Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

124 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. VI.
ceived with a veneration bordering on idolatry. The
roads through which they passed, were lined witli
gazing multitudes who rent the air with their frantic
acclamations. Any man who had been there was re-
garded with admiration. To commemorate this vic-
tory, fashion lent her aid ; and Steinkirk had the ho-
nour of introducing a new mode of tying cravats, and
giving name to every modish article of female attire.
Jewels, hats, and handkerchiefs were named Stein-
kirks ; and the populace vied with each other in the
invention of flattering compliments. *
William, though vanquished and considerably shorn
of his military glory, still continued a formidable enemy.
After passing the winter in England, he opened the
campaign of 1693, in the month of May. The allied
armies which had been quartered about Ghent, Aeth,
Bruges, and Oudenarde, were summoned to his ma-
jesty's camp at Park, near Louvain, where he was
also joined by the Dutch and English Infantry. His
first object was to cover such places as were most ex-
posed and most likely to be attacked. For this pur-
pose he ordered detachments to be posted at Liege,
Huy, Maestricht, and Charleroi, himself remaining on
the defensive in his camp, with about 40,000 foot,
and 12,000 horse and dragoons. For above a month
the two armies remained in this uncertainty, each
ready to seize the first advantage. On the 17th of
July, the Duke of Wirtemberg gallantly forced the
French lines between the Scheld and the Lys, in se-
veral places ; and laid the whole country, as far as
Lisle, under contribution. Louis had set out for the
* Beaurain, Ralph, Burnet, and Voltaire's Siecle, torn, i. p, 228.