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216 the French from the enclosures of Franqueuies, and cut off the commnication betwixt the two wings, and drove numbers of the French into the Mehaigne. The Bavarians under the elector fought bravely, more so than the French, for they were become dispirited by their repeated defeats, and especially the rout of Blenheim. Their veteran troops were extremely reduced in numbers, and Louis, to fill the ranks, had forced the unwilling peasantry into the army, sending them even in chains to the campaign to prevent their deserting on the way. Such troops were not likely to do much good against the victorious allies, under a general like Marlborough.

On Marlborough regaining the ranks, he led up the attack with fresh vigour, the village of Ramillies was carried, and most of the French who defended it were cut to pieces. The prince of Würtemburg and the prince of Hesse Cassel got into the rear of Villeroi, and the panic became general. The infantry began to retreat, at first in tolerable order, protected by the cavalry, which were posted betwixt Ossuz and Anderkirk; but the English cavalry, under general Wyndham and general Ward, having managed to get over a rivulet which separated them, fell on them with such vigour near the farm of Chaintrain, that they were thrown into confusion. The Bavarians suffered severely, and the elector had a narrow escape for his life. Villeroi himself with difficulty made good his flight. In the midst of the rout, a narrow pass through which the French were flying suddenly became obstructed by the break down of some baggage wagons. The cavalry pressing on in their rear, then made terrible havoc amongst them. The flight was continued all the way to Judoigue, and lord Orkney, with some squadrons of light horse, never drew bit till they had chased the fugitives into Louvain, nearly seven leagues from Ramillies. The baggage, cannon, colours, everything fell into the hands of the allies. There were one hundred and twenty colours, six hundred officers, and six thousand private soldiers captured.



Besides these, it was calculated that eight thousand were killed and wounded. Of the allies, Marlborough declared that only one thousand fell, and two thousand were wounded. The prince Maximilian of Bavaria and prince Monbason were among the slain; amongst the prisoners were major-generals Palavicini and Mezieres, the marquises de Bar, de Nonant, and de la Baume, the son of marshal Tallard, Montmorency, nephew of the duke of Luxembourg, and many other persons of rank.

Villeroi had fled to Brusisels, but Marlborough was soon at the gates, the French general took his departure, and Marlborough entered that city in triumph, amid the acclamations of the people. The whole of the Spanish Netherlands was recovered by the battle of Ramillies: Louvain, Mechlin, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, threw open