Chapter 97: A King In Concern
August, 1709
James took a moment to clear his thoughts. His son was unwell, and the doctors weren’t quite sure what was causing it. Marie Louise was spending every waking moment at Charles’ bedside, and James wanted to be with her, he wanted to show her that he cared. That the claims she’d thrown at him during their last argument had been wrong. But as always affairs of state came first. He cleared his mind and then said. “Give us a report.”
Sidney Godolphin, his chief minister spoke then. “The situation does not look good, Sire. The French army has captured most of the southern Spanish Netherlands and they have beaten the Spanish forces under the command of King James out of French Navarre. They are in short, winning so far.”
James wanted to bang his fist on the table, instead he simply asked. “Has Prince William not received any of our letters?” He’d sent a flurry of messages to his brother by marriage when the war had initially begun recommending several strategies, all of them involving mobilising the regiments under the command of the Earl of Marlborough.
“He has, Sire.” Godolphin said. “But it seems he is more than content to leave our forces in Brussels.”
James Radclyffe, Earl of Derwentwater and James’ cousin banged his fist on the table. “How foolish can he be? Does he not remember the role that Marlborough played in pushing back the initial French advance? Why is he leaving him in Brussels?”
Godolphin could not respond, instead, it was the Postmaster General and James’ uncle Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester spoke. “Because they had an argument about the nature of the campaign.”
“How do you mean?” James asked of his uncle.
“In a letter to the Dutch ambassador, it seems the Prince of Waldeck said that His Serene Highness felt that Marlborough was trying to focus only on English interests, which meant protecting the ports of Antwerp and other such cities from French probes, whilst Prince William wants to protect the Spanish Netherlands in its entirety. The Dutch ambassador wrote to Waldeck that he thinks our plans are not solid and are ill thought out and therefore His Serene Highness was right.” Rochester said.
James felt anger and shame and rage flood through him then. The Prince of Orange was a man he respected, to hear his ambassador speak of him in such terms was humiliating. His councillors were looking at him with the expectation of some sort of response. He knew that if he raged they would agree with him publicly, but privately think he was but a child. If he said nothing they would wonder if there was something wrong with him. Marie Louise often said she didn’t know if he were a person or a rock. He pushed that thought away and said. “Well then, we are going to have to settle that matter once and for all aren’t we.”
“Sire?” Rochester asked sounding concerned.
“How soon could we must a new army to go to the Spanish Netherlands?” James asked a thought forming in his mind quickly.
Godolphin said nothing, for he seemed speechless, it was his brother by marriage, Cumberland who spoke then. “It would take a few months to get everything sorted, and that includes getting Parliamentary approval.”
James nodded. “And no doubt those idiots would want some sort of concession to fund more men.” He looked at his cousin and said. “We shall leave it to you to sort that matter out.”
Derwentwater nodded. “Of course, Sire.”
James then turned back to his brother by marriage and asked. “And what is the situation with the navy?”
“Much better than on the ground, Sire.” Cumberland replied, he took a moment to catch his breath, the ailments he had had since James had known him were only steadily getting worse not better. Cumberland had told him that he had only months to live, maybe even weeks.
“How so?” James asked.
“We have control of the Channel, Sire. Under the command of Admiral Edward Russell, the Channel Fleet has successfully repelled all attempts by the French navy to try and achieve dominance. Subsequently, the French have attempted to get the advantage in the seas, under the command of Admiral George Rooke, our ships have ensured that they have failed there as well.” Cumberland said.
“Excellent. How long could we sustain such dominance?” James asked.
“I am not sure, Sire. It would depend on a multitude of factors only one of which is in our control.” Cumberland said.
“Financing.” James said.
“Indeed, Sire.” Cumberland said.
James thought on that. He would spend time with his wife and son, and then he would need to handle this situation promptly. “Very well, we shall meet with Parliament in two weeks’ time. We shall expect all of you in attendance and we shall expect the arguments to have been made beforehand in preparation for our arrival there. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Sire.” They all replied.
James got up then and said. “You are all dismissed.” He walked out of the room and made his way toward the room where his son was, his heart hammering.