I examined what was feasible, and Ghent being the most important of all I could attack, I fixed upon it to besiege." The place was invested on the 1st of March, and capitulated on the 11th; Ypres, in its turn, succumbed on the 25th, after a vigorous resistance.

On the 7th of April the king returned to St.Germain, "pretty content with what I had done," he says, "and purposing to do better in the future, if the promise I had given not to undertake anything for two months were not followed by the conclusion of peace." Louis XIV.

sent his ultimatum to Nimeguen.
Holland had weight in congress as well as in war, and her influence was now enlisted on the side of peace.

"Not only is it desired," said the grand pensionary Fagel, "but it is absolutely indispensable, and I would not answer for it that the States General, if driven to extremity by the sluggishness of their allies, will not make a separate peace with France.
I know nobody in Holland who is not of the same opinion." The Prince of Orange flew out at such language.

"Well, then, I know somebody," said he, "and that is myself; I will oppose it to the best of my ability; but," he added more slowly, upon reflection, "if I were not here, I know quite well that peace would be concluded within twenty-four hours." One man alone, though it were the Prince of Orange, cannot long withstand the wishes of a free people.