His constitution was feeble and sickly.

Cruel imputations had been thrown on his morals.

He had been accused of trafficking with sorcerers and with vendors of poison, had languished long in a dungeon, and had at length regained his liberty without entirely regaining his honour.

[309] He had always been disliked both by Louvois and by Lewis.

Yet the war against the European coalition had lasted but a very short time when both the minister and the King felt that the general who was personally odious to them was necessary to the state.