He found that it would not be possible for him to gratify his vanity so safely and so easily as in the two preceding years, to sit down before a great town, to enter the gates in triumph, and to receive the keys, without exposing himself to any risk greater than that of a staghunt at Fontainebleau.

Before he could lay siege either to Liege or to Brussels he must fight and win a battle.

The chances were indeed greatly in his favour; for his army was more numerous, better officered and better disciplined than that of the allies.

Luxemburg strongly advised him to march against William.

The aristocracy of France anticipated with intrepid gaiety a bloody but a glorious day, followed by a large distribution of the crosses of the new order.