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Meldeft, June 3, 1707.

• The wifeft thing is to have to do with as few people as poffible. If you are sure that Mrs. MASHAM fpeaks of business to the QUEEN, I fhould think, you might ⚫ with fome caution tell her of it, which ' would do good. For the certainly must be, grateful and will mind what you say.'

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It became eafy now to decypher many particulars, which had hitherto remained myfterious, and my reflection quickly brought to my mind many paffages, which had feemed odd and unaccountable, but had left no impreffions of fufpicion or jealousy. Particularly I remembered that a long while before this, being with the QUEEN, (to whom I had gone very privately by a fecret paffage, from my lodgings to the bedchamber) on a fudden this woman, not knowing I was there, came in with the boldest and gaieft air poffible, but, upon fight of me, stopped; and immediately, changing her manner, and making a most folemn courtesy, did your MAJESTY ring?

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And then went out again. This fingular behaviour needed no interpreter now, to

make it understood. But, not to dwell on

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fuch trifling incidents, as foon as I had got a thorough infight into her management, being naturally frank and open, I wrote to her the following letter.

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Sept. 23d. 1707.

Since the conversation I had with you at your lodgings, feveral things have happened to confirm me in what I was hard to believe, that you have made me returns very unfuitable to what I might have expected. I always fpeak my mind fo plainly, that I fhould have told you fo myself, if I had had the opportunity which I hoped for. But being now fo near parting, think this way of letting you know it is like to be the leaft uneasy to you, as well as to

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your humble fervant,

'S. MARLBOROUGH.

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Though I was to go to Woodstock the next day, I stayed at Windfor almost all the morning to wait her answer. But this could not be had so foon, it being neceffary to confult with her great director in so nice à matter. At length however an answer was fent after me, the whole frame and ftile of which fhewed it to be the genuine who knew perproduct of an artful man, fectly well the management of fuch an

affair.

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Windfor, Sept. 24. 1707.

While I was expecting a message from your grace, to wait upon you according

to your commands, last night, I received · a letter which furprizes me no less than it afflicts me, because it lays a most heavy charge upon me, of an ungrateful behaviour to your grace. Her MAJESTY was pleased to tell me, that you was angry with me for not acquainting you with my marriage. I did believe after fo generous a pardon, your grace would think

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no more of that. I am very confident by the expreffion of your letter, that fomebody has told fome malicious lie of me to your grace, from which it is impoffible for me to vindicate myself till I know the crime I am accufed of. I am fure, madam, your goodness cannot deny me what the meaneft may afk the greateft; I mean juftice, to know my accufer. Without that, all friendship must be at the mercy of every malicious liar, as they who have fo barbarously and unjustly brought me under your displeasure, the greatest unhappiness that could befall me; I therefore make it my most humble request to your grace, that if ever I had the leaft fhare of your friend

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ship, you would be pleafed to give me that parting token to let me know who this wicked perfon is, and then I do not doubt but I fhall make it plain how much they have wronged me, as well as impofed upon your grace. As my af'fliction is very great, you will I hope in ⚫ compaffion

compaffion let me hear from you, and believe me what I really am,

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As I believe no body at this time doubts whether the writer of this letter was practifing with the QUEEN to undermine me, I shall make no reflections upon it. My answer to it was in these terms.

I received your letter upon the road to this place, and I can affure you the occafion of my complaints did not proceed from any ill offices that had been done

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you to me by any body, but f from my own obfervation, which makes the impreffion much the ftronger. But I think the fubject is not very proper for a letter, and therefore I muft defer it till we meet,

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