Memoirs of Louis XIV, vol 6 | Page 7

be
put down, and the King, tired out at last with a discussion upon a
simple question of fact, examined the maps. He found at once that
Bergheyck was right. Any other than the King would have felt by this
what manner of man was this general of his taste, of his heart, and of
his confidence; any other than Vendome would have been confounded;
but it was Bergheyck in reality who was so, to see the army in such
hands and the blindness of the King for him! He was immediately sent
into Flanders to work up a revolt, and he did it so well, that success
seemed certain, dependent, of course, upon success in Scotland.
The preparations for the invasion of that country were at once
commenced. Thirty vessels were armed at Dunkerque and in the
neighbouring ports. The Chevalier de Forbin was chosen to command
the squadron. Four thousand men were brought from Flanders to
Dunkerque; and it was given out that this movement was a mere change
of garrison. The secret of the expedition was well kept; but the
misfortune was that things were done too slowly. The fleet, which
depended upon Pontchartrain, was not ready in time, and that which
depended upon Chamillart, was still more behindhand. The two
ministers threw the fault upon each other; but the truth is, both were to
blame. Pontchartrain was more than accused of delaying matters from
unwillingness; the other from powerlessness.
Great care was taken that no movement should be seen at Saint
Germain. The affair, however, began in time to get noised abroad. A
prodigious quantity of arms and clothing for the Scotch had been
embarked; the movements by sea and land became only too visible
upon the coast. At last, on Wednesday, the 6th of March, the King of
England set out from Saint Germain. He was attended by the Duke of
Perth, who had been his sub-preceptor; by the two Hamiltons, by

Middleton, and a very few others. But his departure had been
postponed too long. At the moment when all were ready to start, people
learned with surprise that the English fleet had appeared in sight, and
was blockading Dunkerque. Our troops, who were already on board
ship, were at once landed. The King of England cried out so loudly
against this, and proposed so eagerly that an attempt should be made to
pass the enemy at all risks, that a fleet was sent out to reconnoitre the
enemy, and the troops were re-embarked. But then a fresh mischance
happened. The Princess of England had had the measles, and was
barely growing convalescent at the time of the departure of the King,
her brother. She had been prevented from seeing him, lest he should be
attacked by the same complaint. In spite of this precaution, however, it
declared itself upon him at Dunkerque, just as the troops were
re-embarked. He was in despair, and wished to be wrapped up in
blankets and carried on board. The doctors said that it would kill him;
and he was obliged to remain. The worst of it was, that two of five
Scotch deputies who had been hidden at Montrouge near Paris, had
been sent into Scotland a fortnight before, to announce the immediate
arrival of the King with arms and troops. The movement which it was
felt this announcement would create, increased the impatience for
departure. At last, on Saturday, the 19th of March, the King of England,
half cured and very weak, determined to embark in spite of his
physicians, and did so. The enemy's vessels hats retired; so, at six
o'clock in the morning, our ships set sail with a good breeze, and in the
midst of a mist, which hid them from view in about an hour.
Forty-eight hours after the departure of our squadron, twenty-seven
English ships of war appeared before Dunkerque. But our fleet was
away. The very first night it experienced a furious tempest. The ship in
which was the King of England took shelter afterwards behind the
works of Ostend. During the storm, another ship was separated from
the squadron, and was obliged to take refuge on the coast of Picardy.
This vessel, a frigate, was commanded by Rambure, a lieutenant. As,
soon as he was able he sailed after the squadron that he believed
already in Scotland. He directed his course towards Edinburgh, and
found no vessel during all the voyage. As he approached the mouth of
the river, he saw around him a number of barques and small vessels

that he could not avoid, and that he determined in consequence to
approach with as good a grace as possible. The masters of these ships'
told him that the King was expected with impatience, but that they had
no news of