The prince proceeded to Vienna, and the duke immediately returned to Flanders, where he assembled the army towards the latter end of May.

On the twenty-fifth day of that month, the duke de Vendome marched to Soignies, and posted himself within three leagues of the confederates, who were encamped at Billinghen and Halle.

The duke of Marlborough having received intelligence that the enemy were on their march by Bois-Seigneur-Isaac to Braine-la-Leuwe, concluded their intention was to take post on the banks of the Deule, to hinder the allies from passing that river, and to occupy Louvaine.

He, therefore, commanded the army to march all night, and on the third day of June encamped at Terbank, general d'Auverquerque fixing his quarters in the suburbs of Louvaine, while the French advanced no farther than Genap and Braine-la-Leuwe.

As they were more numerous than the confederates, and headed by a prince of the blood, the generals of the allies at first expected that they would hazard a battle; but their scheme was to retrieve by stratagem the places they lost in Flanders.