Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

114 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. VI.
sition, and even to attempt his assassination. French
gold, by which he had con-upted all the courts in
Europe, was distributed among the rebels in the three
kingdoms. England had thus a personal interest in
this Continental Association. She was not entering
into foreign connexions from a love of war, or em-
barking in any romantic speculation of chivalry, from
xvhich she was to derive no benefit. She took up
arms in defence of her religion, — the independence of
her crown, — and her very existence as a free nation. *
France never beheld such a combination of power
leagued against her ; and the hour seemed to be ap-
proaching, when she was to experience, in her turn,
the fate of those countries on which she had heaped
so many miseries and insults. With this formidable
array, Louis had to contend single-handed. The most
magnificent preparations were made to repel the in-
vasions that threatened him on all sides. His re-
sources seemed to increase in proportion to his diffi-
culties, and to multiply Avith the purposes and de-
mands he had to answer. The unlimited control he
possessed over the finances of a mighty empire, en-
abled him to set in motion, and keep a-going a vast
system of offensive war ; and with a vigour that as-
tonished the most sanguine of his adversaries. He
had in regular pay, of land and marine forces, not less
than 450,000 men. These he had divided into six
armies, which were stationed round his dominions,
and all at once in active operation. One army was
employed in Ireland, to support the interests of James,
under Count de Lauzun, and the Duke of Berwick ;
* Ralph, vol. ii. p. 208. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 50. Dalrympie's
Mem. B. ii. p. 24. vi. 162.