Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

CLAIMS TO GREATNESS 91
which he achieved, prove without doubt his personal
power. But he does not, however, take rank with
the greatest even in his own age. Not only was he
inferior on the whole to his great rival, and not to be
compared as a general to men like Turenne, but it
may well be doubted whether he was equal as a diplomatist
toLouvois or Marlborough. Still his achievements
were such as any statesman might be proud of.
If he did not initiate, he gave force and cohesion
to the European resistance to Louis XIV. He held
the reins of the Grand Alliance. He alone of the
allied sovereigns could always be depended upon in
that cause. His energy never tired, his hatred never
softened. No difficulties daunted, and no scruples
thwartedhim. If,after a careful survey of theresources
of France at this time, any is of opinion that under
favourable circumstances Louis XIV. would have been
able to found an enduring power, to William III. he
may justly attribute the failure of the French schemes.
When this has been said, much of the real greatness
of William has been explained. We recognise to
the full his energetic self-devotion to a great cause.
His success was due to no merit as a general. No
striking instance of bravery has ever been recorded of
him. But this is not needed in a general. He was
a wretched organiser ; his armies were never provided
with the equipments which were even then recognised
as necessary. He never showed the slightest sign of
real strategic ability. The only battle which he ever
won was that of the Boyne, where his forces out-