224

HISTOEY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XX.

J <*93.

had descended the unconquerable spirit which could derive fromfailure as much glory as happier commanders owed to success.The defeat' of Landen was indeed a heavy blow. The King hada few days of cruel anxiety. If Luxemburg pushed on, all waslost. Louvain must fall, and Mechlin, and Nieuport, and Ostend.The Batavian frontier would he in danger. The cry for peacethroughout Hollatid might be such as neither States Generalnor Stadtliolder would be able to resist. * But there was delay;and a very short delay was enough for William. From the fieldof battle he made his way through the multitude of fugitives tothe neighbourhood of Louvain, and there began to collect hisscattered forces. His character is not lowered by the anxietywhich, at that moment, the most disastrous of his life, he feltfor the two persons who xvere dearest to him. As soon as hewas safe, he wrote to assure his wife of his safety.** In theconfusion of the flight he had lost sight of Portland, who wasthen in very feeble health, and had therefore run more than theordinary risks of war. A short note which the King sent to hisfriend a few hours later is still extant.*** “Though I hope tosee you this evening, I cannot help writing to tell you howrejoiced I am that you got off so well. God grant that yourhealth may soon be quite restored. These are great trials,which he has been pleased to send me in quick succession.I must try to submit to his pleasure without murmuring, and todeserve his anger less.”

His forces rallied fast. Large bodies of troops which hehad, perhaps imprudently, detached from his army while he

* This account of what would have taken place, if Luxemburg hadbeen able and willing to improve his victory, I have taken from whatseems to have been a very manly and sensible speech made by Tnlmashin the House of Commons on the 11th of December following. See Grey’sDebates.

** William to Heinsius, July 1693.

*** William to Portland, Julylf. 1693.