TVILHAM AND MARY.

129

court had tried to attract his notice by exposing themselves to ciiap.the hottest fire with the same gay alacrity with which they werewont to exhibit their graceful figures at his balls. His woundedsoldiers were charmed by the benignant courtesy with which hewalked among their pallets, assisted while wounds were dressedby the hospital surgeons, and breakfasted on a porringer of thehospital broth. While all was obedience and enthusiasmamong the besiegers, all was disunion and dismay among thebesieged. The duty of the French lines was so w r ell performedthat no messenger sent by William was able to cross them.

The garrison did not know that relief was close at hand. Theburghers were appalled by the prospect of those horriblecalamities which befall cities taken by storm. Showersof shells and redhot bullets were falling in the streets.

The town was on fire in ten places at once. The peace-ful inhabitants derived an unwonted courage from theexcess of their fear, and rose on the soldiers. Thence-forth resistance was impossible; and a capitulation was con-cluded. The armies then retired into quarters. Military opera-tions were suspended during some weeks: Lewis returned intriumph to Versailles; and William paid a short visit to Eng-land, where his presence was much needed.*

He found the ministers still employed in tracing out theramifications of the plot which had been discovered just before }“ n ^ ng 'his departure. Early in January, Preston, Ashton and Elliot Trials ofhad been arraigned at the Old Bailey. They claimed the right .id*Ash-of severing in their challenges. It was therefore necessary to lon "

* London Gazette from March 26. to April 13. 1691; Monthly Mercuriesof March and April; William’s Letters to Ileinsius of March 18. and 29.,

April 7. 9.; Dangeau’s Memoirs ; The Siege of Mona , a trngi-comcdy, 1691.

In this drama the clergy, who are in the interest of France, persuade theburghers to deliver up the town. This treason calls forth an indignant ex-clamation:

“Oh priestcraft, shoperaft, how do ye effeminateThe minds of men!”

Macaulay, History. VI. 9