As the morning approached, the king's newborn courage began to die out.

He ordered some movements to the rear, and sent forward more of his baggage.

He would probably have declined the combat altogether, had it not been too late.
Finally, just as day was breaking over the council, he determined that the army should retreat during the battle, and not commit themselves in a decisive engagement.

The French formed the left, and were to lead the retreat, while the Irish held the right and centre.
It is almost certain that, if James had kept to his resolution to fight, imprudent as it appeared to be, and had brought the French battalion into action, instead of leading them out of the field, the result of the battle of the Boyne would have been a very different one..