Certainly the defeat at Oudenarde was not his fault, but had he taken my advice, Lille might have been saved.

Doubtless he was as much dissatisfied with me as I was with him, and perhaps with reason; for, as you know, I am not accustomed to mince my phrases.

However, as His Majesty was pleased to say, it is evident that having two generals acting together, each with an independent command, is a mistake, and one that should not be again committed.
Therefore, next spring I am to take the command of an army in Dauphiny, and to check the Austrians and Italians.
He said, "If you can spare him, Duke, I should be glad if you would let me have this young Irishman for a time.

I shall promote him to the rank of captain, for the great service he rendered in carrying, as you say, at grievous risk and with the loss of his hand, the order to the troops at Diepenbeck to scatter during the night, thus saving me at least ten thousand of my soldiers.

I shall also settle upon him a pension of fifty louis a year, for the loss of his hand.