François de Neufville, 2nd Duke of Villeroy

Either of those distinguished officers would have been a successor worthy of Luxembourg and an antagonist worthy of William.

But their master, unfortunately for himself, preferred to both the Duke of Villeroi.

The new general had been Louis' playmate when they were both children, had then become a favorite, and had never ceased to be so.

In those superficial graces for which the French aristocracy was then renowned throughout Europe, Villeroi was preeminent among the French aristocracy.

His stature was tall, his countenance handsome, his manners nobly and somewhat haughtily polite.

His dress, his furniture, his equipages, his table magnificent.

No man was more intimately acquainted with the adventures, the attachments, the enmities of the lords and ladies who daily filled the halls of Versailles.

There were two characters especially which this fine gentleman had studied during many years And of which he knew all the plats and windings, the character of the king, and the character of her who was queen in everything but name.

But by a decided move he changed the face of affairs.

He made preparations for the siege of Namur, and Villeroi received orders to risk a battle rather than let Namur fall into the hands of the English.

He therefore left his camp and marched upon Thiermont.

Marlborough sent pressing orders to collect his troops, and full of joy at the prospect of a battle, marched to meet the French.

Villeroi was confident of victory.

Judging by the events of the last campaign he thought himself superior as a general to his opponent, and he had under him the King's household troops, who were renowned as the best soldiers in France.

Early on the morning of the 23rd of May he took up a strong position on Mont Saint-André, part of an elevated plain which forms the highest ground in Brabant.

On it the Mehaigne, the Dieule, and the Great and Little Gette take their rise, and as they flow but sluggishly they make the ground at their sources and along their banks marshy and wet.