Alexander had done his best, they said, to delay the arrival of his fresh troops.

He had withdrawn from the field, on various pretexts, hoping, day after day, that the English commissioners would arrive, and that a firm and perpetual peace would succeed to the miseries of war.

But as time wore away, and there came no commissioners, the Duke had come to the painful conclusion that he had been trifled with.

His forces would now be sent into Holland to find something to eat; and this would ensure the total destruction of all that territory.

He had also written to command all the officers of the coming troops to hasten their march, in order that he might avoid incurring still deeper censure.