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 VOL. 1. Ꭰ versally to prevail. When the general anxiety on this subject was dwelt upon in William's hearing, "As for myself," he said, "I shall oppose it to the last: I would oppose it, even were I certain that in the event of my removal it would be effected in two days." To Sir William Temple he addressed language scarcely less forcible: "Sooner," he said, "than subscribe to the conditions proposed, I would charge a body of a thousand men, though only at the head of a hundred, and with certain destruction staring me in the face." With this view of the importance of continuing the war, William made use of every exertion to oppose the French, who commenced the campaign of 1677, by pouring, as usual, an overwhelming force into Flanders. But William was destined to be scarcely more successful than he had been the preceding year; Valenciennes and Cambray were speedily taken by the French, and at the battle of Mount Cassel, fought on the 11th of April, he was signally defeated. During this engagement he more than ever distinguished himself by his fiery and reckless valour. The panic had originally begun in the first regiment of Dutch infantry, and was almost instantly detected by the eagle eye of William. Aware how much depended on arresting these first symptoms of disorder, he immediately flew to that part of the field of battle where it pre vailed, and, with his drawn sword in his hand, opposed himself headlong to the fugitives : cutting the first man he encountered over the face,-"Rascal," he said, in a fury of indignation, "I will at least mark thee, that I may hang thee afterwards." All his entreaties and endeavours were, however, to no purpose; he was carried impetuously to the rear, by the stream of his own followers, and though a portion of his army continued gallantly to maintain their ground, they were finally broken, and compelled to retire from the unequal contest. Notwithstanding this signal defeat, the Prince's retreat was a most masterly one; and, by exercising his usual vigour, he was enabled, within an incredibly short period, to lay siege to Charleroy. Here, however, the same ill success attended him, and on the approach of Luxembourg with a large army he had no choice but to raise the siege. It was at the close of this year's campaign, that the Prince of Orange paid a second visit to the Court of England, for the purpose of demanding the hand of the Princess Mary, daughter of James Duke of York. The year previous, he had sent to Sir William Temple, then ambassador at the Hague, to attend him privately in the garden of Hounslaerdyck, when he opened to him his views and wishes on the subject, and enjoined him, in the strongest |