604 
Ristory. Rhine, and some strong in the very heart of the 
—\— blic ; that they shou! restore the Roman Catholic 
religion, and every year send an ambassador to Paris, 
acknowledging that they held their liberty of France. 
The deputies instantly rejected these most absurd and 
humiliating conditions ; and, on their return to Am- 
sterdam, John de Witt and his brother were sacrificed 
by the populace as the authors of their calamities. The 
Prince of Orange was now chosen Stadtholder, and the 
most implicit confidence and obedience were shewn him 
by all parties. As soon as Louis and his ally Charles 
ived the effects which the appointment of the 
Prince of Orange had produced on the determination 
of the Dutch, they endeavoured to corrupt him by of- 
fering him the sovereignty of Holland ; but he rejected 
all their , and prepared for war. The coun- 
try was inundated ; preparations were made to embark 
for their East India colonies, if their country could not 
be saved. Providence itself seemed to interfere, b 
reventing the hostile fleet, with an army on G 
rom approaching the shores ; and Louis, having gain- 
ed sufficient glory, and finding that his progress was 
delayed, had returned to Marseilles, 
In 1673, a confederacy, consisting of the Emperor 
and Spain, which had been alarmed at the conquests 
and ambition of the French monarch, and had already 
secretly assisted the United Provinces, openly decla- 
red themselves their allies. In three obstinate but in- 
decisive actions, with the fleets of France and England, 
De Ruyter maintained his character, and protected his 
country by sea. As soon as the summer commenced, 
Louis resumed the command of his armies, and in 13 
days took Maestricht, one of the strongest bulwarks of 
the United Provinces. The Prince of Orange, in the 
mean time, having assembled a respectable army, laid 
siege to Naarden; and, by its reduction, inspired his 
countrymen with confidence in his talents, and with 
hopes of the success of their cause. As soon as Naarden 
was reduced, he marched to join the Imperialists, who, 
under Montecuculli, on the banks of the Rhine, was 
opposed to Turenne. ‘The Imperialists having in vain 
attempted the passage of that river, in the face of the 
Marshal, eluded his vigilance, however, and sat down 
suddenly before Bonne; here they were joined by the 
Prince of Orange, who had displayed equal talents, 
in leaving behind him the other French erals, 
Communi- Bonne soon surrendered; and by the fall of several 
cation be- other places in the Electorate of Cologne, the commu- 
Semmes, and nication between France and the United Provinces was 
cut off, cut off, and Louis was obliged to recal his forces, and 
A. D, 1673, abandon his conquests. - : 
In 1674, the Parliament of England obliged Charles 
to make peace with Holland; and soon afterwards this 
Monarch offered his mediation to the contending 
powers. The King of France readily acceded to the 
offer ; but the Prince of , who had great influ- 
ence in the councils of the United States, and had just 
obtained the grant of the office of Stadtholder 
for his family, and who, besides, was ambitious of mili- 
tary fame, refused the mediation, alleging that it would 
be in vain to negociate, till a greater impression had 
been made upon France. Louis, therefore, resolved to 
open the campaign with such accumulated means, as 
should ae this Ly mary — . the Stadtholder alto- 
ape eg ess. He brought three great armies into 
pte field ; one on the side of Germany, one in Flan- 
A. D. 1674. ders, and one on the frontiers of Rousillon, while he 
himself, at the head of a fourth, entered Franche 
Compté, and subdued the whole. province in the space 
Holland 
saved by 
the Prince 
of Orange. 
FRANCE. 
Tt last attacked the rear of his army, in a narrow de- 
file at Seneffe ; ee eee 
aot tet ee ae On this oc- 
casion, the Prince of Orange, sensible that he had been 
out-generalled, atoned for his mistake by his personal ex« 
ertions and courage ; he rallied his them 
; in his turn made the French’ res : 
back to the char : 
tire ; and obliged Condé to exert desperate efforts to : 
obtain the victory, which he at length atchieved., Such 
were the deeds of the Prince of in this battle, 
that his adversary, always candid magnanimous, 
remarked, “ The Prince of Orange has acted in every 
thing like an old captain, except exposing his life too 
like a young soldier.” At length the ni, the 
combatants, and, notwith the advantage whith 
the easoege er at the ee ee 
gagement, the victory remained undeci Prince 
of Orange, however, in order to give himself the ap- 
ce of having been the conqueror, or to bring 
French toa new ent, besi Oudenarde ; but 
the Imperial general, who was with him, not choosing to 
hazard a battle, the siege was raised. | Before the 
of the campaign, however, he reduced Grave, the last 
town that the French held in any of the United Pro- 
vinces. " vieen “| 
In Alsace, Turenne commanded, and displayed of Turenne 
much military skill against a superior army. By a ra« in Alsace. 
= ee march, he attacked and defeat« 
e Duke of Lorraine, and , the Imperial g 5 
neral, at Sintzium ; and eee en ee - e 
tinate. During his absence in Lorraine, the Imperial- a 
ists again returned, and with an army of 70,000 men, q 
entered and overran Alsace. This obliged him ‘to 
come back for the defence of this province ; and so un- 
expected was his arrival, that Imperiali ta- 
ken unawares, were completely defeated, and being dis- 
lodged, were obliged to repass the Rhine. The Pala~ The pata- 
tinate was now given up to the most wanton and bar- tinate laid 
barous destruction. From his castle at Manheim, the waste. 
Elector beheld two cities and 25 towns in flames. Ra- 
pine and lust vied with each other in the dreadful de« 
struction that they committed. . The Elector, mad with 
and gri * challenged Turenne to single combat ; \ 
but the Marshal coolly 6, that he could not accept 1 
such a challenge without his master’s leave, but would, 
at any time, meet the Elector in the field, with their 
respective armies. ; 
In 1675, Montecuculli was recalled and placed at the 
head of the Imperial army, in order to oppose Turenne, 
He endeavoured to penetrate into Alsace, ine, or 
Burgundy ; while Turenne endeavoured to defeat this 
desi, The most consummate skill was displayed on 
the beakevot the Rhine, the scene of their manceuvres, 
by these two celebrated generals, who had reduced war 
to ascience. Turenne, by posting himself on the Ger« 
man side of the river, not only kept his rival from ‘pas« 
sing it, but was in a situation to take advantage of any 
fortunate circumstance that might occur. At last he poop op 
thought that such a cireumstance ited itself, and Turenne. 
was preparing to bring the Germans to a decisive en A, D, 1675 
gagement, by reconnoltering a situation to erect a bat« 
~ 
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