Just as the remains of his army were about to move, a rumour spread that the enemy was approaching in great force.

Had this rumour been true, the danger would have been extreme.

But the English regiments, though they had been reduced to a third part of their complement, and though the men who were in best health were hardly able to shoulder arms, showed a strange joy and alacrity at the prospect of battle, and swore that the Papists should pay for all the misery of the last month.

"We English," Schomberg said, identifying himself good humouredly with the people of the country which had adopted him, "we English have stomach enough for fighting.
It is a pity that we are not as fond of some other parts of a soldier's business." The alarm proved false: the Duke's army departed unmolested: but the highway along which he retired presented a piteous and hideous spectacle.

A long train of waggons laden with the sick jolted over the rugged pavement.