But as the cardinal kept possession of many of the fortresses, and had applied to France for succor, the neighboring territories were full of troops; and by this means the preparations of the Dutch and their allies seemed intended merely for their own defence against the different enterprises of Lewis.
All the artifices, however, of the prince could not entirely conceal his real intentions from the sagacity of the French court.

D'Avaux, Lewis's envoy at the Hague, had been able by a comparison of circumstances, to trace the purposes of the preparations in Holland; and he instantly informed his master of the discovery.

Lewis conveyed the intelligence to James, and accompanied the information with an important offer.

He was willing to join a squadron of French ships to the English fleet; and to send over any number of troops which James should judge requisite for his security.

When this proposal was rejected, he again offered to raise the siege of Philipsbourg, to march his army into the Netherlands, and by the terror of his arms to detain the Dutch forces in their own country.