Page 79 - A Jacobite Exile

the strait by the side of the town.

"That fort would give the French or the Dutch a hot reception, were they at
any time to think to capture the dockyard and shipping," Sir Marmaduke

said.

"The Dutch have already captured the place, and that without shedding a

drop of blood," Mr. Jervoise remarked.

"'That is true enough," the knight said, stamping his foot angrily on the
deck, "but what has been won so easily may be lost as quickly. I have seen
several changes since I can first remember, and I hope I may live to see

another. However, we need not talk of that now."

"No, indeed," Mr. Jervoise agreed. "It may be, Sir Marmaduke, that it
would be better if we had talked and thought less of it, during the last
twelve years; better for ourselves, and for these lads. We might still have

been ready to join His Majesty as soon as he landed, but as, till then, we
could do nothing, it seems to me now that it would have been wiser had we

gone about our business without worrying our heads, to say nothing of
risking them, about a matter that may not take place during our lives; as we
know, well enough, the King of France uses the Stuarts only for his own

convenience, and at heart cares nothing for them or their cause. It is
convenient to have the means of creating trouble here, and of so weakening

William; and it may be that, some day or other, it may suit him to send over
an army here to fight William, with the aid of the Stuarts' friends, instead of
fighting him in Holland or elsewhere. But whether he may think fit to do so

in one year, or in twenty years hence, who can say? It is a question solely
of military policy.

"The Stuarts are simply used, by the French king, to pull English chestnuts
out of the fire. I would that they had established themselves anywhere

rather than in France. It does them harm with vast numbers who would
otherwise be their friends, at any rate in England. In Scotland it is

otherwise, for Scotland has always been in alliance with France; but in
England it is different. France has always been the national foe; and, had