van Berkel proved herself worthy, by her intrepid courage, of sharing the cruel trials destined for her husband.

To his happiness as a husband Cornelius de Witt added that of a father. He had, like John de Witt, five young children, of whom the two eldest were boys, and the others girls of tender age. The eldest, Anna, who was at this time only five years of age, married at fifteen Simon Muys van Holy, burgomaster of Dordrecht; the second, Maria, died unmarried; and the third, Wilhelmina, who was just born at this time, united later the two families by her marriage with her first cousin, the son of John de Witt, but did not live long enough to enjoy many years of her happy fate. The two sons of Cornelius de Witt, Jacob and John, the first a young man of nineteen and the other a boy of twelve when they lost their father, did not survive him long; they both died early, the younger at the age of twenty-one, his brother at twenty-two during the course of his travels. A week after the terrible tragedy which deprived him of his father, the elder of the two sons left his country, being unable to live any longer in that odious place,' as is stated in his mother's family record. He proceeded to Brabant and thence to Strasburg, afterwards took his degree at the University of Padua, was warmly welcomed at the court of Savoy, and died at Venice of small-pox. According to a contemporary narrative, he had foreshadowed unconsciously the misfortunes of his family and the ruin of his house in a representation of Seneca's tragedy, The Troiad,' which had been acted by the pupils of the Latin school at Dordrecht before the magistrates and the principal inhabitants of the town. He performed the part of Astyanax falling from the top of a tower into the burning ashes of Troy. Who would have thought,' observes this eyewitness, that this representation would be a presage of what was soon to come to pass? This family, so powerful from its great authority, has become a lamentable example of the scourge of revolutions!'

The two brothers, who had been so closely united in life, and associated in turns in the same greatness and the same misfortunes, were destined by fate to share the same death.

The two De Witts, successively loved and hated, raised up and thrown down together:' such is the touching and faithful inscription traced by a contemporary beneath their family portraits, which deserves to be recorded by history. Both were to be struck down by the blows that appeared as if destined to destroy the republic, and to which they were to succumb.

CHAPTER XII.

INVASION AND RESISTANCE.

Military preparations of Louis XIV.—The French army and its leaders-Las audience of De Groot-Declaration of war-Acts of hostility on the part of the King of England-Attack on the India fleet-Aggression of the Bishop of Münster and the Elector of Cologne-Offensive measures advised by De Witt-Attempted attack on Neuss in the Electorate of Cologne-Its failure -Plan of a naval expedition to the coast of France-Attempts against English fleet--Cornelius de Witt sent as plenipotentiary of the States to Ruyter-Correspondence of the two brothers-The States-General obliged to remain on the defensive-A league for the defence of Utrecht vainly demanded by De Witt-Insufficiency of equipments and levies of troopsReinforcements sent to the camp by the Grand Pensionary - The invasion -March of the French army-Attack and seizure of the fortresses of the Rhine--The line of the Yssel guarded by the Prince of Orange-Louis XIV. moves upon the Rhine, which is insufficiently defended-Orders and counterorders given to Montbas-Passage of the Rhine by the French army-The Prince of Orange forced to retreat-Fatal dispersion of the army-Useless counsels of the Grand Pensionary-The Prince of Orange brings back a small part of the troops into Holland-Positions occupied by the detachments of his division-Naval battle of Solebay-Ruyter and Cornelius de Witt- Cornelius de Witt obliged to quit the fleet The United Provinces secured from a naval invasion-Operations of the Elector of Cologne and the Bishop of Münster-They take possession of Overyssel-Continuation of the French King's conquests-Mistakes made by Louis XIV.-Expedition of the Marquis de Rochefort-Muyden saved-Louis XIV. awaits offers of submission at Utrecht-Distress of the United Provinces-Inundations-First steps taken by Amsterdam-Defensive measures resolved on by the States of Holland and advised by De Witt-His speech-Zealand repulses the invasion-Resistance of Ardenburg-Obstacles opposed to the French conquest Opinion pronounced by Louis XIV.—Alliances-Diplomatic relations of the States-General with Denmark, Switzerland, and Spain-Treaty between the Emperor and the Elector of Brandenburg for the protection of the Germanic territory-Military assistance promised to the United Provinces --Necessity for gaining time-Policy of the Grand Pensionary-Negotiations between Charles II. and Louis XIV.-First overtures of peace made by De Groot-His return to the Hague-Deliberations of the States of Holland and the States-General-Full powers voted to De Groot-He returns to the French camp-Amsterdam pronounces in favour of resistance-The republic may be saved by peace or war-Services rendered by De Witt.

THE offensive alliance of the two great monarchies of Europe, France and England, made an invasion of the United Provinces

MILITARY PREPARATIONS OF LOUIS XIV.

231

imminent. It seemed to place at their mercy a republic cut off from all alliances, and which had long remained disarmed. To complete her destruction, Louis XIV. had employed all the arts of diplomacy, wielded by the skilful hands of such a minister as Lionne. His finances, moreover, were in a condition to provide for all expenses, and Colbert promised him for the campaign on which he was setting out, 50,000,000 livres instead of the 35,000,000 which he asked for. The most formidable means of attack were at the same time furnished him by Louvois. He had at his disposal a numerous body of troops whose efficiency and discipline left nothing to be desired.

De Groot had given constant warning of the French preparations for war in his correspondence with the Grand Pensionary and with Fagel, Secretary of the States-General. As early as the beginning of the year 1671, he writes from Paris: Commissions have been given here for raising a hundred and twenty fresh companies of cavalry. Numerous levies are being made in Italy and Switzerland. Forty new commissions have been sent out for the cavalry, and a hundred for the infantry,' he added at the end of the year; 'all French officers serving abroad have been recalled, shoes are being roughed for ice, and a number of small bridges of rushes and reeds constructed for crossing rivers.' When, later on, war became inevitable, De Groot gave precise information as to the preparations for commencing the campaign. Four hundred fresh commissions,' he writes, have been sent for establishing a camp in the Spanish Netherlands, and troops are being sent into Catalonia, in order, if necessary, to annoy Spain. A hundred fresh commissions have been prepared for enlisting 5,000 horse; 27,000 are already mounted, and 40,000 are reckoned upon. The divisions got together for the campaign at Metz during the winter are to have their principal rendezvous at Rocroy.'

The naval preparations had been completed with equal promptitude. Louis XIV. was not satisfied with reinforcing his fleet by the equipment of fresh ships, but employed himself at the same time in the defence of the coasts of France,

by causing five arsenals to be constructed, at Brest, Rochefort, Toulon, Dunkirk, and Havre. For the last four years, Colbert had placed at his disposal a whole nation of sailors, by subjecting the inhabitants of the ports to a class regulation, that is to say to a naval conscription, which produced 35,000 men for manning the ships of war. The young nobles, who had hitherto neglected the naval service, were beginning to join it. The fleet, which in 1667 only comprised 60 vessels, now numbered 200, of which 120 were ships of war, armed with 5,000 guns.

The army had been increased by fresh levies to 176,000 men, and an exact list of the number of troops destined for service in the field was presented to Louis XIV. by Louvois. There were first the picked troops, comprising not only the regiment of French Guards, commanded by François d'Aubusson, Duke de la Feuillade, and the regiment of Swiss Guards, each reckoned at 5,000 foot, but also the King's household troops composed of various companies, viz. body-guards, gendarmes of the guard, light horse, musketeers, and royal gendarmerie, representing 2,900 horse, commanded by the most illustrious representatives of the French nobility-Duras, Prince de Soubise, the Marquis de Rochefort, and Louvigny, brother of the Count de Guiche and second son of Marshal Grammont. Next to these came the regiments of the line: forty regiments of French infantry, making a complement of 56,000 men, and twelve regiments of foreign infantry, amounting to 30,000 men; seventy-eight regiments of French cavalry, of which two were dragoons, and nine regiments of foreign cavalry, amounting to over 25,000 horse. Then came the field artillery and the regiment of fusiliers with the siege train, comprising 97 guns, 72,000 cannon balls, 600 bombs, and 15,000 grenades, to which were added three pontoon trains as well as two floating redoubts which could easily transport 3,000 men. With regard to the commissariat service, to which Louvois had always given his closest attention, and which demanded the carriage of no less than 258,900 rations, it was organised in such a manner as to provide for all the wants of the troops. With such an army, which might be reckoned at 110,000 or 120,000