It was observed by the agents of France that he was more busy than they had ever known him.

Not a day passed on which he was not seen spurring from his villa to the Hague.
He was perpetually closeted with his most distinguished adherents.
Twenty-four ships of war were fitted out for sea in addition to the ordinary force which the commonwealth maintained.

There was, as it chanced, an excellent pretence for making this addition to the marine: for some Algerine corsairs had recently dared to show themselves in the German Ocean.

A camp was formed near Nimeguen.

Many thousands of troops were assembled there.