Note 716 — Chapter XII
Reading edition
His exclamation at Barillon's pressing the reduction of the army to 8000 men is well known: "God's fish! are all the King of France's promises to make me master of my subjects come to this! or does he think that a matter to be done with 8000 men!" Temple says, "He seemed at this time (May 1678) more resolved to enter into the war than I had ever before seen or thought him."