James II was in his fifty-second year; he enjoyed vigorous health, which continued to gain strength as he advanced in years, owing to the bodily exercise which he took every day without exception. He had served under Turenne in his youth; in his naval career also he had acquired good professional knowledge, and had gained as admiral the respect of the seamen; there was nothing of which he spoke with more pleasure than of his services by land and sea. There was nothing in him of the genial and conciliatory nature of his brother; he thought more of outward dignity and ceremonial; he was deficient in the delicacy and discrimination which had always determined his brother's policy. On the other hand, he had a more military vein, was in general steadier and more trustworthy, a far better administrator, and more persevering in work. He could not, any more than Charles, be praised for fidelity as a husband and for moral conduct in this relation. He did not indeed parade his excesses with as little concealment as his predecessor had thought sufficient; and in his case they led to a curious reaction, which made him seek to regain the affection of his injured wife by extraordinary indulgences. He was throughout his life very dependent upon priests and women. But that did not, strictly speaking, impair his energy; he was always occupied with great plans; he wished to gain distinction by military exploits like Turenne, or to found a powerfully organised and compact state like Louis XIV.