Struggle hard to throw off the Tyranny I groan'd under, and it happen'd
very luckily for me that within a few Days after the young Lady was sent
for into _Spain_, so that I had in Election either to throw up all my
Expectations in _France_, and follow her, or Moralize a Week or two;
upon the Disappointment, and so recover my self again to my Senses,
which I quickly did by spending my Time in a Treatise of Algebra and
Fortifications. As for the Lady she parted without any Reluctance, and
it mortify'd me sensibly, that what I had made a Study and Business of,
was only her Diversion and Amusement; but I kept my Resolution never
more to divert my self that way, till I was effectually tramell'd.

And now I was preparing to visit _Italy_, where some of the _Irish_
Forces were then employ'd, and my Company expected me; but before I set
out, I had a mind to inform my self better of a certain Report wisper'd
at _St. Germains_, That in a little Time King _James_ would make another
Push, and that a Descent in _England_ was certainly in Agitation. Now I
was at a Loss how to be truly inform'd of this Matter; the King's Fleet
rendevouzing upon the Coast of _Normandy_, and several Battalions
marching that way, look'd something like a Descent, but this was not
sufficient to convince me, who knew that such Alarms were often given
upon a quite different Score, to what the Generality of People had in
View. However, the _French_ laid strong Colours upon this Preparative;
first they gave out, That they had bribed most of the _English_ Fleet,
so there wou'd be no Danger from that Quarter nor Body to oppose the
Descent; again, King _James_ set forth a solemn Manifesto, inviting all
his Subjects to rise and take Arms, granting an Amnesty only to such as
were specify'd in his Proclamation, and to put the last Stroke to this
Master-piece of Policy; the King himself was perswaded to appear at the
Head of some Troops upon the Coast of _Normandy_. The Pill thus guilded,
was swallow'd by every Body; I own I was my self charm'd with the Beauty