Kings & rulers > History of Charles XII. King of Sweden

44 THE HISTORY 0?
ftiunned his approach, and retired towards Prul
the north-weft of Warfaw. The river Hugh
tween him and his enemies. Charles fwam over it
the head of his horfe^vhilft the foot-went to feek
ford Ibmewhat higher^fc|^y i. 1703. he came u
with the Saxons at a pl^^Bj^Pultufk. They wei
commanded by general number of aboi
ten thoufand. The king of his precipitat '
march had brought no more alW^vith him, bein.
confident that a lefs number would have fufficed. Th
terrorofhis arms was fo great, that onehalf ofthe Sax F
on.army ran away at his approach,without ftaying fo
the battle. General Stenau flood firm for a while witl
two regiments, but the moment after, he.was drawl £
along in the general flight of his army, which was dif 11
perfed before it was conquered. The Swedes did no
take a thoufand prifoners, nor kill fix hundred men
having more difficulty in purfuing than defeating them.
Auguftus who had nothing left him but the fcatterec
remains of the Saxons beaten on all fides, retired it:
all hafte to Thorn, a town of royal Pruffia, fituate u<
pon the WeifTel, and under the proteilion of Poland,
Charles immediately prepared to befiege it. The king'
of Poland not thinking himfelf fecurc, withdrew into'
Saxony. In the mean time Charles, who made nothing
of fo many briflc marches, fwiming of rivers, and hur- ‘
rying along with his foot mounted behind his horfe, wasi'
not able tobringup his cannon before Thorn; but wasi
obliged to wait till it was fent him from Sweden by fea.;
Whilft he was waiting for it, he took up his quar¬
ters within fome miles of the town, and would often
advance too near the ramparts, to view it. The plain
drefs he always wore was of greater fervice to him1
than he had ever imagined in thefe dangerous walks;
It hindered him.from being taken notice of, and point¬
ed out by the enemy, as a perfon to be fired at. One
day having Spproatncd very near with one of his ge-
neralsnamed Lieven, who was drelied in fcarlct trim*
raed with gold, and fearing'kft the genet *t! lUttid .e