Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

CHAP. VI. WAR IN FLANDERS. 123
the attack. The loss of both parties was extremely
severe; above 10,000 men having fallen within the
space of a few hours. The Scots and English alone,
were said to have left 3000 dead upon the field. Many
officers of rank on each side were slain or wounded ;
and here the Cameronians, who had been in the
hottest of the action, lost their gallant Colonel, the
Earl of Angus. He was succeeded in command by
Lieutenant Colonel Monro.*
William conducted his retreat with the greatest or-
der and coolness, while Lexenlbourg durst not stake
the glory he had dearly won, by hazarding a pursuit.
Satisfied with his escape, and unable to derive any
advantage from his victory, he was content to remain
quietly in his camp, and the allies returned unmolested
to theirs.
The most extravagant joy was manifested at Paris,
on the first news of this supposed overthrow. The
young princes who returned from the battle, were re-
* Besides Lord Angus, there were killed of British officers of note,
Lieutenant General Mackay, Lieutenant General Sir John Lanier,
Colonel Sir Robert Douglas, whose regiment drove four French bat-
talions from their cannon, Colonel Roberts, Colonel Hodges, grand-
father to the celebrated Colonel Gardiner, and several others, most of
whom fell in the first attack on the hill. Mackay, according to Bur-
net, was sent on a post which he saw to be untenable, and gave his
opinion accordingly, but the order being confirmed, he went on and
met his fate, with resignation, only saying, the ivill of the Lord be done.
" He was a man of such strict principles, that he would not have
served in a war that he did not think lawful. He took great care of
his soldiers' morals, and forced them to be both sober and just in their
quarters. He spent all the time he was master of, in secret prayer,
and in reading the Scriptures. The king often observed, that when
he had full leisure for his devotions, he acted with a peculiar exaha .
tion of courage."