The position of Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne at the army continued to be equivocal.  He was constantly in collision with M. de Vendome.  The latter, after the loss of Lille, wished to defend the Escaut, without any regard to its extent of forty miles.  The Duc de Bourgogne, as far as he dared, took the part of Berwick, who maintained that the defence was impossible.  The King, hearing of all these disputes, actually sent Chamillart to the army to compose them; and it was a curious sight to behold this penman, this financier, acting as arbiter between generals on the most delicate operations of war.  Chamillart continued to admire Vendome, and treated the Duc de Bourgogne with little respect, both at the army, and, after his return, in conversation with the King.  His report was given in presence of Madame de Maintenon, who listened without daring to say a word, and repeated everything to the Duchesse de Bourgogne.  We may imagine what passed between them, and the anger of the Princess against the minister.  For the present, however, nothing could be done.  Berwick was soon afterwards almost disgraced.  As soon as he was gone, M. de Vendome wrote to the King, saying, that he was sure of preventing the enemy from passing the Escaut—­that he answered for it on his head.  With such a guarantee from a man in such favour at Court, who could doubt?  Yet, shortly after, Marlborough crossed the Escaut in four places, and Vendome actually wrote to the King, begging him to remember that he had always declared the defence of the Escaut to be, impossible!

The cabal made a great noise to cover this monstrous audacity, and endeavoured to renew the attack against the Duc de Bourgogne.  We shall see what success attended their efforts.  The army was at Soissons, near Tournai, in a profound tranquillity, the opium of which had gained the Duc de Bourgogne when news of the approach of the enemy was brought.  M. de Vendome advanced in that direction, and sent word to the Duke, that he thought he ought to advance on the morrow with all his army.  The Duke was going to bed when he received the letter; and although it was too late to repulse the enemy, was much blamed for continuing to undress himself, and putting off action till the morrow.

To this fault he added another.  He had eaten; it was very early; and it was no longer proper to march.  It was necessary to wait fresh orders from M. de Vendome.  Tournai was near.  The Duc de Bourgogne went there to have a game at tennis.  This sudden party of pleasure strongly scandalized the army, and raised all manner of unpleasant talk.  Advantage was taken of the young Prince’s imprudence to throw upon him the blame of what was caused by the negligence of M. de Vendome.