CHARLES II.

2ZZ

entire loss of Flanders on the one hand, or theinvasion of France on the other. Lewis, tired ofso unactive a campaign, returned to Versailles; andthe whole summer passed in the Low Countrieswithout any memorable event.

TureJi'ME commanded on the Upper Rhine,in opposition to his great rival, IYlontecuculi,general of the Imperialists. The object of thelatter was to pass the Rhine, to penetrate intoAlsace, Lorraine, or Burgundy, and to six hisquarters in these provinces : The aim of theformer was to guard the French frontiers, and todisappoint all the schemes of his enemy. The mostconsummate skill was displayed on both sides;and if any superiority appeared in Turenne’sconduct, it was chiefly ascribed to his greatervigor of body, by which be was enabled toinspect all the posts in person, and could on thespot take the justest measures for the executionof his designs. By posting himself on the GermansidL of the Rhine, he not only kept IYlontecuculifrom passing that river: He had also laid his planin so masterly a manner, that, in a few days hemust have obliged the Germans to decamp, andhave gained a considerable advantage over them;when a period was put to his life, by a randomsoot, which struck him on the breast as he wastaking a view of the enemy. The consternationof his army was inexpressible. The French troops,who, a moment before, were assured of victory,now considered themselves as entirely vanquisoed;and the Germans, who would have been glad to,

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II A P.

r.xvi.

1671.