December, 1688, just when William’s enterprise in England had reached its most critical stage.  Fagel was succeeded, after a brief interval, in his most important and influential office by Antony Heinsius.  Heinsius, who had been for some years Pensionary of Delft, was a modest, quiet man, already forty-five years of age, capable, experienced and business-like.  His tact and statesmanlike qualities were of the greatest service to William and scarcely less to his country, at a time when urgent duties in England made it so difficult for the stadholder to give personal attention to the internal affairs of the Republic.  No other Prince of Orange had ever so favourable an opportunity as William III for effecting such changes in the system of government and administration in the Dutch Republic as would simplify and co-ordinate its many rival and conflicting authorities, and weld its seven sovereign provinces into a coherent State with himself (under whatever title) as its “eminent head.”  At the height of his power his will could have over-ridden local or partisan opposition, for he had behind him the prestige of his name and deeds and the overwhelming support of popular opinion.  But William had little or no interest in these constitutional questions.  Being childless, he had no dynastic ambitions.  The nearest male representative of his house was Henry Casimir, the stadholder of Friesland, with whom his relations had been far from friendly.  In his mind, everything else was subordinate to the one and overruling purpose of his life, the overthrow of the power of Louis XIV and of French ascendancy in Europe.

The great coalition which had been formed in 1689 by the treaty of Vienna was, in the first years of the war which then broke out, attended with but mediocre success.  The French armies laid waste the Palatinate with great barbarity, and then turned their attentions to the southern Netherlands.  The attempted invasion was, however, checked by an allied force (August 25) in a sharp encounter near Charleroi.  The next year, 1690, was particularly unfortunate for the allies.  William was still absent, having been obliged to conduct an expedition to Ireland.  He had placed the aged Marshal Waldeck in command of the Coalition forces.  Waldeck had the redoubtable Luxemburg opposed to him and on July 1 the two armies met at Fleurus, when, after a hard-fought contest, the allies suffered a bloody defeat.  An even greater set-back was the victory gained by Admiral Tourville over the combined Anglo-Dutch fleet off Beachy Head (July 10).  The Dutch squadron under Cornelis Evertsen bore the brunt of the fight and suffered heavily.  They received little help from the English contingent; and the English Admiral Torrington was accused of having wilfully sacrificed his allies.  The effect was serious, for the French enjoyed for a while the rare satisfaction of holding the command of the Channel.  The complete triumph of King William at the battle of the Boyne (July 12) relieved somewhat the consternation