from the God of battles he hoped a more magnificent victory than had ever before been achieved in this almost perpetual war for independence.  The troops, perfectly enthusiastic, replied with a shout that they were ready to live or die with their chieftain, and eagerly demanded to be led upon the foe.  Whether from hope or from desperation they were confident and cheerful.  Some doubt was felt as to the Walloons, who had so lately transferred themselves from the archduke’s army, but their commander, Marquette, made them all lift up their hands, and swear solemnly to live or die that day at the feet of Prince Maurice.

Two hours long these two armies had stood looking each other in the face.  It was near two o’clock when the arch duke at last gave the signal to advance.  The tide was again almost at the full.  Maurice stood firm, awaiting the assault; the enemy slowly coming nearer, and the rising tide as steadily lapping away all that was left of the hard beach which fringed the rugged downs.  Count Lewis chafed with impatience as it became each moment more evident that there would be no beach left for cavalry fighting, while in the downs the manoeuvring of horse was entirely impossible.  Meantime, by command of Vere, all those sandy hillocks and steeps had been thickly sown with musketeers and pikemen.  Arquebus-men and carabineers were planted in every hollow, while on the highest and most advantageous elevation two pieces of cannon had been placed by the express direction of Maurice.  It seemed obvious that the battle would, after all, be transferred to the downs.  Not long before the action began, a private of the enemy’s cavalry was taken, apparently with his own consent, in a very trifling preliminary skirmish.  He bragged loudly of the immense force of the archduke, of the great victory already gained over Ernest, with the utter annihilation of his forces, and of the impending destruction of the whole States’ army.  Strange to say, this was the first intimation received by Count Lewis of that grave disaster, although it had been for some hours known to Maurice.  The prisoner was at once gagged, that he might spread his disheartening news no further, but as he persisted by signs and gestures in attempting to convey the information which he had evidently been sent forward to impart, he was shot by command of the stadholder, and so told no further tales.

The enemy had now come very close, and it was the desire of Count Lewis that a couple of companies of horse, in accordance with the commands of Maurice, should charge the cavalry in front, and that after a brief skirmish they should retreat as if panic-stricken behind the advance column, thus decoying the Spanish vanguard in hot pursuit towards the battery upon the edge of the downs.  The cannon were then suddenly to open upon them, and during the confusion sure to be created in their ranks, the musketeers, ambushed among the hollows, were to attack them in flank, while