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of Bouchaine. Both arm'es stood in awe of eachother, and were unwilling to hazard an action,which might be attended with the most importantconsequences. Lewis , though he wanted notpersonal courage, was little enterprising in thefield j and being resolved this campaign to restcontented with the advantages which he had soearly obtained , he thought proper to intrust hisarmy to mareschal Schomberg, and retired himselfto Versailles. After his departure, the prince ofOrange laid siege to (Ylaestricht ; but meetingwith an obstinate resistance, he was obliged, onthe approach of Schomberg, who in the meantime had taken Aire, to raise the siege. Hewas incapable of yielding to adversity, or bend-ing under misfortunes : But he began to foresee,that, by the negligence and errors of his allies,the war in Flanders must necessarily have a veryunfortunate ilsue.

On the Upper sthine, Philipsbourg was takenby the Imperialists. In Pomerania , the Swedeswere so unsuccessful against the Danes and Bran-denburghers, that they seemed to be losing apaceall those possessions, which, with so much valorand good fortune, they had acquired in Germany.

About the beginning of winter, the congrefeof Nimeguen was pretty full, and the plenipo-tentiaries of the emperor and Spain, two powersstrictly conjoined by blood and alliance, at lastappeared. The Dutch had threatened, if theyabsented themselves any longer, to proceed taa separate treaty with France. In the conferences

hap.

LXVI.

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