Victory of Blenheim

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expanded in force or movement, as now when the efforts of two allied forces were combined to crush the power of France. The feelings of the English nation may therefore be imagined on receiving news of the victory of Blenheim, which went far towards that end; and the sentiments of France may be gauged when it is stated that a proclamation was published in that country making it unlawful to speak of the battle.

On the memorable day when it was fought, August 13th, 1704, the Duke of Marlborough had spent seventeen hours in the saddle; but no sooner was victory assured him, than tearing a slip of paper from his pocket book, he wrote a pencilled note to the duchess telling her "I have not time to say more, but to beg you will give my duty to the Queen, and let her know her army has had a glorious victory. M. Tallard and two other generals are in my coach, and I am following the rest. The bearer, my aidecamp, Colonel Parke, will give her an account of what has passed. I shall do it in a day or two by another more at large." This note on the back of which is a bill of tavern expenses, is preserved in the archives of Blenheim Palace.

When Colonel Parke had delivered this note to the duchess, he was ushered into the presence of the Queen, then living at Windsor, who was overcome with joy at the news, and anxious to present its bearer with the usual reward for such intelligence, of five hundred pounds; but instead of this the gallant soldier, who was also a courtier, begged that Her Majesty

would give him her portrait, which she did with great good will.

On the day following that on which the victory was gained, the duke found time to write again to the duchess. "Before the battle was quite done yesterday," he says, "I writ to my dearest soul to let her know that I was well and that God had blessed Her Majesty's arms with as great a victory as has ever been known. For prisoners I have the Marshal de Tallard, and the greatest part of his general officers, above eight thousand men and near fifteen hundred officers.

As all these prisoners are taken by the troops I command, it is in my power to send as many of them to England as Her Majesty shall think fit for her honour and service. My own opinion in this matter is, that the Marshal de Tallard and the general officers should be sent or brought to Her Majesty when I come to England; but should all the officers be brought, it would be a very great expense and I think the honour is in having the marshal and such other officers as Her Majesty pleases. But I shall do in this as in all things that which shall be most agreeable to her. I am so very much out of order with having been seventeen hours on horseback yesterday and not having been able to sleep above three hours last night, that I can write to none of my friends. However I am so pleased with this action, that I can't end my letter without being so vain as to tell my dearest soul, that within the memory of man there has been no victory so great as this; and as I am sure you love me entirely well, you will be

Thanksgiving at St. Paul's

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infinitely pleased with what has been done, upon my account as well as the great benefit the public will have.'

"

Four days later in another letter he tells his "dearest life" that if he could have such another victory "I should then hope we might have such a peace as that I might enjoy the remaining part of my life with you."

Bonfires, the ringing of Church bells, the drinking of much good wine and loyal toasts in taverns, debates in coffee houses, the writing of ponderous odes, the rejoicing of eager crowds in the thoroughfares, testified to the general joy whilst Her Majesty decided to celebrate the victory by going in pomp and state to St. Paul's, there to make public thanksgiving.

Accordingly on the morning of September the 7th, 1704, the sky being clear, the air temperate, and the sun bright, the town was early astir and eager to see the royal procession which it was promised would be of extraordinary splendour. By eight of the clock, all the Knights of the most noble Order of the Garter, met in the Council Chamber of St. James's Palace, wearing their velvet robes and jewelled collars, and having been duly marshalled, betook themselves to their great coaches emblazoned with arms, each drawn by six horses, and started for the cathedral, it being then two hours from midday.

After them came the Knight Marshal with his gallant men on horseback; followed by the equerries and gentlemen ushers to Prince George; the women of the bedchamber to Her Majesty; the maids of honour; his Royal Highness's lords of the bedchamber; and

Her Majesty's ladies of the bedchamber; all in the royal coaches drawn by six horses. After these followed the proud Duke of Somerset as Master of the Horse, with the Duke of Ormond as Captain of the Guards in waiting; a detachment of the horsegrenadiers, Her Majesty's footmen, the yeomen of the guard, and then drawn by eight horses came the Queen's State Coach where she sat dressed in great splendour and wearing many jewels, her consort beside her, the Duchess of Marlborough, plainly dressed, and Lady Fretcheville, a lady of the bedchamber in waiting, seated in front of her, a troop of her horse guards closing this lengthy procession.

The streets through which it passed were lined by the militia of Westminster as far as Temple Bar, and from there to St. Paul's, by the City trained bands. From the windows and balconies of the houses hung rich tapestries and bright carpets; chains of flowers crossed the thoroughfares, and on scaffolds stood the City companies in their gowns, each with bands of music that made great cheer. At Temple Bar the lord mayor in a crimson gown, and the sheriffs in their scarlet gowns, all brave men on horseback, awaited Her Majesty, on whose approach the lord mayor dismounted, made her a speech, and surrendered her his sword which she handed him back, when he carried it right proudly before her to the cathedral.

Having reached there, Her Majesty who was a trifle lame from gout, was assisted from her coach and received by her great officers of state, her nobility and privy