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councillors, and led by her husband and followed by the Duchess of Marlborough she was conducted to the choir where she sat on a throne opposite to the altar, Prince George beside her. Then a sermon was preached by the dean, prayers were said, and the Te Deum admirably well sung; after which the Queen returned in the same order to St. James's, whilst the populace cheered lustily, and the great guns at the Tower and in St. James's Park volleyed and thundered.

The Duke of Marlborough still abroad, was received everywhere from the Danube to the Rhine with extraordinary enthusiasm, and honoured by princes and potentates, the Emperor of Austria creating him Prince of Us and of the Holy Roman Empire: whilst he was received in Berlin with almost royal honours. Writing from that city on November 29th, 1704, Lord Raby says the duke was regaled in an extraordinary manner there, the King, his Court, the ministers and people of all degrees striving to express the great satisfaction they had in seeing His Grace at Berlin. "His Majesty besides lodging and entertaining the Duke and his attendants in the Hotel des Ambassadeurs, gave His Grace very noble presents, as a hat with diamond button and loop, and a diamond hatband valued at between twenty and thirty thousand crowns, and two fine saddle horses out of his stables with very rich furniture, besides several other marks of his bounty and generosity. . . . His Grace has given great satisfaction here with that affable obliging behaviour which answers all his other extraordinary qualifications, and

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he is extremely contented with this Court and the success he has had in his negociations, which will appear to be much for the advantage of the common cause."

However gratifying these honours must have been, they could hardly have compensated for the fatigues he had suffered during the recent campaign. In writing to his old friend Lord Godolphin, he says that nothing but his zeal for Her Majesty's service could have enabled him to endure the hardships of the last three months, and that he is sure he looks ten years older than when he left England. Nor does he say this in complaint for, he adds "I esteem myself very happy if I can make any return for Her Majesty's goodness to me and mine."

Made anxious by his constant reports of ill health and fearful lest prolonged strain might cause a complete collapse, the duchess begged him to retire from the army and live in peace in their home. In reply to a proposal that so much agreed with his own inclinations he answered, "What you say of St. Albans is what from my soul I wish, that there or somewhere else we might end our days in quietness together; and if I consider only myself, I agree with you, I can never quit the world (retire) in a better time; but I have too many obligations to the Queen to take any resolution, but such as her service must be first considered. I hope however in a little time all this business may be so well settled, as I be so well settled, as I may be very easily spared, and then I shall

retire with great

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satisfaction, and with you and my children end my days most happily; for I would not quit the world, but be eased of business, in order to enjoy your dear company.'

On his way to the Moselle and when eight leagues from Treves, he wrote once more, but in a state of depression, as two sentences will show, and at the same time prove the small value he at this time set upon the world's judgment. "This march" he says "and my own spleen have given me occasion to think how very unaccountable a creature man is, to be seeking for honour in so barren a country as this, when he is very sure that the greater part of mankind, and may justly fear that even his best friends, would be apt to think ill of him-should he have ill success. But I am endeavouring all I can to persuade myself that my happiness ought to depend upon my knowledge that I do what I think is for the best."

After various minor successes, the duke returned to England, to reap some of the rewards of the great victory. Crossing from Holland in one of the royal yachts he sailed up the Thames amidst vociferous cheering, every vessel flying its flag, and landed at Whitehall steps on December 14th, 1704. Here he was met by the duchess, their daughters and sons-inlaw, with several friends, and was conducted to St. James's Palace where the Queen and Prince George received him with the utmost friendliness. News of his arrival spread through the town and crowds gathered in the streets to catch sight of the hero of

Blenheim; whilst little else but his achievements was talked of in the taverns and coffee houses.

Next day he went to the House of Lords where he was presented with a congratulatory address; whilst a committee of the House of Commons waited on him to express their thanks for his glorious services. In his answers to both he showed a characteristic modesty, claiming little merit for himself, but saying that next to the blessing of God he owed his success to the extraordinary courage of the officers and soldiers. under his command. A glimpse of the kindly and simple manner of the man whom the greater part of Europe was combining to honour at this time, is given by John Evelyn, who tells us that he waited on Lord Godolphin and there found "the victorious Duke of Marlborough, who came to me and took me by the hand with extraordinary familiarity and civility, as formerly he used to do, without any alteration of his good nature. He had a most rich George in a sardonyx, set with diamonds of very great value; for the rest very plain. I had not seen him for some years and believed he might have forgotten me.'

On January 3rd, 1705, the trophies of the victory which had been temporarily placed in the Tower, were removed to Westminster Hall, in a triumphal procession, amidst the wild enthusiasm and ringing cheers of the people who pressed from all quarters to see them. An impressive pageantry accompanied these conquests, headed by prancing horse guards, by regiments of foot guards, by a cavalcade of the