We immediately withdrew, and the colonel told me the design, and what the king and he had discoursed; that, in his opinion, foot would be wanted:  but the king had declared there was no time for the foot to march, and had proposed dragoons.  I told him, I thought dragoons might do as well; so we agreed to take 1600 horse and 400 dragoons.  The king, impatient in his design, came into the room to us to know what we had resolved on, approved our measures, gave us orders immediately; and, turning to me, “You shall command the dragoons,” says the king, “but Dubalt must be general in this case, for he knows the country.”  “Your Majesty,” said I, “shall be always served by me in any figure you please.”  The king wished us good speed, and hurried us away the same afternoon, in order to come to the place in time.  We marched slowly on because of the carriages we had with us, and came to Freynstat about one o’clock in the night perfectly undiscovered.  The guards were so negligent, that we came to the very port before they had notice of us, and a sergeant with twelve dragoons thrust in upon the out-sentinels, and killed them without noise.

Immediately ladders were placed to the half-moon which defended the gate, which the dragoons mounted and carried in a trice, about twenty-eight men being cut in pieces within.  As soon as the ravelin was taken, they burst open the gate, at which I entered at the head of 200 dragoons, and seized the drawbridge.  By this time the town was in alarm, and the drums beat to arms, but it was too late, for by the help of a petard we broke open the gate, and entered the town.  The garrison made an obstinate fight for about half-an-hour, but our men being all in, and three troops of horse dismounted coming to our assistance with their carabines, the town was entirely mastered by three of the clock, and guards set to prevent anybody running to give notice to the enemy.  There were about 200 of the garrison killed, and the rest taken prisoners.  The town being thus secured, the gates were opened, and Colonel Dubalt came in with the horse.

The guards being set, we entered the magazine, where we found an incredible quantity of all sorts of provision.  There was 150 tons of bread, 8000 sacks of meal, 4000 sacks of oats, and of other provisions in proportion.  We caused as much of it as could be loaded to be brought away in such waggons and carriages as we found, and set the rest on fire, town and all.  We stayed by it till we saw it past a possibility of being saved, and then drew off with 800 waggons, which we found in the place, most of which we loaded with bread, meal, and oats.  While we were doing this we sent a party of dragoons into the fields, who met us again as we came out, with above 1000 head of black cattle, besides sheep.

Our next care was to bring this booty home without meeting with the enemy, to secure which, the colonel immediately despatched an express to the king, to let him know of our success, and to desire a detachment might be made to secure our retreat, being charged with so much plunder.