Duchess Sarah

CONTENTS

Sarah's birth and family-Jennings' services to the Stuarts-Charles
the Second's coronation-The Duke of York's secret marriage—
The plot to repudiate Anne Hyde fails-Arrival of Queen Catherine
at Hampton Court--Lady Castlemaine's antecedents-The Queen's
unhappiness-Charles's admiration for Miss Stuart-She elopes
from Whitehall-Amusements at court-The Plague-The great
fire of London-Nell Gwynne-Duke of York's intrigue with Lady
Southesk―The maids of honour's escapade-Frances Jennings
and her admirers-Miss Hamilton's trick on Lady Muskerry-The
arrival of Louise de la Quérouaille, afterwards Duchess of Ports-
mouth-Assault on the Duke of Ormonde-Sarah's childhood—
Her father's death-Her arrival at St. James's-Fashions of the
period and the "temper" of the times

CHAPTER II

UNDER CHARLES II

1671-1685

Anne Hyde dies-Arrival of Mary Beatrice of Modena-Duke of York's

household-Colonel Churchill meets Sarah Jennings-Description

of her beauty-They marry-The Duke of York is banished-He

goes to Brussels and Scotland-His life there-Colonel Churchill

instrumental in saving the duke's life-He is rewarded with a

Peerage-Princess Anne marries Prince George of Denmark—

Charles's deathbed-Duchess of Portsmouth's debts

CHAPTER III

UNDER JAMES II

1685-1688

James is crowned-An untoward incident-He parades his religion
and estranges his subjects-Duke of Monmouth at the Hague—
His invasion and defeat at Sedgmoor-A fracas at court-The

PAGE

King seeks Lord Dorset's hospitality-Princess Anne's life at

Windsor-The birth of her children-Also Sarah's offspring—

James's unfortunate measures-His children rebel against him—

Their correspondence-Rumours of a Dutch invasion-James's

attempts to secure the kingdom-He is deserted by his officers-

Flight of his daughter Anne and Lady Churchill-The Queen

sent to France-James escapes from London-Is taken prisoner

and returns to the capital-Requested to leave-Goes to Rochester

and eventually to France

PAGE

CHAPTER IV

UNDER WILLIAM AND MARY

1688-1694

Princess Anne and Lady Churchill return to Whitehall-Queen Mary

arrives-Her singular behaviour-Her unkindness to her sister-

Lord Churchill created Earl of Marlborough-Lady Marlborough

supports the princess's claim to a settlement-The King and

Queen take offence-James II. invades Ireland-William takes

the field-Wins the battle of the Boyne-Queen Mary governs

during his absence—William returns from Ireland-He dislikes

Prince George of Denmark-Princess Anne's generosity to Sarah

-The Queen quarrels with her sister about Lady Marlborough-

They leave Whitehall and go to Syon House—The naval fight off

La Hogue--Marlborough committed to the Tower-The Duke of

Gloucester's childhood-Sarah accompanies the princess to Bath

-The slight put upon her by the Queen's wish-They return

to London and occupy Berkeley House—The card games then

Queen Mary dies of the small-pox-William's grief-The funeral cere-

monies-Princess Anne moves to St. James's Palace-The Duke

of Gloucester's establishment - His cleverness - He contracts

scarlet fever and dies-Prince and princess visit St. Albans-

Sarah's daughters marry-The princess at Windsor-William

receives the news of James the Second's death-Its effect upon

him-He meets with an accident at Hampton Court-He never

recovers Expires at Kensington - Bentinck's devotion to his

master-William's affability to Lady Rutland

Anne proclaimed Queen-Her coronation-Change in Lady Marl-

borough's circumstances — A fable illustrating her character-

Queen Anne visits Bath-The loyal citizens of Bristol-Visit of

Charles of Austria-His reception at court-Victories in Spain

and the Netherlands-Lord Marlborough created a duke-Lord

Blandford dies of small-pox-His parents' intense grief-A letter

of the duchess mentioning her loss.

Marlborough wins the battle of Blenheim-His letter to the duchess

announcing the victory-The Emperor honours the duke with a

title-Marlborough returns with his prisoners-Marshal Tallard

and the butcher-Woodstock Manor is conferred on the duke-

Its romantic history-Lady Mary Churchill is married to Lord

Monthermer-Some of the duke's letters to the duchess-The

election at St. Albans-A letter of the duke's from the Hague and

another from Merlbeck, May 1706-He wins the battle of Ramillies

--His narrow escape-The duchess pays a visit of condolence—

Anxiety affects her health-The thanksgiving service unusually

attended-Duke's letter from Merlbeck, dated July 1706—The

duchess superintends the building of Blenheim Palace-Duke's

letter from Ghillinghem-Marlborough returns to England-Sails

again for the Hague and writes from there, April 1707, and also

from Soignies-Union with Scotland-Discontent at the measure

-Anecdote of the traveller from the North-Arrest of the Russian

ambassador-Mr. Boyle's letter on the subject-The Earl of Man-

chester corresponds with the Duchess of Marlborough on furnish-

ing Blenheim and about music-Description of Blenheim Palace

-Duke of Marlborough wins the battle of Oudenarde-Duchess's

influence with the Queen on the wane-She visits the duke abroad

-Anecdote about the duchess and the maid at Dunkirk

Intrigues at court to undermine Sarah's influence-Mrs. Masham's

antecedents-The Duchess of Marlborough's kindness to the Hill

family-Her own narrative of Abigail's ingratitude-The duke

feels he has no longer the Queen's confidence-He retires from

the Council-Harley dismissed and the duke reinstated-Gregg

found guilty of intriguing with France and suffers the penalty—

The Queen's nocturnal interviews with Harley-Prince George's

precarious health-The Duchess of Marlborough granted the site

for Marlborough House-She employs Sir Christopher Wren-

Prince George dies-Lord Westmorland's testimony to the excel-

lence of his character-The Duke of Marlborough returns from

abroad-He withdraws from court-The Queen requests him to

return-Anne's obstinacy about Lord Somers

CHAPTER IX

UNDER QUEEN ANNE

1709-1712

Sir John Vanbrugh and Blenheim-Furnishing the palace-The duke

visits Woodstock Manor and consults about its destruction-He

returns to Holland, writes about Blenheim, and his desire for a

lasting peace-He mentions the battle of Malplaquet-Duchess

appointed ranger of Windsor Park-Her letter to Mrs. Coke-

The duchess and her dressmaker-Vice-Chamberlain Coke and

the attempted sale of his post-Mr. Maynwaring's letter to the

duchess-Dr. Sacheverell's trial: the scene in the Queen's box-

Harley and Masham's intrigues renewed-The Queen's final inter-

view with Sarah at Kensington-A fable illustrating their lifelong

friendship-Comparison of the Queen's advisers-The story of the

gloves-Reasons for Sarah's loss of influence-Duchess found the

Queen dull-Sarah ordered to remove her belongings from St.

James's-She retires to the country-Urged by her friends to return

to town-Lord Sunderland dismissed-Lord Godolphin also re-

moved from his post-Letter from Queen Anne to Sarah-She is

accused of a threat to publish their correspondence--The manner

of the duchess's resignation of her key-Attempted assassination

of Harley details of the event-Duke of Marlborough's letter to

the Queen-His enemies determine to injure him-He is dismissed

from his command-Prince Eugene arrives-His speech to Harley

on the subject of his friend the duke

The Duchess of Marlborough loses two friends-The duke goes

abroad-The duchess follows-They meet at Maestricht-They

go to Aix-la-Chapelle and Frankfort-She writes to Mr. Jennens

of her experiences, also to Mrs. Clayton about a religious proces-

sion-She expresses her fear of Louis XIV.'s power-Sarah loses

her daughter, Lady Bridgewater-She nurses Mr. Lowther through

the small-pox-She writes an account of her grievances to Mr.

Hutchinson-Her management of the Privy Purse-Rumours of

the Queen's bad health—Anne refuses to allow the Elector into

England-Harley dismissed by the Queen-The quarrel in the

royal presence-Her illness and death.

CHAPTER XI

WHEN GEORGE I. WAS KING

1714-1722

The Elector of Hanover proclaimed king—The Duke and Duchess of

Marlborough return to England-Their movements-George I.

arrives at Gravesend-Gossipy letter of the period-Princess of

Wales arrives-Madame de Kilmansegge-Lord Bolingbroke and

the Duke of Ormonde are impeached-Lord Oxford's ill-health-

Rising in Scotland--Trial of Scottish peers-Quarrels at court—

The Duchess of Marlborough and Bishop Burnet-Lady Sunder-

land's death-The Duke of Marlborough's precarious health—

Lord Sunderland re-marries-He quarrels with the duchess-

Sarah is received coldly at court-South Sea Bubble-The dispute

with Sir John Vanbrugh-Her revenge for his slight on the duke-

Her letter about Blenheim-Lord Sunderland's death-The duke's

indifferent health-His will-His death and funeral-A contem-

porary's tribute to his greatness and humanity-The duchess's

admirers-Unfortunate differences with her daughters-The Duke

of Montague's eccentricities-Sarah's opinion of the medical men

of her day

PAGE

230

244

CHAPTER XII

WHEN GEORGE I. WAS KING

1723-1727

The duchess buys large estates-Twice rebuilds Wimbledon Manor-
Her frequent recourse to the law-Her admiration for Mr. Murray's
talents-The duchess's generosity-Her litigation with Mr. Guidot

« Predošlá Pokračovať »

Knihy

Duchess Sarah: Being the Social History of the Times of Sarah Jennings ...