Origin Of A Popular Saying

Aceording to the historian Hume the princc of Orange, afterward king of England, is responsiblc ior the proverbial expression about "dying in the last ditch." Whcn Holland was so beleag-uered by her enemies that the salvation of the country f rom annihilation seemed im possible the duke of Buckingham re monstrated with William on his course and asked him to changc it, alleging that the country was on the verge oJ ruin. "There is one ineans," the prince answered, "by which I can be sure no to see my country's ruin. I will die in the last ditch."