2oS THE CALL OF THE SEA 



no man could perceive any true signe of heavi- 



nesse in liim. 



Linschoten, 



La Hogue {1692) -<:i,. ^o ^i.- 



(From The History of England) 



'T^OURVILLE had with him only his own 

 squadron, consisting of forty-four ships of the 

 line. But he had received positive orders to pro- 

 tect the descent on England, and not to decline a 

 battle. Though these orders had been given 

 before it was known at Versailles that the Dutch 

 and English fleets had joined, he was not disposed 

 to take on himself the responsibility of disobedience. 

 He still remembered with bitterness the reprimand 

 which his extreme caution had drawn upon him 

 after the fight of Beachy Head. He would not 

 again be told that he was a timid and unenterpris- 

 ing commander, that he had no courage but the 

 vulgar courage of a common sailor. He was also 

 persuaded that the odds against him were rather 

 apparent than real. He believed, on the authority 

 of James and Melfort, that the English seamen, 

 from the flag officers down to the cabin boys, were 

 Jacobites. Those who fought would fight with 

 half a heart ; and there would probably be 

 numerous desertions at the most critical moment. 

 Animated by such hopes he sailed from Brest, 



