and was absent when the Privy Council assembled. The Queen made no remark about his absence, but Marlborough's withdrawal caused great wonder and talk. Several of the nobility spoke to her Majesty of the consequences likely to arise from thus mortifying a faithful servant. Anne, although acknowledging the duke's services, would not unbend, saying she hoped they would all, after mature reflection, change their views. At one time it was feared that the matter would be taken up by the House of Commons, but, owing to the duke's particular desire, no such action was taken. Sarah says: "This design was laid to my charge, but I said enough to the Queen to vindicate myself from it."

The Harley and Masham faction, becoming alarmed at the way the matter was being taken up, besought her Majesty to allow the duke to dispose of the regiment as he thought fit. However, before this reached Marlborough he had already written the Queen a letter of remonstrance, pointing out that he had lost her confidence. The Queen in her reply entered into no particulars, but assured him he had no grounds for suspicion, and desired him to come to town. Fearing, however, that some motion might be made in Parliament against Mrs. Masham, her Majesty sent messages to several persons to stand by her; some of these were known enemies. to the Revolution. The Jacobites were therefore encouraged, and were seen running to court, with faces full of business and concern, "as if," says the duchess, they were going to get the government into their hands.' All this, according to Sarah, was represented as a kind of victory over the Marlborough family, which no doubt prevented a reconciliation. The duchess wrote to the Queen that, if Lord Marlborough and Lord Godolphin were unable to carry on the Government and were to retire, her Majesty would find herself in the hands of

a violent party, whom she declared would have "very little mercy or even humanity for her Majesty."

The result proved the truth of this prediction, and when some years afterwards the Queen, "harassed and intimidated by turns, sank under pressure, not of public business but of party rancour," the value and good sense of the duchess's warnings became apparent. Lady Masham had Jacobean tendencies, and the duchess's fears were justified that events were tending to bring in the "Prince of Wales." Sarah never uses the word "Pretender," knowing full well he had a right by birth to the former title, and in this she shows her hatred of untruth or make-believe.

Anne's obstinacy had been previously shown in regard to Lord Somers. A few years before, Vanbrugh wrote: "Things are in an odd way at court; all the interest of Lord Treasurer and Lady Marlborough, backed by every man in the Cabinet, can (not) prevail with the Queen to admit my Lord Somers into anything, not so much as to make him Attorney-General. She answers little to them, but stands firm against all they say."

Queen Anne cordially disliked Lord Somers, without apparent reason. He had particularly polished and deferential manners, and was a great contrast to Harley, who occasionally appeared the worse for drink. "I remember," says the Duchess of Marlborough, "to have been at several of Lord Somers' conversations with Queen Anne, to fill out their tea, and wash their cups. 'Tis certain that as soon as he got into his post, to obtain which I so often urged the Queen, he made his court to Abigail and very seldom came to me, and it is true that Lord Oxford and St. John used to laugh in their cups that they had instructed the Queen (how) to behave, so as to make Lord Somers think he should be her chief minister."

CHAPTER IX

UNDER QUEEN ANNE

(1709-1712)

"I do profess

That for your highness' good I ever labour'd
More than mine own."

DURING the duke's absence abroad in 1708, the super-
intendent of works at Blenheim, a Mr. Travers, wrote
to inform the duchess that Sir John Vanbrugh had
spent about £2000 upon the old manor of Wood-
stock, and, complaining of the expense, begged her
to put a stop to it. He was of the opinion that Sir
John did not intend to reside there, as he had already
another house in the park on which money had been
laid out. Mr. Travers also wrote to the duke in Flan-
ders to ask permission to reside in a portion of the
manor, as it was conveniently near to his business.
The duke made no reply to this request; but, on his
return in April, he went down to Woodstock with the
duchess and Lord Godolphin, and a great consultation
was held whether these ruins should stand or fall.
Lord Treasurer gave it as his opinion that they were an
unsightly object, and should be as assuredly removed
as if a man had a wen on his face.

The

The duchess says: "They were not in themselves a very agreeable sight; they happened to stand very near the middle of this very fine castle of Blenheim, and in the way of the prospect down the great avenue, for which a bridge of so vast an expense is made to go

into." This structure, which contained several large apartments, was reported to have cost £60,000.

After hearing all sides, the duke gave instructions that no more money was to be spent on the ruins; but we shall see later that this was not strictly adhered to.

The Duke of Marlborough's stay in England was brief, as the following week he re-embarked for Holland, accompanied by the Earl of Portland and Lord Townsend. The voyage took three days and two nights. During May there was some talk of peace; but the French king refused to sign the conditions, and hostilities recommenced.

Two months later the duke refers to Blenheim in a letter to the duchess. He says, "I should be glad to have the exact measurement of the room next the saloon, as also of the room of the bow-window. . . He was evidently searching for suitable drapery for his favourite residence, for the following year he writes from the Hague :

"There are seventeen pieces of the enclosed pattern, fourteen Dutch ells in each piece. Three or four of the pieces are damaged. However, they will not sell them unless they be all bought. They are contented to take

10 the Dutch ell, which will make the whole come to one hundred and nineteen pounds. I desire you will let me know what use you can make of this velvet, and if you would have me buy it. I also send my coat-ofarms as they are to be on the hangings now making at Brussels, so that I desire you will send for Vanbrugh, and that he should take care that the crown and arms in the hangings already come over be exactly as this is."

Whether the duchess decided upon purchasing this particular brocade, there is no means of telling. The furnishing of so vast a house as Blenheim must have

The following letter throws some

been a serious matter. light on the difficulties:

"DEAR MRS. JENNENS,-I have looked upon this damask by daylight. The Pattern is not so large as she stated, but he has kept it so ill that it looks full as old as what I have, which is better than if it was fine fresh Damask. But I think it a good argument to him to sell it cheap; for though I like it very much for this use, I would not buy it for any other. But don't part with it, for I would have the whole piece upon any terms that you can get it. I shall want a vast number of feather beds and quilts. I wish you would take this opportunity to get the prices of all such Things as will be wanted in that wild, unmerciful house, for the Man you go to is famous for low prices. I would have some of the Feather Beds Swansdown, all good and sweet Feathers, even for the Servants. I am not in haste for any Thing you are so good as to do for me."1

The duke longed for the day when he could retire and live quietly at Blenheim. He writes from the

Hague in July 1709—

"What gives me the greatest prospect of the happiness of being with you is that certainly the Misery of France increases, which must bring us to a Peace; the Misery of all the poor people we see is such that one must be a brute not to pity them. May you ever be happy, and I enjoy some years of quiet with you, is what I daily pray for."

After the battle of Malplaquet in September, he writes acknowledging her letter from Althorpe :

"Where, with all my soul," he says, "I wish myself. Ever since the 11th I have every minute the account of

1 Letter of Sarah, Duchess of Marborough, from MSS. at Madresfield. Published 1875.