dome advanced from Mons on the 18th and 20th, at the head of a strong reconnoitring party, and made demonstrations of an attack, he did not venture to carry his threat into execu- tion, but retired as soon as his able antagonist took precau- tions to oppose him. Having relinquished all farther operations, Marlborough broke up from Cambron on the 26th, fell back to Ghieslingen, between Enghien and Grammont. Here he left the command to Overkirk, and departed for Brussels, to regulate the go- vernment of the conquered provinces. He made his public entry into the capital of Brabant in the most splendid manner, amidst the joyful acclamations of the inhabitants; was pre- sented with the keys of the town, and received with all the honours usually paid to the ancient dukes of Burgundy. The magistrates offered, on this occasion, what was called the wine of honour. It was contained in a tun, gilt and painted with the arms of his highness, on a carriage adorned with streamers, and drawn by six horses, preceded by trumpets and kettle drums. The procession was led by a cavalcade of students, richly habited, who presented to the hero of Ramilies devices indicating the great events of this extra- ordinary campaign. On the 31st he joined the army, and in the beginning of November distributed his troops into quarters, the English at Ghent, the Danes at Bruges, and the troops of Prussia and Luneburgh along the Demer. Overkirk was left com- mandant in the Low Countries, Tilly was sent to Louvain, General Salisch to Mechlin, and General Churchill was in- trusted with the government of Brussels. The duke himself quitted Antwerp on the 7th, repaired on the 9th to the Hague, to complete the arrangements which were rendered necessary, by the recent occurrences on the Rhine, in Italy, and in Spain; to concert the plan of operations for the ensu- ing campaign, and to take a share in the negotiations which the Dutch government had now opened with the court of France. -457- |