felt at this naval disaster, and set him free to devote his whole attention to the Continental war.  His return to the Hague early in 1691 caused general rejoicing, and he was there able to concert with his allies the placing of a large force in the field for the ensuing campaign.  The operations were, however, barren of any satisfactory results.  Luxemburg advanced before the allies were ready, and burnt and plundered a large tract of country.  William, acting on the defensive, contented himself with covering the capital and the rest of Flanders and Brabant from attack; and no pitched battle took place.

Great preparations were made by Louis XIV in the spring of 1692 for the invasion of England.  Troops were collected on the coast, and the squadron under D’Estrees at Toulon was ordered to join the main fleet of Tourville at Brest.  Contrary winds delayed the junction; and Tourville rashly sailed out and engaged off La Hogue a greatly superior allied fleet on May 29.  The conflict this time chiefly fell upon the English, and after a fierce fight the French were defeated and fled for refuge into the shoal waters.  Here they were followed by the lighter vessels and fire-ships of the allies; and the greater part of the French fleet was either burnt or driven upon the rocks (June 1).  The maritime power of France was for the time being destroyed, and all fears of invasion dissipated.  On land ill-success continued to dog the footsteps of the allies.  The strong fortress of Namur was taken by the French; and, after a hotly contested battle at Steinkirk, William was compelled by his old adversary Luxemburg to retreat.  William, though he was rarely victorious on the field of battle, had great qualities as a leader.  His courage and coolness won the confidence of his troops, and he was never greater than in the conduct of a retreat.  This was shown conspicuously in the following year (1693), when, after a disastrous defeat at Neerwinden (July 29), again at the hands of Luxemburg, he succeeded at imminent personal risk in withdrawing his army in good order in face of the superior forces of the victorious enemy.

In 1694 the allies confined themselves to defensive operations.  Both sides were growing weary of war; and there were strong parties in favour of negotiating for peace both in the Netherlands and in England.  Some of the burgher-regents of Amsterdam, Dordrecht and other towns even went so far as to make secret overtures to the French government, and they had the support of the Frisian Stadholder; but William was resolutely opposed to accepting such conditions as France was willing to offer, and his strong will prevailed.