[The Life of John Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660 by David Masson]@TWC D-Link bookThe Life of John Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660 CHAPTER I 84/123
The very next day there was a tremendous battle close to Dunkirk between the French-English forces under Turenne and Lockhart and a Spanish army which had come for the relief of the besieged town under Don John of Austria and the Prince of Conde, with the Dukes of York and Gloucester in their retinue.
Mainly by the bravery of Lockhart's "immortal six thousand," the victory of the French and English was complete; and, though the Marquis of Leyda, the Spanish Governor of Dunkirk, maintained the defence valiantly, the town had to surrender on the 14th of June, two days after the Marquis had been mortally wounded in a sally.
Next day, according to the Treaty with Cromwell, the town was at once delivered to Lockhart, Louis XIV.
himself, who was on the spot, handing him the keys.
Already, while that event was unknown, and merely to reciprocate the compliment of Falconbridge's embassy to Calais, there had been sent across the Channel, in the name of Louis XIV., the Duke de Crequi, first Gentleman of his Bedchamber, and M.Mancini, the nephew of Cardinal Mazarin, "accompanied by divers of the nobility of France and many gentlemen of quality." Met at Dover by Fleetwood and an escort, they arrived in London June 16, and remained there till the 21st, having audiences with his Highness, delivering to him letters from Louis and the Cardinal, and entertained by him with all possible magnificence.
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