teenth to sit down quietly under disgrace; and, moreover, his natural dislike and contempt of the homely Dutch,-" those gentlemen pedlars," as he was in the habit of styling them,-impelled him to make the most extraordinary exertions to retrieve the advantages which he had lost. Accordingly, the summer of 1674 found him again in the field, with as many as four powerful armies, for the purpose of crushing the Dutch and their allies; the army which poured itself into Flanders, and which was intended to act immediately against the forces of the Prince of Orange, being headed by the great Prince de Condé. About the middle of August, the French and Dutch armies, led on respectively by these two celebrated men, found themselves in sight of each other, near Seneffe. The engagement which followed (one of the most fiercely contested of any recorded in history,) continued till about two hours after sunset, when, after a loss of about twelve thousand men on each side, darkness compelled the combatants to separate. Each party claimed the victory as their own; the Dutch asserting the advantage to be on their side, as having been left masters of the field, and the French, because the greater number of prisoners and trophies had fallen to their share.

During the battle of Seneffe, both William and the Prince de Condé are said to have

exposed their lives with an almost reckless
daring. On William, especially, encomiums
poured in lavishly from all quarters.
"None,"
says his biographer, Harris, "was more forward
than the Prince of Orange, who, all along,
fought in the heat of the battle, animating his
men by his own example, and was accompanied
by the Prince of Frize, a young gentleman of
about twenty years of age, who fought by his
side in the thickest of the enemy, and performed
all the offices of a soldier which could be ex-
pected from so young, so valiant, and generous
a Prince."* The praises of William's contem-
poraries were even more warm. General Zouch,
in his despatch announcing the result of the
action to the States General, dwells warmly on
the valour and prudence of which he was a per-
sonal witness. "I have endeavoured," he writes,
"to discharge my duty in attending his High-
ness, the Prince of Orange, during the bloody
and famous battle between the confederate army
and that of the most Christian King, the happy
issue of which has proved so much to the glory
of the Prince of Orange, who showed, upon that
occasion, the prudence of an aged captain, the
courage of a Cæsar, and the undaunted bravery
of a Marius; all which, my lords, I speak with-
out flattery, which is contrary to my nature."†

* Life of King William the Third, by Harris, p. 25.
Kennet, vol. iii. p. 330. Harris, p. 25.

Condé himself, with his usual generosity, did full justice to the conduct of his opponent. "The Prince of Orange," he writes to the French King, “has acted, in all respects, like an old captain, except in venturing his life too much like a young one." The day after the battle, Condé, it seems, contemplated a fresh attack, and even gave directions for a quantity of cannon and some additional battalions to be brought up: we have the evidence, however, of a French writer, M. de la Farre, who was himself present in the action, that not only were his wearied soldiers extremely enraged at the proposal, but it was a common remark at the time, that the Prince de Condé was the only man in his army who had a mind to fight again. Shortly after the battle of Seneffe, the Prince of Orange proceeded on his march towards Binche, while the French withdrew to their quarters. Before the close of this year's campaign, the Prince had retaken the town of Grave, the last remaining possession of the French in Flanders. In November, he disposed of his troops in winter quarters, and returned to the Hague.

The events of the next campaign, that of 1675, proved of less interest and importance than those of the preceding years. William, however, during the course of the year, succeeded in retaking the town of Binche, and successfully checked the career of Luxembourg, in his ravages upon

the territories of Treves. The next year fortune was less propitious to him. The French King had early opened the campaign in Flanders, and before the month of May, the fortress of Nord, and the towns of Aire and Buchaine had fallen into his hands. William endeavoured to make amends for these losses by laying siege to the important town of Maestricht, but here he was again unsuccessful: a disease broke out in his camp, which committed such fearful ravages among his troops, that, notwithstanding he displayed more than his usual valour and generalship during the progress of the siege, he was eventually compelled to draw off his forces, and to close the campaign. It was during an assault at the siege of Maestricht that William received a severe gun-shot wound in his arm, which was at first believed, by those near him, to be fatal. The report of his being wounded instantly spread through the neighbouring ranks; on which, William (perceiving something like a panic among his troops,) instantly took off his hat with his wounded arm, and waving it conspicuously in the air, shouted inspiritingly to his men to follow him to the attack.

CHAPTER III.

General desire of the Dutch for peace.-William's opposition to it. Commencement of the campaign of 1677, and defeat of William at the battle of Mount Cassel. -His masterly retreat. His second visit to England, in order to demand the hand of the Princess Mary, daughter of James Duke of York. - His conversation with Sir William Temple at the Hague on this subject.—Is introduced to the Princess at Whitehall, and is much pleased with her manners and person. Charles the Second's fruitless endeavours to win over William to his interests and those of France.- Marriage of William and Mary in 1677.-Defeat of the French at St. Denis.-The States agree to a treaty of peace with Louis the Fourteenth, to the great vexation of William. - Renewal of hostilities, and final treaty at Ratisbon.. Invitation to William to invade England.-By whom signed. - Opposition of interests and religion between William and James the Second. William's vigorous but secret preparations for the invasion of England.-Louis the Fourteenth penetrates his designs and writes to James the Second on the subject.The latter's shock on receiving the intelligence.-Confidence of the Dutch in William.-Anecdote of a Dutch Jew of Amsterdam. William obtains a loan from the Pope.Anxiety of the citizens of London respecting the invasion.William's farewell address to the States.

THE result of the following campaign, 1676, proved so dispiriting to the States, that an ardent desire and outcry for peace appeared uni

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