Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 1.djvu/308

 past times. Europe will offer many prayers for your preservation; but I very humbly beg you, my Lord, to believe that none will be more ardent or more assiduous than my own. Nobody can lie under greater obligations than do I; and the care which you have deigned to take of that young man, who has the honour of being near your person, so penetrates my heart, that I have not words to express with what gratitude I shall all my life remain your Lordship’s, &c, &c.

“.”

That Schomberg was a Duke as well as a Marshal of France appears from the patent of nobility which at a later date he received from the English Crown, and in which all his former titles and honours are accurately narrated. We may therefore infer that Du Bosc’s biographer was correct in styling him Le Duc de Schomberg at a date prior to his receiving the highest military honour.

The Duke of Schomberg began active service as a Marshal in 1676 in Flanders. All the military deeds of this year were eclipsed by the naval triumphs of another Protestant of France, Admiral Du Quesne, in the Mediterranean. But as to Schomberg, the Biographie Universelle informs us that he raised the sieges of Maestricht and Charleroy; and Burnet says that he got great honour in raising the siege of Maestricht. In the spring of 1677 Louis XIV. took the lead of the army in Flanders, and his ambition for this species of glory was satisfied by the capitulation of Valenciennes (which yielded on the first assault), and by one or two other successful sieges. It was a standing joke among the officers, that Louis would never fight a battle, according to the safe sentiment, that royal blood must not be put in jeopardy, like blood of inferior dye. But an unexpected situation of affairs put this sentiment, as well as its regal advocate, into jeopardy. The French were besieging Bouchain, according to the correct routine, and the King with an army was posted to cover the besiegers. Suddenly the Prince of Orange, who had been lately defeated by the Duke of Orleans, drew his army together, and went up almost to the King’s camp, offering him battle. And now, in the general opinion, Louis had a grand opportunity for gaining a decisive victory, but he heard all such representations coldly.

At last the King said, “I will come to no resolution until I hear Marshal Schomberg’s opinion.” Secretary Louvois sent a trusty messenger to bring the Marshal, and to give him a hint what his opinion must be, in consideration of the King’s valuable life. Schomberg could have no wish to overwhelm in disaster the young Prince of Orange. Though he had not any personal acquaintance with him (for he was the posthumous child of Prince William the Second), he felt affection for his person, and admired the gallant course on which he had entered. Being not unwilling to take the Secretary’s hint, he gave his opinion in the King’s tent in conformity with it. This was his speech:— “The King is here, carrying forward his design to cover the siege of Bouchain. A young general has come up on a desperate humour to offer battle to His Majesty. I do not doubt but it would be a glorious decision of the war. But the King ought to consider his own designs, and not be led out of these by any bravado, or even by the great hope of success. The King ought to remain in his post until the town is taken. Otherwise he suffers another man to be the master of his royal counsels and actions. When the town is taken, then His Majesty must proceed to new counsels; but till then, I think he should pursue his first design.” Burnet adds, “The King said that Schomberg was in the right, and he was applauded that day as more of a courtier than a general. I had all this from his own mouth.” The King soon returned home, leaving Schomberg in command.

In 1678 Schomberg commanded a division in Flanders. Finding, however, that his men were constantly drafted off and given to Marshal Crequi, he resigned his command, telling Crequi that he had applied to the king for leave to be among the veteran troops. He actually volunteered to serve under that Marshal, rather than continue in the inaction to which he seemed to be doomed, and which he could not submit to. The object of the French king this year, was to spread consternation in Holland, that the Prince of Orange might yield to have the terms of peace dictated to him. The object was gained, and the peace of Nimeguen was concluded in the beginning of 1679.

In 1683 Dr. Burnet, paid a visit to France, owing to the feeling of the court party against him as a friend of the late Lord Russell. Lady Russell’s uncle, the Marquis De Ruvigny, introduced him to Marshal Schomberg. Burnet had no audiences of Louis XIV., but made his observations. “The exterior of the king,” he writes, “ was very solemn. The first time I happened to see him was when the news came of raising the siege of Vienna, with which he was much struck (Schomberg told me), for he did not look for it.” The news which disappointed the king was that Sobieski, King of Poland, had gained a victory which relieved Vienna from the Turkish Invasion. Louis had intended to do that favour to Austria, and to