CHARLES II.

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be sound in any fortress. Lewis passed the Meuseat Viset; and laying siege to Orsoi, a town of

C H A I’jLXV.1672 .14th May.Progressthe French.

the elector of Brandenburgh’s, but garrisoned bythe Dutch, lie carried it in three days. He di-vided his army, and invested at once Burik,

Wefel, Emerik, and Rhineberg, four places regu-larly fortified, and not unprovided with troops:

In a few days all these places were surrendered.

A general astonishment had seized the Hollanders,from the combination of such powerful princesagainst the republic; and no where was resistancemade, suitable to the ancient glory or presentgreatness of the state. Governors without expe-^rience commanded troops without discipline; anddespair had universally extinguished that sense ofhonor, by which alone, men , in such dangerousextremities, can be animated to a valorousdefence.

Ltwis advanced to the banks of the Rhine, id June.which he prepared to pass. To all the othercalamities of the Dutch was added the extremedrought of the season , bv which the greatestrivers were much diminished, and in some placesrendered fordable. The French cavalry, animatedby the presence of their prince, full of impetuouscourage, but ranged in exact order, flung them-selves into the river: The infantry passed inboats: A few regiments of Dutch appeared onthe other side, who were unable to make resist-ance. And thus was executed without danger,but not without glory , the passage of the Rhine 5so much celebrated, at that time, by the flatteryVol. XI. N