TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH'. MY LORD, As it is natural to have a fondness for what has cost us much time and attention to produce, I hope your Grace will forgive my endeavour to preserve this work from oblivion, by affixing to it your memorable name. * John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the ablest statesmen, and most polite courtiers, as well as one of the greatest generals, and most illustrious heroes of his age, was the son of Sir Winston Churchill, of Wotton Basset, in Wiltshire, and born at Ashe, in Devonshire, June 24, 1650. He was at first page of honour to James Duke of York; but being strongly inclined to a military life, he obtained, at the age of sixteen, an ensigncy in the guards, and in that quality served against the Moors at Tangier. In the war with the Dutch in 1672, he served under the Duke of Monmouth in the French army, where he distinguished himself so much by his gallantry and conduct, that he received the thanks of the French monarch at the head of the army. The Duke of I shall not here presume to mention the illus trious passages of your life, which are celebrated by the whole age, and have been the subject of the most sublime pens; but if I could convey you to posterity in your private character, and de Monmouth too, at his return to England, declared to King Charles the Second, that he owed his life at the siege of Maestrich to the bravery of Captain Churchill. This opened the way for his farther advancement; and he was accordingly appointed lieutenant-colonel of Littleton's regiment, and gentleman of the bed-chamber, and master of the robes to James Duke of York. This prince he afterwards attended to the Low Countries, and to Scotland; and it was by the interest of his royal highness, that, in 1682, he was made Baron of Eymouth, and colonel of the third troop of guards. Upon the accession of King James to the throne, he was created Baron Churchill, of Sandridge, in the county of Hertford, and made brigadier-general of his majesty's army; and in this last capacity he had a considerable share in suppressing the duke of Monmouth's rebellion. Great, however, as were the obligations which he lay under to his sovereign, those which he owed to his country were, in his opinion, much greater; for when he saw King James taking strides toward destroying the religion and liberties of his country, he immediately deserted him, and went over to the Prince of Orange. In the subsequent reign he enjoyed the same influence which he had possessed in the preceding. He was sworn of the privycouncil, made one of the gentlemen of the queen's bedchamber, and created Earl of Marlborough. He afterwards served with great reputation, both in Flanders and in Ireland; but, in 1692, he was dismissed from all his employments, and even thrown into the tower on a suspicion of high treason, This suspicion, however, appearing, upon examination, to be altogether groundless, he was restored to favour, and appointed governor to the Duke of |