weight with it: For the Portugueze were fenfible, that General Stanhope's bare coming toGibraltar with Two Regiments, had occafion'd the weakning of the Spanish Forces in Eftremadura, and difabled them from undertaking any Thing on that fide, in the Autumn Campaign. A. C. 1709. N. S. While these Things paft among the Princes and States The King of in the Grand Alliance againft France, the Northern Poten- Denmark's tates of Europe were not idle. The King of Denmark, Fourney. having about the beginning of the Year 1709. taken a Journey incognito, to Italy, enjoy'd the Diverfions of the Carnaval at Venice, where he was magnificently entertain'd by that Republick; was receiv'd with all Demonftrations of Refpect at Ferrara and Bologna, by Order of the Pope; at Florence, by the Grand Duke of Tuscany himself; at Pifa, Leghorn, Lucca, &c. by the Magiftrates of those Places; and then return'd homeward by the way of Ve rona and Tirol. About the latter end of May, his Danish Majefty arriv'd at Drefden, where he was receiv'd with Comes to all poffible Marks of Friendship by King Auguftus, but de- Dresden, clin'd the Pagentry of a Publick Entry, which was de- May 26. fign'd for him. Thofe Two Princes and the King of Pruffia, having agreed to have a Conference together, their Danish and Polish Majefties repair'd to Poftdam, on the 2d of July (N. S.) in the Evening, and were received with July 2. N.S. the following Ceremonies; Firft came 24 Couriers fol- Solemn In"lowed by 50 Huntfmen; then a Kettle-drummer and terview be12 Trumpeters of the King of Pruffia, who march'd im- tween him, mediately before the Marefchal of the Court, who was gultus, and followed by a great many Gentlemen, Chamberlains the King of and Generals on Horfe-back; next came the Three Mark- Pruffia. graves Brothers to his Pruffian Majefty, and the Velt'Marefchal, and immediately after One of his Majefties Coaches drawn by 8 fine Horfes, and therein fat his Danish Majefty on the Right, and King Auguftus on the Left. Two Troops of Life-guards clofed the March. As foon as their Majefties came near the great Bridge, they fired 36 Pieces of Cannon, which were planted in the Garden along the River fide, and there was a Salvo made at the fame Time from the Magnificent Yacht of his Prufian Majefty, which was there at an Anchor. When they had paffed the Bridge, there was another Salvo, and they came into the Caftle by the great Court, 24 'on King Au A. C. 1709. July 3.N.S. on the Left Side of which was drawn up a Battallion of The next Morning, the Lord Raby, the British Ambaffador went to make his Compliments to his Danish Majefty; but it being too early for Admittance, his Excelleney went to the Apartment of King Auguftus, who was to take Place that Day. As foon as his Grand Marshal, Monfieur Flug, had told him the British Ambaffador was come to wait on his Majefty, the King received his Excellency at the Door of his Bed-chamber, and conferred with him for a confiderable Time. When the Ambassa dor dor had taken his Leave of that Prince, he was met by Monfieur Rofencrans, Marthal of the Court of the King of Denmark, who acquainted him that the King his Master waited with Impatience to fee him, having heard he had been at his Apartment. The Marthal conducted his Excellency to the King, by whom he was received with great Diftin&tion. A. C. 1709. The King of Pruffia having the fame Morning receiv'd The Princefs Royal of Advice, that the Princefs Koyal, his Daughter-in-Law Pruffa deli had the Day before been fafely deliver'd of a Princefs, perd of 4 and received the Compliments of the Two Kings, and of Princess, Juthe Four Courts thereupon; went himself that Night to ly 2. N. S. Berlin, to congratulate with her Royal Highnefs; and the next Day return'd to Poftdam, where he entertain'd his Royal Gueft with Comedies, and all the Diverfions the Seaton of the Year could allow. On the 9th of July, N. S. the Three Monarchs went to Oranienburg, and the Queen, attended by all her Court, and the Foreign Mini fters, return'd to Berlin. Two Days after, the Kings di- July 12. ned at Charlottenburg; fupped at Reuleben; and the next N. S. Morning went all Three in the King of Pruffia's Coach to Berlin. The fame Day, the King of Denmark and King Auguftus stood God-fathers to a Son of the Velt-Marfhal; during which Ceremony the King of Pruffia receiv'd the Compliments of the Court and the Foreign Minifters, it being his Birth-Day. Their Majefties dined that Day in The Three the Hall of Knights, and after Dinner they all food as Kings food God-fathers to the Daughter of the Princess Royal, the God-fathers, and the 2. of Queen of Pruffia being God-mother; and the young Princefs was named Frederica from the Three Kings, Sophia mother. July from the Queen, and Wilhelmina from the Prince Royal: 12. N. S When thefe Ceremonies were ended, they went to pay their Compliments to the Princefs-Royal on this Occafion. The King of Denmark defigned to fet out the fame Day; The King of but at the earneft Requeft of the King of Pruffia, he put Denmark off his Departure 'till the 16th. when he took his Leave Sets out for Copenhaof the other Kings, and fet out for his own Dominions, genand King highly well fatisfied with his Reception and Entertainment Auguftus for at the Pruffian Court; and King Auguftus went away for Dreiden. Drefden, fome Hours after his Danish Majefty. The Interview of thefe Three Kings, occafion'd a World of Speculations; and as the Saxon Minifters immediately after divulged, that their Mafter intended to return into Poland, it was natural to Conjecture, that that Prince had made an Alliance with their Danish and Prusian Majefties on that Subje&t. Pruffia God 7be King of Sweden totally defea ted at Polta The entire Defeat of the Swedes by the Muscovites, that happen'd during the Interview of the Three Kings, did wa, July & not N. S A. C. 1799. The Czar's Letter toGe not a little encourage King Augustus to vindicate his claim to the Crown of Poland. The firft Account of this me morable Event, which gave fo great a Turn to the Affairs of the North, was contain'd in the following Letter from the Czar himself to General Goltz. From the Camp at Poltawa, June 27. O. S. 1709. THI HIS brings you an Account of the great Victory which, by God's Affiftance, and the Bravery of neral Goltz. our Troops, we have obtain'd over the Enemy with very little Lofs on our fide, in the following Manner: The Enemy having this Morning attacked our Cavalry with their whole Army, obliged them, after a vigours Defence, to retire: After this the Enemy drew up in order of Battel before our Camp; we obferving their Difpofition, ordered our Infantry to advance toward them, and pofted our Horse on the Right and Left of our Line. The Enemy began the Attack; but in a very little Time were entirely routed. We have taken feveral Standards and Cannon; and the Generals Rheinfchield, Slippenback, Stakelberg, Hamilton and Rofen are "taken Prisoners, befides feveral Thoufand others, as well Officers as private Soldiers. Count Piper, the Chief Minifter, and Two Secretaries of State, Hermelin and Cederhielm, are alfo taken. We fhall give you the Particulars of this Victory as foon as poffible, being in very great hafte at prefent. In a Word, the whole Army of the Enemy have met with the Fate of Phaeton ; but we hear nothing of the King, whether he be with us, or with our Fathers. The Lieutenant-Generals Galliczin and Baver are commanded to purfue the Enemy in their Flight. We thought fit to advise you of this great Victory, and congratulate you upon it. Aug. 28. N. S. A Relation" Peter. P. S. This Moment the Prince de Wirtemberg, a Kinfman of his Swedish Majefty, is brought in Prifoner. Tho' this Letter was immediately communicated to King Auguftus, and by the Latter to the King of Pruffia, and afterwards made Publick in all the Courts of Chriftendom, yet many fufpended their Belief, till Monfieur de Matueof, the Mufcovite Ambaffador at the Hauge, communicated the following Relation to the States-General. of the Battle Aving on the 20th Inftant pass'd the River Worskla, Having came and encamp within a League of the Enemy, till the 24th of the fame iz. June, a. s. Month'; . Month; on which Day, we purfu'd our March, and hal'ted within a League of the Enemy's Army, where we pitch'd our Camp, having caft up an Intrenchment before it, to fecure the fame against any Surprize. Our Cavalry was pofted in Coppices, cover'd with Redoubts, well furnish'd, with Canonn and Men: But tho' in the mean Time, his Czarijh Majefty gave his Orders to put all Things in a Readiness to attack the Enemy, yet the latter, according to their ufual Temerity, prevented us. For Yesterday, the 27th of June, O. S. very early in 'the Morning, and whilit 'twas yet dark, the Enemy came out of their Defilees, in which they had remain'd all Night under Arms, and fo vigoroufly attack'd our Cavalry, with their Horfe and Foot, that altho' they were 'feveral Times repuls'd, and diflodg'd, with great Lofs from the Redoubts, they affaulted, yet our Horse, not 'being fuftain'd in Time by the Foot, were oblig'd to fhrink towards the Intrenchment; but immediately after they return'd to the Charge, entirely defeated the Enemy's Right Wing, and took Prifoner General Slippenbach, their Commander. Hereupon, his Czarish Majefty detach'd his Highness Prince Menzikoff. General in chief of the Army, and Lieutenant General de Rentzel, with fome Horfe and Foot towards Pultawa, both to cut off the Troops, that were coming up to the Enemy's Affiftance, and to attack thofe that remain'd in the Trenches, under the Command of the Swedish General Rofen; and, by that means, raife the Blockade of that 'Place which was immediately attended with Success: 'For his faid Highnefs having, in his March, met with 'the Enemy's Body of Referve, to the Number of 3000 Men, which was pofted near the Woods, and cover'd the Flank of their Right Wing, he entirely routed them, after fome Refiftance, put fome to the Sword, gave Quarter to the reft, and then return'd to the main Army, leaving General Rentzel to purfue his March towards Pultawa. Upon his Arrival, the Swedish Major'General Rofen immediately retir'd with the Regiments 'under him, into the Intrenchments they had caft up 'there; in which advantageous Poft our General attack'd 'him, and after fome Defence, oblig'd him to furrender at Difcretion, with all his Men. On the other Hand, the Swedish Horfe having, as they retreated, join'd their Infantry, the whole Enemy's 'Army drew up in order of Battle, in Front of ours, there being about a quarter of a Leagues Distance between both. In the mean Time,his Czarish Majesty caus'd Two Lines of his Infantry to come out of the Intrench < ment, A. Č. 17.09. |