A great battle, however it might terminate, could not but injure the Prince's popularity.

All this William perfectly understood, and determined to avoid an action as long as possible.

It is said that, when Schomberg was told that the enemy were advancing and were determined to fight, he answered, with the composure of a tactician confident in his skill, "That will be just as we may choose." It was, however, impossible to prevent all skirmishing between the advanced guards of the armies.

William was desirous that in such skirmishing nothing might happen which could wound the pride or rouse the vindictive feelings of the nation which he meant to deliver.
He therefore, with admirable prudence, placed his British regiments in the situations where there was most risk of collision.

The outposts of the royal army were Irish.