[445] This was exactly what Luxemburg had expected and desired.

His feint had served its purpose.

He turned his back on the fortress which had hitherto seemed to be his object, and hastened towards the Gette.

William, who had detached more than twenty thousand men, and who had but fifty thousand left in his camp, was alarmed by learning from his scouts, on the eighteenth of July, that the French General, with near eighty thousand, was close at hand.
It was still in the King's power, by a hasty retreat, to put the narrow, but deep, waters of the Gette, which had lately been swollen by rains, between his army and the enemy.

But the site which he occupied was strong; and it could easily be made still stronger.