the yoke of the English.  The Jacobite party remained there; the vexation caused by this forced union had increased it, by the desire felt to break that union with the aid of a King that they would have reestablished.  Hough, who was aware of the fermentation going on, made several secret journeys to Scotland, and planned an invasion of that country; but, as I have said, for a long time could get no one to listen to him.

The King, indeed, was so tired of such enterprises, that nobody dared to speak to him upon this.  All drew back.  No one liked to bell the cat.  At last, however, Madame de Maintenon being gained over, the King was induced to listen to the project.  As soon as his consent was gained to it, another scheme was added to the first.  This was to profit by the disorder in which the Spanish Low Countries were thrown, and to make them revolt against the Imperialists at the very moment when the affair of Scotland would bewilder the allies, and deprive them of all support from England.  Bergheyck, a man well acquainted with the state of those countries, was consulted, and thought the scheme good.  He and the Duc de Vendome conferred upon it in presence of the King.

After talking over various matters, the discussion fell, upon the Meuse, and its position with reference to Maastricht.  Vendome held that the Meuse flowed in a certain direction.  Bergheyck opposed him.  Vendome, indignant that a civilian should dare to dispute military movements with him, grew warm.  The other remained respectful and cool, but firm.  Vendome laughed at Bergheyck, as at an ignorant fellow who did not know the position of places.  Bergheyck maintained his point.  Vendome grew more and more hot.  If he was right, what he proposed was easy enough; if wrong, it was impossible.  It was in vain that Vendome pretended to treat with disdain his opponent; Bergheyck was not to 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.