[Illustration:  Marlborough At Ramillies—­Painted by R. Canton Woodville—­418]

Our retreat commenced in good order, but soon the night came and threw us into confusion.  The defile of Judoigne became so gorged with baggage and with the wrecks of the artillery we had been able to save, that everything was taken from us there.  Nevertheless, we arrived at Louvain, and then not feeling in safety, passed the canal of Wilworde without being very closely followed by the enemy.

We lost in this battle four thousand men, and many prisoners of rank, all of whom were treated with much politeness by Marlborough.  Brussels was one of the first-fruits he gathered of this victory, which had such grave and important results.

The King did not learn this disaster until Wednesday, the 26th of May, at his waking.  I was at Versailles.  Never was such trouble or such consternation.  The worst was, that only the broad fact was known; for six days we were without a courier to give us details.  Even the post was stopped.  Days seemed like years in the ignorance of everybody as to details, and in the inquietude of everybody for relatives and friends.  The King was forced to ask one and another for news; but nobody could tell him any.  Worn out at last by the silence, he determined to despatch Chamillart to Flanders to ascertain the real state of affairs.  Chamillart accordingly left Versailles on Sunday, the 30th of May, to the astonishment of all the Court, at seeing a man charged with the war and the finance department sent on such an errand.  He astonished no less the army when he arrived at Courtrai, where it had stationed itself.  Having gained all the information he sought, Chamillart returned to Versailles on Friday, the 4th of June, at about eight o’clock in the evening, and at once went to the King, who was in the apartments of Madame de Maintenon.  It was known then that the army, after several hasty marches, finding itself at Ghent, the Elector of Bavaria had insisted that it ought at least to remain there.  A council of war was held, the Marechal de Villeroy, who was quite discouraged by the loss he had sustained, opposed the advice of the Elector.  Ghent was abandoned, so was the open country.  The army was separated and distributed here and there, under the command of the general officers.  In this way, with the exception of Namur, Mons, and a very few other places, all the Spanish Low Countries were lost, and a part of ours, even.  Never was rapidity equal to this.  The enemies were as much astonished as we.

However tranquilly the King sustained in appearance this misfortune, he felt it to the quick.  He was so affected by what was said of his body-guards, that he spoke of them himself with bitterness.  Court warriors testified in their favour, but persuaded nobody.  But the King seized these testimonies with joy, and sent word to the Guards that he was well contended with them.  Others, however, were not so easily satisfied.