The SIXTEENTH were selected to take part in the siege of the castle of Namur, and were encamped at Maison Blanche; but, having lost many men, they were relieved on the 11th of August, and joined the covering army under the Prince of Vaudemont. They were encamped a short time between Genappe and Waterloo; afterwards near Namur; and the grenadier company took part in the attack on the castle, which capitulated on the 2nd of September. The regiment afterwards returned to Dendermond. [Sidenote: 1696] [Sidenote: 1697] Leaving its winter quarters in the spring of 1696, the regiment joined the army of Brabant under King William, and served the campaign of that year in Brigadier-General Fitzpatrick's brigade. It served the campaign of 1697 in the brigade under Brigadier-General Ingoldsby; and in the autumn the British monarch witnessed his efforts to preserve the reformed religion, and the balance of power in Europe, attended with success. The treaty of Ryswick gave peace to the nations of Europe; and the SIXTEENTH regiment embarked for Ireland, where it was stationed until the summer of 1701, reposing on the reputation which it had acquired on the continent, where it had served seven campaigns. [Sidenote: 1701] In the meantime the French monarch had violated the liberties of Europe, by procuring the accession of his grandson, the Duke of Anjou, to the throne of Spain,--by seizing on the Spanish Netherlands and detaining the Dutch garrisons in the barrier towns: and the SIXTEENTH were called from their quarters in Ireland to reinforce the Dutch army. The regiment embarked from Carrickfergus on the 7th of June, and sailed to the island of Voorn, where it was removed on board of Dutch vessels, and proceeded up the Maese to the fortress of Huesden, where it remained two months, then proceeded to Breda, and was reviewed on Breda heath by King William on the 21st of September, afterwards returning to Huesden. [Sidenote: 1702] In March, 1702, the regiment traversed the country to Rosendael, where the British corps were assembled under Brigadier-General Ingoldsby, and received information of the death of King William, and the accession of Queen Anne, on the 8th of March. The regiment afterwards marched across the country to the duchy of Cleves, and encamped at Cranenburg, forming part of the covering army during the siege of _Kayserswerth_ by the Germans. On the night of the 10th of June the covering army made a forced march to _Nimeguen_ to avoid the loss of communication with that fortress, in consequence of the movements of the enemy. On the following morning the British corps in the rear-guard distinguished themselves in a sharp skirmish with the leading columns of the French army.