all this; and alleged nothing against it.  There was only one difficulty in the way; his idleness and unwillingness to move from quarters where he was comfortable.  He wished to enjoy those quarters as long as possible, and maintained, therefore, that these movements would be just as good if delayed.  Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne maintained on the contrary, with all the army—­even the favourites of M. de Vendome—­that it would be better to execute the operation at once, that there was no reason for delay, and that delay might prove disastrous.  He argued in vain.  Vendome disliked fatigue and change of quarters.  They interfered with the daily life he was accustomed to lead, and which I have elsewhere described.  He would not move.

Marlborough clearly seeing that M. de Vendome did not at once take advantage of his position, determined to put it out of his power to do so.  To reach Oudenarde, Marlborough had a journey to make of twenty-five leagues.  Vendome was so placed that he could have gained it in six leagues at the most.  Marlborough put himself in motion with so much diligence that he stole three forced marches before Vendome had the slightest suspicion or information of them.  The news reached him in time, but he treated it with contempt according to his custom, assuring himself that he should outstrip the enemy by setting out the next morning.  Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne pressed him to start that evening; such as dared represented to him the necessity and the importance of doing so.  All was vain—­in spite of repeated information of the enemy’s march.  The neglect was such that bridges had not been thought of for a little brook at the head of the camp, which it was necessary to cross.

On the next day, Wednesday, the 11th of July, a party of our troops, under the command of Biron, which had been sent on in advance to the Escaut, discovered, after passing it as they could, for the bridges were not yet made, all the army of the enemy bending round towards them, the rear of their columns touching at Oudenarde, where they also had crossed.  Biron at once despatched a messenger to the Princes and to M. de Vendome to inform them of this, and to ask for orders.  Vendome, annoyed by information so different to what he expected, maintained that it could not be true.  As he was disputing, an officer arrived from Biron to confirm the news; but this only irritated Vendome anew, and made him more obstinate.  A third messenger arrived, and then M. de Vendome, still affecting disbelief of the news sent him, flew in a passion, but nevertheless mounted his horse, saying that all this was the work of the devil, and that such diligence was impossible.  He sent orders to Biron to attack the enemy, promising to support him immediately.  He told the Princes, at the same time, to gently follow with the whole of the army, while he placed himself at the head of his columns, and pushed on briskly to Biron.