c H A R L E S II.

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The success of the campaign hud not answered chapexpectation. The prince of Orange, with a Lxvr.superior army, was opposed in Flanders to theprince of Conde, and had hoped to penetrate ofinto France by that quarter, where the frontierwas then very feeble. After long endeavouring,though in vain, to bring Conde to a battle, herashly exposed, at Seneffe, a wing of his army;and that active prince failed not at once to feeand to seize the advantage. But this imprudenceof the prince of Orange was amply compensatedby his behaviour in that obstinate and bloodyaction which ensued. He rallied his dismayedtroops; he led them to the charge; he pushed theveteran and martial troops of France; and heobliged the prince of Conde, notwithstandinghis age and character, to exert greater efforts,and to risk his person more, than in any action,where, even during the heat of youth, he hadever commanded. After lun-set the action wascontinued by the light of the moon; and it wasdarkness at last, not the weariness of the com-batants, which put an end to the contest, andleft the victory undecided. “ The prince of“ Orange,” said Conde, with candor" and ge-“ nerosity, has acted in every thing like an old“ captain, except venturing his life too like a“ young soldier. ” Oudenarde was afterwardsinvested by the prince of Orange; but he wasobliged by the Imperial and Spanish generals toraise the siege on the approach of the enemy.

He afterwards besieged and took Crave; and at