If the cities of the Palatinate could not be retained, they might be destroyed.

If the soil of the Palatinate was not to furnish supplies to the French, it might be so wasted that it would at least furnish no supplies to the Germans.

The ironhearted statesman submitted his plan, probably with much management and with some disguise, to Lewis; and Lewis, in an evil hour for his fame, assented.

Duras received orders to turn one of the fairest regions of Europe into a wilderness.

Fifteen years earlier Turenne had ravaged part of that fine country.