M\^ siisiiSiksia'iiHtswiaBtesgsSssfeais-fe ^_r 2,-H_»' -t. - ijp--'%;2a CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924088005511 THE QUEEN'S • COMRADE . •//./, f /h/w/!f/.-J .^/ iuy/(.J-J( -/., /iar/rcrc/ffjn . T HE QUEEN'S COM RADE The Life and Times of Sarah Duchess of Marlborough. By FITZGERALD MOLLOY Author of " 'The Most Gorgeous Lady Blessington" " Court Life 'Below Stairs" " "the Life and Adventures of Peg Woffington " WITH i8 PORTRAITS AND ILLUSTRATIONS VOL. I London HUTCHINSON ' G? CO. NEW YORK: DODD MEAD AND COMPANY PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, LD. LONDON AND AYLESBURY, ENGLAND. PREFACE IF, as Carlyle says, " Biography is the most uni- versally profitable, universally pleasant of all things, especially biography of distinguished indi- viduals," it must be admitted that few life records so incontestably combine pleasure and profit as those of Sarah Jennings, first Duchess of Marlborough ; who, born at the Restoration, took some part in the Revolution, who defied one sovereign, swayed another, and saw six reign. In relating the eventful story of her days it is indispensable that pictures should be given of the courts in which she figured, the incidents that amused or the storms that shook them, the political events that led to comedy or tragedy, the characters who played important parts as kings or queens, princes and princesses, sycophants or conspirators, great officers of the state, courtesans, whispering pages of the back stairs, bedchamber women, petty clerks of the palace ; all puppets of a brief hour, unconsciously posturing for posterity, their antics illustrating the Annals of vi preface their time, and producing the ever-changing drama known as history. In the following pages, politics have been avoided as much as possible, and merely treated as pivots on which human interests turned ; whilst letters — always a reflection of their writers' minds — have occasionally been given at length, to illustrate a character, or describe an event. And though no statement is made without authority, and scandal is not sedulously avoided, the unnecessary task, of pointing a moral, that so frequently disfigures a tale, is unheeded. Many of the heretofore unpublished statements, ancedotes, and letters in this strange eventful life story, have been found in the thirty-four volumes of manuscripts originally collected by Sarah Duchess of Marlborough, as materials for the memoirs of her husband ; only an inconsiderable part of which could be used by their writer. Archdeacon Coxe ; who in describing the historic exploits of the duke, left himself little space to speak of the social episodes in the career of the indomitable duchess. At the biographer's death, these papers passed to the peaceful security of the British Museum, where time-stained and faded they still bear silent witness to the ambitions, passions, schemes, and ferments that stirred the souls of those whose actions made history. The " Account of her Conduct " and her " Vindi- cation " written by the duchess shortly before her death, preface vii together with her " Private Correspondence " and her " Opinions," have been freely quoted from ; and letters are given which were for the first time printed in the Reports of the Historical MS. Commission, on the papers in Blenheim Palace. The author is much indebted to Lord Wolseley's valuable " Life of the Duke of Marlborough to the Accession of Queen Anne," for some letters written before his marriage by Colonel Churchill to Sarah Jennings. The Stuart, the Hanoverian, the Wentworth, Lock- hart, Marchmont, and Kimbolton papers ; the Spencer House Journals ; the numerous memoirs, diaries, histories, biographies, correspondence, news sheets, pamphlets, and ballad literature of the period, have contributed their choicest, most intimate passages, to present a likeness of the first Duchess of Marlborough, and to paint a vivid panorama of the stirring times in which she lived. CONTENTS OF VOL. I CHAPTER I PAGE A Memorable May Day — Birth of Sarah Jennings — The King enters London — Secret Marriage of James Dulce of York — -Views of the Royal Family — The Duchess of York — Frances Jennings her Maid of Honour — The Perilous Career of a Court Beauty — Sarah Jennings a Playmate of the Princess Anne — Death of the Duchess of York — John Churchill's Long Descent — The Duke and His Page — The Rewards of Winston Churchill — A Nimble Ensign — The Duke of York's Second Marriage — The Child Bride lands in England — The Duke of Monmouth — ^John Churchill falls in love with Sarah Jennings — A Wilful Beauty — The unsmooth Course of True Love — Churchill's ardent Love Letters — Sarah is unkind — Between Love and Money — Sarah's Indignation — Her Lover pleads — He despairs of Her Love — Sarah gives Plain Hints — Such Barbarous Usage — Churchill's Indignant Letter — Peace and Private Marriage . . I CHAPTER II The Vicissitudes of Love and Disappointment of Marriage — Dick Talbot seeks his Fortune in France — An Elegant Adventurer — Lovers' Quarrel — Believing Her lost— The Prince of Orange— His Ambitious Views — The Princess Mary and the Dutch Monster — A Cold Bride- groom — The supposed Discovery of an Atrocious Plot — The Vanished Duke — The Love Letters of a Married Man — Dearest Soul of My Life — Illness of the King and Return of the Duke — Colonel Churchill the Confidant of James — A Visit to The Hague — Sent into Scotland — Sarah Churchill's First Child — Husband and Lover — The Duke of York returns to England — The Princess Anne marries Prince George of Denmark — A Royal Nonentity — The Prince of Orange is displeased — Appearance and Character of Anne . . . -Si CHAPTER III Sarah Churchill made Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess Anne — Colonel Churchill's Advancement — His Letter to His Wife — Lady Churchill's Account of her Favour with the Princess — Life at the Cockpit and Gossip of the Day — Letter from the Princess Anne — The King's Troubles — The Duke of Monmouth's Ambition — A Monmouth and no York — Progress through the Provinces — Arrest — Conspiracy against the Lives of His Father and Uncle — Harboured X Contents of Wol. i PAGE by the Prince of Orange— James Protests— Illness and Death of Charles II.— The New King— 111 Omen at His Coronation— His Industry and Economy — Openly Professes Catholicism — Appoint- ment of Catholic Peers— Monmouth honoured at the Orange Court — The French Ambassador's Account— Plans of the Prince of Orange — Monmouth's Insurrection, Condemnation, and Death — The Charms that Failed— Life at St. Albans— Birth of Lord Churchill's Children — Awaiting the Storm S3 CHAPTER IV Brief Glance at a Historical Drama— The Endeavours of the King- Schemes of the Prince of Orange — Birth of the Prince of Wales — Rumours and Calumnies— Conduct of the Princess Anne — Her Letters to the Princess of Orange — The Invasion of England — The King writes to His Eldest Daughter — Lord Clarendon remonstrates with Anne— James is betrayed and deserted — The Cruellest Blow — Anne's Flight from London— What Lord Chesterfield saw and said —The Queen quits England— The King's Fears— Last Night in England— A Divided Parliament— William's Anger and Disappoint- ment — Lord Danby writes to Mary — Her Answer and Gratitude — Anne waives Her Claims — Lady Churchill explains — So very Simple a Creature — The New King and Queen— Rewards of Lord Churchill 8i CHAPTER V Queen Mary as a Child — Her Husband's Intrigue with Elizabeth Villiers — He neglects His Wife — No Place of Worship provided for Her — The Prince of Orange kicks the Communion Table — Depressing Life at Holland — Visit of the Duchess of York and the Princess Anne — The Princess of Orange and Lady Marlborough — Mary's Chaplain is horribly unsatisfied — The Purloined Letter — WiUiam reads Unpleasant Things of Himself — An Insolent Book — The French Ambassador's Picture of the Orange Court — William's Brutalities — Mary's Conduct on reaching Whitehall — Opinions of Eye Witnesses — Extracts from Her Private Journals — Disagreements of the Royal Sisters — Anne's Mortifications — The Question of Settlements — William's Hatred of Anne — The Duke of Gloucester is born — -Lady Marlborough will not be persuaded — William's Treatment of Lord Marlborough — His Dissatisfaction with the King — The Princess's Gift — Their Majesties are wrathful . .123 CHAPTER VI The Primate refuses to bless the Queen — Mary punishes Him — Dressing for the Coronation — Startling News of King James's Landing in Ireland — Hostile Spirit of the Church and the Army — Admiral Lord Torrington's Instructions — Defeat of the English Fleet off Beachy Head — William goes to Ireland — His Affront to Prince George of Denmark — Lord Marlborough restores Tranquillity to Cork and Kinsale — The Queen's Letters to Her Husband — Reference to Her Father — Dr. Tillotson's Doubts of Hell — His Scepticism rewarded Prince George desires to serve at Sea — Their Majesties' Contempt for Him — Lady Marlborough answers a very Great Lord — Un- popularity of the King and Queen— Comments on William's Person Contents of lt)ol. i xi PAGE and Habits — Promotion of the Dutcli Favourites — Action of Parliament — The Queen consults a Fashionable Fortune-teller — Her Majesty's Many Troubles — Her Reference to the King's Mistress — Lord Marlborough corresponds with King James — Anne asks for the Garter for Lord Marlborough— Her Penitent Letter to Her Father 155 CHAPTER VII Plot to restore King James— The Chief Conspirators— Scene in the Royal Drawing-room — Lord Marlborough is dismissed and forbidden the Court — The Princess of Denmark receives an Anonymous Letter — Lady Marlborough defies the Queen — Her Majesty's Indignation —Requests Anne to part with Lady Marlborough — The Princess's Reply — Lord Rochester refuses to deliver It — Lady Marlborough is forbidden the Cockpit — Anne resolves to leave It — The Duchess of Somerset lends Her Sion House — William's Interference — The Proud Duke of Somerset and the Dutch King — Thrice married and twice widowed before Sixteen — The Duke's exacting Disposition — " My Pig shall see Him too " — The Princess waits on the Queen — What Mary thought of the Quarrel — Some Signs of Remorse . . . 181 CHAPTER VIII The Queen has an Inward Fever — Anne is brought close to Death — ■ Message to Mary Who visits the Invalid — Lady Marlborough's Removal insisted on — The Princess's Answer — Her Majesty feels Compunction —Courtiers forbidden to call on Anne — She is deprived of Her Guards — Lady Marlborough wishes to leave Her Service — Of which Anne will not hear — Lord Marlborough is sent to the Tower — Conspiracies against the King — A Battle lost and won — James thinks the Hand of Heaven is against Him — Letter to Him from Anne — She writes to Lady Marlborough — The Princess employs the Bishop of Worcester — The Queen will not yield — Anne takes Berkeley House — Her Majesty's Orders to the Mayor of Bath — A Thing to be laughed at — Anne is robbed by Highwaymen — Lampoons — Lord Marlborough is released — Living at Berkeley House — Birth and Death of His Children 201 CHAPTER IX Fresh Endeavours to remove the Marlboroughs from the Princess — She is a Queen and would be obeyed — Hostility continues between the Royal Sisters — The Queen takes ill — Dr. Tenison and His Sermon on Nell Gwyn — Her Majesty destroys Her Private Papers and Letters — Anne hears of Her Sister's Illness — Offers to wait on Her — Receives a Cold Reply — The King's Concern for His Wife — Is told of Her Danger — Mary directs Her Private Letter to the King may be given Him after Her Death — Her Mind wanders — Her Instructions to the Archbishop — Her Death — Dr. Tenison delivers His Message to William who promises Amendment — The Arch- bishop's Sermon — The "Babbling" Bishop reproves the King- Mary is mourned by Her Father — Anne makes Overtures to His Majesty — Reconcilement follows — Her Interview at Kensington Palace — The Action of Inferior Figures 225 xii (rontent5 of iDol. i CHAPTER X PAGE William declines Lord Marlborough's Proffered Services— The Earl corresponds with King James— And warns Him of the Attack on Brest— The Princess congratulates the King— She is slighted by His Majesty— Prince George and His Weeds of Woe — The King's New Favourite — Honours showered upon Him — Lands taken from Lord Portland— The Marriage of Elizabeth ViUiers— Anne writes to Her Father— Project of Louis XIV.— The Queen's Jointure— The Little Duke of Gloucester— The King's Avarice— Settlement of the Duke's Household— Lord Marlborough is taken into Favour— Kisses the King's Hand — A Precocious Youth — His Birthday Illness and Death — Anne believes His Loss a Punishment — Her Promise to King James — Marriage of Lady Henrietta Churchill to Viscount Rialton — Lord Godolphin's Craze — The Princess's Kindness — Marriage of Lady Anne Churchill— Her Husband's Character — Lord Sunderland's Anxiety for the Match— Anne's Gift to the Bride. . 243 CHAPTER XI Grief of the Prince and Princess of Denmark for Their Son — Lord Manchester writes about King James — The Exile's Death — The Prince of Wales proclaimed King— William hears the News — His Intentions regarding Anne — The Commons vex King William — His Dutch Guards sent Home — His Majesty's Anger — He fears the Nation will be punished — Intends to vacate the Throne— Grants to His Favourites are revoked by Parliament — Foreigners driven from His Council — Is obliged to give up the Exiled Queen's Dowry — He rapidly declines — Accident at Hampton Court — Anne's Dutiful Message— Permission to see The King is refused — His Majesty is supported by " Spirituous Liquors" — He clings to Life — Gives All He has to his Favourite— His Hard Death — News is brought to Anne — Who is proclaimed Queen — Crowds flock to St. James's Palace — Lord Clarendon's Visit — Lady Marlborough's Words . 269 CHAPTER XII Queen Anne's Popularity — Her First Speech — Gifts and Favours to Lord and Lady Marlborough — Her Coronation — Party Faction — Lady Marlborough's Account of Herself — Her Majesty's Affectionate Letter — Lord Marlboroxigh goes to the War — The Queen touches for the King's Evil — Bishop Bull explains why Cures are not Inevitable — Her Majesty's Physicians — Lord Marlborough is made a Duke — Lady Marlborough's Surprise — Pension from the Privy Purse — Parliament refuses to settle it on His Successors — The Queen's Generosity — The Duke's Correspondence with the Court of St. Germains — Astonishing Proposals of Marriage — Lady Betty Churchill becomes Countess of Bridgewater — The Duke's Son and Heir — Desires to enter the Army — Illness and Death — Grief at His Loss— Letters from the Duke — His Anxiety for His Wife's Health — Marriage of Lady Mary Churchill — The Duke of Montagu — Strange Story of the Mad Duchess — Prince George's Settlement — The Duke of Marlborough threatens to retire — The Queen writes to the Duchess , 289 ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. I Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marlborough . . . Froniispieu From the original by Sir Peter Lely. Mary Beatrice, Consort of James II page 15 John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough ,,23 The Princess Anne 1, S6 Charles II. . . ,,69 James II. >> 112 Queen Mary » 163 The Earl of Albemarle . . . . . ,, 249 William III ,.280 The Marquis of Blandford ,, 314 CHAPTER I A Memorable May Day— Birth of Sarah Jennings— The King enters London — Secret Marriage of James Duke of York — Views of the Royal Family — The Duchess of York — Frances Jennings her Maid of Honour — The Perilous Career of a Court Beauty — Sarah Jennings a Playmate of the Princess Anne — Death of the Duchess of York — John Churchill's Long Descent — The Duke and His Page — The Rewards of Winston Churchill — A Nimble Ensign — The Duke of York's Second Marriage — The Child Bride lands in England — The Duke of Monmouth — John Churchill falls in love with Sarah Jennings — A Wilful Beauty — The unsmooth Course of True Love — Churchill's ardent Love Letters — Sarah is unkind — Between Love and Money — Sarah's Indignation — Her Lover pleads — He despairs of Her Love — Sarah gives Plain Hints - — Such Barbarous Usage — Churchill's Indignant Letter — Peace and Private Marriage. VOL. I. CHAPTER I ON the memorable 29th of May in the historic year of 1660, Sarah Jennings, who was destined to become the first Duchess of Marlborough, and to leave her record in the chronicle of courts, was born. One of five children, her parents were of ancient lineage ; her mother being a daughter of Sir GifFord Thorn hurst, of Agnes Court, Old Romney, in Kent ; whilst her father Richard Jennings was son of Sir John Jennings, who in the pleasant days of his youth had received the Order of the Bath in company with the Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles I. and unfortunate. Sir John Jennings was remarkable as being the father of two-and-twenty children, to settle whom in life his income of four thousand a year was sadly strained. His son Richard contrived by inheritance and marriage to gain properties in Somerset and Kent, and lived in fair repute and easy circumstances at St. Albans, where Sarah first saw light. His joy on her birthday was excessive, for she made her entrance into life on the same date as Charles II. made his into London ; His Majesty having ridden on that glorious May day 4 Uhc (SJueen's Comrabe from Canterbury between hedges heavy with hawthorn, and green pastures for sight of which he had often sickened, he being surrounded and followed by a gracious and gallant cavalcade of those who, hearing of his return from exile, had hurried to greet him with a loyalty that swelled to worship. And now that the evil effects of civil war had ended, that the country was no longer rent by factions, or families divided against themselves ; that the grim weight of puritanical rigour was lifted from the land, a time of universal rejoicing and reaction set in, and never in the history of the kingdom had so brilliant a Court been seen. Though the Merry Monarch was its principal figure, around which flippant gaiety or vicious intrigues revolved, his brother James, Duke of York, whose history is more important to these pages, was scarcely second to him in consequence and interest. Different in type, they agreed in brotherly affection. Whilst. Charles was indolent, unceremonious, loving ease above all things, indifferent to the performance of his promises, often forgetful of his friends though unwilling to take revenge on his enemies, James was practical, economical and business-like as was shown by his masterly management of the revenues of the country and by his skilful command of the Navy, which won many victories under his sway ; he having at the same time a jealous regard for the royal prerogative and a great regard for his word. He could also hate his enemies as heartily as he could love his friends. As at this time the dispute of dogmas did not trouble him and he was free from that bigotry that afterwards darkened his days, he followed his pleasures with a zest almost as keen as that of the King. Six months before returning to England with Charles, the Duke of York had secretly married Anne Hyde, a Maid of Honour to his sister the Princess of Orange and a daughter of Edward Hyde, originally a lawyer who had risen to become Privy Councillor and Chancellor of the Exchequer to Charles I. This worthy man had shared the exile of Charles II., whose friend and adviser he became, and for whose return he had continually and successfully schemed. At the Restoration he was created Earl of Clarendon, and appointed Lord Chancellor, when he sent for his family from abroad. With them came Anne, who soon assured her husband she was about to become a mother. No sooner was this made known to him, than James went to the King, confessed his secret marriage and asked permission to make it publicly known. The Sovereign was both astonished and vexed that the heir to the Crown should have made such an alliance ; but though he and his brother well knew this union could readily be annulled, James declared that if Anne were not acknowledged as his wife, he would quit the kingdom ; whilst Charles resolved that no disgrace he could hinder should befall the daughter of a man to whom he owed so much. The two remaining members of the royal family took a widely different view of the marriage ; for on 6 Zbc diueen's (lomra5e hearing of it the Queen-Mother, then in France, wrote to James expressing her indignation and surprise " that he should have such low thoughts as to marry such a woman " ; whilst his sister, the Princess of Orange, contrived a plot to prevent him from acknowledging his wife. But this failing, Ann Hyde was remarried to the Duke of York in her father's house on October 22nd, 1660. She is said to have been more graceful than beautiful, more dignified than amiable. Though her husband was by no means faithful to her, she retained her influence over his mind and he invariably treated her with respect. Had she lived she would have been Queen of England, a dignity reserved for her two daughters, Mary, wife of William of Orange, and Anne, her successor. The Duchess of York had inherited from her father a great share of that knowledge of mankind which gained for him the title of " chancellor of human nature " ; whilst from her mother she had derived that comeliness of person which had won her husband's heart. In her new and trying position she showed great prudence, " her carriage acquired dignity and from the first she learned to present her hand for courtiers to kiss with as much majesty as if she had been used to it all her life." Having satisfied his conscience by the acknowledg- ment of this marriage, the Duke began to make advances to one of his wife's Maids of Honour, Frances Jennings, the sister, and senior by seven years, of the future Duchess of Marlborough. The %n Belle Jennings 7 appointment of Frances, and later of Sarah, to positions at Court was made in acknowledgment of the devotion shown by their family to the Stuart cause. In a Court remarkable for the beauty of its women, Frances was soon given the title of La Belle Jennings ; for her complexion was dazzlingly fair, her expression vivacious, her bright hair as a crown of gold, and her mouth the most winsome in the world. Besides she had a reputation for wit, a high spirit, and her power of repartee was unfailing. On coming to Court she had been surrounded by a crowd of admirers, gay and godless courtiers who worshipped loveliness, delighted in gallantry, and excelled in turning a compliment, penning an ode or strumming a guitar. But though loving the danger of exciting their ardour, she had sufficient virtue and pride to check all amorous advances ; and when the Duke of York began to ogle her, she ever found some object of interest elsewhere for her eyes. And if she were blind to his glances, she was deaf to his words when he told her of his feelings and hinted at settlements. Though she would not listen to him she could not refuse to receive the notes containing the tenderest expressions and most extravagant promises which every day he slipped into her pockets or her muff ; but no sooner was his back turned than she pulled her handkerchief from the one and shook the other when billets fell about the floor like hailstones for the Duchess to see and for those who liked to pick up. 8 XCbe (Queen's Comrabc Virtue so unusual in one so attractive became the talk of the Court ; when the King in his cynicism, believing his brother had failed because his attacks were ill concerted, resolved to try his own powers of persuasion and win her for himself. Delighted by her wit and charmed by her beauty, he soon declared himself her ardent lover, when Frances begged him to spare her, and Charles agreed to trouble her no more. As for the Duke of York he soon afterwards trans- ferred his attentions to Arabella Churchill, sister of the first Duke of Marlborough, who bore James three children, the eldest of whom, the Duke of Berwick, a gallant soldier followed his father into exile. In the midst of the gaieties and extravagances of the Court ; the sailing in canopied barges to the sound of flutes and fiddles ; the riding in gilt coaches with glass windows in Hyde Park ; the brilliant cavalcades that journeyed to Hampton Court ; the revelry, gambling, dancing and intrigues that occupied the king and those surrounding him in an eternal pursuit of pleasure ; the Duchess of York lived in quiet dignity and bore her husband eight children ; two of whom, Mary and Anne, survived. As the latter grew up, a companion was found to amuse and play with her in Sarah Jennings then about twelve years old, who occasionally visited her sister at Court. The Princess Anne, four years her junior, was a backward child with little will of her own, an affection of whose sight prevented her from reading and interfered with her education. From the first she felt attracted to one 5U ibealtb ot tbc S)ucbess 9 whose firm mind and decisive manner contrasted with her own, and there and then began that singular friend- ship which was to guide her most important actions and dominate her life. It is impossible that this should have been the case had the Duchess of York lived. But whilst the Court still followed its pleasures, death stole into the palace. It had been noticed that the Duchess, whose appetite was enormous, had become very corpulent, but it was not until she began to complain of ill health that this was looked on with suspicion. Doctors were then summoned who on examination declared she was suffering from a complication of diseases for which there was no cure. For months previously a rumour had gained ground that she had joined the Catholic Church ; and it was noticed that although she attended divine service, she never received the sacrament ; on which Bishop Morley, who had been her confessor since her twelfth year, spoke to her of the inference drawn from this neglect, when she excused herself on the plea of ill health and business. At last the King, knowing the fear that existed amongst the great bulk of the people against Catholicism at a time when in neighbouring countries the lurid fires of the Inquisition still burned their human victims, and how prejudicial it would be to his family that any of its members should leave the Established Church, asked his brother to remonstrate with the Duchess. On this James told him she had already joined the CathoUc lo Zbc (Queen's domrabe Church, hearing which Charles ordered that it should be kept secret. In this he was obeyed until the Duchess of York at her death, which took place on March 22 nd, 1 67 1, confessed to Bishop Blandford that she was no longer one of his flock. It was generally suspected that her husband had also changed his religion and in doing so had influenced her, though she left a paper stating that no man or woman had said anything or used the least persuasion to make her join a faith of which she had been one of the greatest enemies. A fear and dislike of James, the heir to the throne, from this time spread through the people, and eventually not only influenced his fate, but through him the destinies of Sarah Jennings and John Churchill whom she married. The latter who became one of the greatest generals England has ever had, began life at Court as page to the Duke of York. In becoming a brave soldier he had shown hereditary traits, for his ancestor Roger de Courcelle, Baron of Poitou, had fought under William the Conqueror, and settled first in Somerset and after- wards in Devonshire, his surname becoming Anglicised to Churchill. Later Sir Bartholomew Churchill was killed while defending Bristol Castle in the reign of King Stephen, whilst another descendant, William Churchill, distinguished himself in fighting for Ed- ward IV. John Churchill's father — Winston Churchill — whilst yet an undergraduate at Oxford, joined the forces of Charles I., and as a captain of horse fought bravely for traifnston Cburcbill tt his King. He was still young when he married a daughter of Sir John Drake of Ash in Devonshire, and as his own property was confiscated by Cromwell, and a fine of four thousand pounds levied on him as a punishment for having joined the Royalists, he was obliged to take refuge with his father-in-law. When King Charles returned, part of Winston Churchill's property was restored to him ; he was elected member for the borough of Weymouth and sat in the first parliament of the Restoration ; became one of the earliest members of the Royal Society ; was appointed a Commissioner of the Court of Claims in Ireland ; knighted ; and made Junior Clerk Comptroller of the King's Household. His loyalty to the Stuarts was further rewarded when his son John, who was in his tenth year at the time of the Restoration, was made page to the Duke of York ; and his daughter Arabella, a Maid of Honour to the Duchess. Young Churchill, who proved himself a remarkably bright and intelligent lad, had for a short time been educated in Dublin, when he accompanied his father there, and afterwards at St. Paul's. From the moment he entered the Duke of York's service he gained his royal master's favour ; and whilst attending him at a review of the Foot Guards in Hyde Park, had shown so much enthusiasm as he watched the troops march past to the sound of fifes and the roll of drums, that James asked what profession he would wish to follow, when with that acuteness that always marked him, he seized 12 fCbc (Sjueen's domrabe his opportunity, fell on his knees, declared that a soldier he would be, and boldly asked for " a pair of colours in one of those fine regiments." Well pleased by his choice and amused by his ambition, the Duke promised he should have what he wished for, and a little later John Churchill at the age of sixteen was appointed an ensign in the Guards. That he well became his uniform was admitted by all. His tall, well-proportioned figure was as remarkable for its grace as his handsome face was for its winning expression ; whilst his manners showed a natural tact and courtesy that made him many friends in his youth, and helped him to win his high position in later life. That he should gain many admirers in a Court where women were so prodigal in their favours, was what might be expected. She whose love for him is chronicled by the gossips of that day was none other than Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, for many years mistress to the King and mother of six of his children ; three of whom became the Dukes of Southampton, Grafton and Northumberland . Her violent temper, coarse abuse and open intrigues, had long plagued Charles, who yet remained her slave, to the wonder of the world and the amusement of the Court. But now when the fresher charms of those impudent comedians Moll Davis and Nell Gwynn had begun to attract His Majesty, the Countess was neglected ; seeing which, says the scandal-loving Bishop Burnet, " she abandoned herself to great Zhc XTcst Hct 13 disorders ; one of which by the artifice of the Duke of Buckingham was discovered by the King in person, the party concerned leaping out of the window." The party concerned who showed such remarkable nimbleness was Ensign Churchill, who was soon after sent on active service to Tangier, then a dependency of the British Crown. Before leaving England he received a present from Lady Castlemaine of five thousand pounds ; with which the polite and cynical Lord Chesterfield says " he immediately bought an annuity of five hundred pounds la year of my grand- father Halifax, which was the foundation of his subsequent fortune." The original agreement of this purchase, dated 1764, is preserved amongst the Blenheim papers. Meantime dark and disturbing rumours spread through the kingdom that not only had James Duke of York joined the Catholic Church, but that the King's inclinations lay in the same direction, and that it was his intention to establish that faith in England. And from that time began that wrangUng over rites and dogmas, in which the essential teachings from which they sprang were lost sight of ; and hatred, passion, and cruelty were indulged in as proof of loyalty to the Preacher of peace and goodwill. One of the first results of this fear which ran like fire through the land, was the introduction into Par- liament of the Test Act in 1673, which made it necessary that all persons holding office or place of trust or profit, should take the oaths of supremacy 14 Ube (Jiucen's Comta&c and allegiance in a public court, and receive the sacrament according to the Church of England in some parish church on the Lord's Day. When the Bill had passed both Houses and received a reluctant consent from the King, the Duke of York resigned his post as Lord High Admiral of England much to the triumph and satisfaction of his enemies. The greatest consternation followed at this plain proof of James's change of rehgion. Not only was Parliament divided into factions, but the whole nation surged with suspicion and distrust. The House of Commons prayed the King to appoint a day for fasting and humiliation that heaven might defend the country from the horrors of Popery, against which the bishops charged their clergy to preach, greatly to the alarm of the Court. Popular feeling was stirred to greater fury when it was announced that the heir to the throne was about to marry Mary Beatrice Eleanora d'Este, daughter of the Duke of Modena, and a Catholic princess. The object of the royal choice was then in her fifteenth year. Her figure was tall for her age and exceeding graceful ; her face with its dazzlingly fair complexion, dark hair, and brilliant eyes, was strikingly handsome, whilst her manner though invariably dignified was as vivacious as a happy child's. She had been educated in a convent, and her ignorance of the world was so great, that until her marriage was proposed she had never heard of England, much less of the Duke of York. MARY BEATRIX, CONSORT OF JAMES II. Page IS.] appeal to tbc pope is From the first she shrank from the proposed union with this man of forty, as if intuitively warned of the strange unhappy fate in which it would entangle her ; and declaring she wished to be a nun, begged her mother to refuse the offer. But the Duchess of Modena, who was Regent since her husband's death and during her son's minority, was anxious for an alliance which promised so much greatness ; and as she could not gain her daughter's consent to the marriage, appealed to the Pope asking his interference. It was only when he wrote that obedience to her mother's command " would most conduce to the service of God and the public good " that she agreed to become Duchess of York. The eccentric Earl of Peterborough whom Charles had sent to Modena as ambassador, then wedded her by proxy on behalf of James, and together with her mother set out with her for England. Meanwhile the House of Commons was disturbed by angry debates on the Duke's marriage ; for, it was argued, if this union resulted in the birth of a son, he would no doubt be reared in the religion of his parents, and England would in time be ruled by a Catholic King. The Commons therefore presented an address to His Majesty begging that he would abandon this proposed marriage and stop the Princess of Modena, who had by this time reached Paris. In- censed at being asked to involve his honour by such an action, Charles immediately prorogued Parliament and so prevented further unwelcome importunities. 1 6 Ube (Siueen's ComtaBe On November 2ist, 1673, the child-princess and her mother landed at Dover, where the Duke of York awaited them attended by a scanty retinue, for the unpopularity of the marriage prevented many of the nobility from accompanying him. Dr. Crew, Bishop of Oxford, was amongst those who received the bride and who shortly after her landing declared the ceremony of marriage by proxy, already performed, to be lawful. On arriving at the palace of Whitehall she was coldly received, and from the first the article of her agreement guaranteeing her the use of a chapel was broken. But gradually her gracious manner, her cheerfulness, her simplicity, not only overcame the prejudices of the courtiers, but of the public. " The uneasiness conceived on account of her religion," says Macpherson in his History of Great 'Britain, " was soon forgot, and she was universally esteemed and even by many beloved. Her beauty rendered her the favourite of the populace, when the bigotry of her husband was most feared." In forming his new household the Duke of York, who took a great interest in his former page John Churchill, appointed him his Master of the Robes. Before receiving this post the handsome young soldier had distinguished himself in the field ; for when Charles dispatched six thousand troops under the command of the Duke of Monmouth to aid Louis XIV. to subdue the Dutch, Churchill went with them, and for the bravery and foresight he showed /IDs ifoanbsome JEnglisbman 17 was soon appointed captain of Grenadiers in Mon- mouth's regiment. At the siege of Nimeguen he gained the notice of Marshal Turenne, one of the greatest generals of that time, and who with the Prince de Conde commanded the French troops. Turenne's belief in Churchill's courage was so great that when one of his own officers had abandoned a station he had been ordered to defend to the last extremity, the Marshal said " I will bet a supper and a dozen of claret that my handsome Englishman will recover the post with half the number of men that the officer commanded who has lost it," a wager that he won. In 1674 Captain Churchill was made colonel of an English regiment, and during the siege of Maestricht in the following year he saved the life of the young and gallant Duke of Monmouth at the risk of his own. The Duke of Monmouth who figures largely in the history of the times, was son of Charles I. by Lucy Walters, one of the numerous women who had been his mistress in exile. Born on April 9th, 1649, the Duke was in his early years educated in Paris under the superintendence of the King's mother, and on the Restoration passed some years at Oxford. On his coming to court he was received by his father with the greatest joy and affection, and honours which ended in a dukedom fell thick upon him. Grammont says " The astonishing beauty of his outward form caused universal admiration ; those who before were looked upon as handsome, were now entirely forgotten at VOL. I. 2 i8 Ube Ciueen's (^omra^e Court ; and all the gay and beautiful of the fair sex were at his devotion. He was particularly beloved by the King ; but the universal terror of husbands and lovers. This however did not long continue ; for nature not having endowed him with qualifications to secure the possession of the heart, the fair sex soon perceived the defect." But though the Duke had little mental ability and was wanting in all the accomplishments prized at Court, he delighted and excelled in all kinds of exercise, gloried in warfare, had magnificent courage and a daring ambition that brought him to the block. Stand- ing now in the full flood of royal favour, his words in introducing Colonel Churchill to His Majesty was the best commendation a courtier could receive. " Sire," said Monmouth, " to the bravery of this gallant officer I owe my life." His new office as Master of the Robes required Colonel Churchill's constant attendance at Court, where Sarah Jennings who had been appointed Maid of Honour to the Duchess was present. At a brilliant ball given by the King in honour of the young bride, amongst a dazzling crowd of women in patches and powder, with gleaming shoulders and glittering jewels, and of men whose multi-coloured coats blazed with orders as they moved to and fro in the slow graceful measures of the dance — he was first attracted by the Maid of Honour ten years his junior, who from that time forward exercised an extraordinary fascination for him that increased with years, and to whom to the iibxs, Jennings anb Iber Baugbter jpigbt 19 last he gave a devotion such as it is the fortune of few- women to receive. It is doubtful if his tall graceful figure, well cut handsome face, and irresistible manner would have been sufficient to secure the responses of one who seems to have been incapable of strong affection ; but the record of his bravery, his possession of the royal favour, and the possibilities of his future, must have influenced Sarah Jennings who was born with a love of power and strong ambition. Whilst scarcely less handsome than her sister, and having the same dazzlingly fair complexion and bright hair, her expression was more intelligent, her manners more haughty, and her conversation less flippant. Though — as was common to all women of her class at this time — she had little education and few accom- plishments, she compensated for their loss by the quickness of her mind, her natural shrewdness, force of character, and power of repartee made pungent by sarcasm. Even at this time she showed signs of that violent temper which later became the terror of her sovereign mistress ; for when Mrs. Jennings wished to remove her from the Court whose temptations had proved too strong for some other of the Maids of Honour, a quarrel arose between them which was not limited to words, as we learn from a letter written in 1676 by Lady Chaworth who says — " Mrs. Jennings and her daughter. Maid of Honour to the Dutchesse, have had so great a falling out that they fought : the young one 20 trbe (Queen's Comrabe complained to the Dutchesse that if her mother was not put out of St. James's, where she had lodgings to sanctuary her from debt, she would run away : so Sir Alleyn Apsley was sent to bid the mother remove, who answered with all her heart : she would never dispute the Duke and Dutchesse's commands, but with the Grace of God she would take her daughter away with her ... so rather than part with her, the mother must stay and all breaches are made up again." Peace, however, lasted but for a brief while, for a month later the same correspondent writes : " Mrs. Sarah Jennings has got the better of her mother, who is commanded to leave the Court and her daughter in itt, notwith- standing the mother's petition that she might have her girle with her, the girle saying she is a mad woman." But Colonel Churchill was not deterred from wooing this wilful beauty by the reports of her temper or his own experience of it ; and though from the first he gave proofs of his constancy and ardour, at times she treated him with coldness and caprice ; and on one occasion in the royal drawing-room when he would have given her a letter full of the love he had no opportunity of speaking for himself, she regarded him haughtily and barbarously refused it. To this sore treatment his only reply was that " if reason had bade her do it, love would never have permitted it. But," he adds, " I will complain no more of it, but hope time and the truth of my love will make you love me better." The love letters he wrote to her during their court- ship, which she preserved through life, and read and Colonel Cburcbill's Xovc Xettcrs 21 cried over when the brilliancy of her days had faded into the greyness of age, and their writer had passed into eternity, are preserved amongst the Blenheim papers. For though, as she wrote, she wished to burn them, yet she could never bring herself to do so. In one of these Colonel Churchill tells her that if her happiness depended upon the esteem and love he had for her, then she ought to be the happiest thing breathing ; for he had never loved anybody as he loved her. Indeed he loved her so well that he preferred her happiness to his own ; and therefore if she thought their meeting would disquiet her, he promised not to press her to it ; but he begs that she will let him see she prefers him to the rest of mankind. In return for this he is ready to swear " that I will never love anything but your dear self, which has made so sure a conquest of me that, had I the will, I had not the power ever to break my chains. Pray let me hear from you," he concludes, " and know if I shall be so happy as to see you to-night." In another letter he complains of being " extreme ill with the headache " ; an ailment from which he suffered all his life, and of which constant mention is made in his despatches from abroad. From this note it appears that the Maid of Honour was also ill at this time, probably from vapours, and he asks her to send him word how she does, for if she were not in pain, nothing would trouble him. If it were not, he assures her, for the joy he takes in the thought that she loves him, he would not care how soon he died ; " for by all that is 22 Ube (Queen's Comra&e good I love you so well that I wish from my soul that that minute that you leave loving me, that I may die, for life after that would be to me one perpetual torment. If the Duchess sees company I hope you will be there ; but if she does not, I beg you will then let me see you in your chamber, if it be but for one hour. If you are not in the drawing-room, you must then send me word at what hour I shall come." For all his show of affection, the impetuous Sarah treated him lightly and ungraciously ; for she not only ignored his desire for a reply, but charged him with want of kindness, not recognising that it was she who lacked that quality. " You complain of my unkind- ness, but would not be kind yourself in answering my letter, although I begged you to do so," he writes ; and then makes a request. " The Duchess goes to a new play to day, and afterwards to the Duchess of Monmouth's there to dance. I desire that you will not go thither, but make an excuse and give me leave to come to you. Pray let me know what you do intend, and if you go to the play, for if you do, then I will do what I can to go, if the Duke does not. Your not writing to me made me very uneasy, for I was afraid it was want of kindness in you, which I am sure I will never deserve by any action of mine." To this the petulant Mistress Jennings made response, saying she could see him at four o'clock, but, says she, saucily enough, " That would hinder you from seeing the play, which I fear would be a great affliction to you, and increase the pain in your head, which would JOHN CHURCHILL, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. Page 23,] /DMstress Catberine Sebles 23 be out of anybody's power to ease until the next new play. Therefore pray consider, and without any com- pliment to me, send me word if you can come to me without any prejudice to your health." Colonel Churchill's romance had run its unsmooth course so far, when it was fated to meet with further trouble ; for Sir Winston Churchill, desiring that his eldest surviving son, now in his twenty-seventh year, should marry a wealthy wife who would restore the family fortunes, set himself to find a suitable partner for him. Without going far afield, he fixed on Mistress Catherine Sedley, daughter of his old friend and kinsman Sir Charles Sedley. The lady was five- and-twenty, plain to ugliness, extremely thin, but well endowed, a compensation that must have had its in- fluence with so prudent and money-loving a man as her prospective husband. On the other hand, Sarah Jennings was not only the handsomest of the Maids of Honour, but was bright, witty, and fascinating, though her dowry was small, for at this time there was no prospect of gaining the patrimony that came to her later, on the death of her brothers. For awhile it seemed as if Colonel Churchill hesitated in his choice, and felt inclined to obey his parent's wishes and his own desires for gain ; for the question of settlements was broached, and gossip had it that he was about to travel, presumably for the benefit of his health, but in reality to break with Sarah Jennings. That there would be no need for such a ruse must have been plain to him ; for no sooner had the 24 XEbe dlueen's Comra&e high-spirited Maid of Honour heard rumours that he was, to use her own language, about " to marry a shocking creature for money " than she flew into a towering rage, bade him " renounce an attachment which militated against his worldly prospects," declared that to avoid him she would go to France with her sister, and added, " As for seeing you, I am resolved I never will in private nor in public if I could help it ; and as for the last I fear it will be some time before I can order so as to be out of your way of seeing me ; but surely you must confess that you have been the falsest creature upon earth to me. I must own that I believe I shall suffer a great deal of trouble, but I will bear it, and give God thanks, though too late I see my error." This letter seems to have banished all inclination he had to forsake for interest one whom he truly loved, and whom he knew was surrounded by admirers, who was ogled by the Duke of York, and who had been asked in marriage by the Earl of Lindsay, afterwards Marquis of Ancaster. But to gain her affections was now a more difficult task than before, when she scorned him, and to show a brave heart, danced at the Court balls when she felt more inclined to cry. His first effort towards reconciliation was to break off all negotiations for his marriage with Catherine Sedley, who soon after consoled herself by becoming a mistress of the Duke of York, who made her Countess of Dorchester ; Churchill's second effort being an appeal to Sarah, in which he owned that he was so much a, Sarab 5ennfnQS Dfssatisfieb 25 slave to her charms, that he loved her better than his life. His words made sufficient impression on her to grant him a reply, though it was far from what he desired ; for in answering it he says, " You say I pretend a passion to you when I have other things in my head. I cannot imagine what you mean by it, for I vow to God you do so entirely possess my thoughts that I think of nothing else in this world but your dear self. I do not, by all that is good, say this that I think it will move you to pity me, for I do despair of your love ; but it is to let you see how unjust you are, and that I must ever love you as long as I have breath, do what you will. I do not expect in return that you should either write or speak to me, since you think it is what may do you a prejudice ; but I have a thing to beg which I hope you will not be so barbarous as to deny me. It is that you will give me leave to do what I cannot help, which is to adore you as long as I live, and in return I will study how I may deserve, although not have, your love. I am persuaded that I have said impertinent things enough to anger you, for which I do with all my heart beg your pardon, and do assure you that from hence- forward I will approach and think of you with the same devotion as to my God." Though man could say no more to prove his love, Sarah Jennings professed to be dissatisfied with it, and considered all he had said was written merely to amuse and make her think he had an affection for her when she was assured he had none. She added that he must 26 Zbc diueen's Comra&e think it strange she should write to him, after she had protested that she would never write or speak to him again ; but, continues this exacting damsel, " As you know how much kindness I had for you, you can't wonder or blame me if I try once more, to hear what you can say for your justification. But this I must warn you of, that you don't hold disputes, as you have done always, and to keep me from answering of you, and yourself from saying what I expect from you, for if you go on in that manner I will leave you that moment and never hear you speak more whilst I have life. Therefore pray consider if with honour to me and satisfaction to yourself, I can see you ; for if it be only to repeat those things which you said so often, I shall think you the worst of men, and the most ungrateful ; and 'tis to no purpose to imagine that I will be made ridiculous in the world when it is in your power to make me otherwise." In answer to this plain intimation of what she expected, her lover made no mention of marriage ; though his next letter was full of expressions of aiFection such as "I do love and adore you with all my heart and soul, so much that by all that is good, I do and ever will be better pleased with your happiness than my own ; but on my soul, if we might both be happy, what inexpressible joy that would be." But Sarah, who had little sentiment and much practical sense, replied to his long and effusive letter by briefly saying, " If it were sure that you have that passion for me which you say you have, you would find out some way to make Ubc Coutse of XTrue Xove 27 yourself happy — it is' in "your power. Therefore press me no more to see you, since it is what I cannot in honour approve of ; and if I have done too much, be so good as to consider who was the cause of it." Accordingly when next he appeared at the Duchess's drawing-room, Sarah immediately left it ; on which he wrote to complain of this usage and begged to know, if she did not think it impertinent, why she had so behaved. In reply she penned a brief note giving him permission to see her, " not that I can be persuaded you can ever justify yourself, but I do it that I may be freed from the trouble of ever hearing from you more." In his next he deplores her unkind and indifferent letter, but what must have pleased her more he refers to some proposals he is making to the Duchess of York about their marriage, which owing to his parent's opposition, he desired to keep secret. Yet Sarah continued cold to him, and in a letter addressed to her maid, Mrs. Elizabeth Mowdie, he complains. " Your mistress's usage to me is so barbarous that sure she must be the worst woman in the world, or else she would not be thus ill natured. I have sent a letter which I desire you will give her. It is very reasonable for her to take it, because it will then be in her own power never to be troubled with me more, if she pleases. I do love her with all my soul, but will not trouble her, for if I cannot have her love I shall despise her pity. For the sake of what she has already done, let her read my letter and answer it, and not use me thus like a footman." 2 8 Zbc diuecn's Comta&e Then came a response from Sarah, protesting that she had done nothing to deserve what he had written to her, and declaring she knew not what reply to make. As she found he had so ill an opinion of her, she was angry for having too good a one of him. " For if I had as little love as yourself," she said, " I have been told enough of you to make me hate you, and then I believe I should have been more happy than I am like to be now. However if you can be so well contented never to see me as I think you can by what you say, I will believe you, though I have not other people ; and after you are satisfied that I have not broke my word, you shall have it in your power to see me or not — and if you are contented without it I shall be extremely pleased." This reply gave him as little satisfaction as her other letters, and full of love and grief he answered, " To show you how unreasonable you are in accusing me, I dare swear that you yourself will own that your going from me in the Duchess's drawing-room did show as much contempt as was possible. I may grieve at it, but I will no more complain when you do it, for I suppose it is what pleases your humour. I cannot imagine what you meant by your saying I laughed at you at the Duke's side, for I was so far from that, that had it not been for shame I could have cried. And for being in haste to go to the Park, after you went I stood near a quarter of an hour, I believe, without knowing what I did. " Although at Whitehall you told me I should not Sarab is /llbarcieb 29 come, yet I walked twice to the Duke's back stairs, but there was no Mrs. Mowdie ; and when I went to my Lord Durass's, I would not go the same way they did, but came again down the back stairs ; and when I went away, I did not go in my chair, but made it follow me, because I would see if there was any light in your chamber, but I saw none. Could you see my heart you would not be so cruel as to say I do not love you, for by all that is good I love you and only you. If I may have the happiness of seeing you to-night, pray let me know, and believe that I am never truly pleased but when I am with you." The kind-hearted Duchess of York, who was not much older than Sarah Jennings, took an interest in the lovers' affairs, and by way of smoothing them offered her Maid of Honour a dowry ; but this was at first rejected by Sarah in a fit of spleen, as bad temper was called. However, on her lover writing to her, *' I am sure if you love me, you will not at this anger the Duchess," she accepted the royal gift, and their marriage was celebrated privately at St. James's Palace in the winter of 1 677. CHAPTER II The Vicissitudes of Love and Disappointment of Marriage — Dick Talbot seeks his Fortune in France — An Elegant Adventurer — Lovers' Quarrels — Believing Her lost — The Prince of Orange — His Ambitious Views — The Princess Mary and the Dutch Monster — A Cold Bridegroom — The sup- posed Discovery of an Atrocious Plot — The Vanished Duke — The Love Letters of a Married Man — Dearest Soul of My Life — Illness of the King and Return ot the Duke — Colonel Churchill the Confidant of James — A Visit to The Hague — Sent into Scotland — Sarah Churchill's First Child — Husband and Lover — The Duke of York returns to England — The Princess Anne marries Prince George of Denmark — A Royal Nonentity — The Prince of Orange is displeased — Appearance and Character of Anne. 3« CHAPTER II MEANWHILE Sarah's elder sister, the beautiful Frances Jennings, had known the vicissitudes of love and the disappointment of marriage — with the wrong man. Soon after she had slighted the Duke and dismissed the King, Richard Talbot returned to the Court from Ireland where he had been sent on business. Dick Talbot, as he was generally called, was a younger son of an old Irish family who early in life had left his native isle to seek his fortune in France, and attached himself to the Court of the exiled monarch. Though above middle height and robust, he was singularly graceful. Nature had been kind to him in many ways, for his face was not only handsome but he had a noble air, a winning manner, his speech was ever gracious, and he gave proof of his courage by offering to assassinate Cromwell, which he might have done had not death deprived him of the satisfaction. His elegance, love of adventure, indifference to money and eagerness for a fight, soon won him the favour and confidence of the Duke of York who took him into his service and on returning to England made him a Gentleman of the VOL. I. 33 3 34 Ube (liueen's ComraDe Bedchamber. The beauty of Frances Jennings, her vivacity, and the proofs she had given of her discretion, attracted Dick Talbot to whose addresses she was pleased to turn a favourable ear. He had greatly interested himself in his countrymen, and whilst secur- ing to many of them the properties confiscated by Cromwell, was not quite heedless of his advantages in such transactions ; and though he played deep, he occasionally forgot to repay his losses when the excite- ment of the game had passed. So that altogether he had now secured to himself about forty thousand a year, a circumstance which was believed to have its weight with La Belle Jennings. All went well between them until one day he ventured to disapprove of her intimacy with Miss Price, whose reputation was none of the best and who had been dismissed from the service of the Duchess of York. At this Frances Jennings, confident of her own integrity and excessively haughty, begged that he would attend to his own aiFairs, and that if he only came from Ireland to read lectures about her conduct, he might take the trouble to go back as soon as he pleased. Offended by this speech from one whom he considered he had a right to advise, he left her abruptly and resented her words, but when after the lapse of a little time he sought to make friends with her she was too proud to resume their former intimacy and they drifted apart. Ultimately she married George Hamilton grandson of the second Earl of Abercorn. When Catholics were dismissed from the army, Hamilton took "XLbc XauQutsbfna 3Bosntott" 35 them over to France and formed them into a company of gens-d'armes much to the gratification of Louis XIV. who appointed himself as their captain, and George Hamilton their captain-lieutenant. He afterwards made Hamilton a Count and the latter made his wife a widow. Believing she was lost to him, Dick Talbot " without knowing why or wherefore took to wife the languishing Boynton," as Grammont narrates. Miss Boynton was a fragile creature with large motionless eyes, and a good complexion, who lisped softly and fell into faints with surprising ease. The first time Talbot cast eyes on her she swooned away, when he who was tolerably vain thinking it the effect of her ardour for him, showed her great attention, more with desire of saving her from such weaknesses than of expressing affection for her. As may be imagined she married him, but her wedded life was short, and he was free again to woo the woman whose capriciousness he considered to have ruined his happiness. This time he was more fortunate in his proposals and they became man and wife. When James came to the throne he made Dick Talbot Earl of Tyrconnel, and placed him as Heutenant- general at the head of the Irish army ; and so pleased was the King with those abilities the earl showed in that post, that he advanced him to the rank of Duke of Tyrconnel when the former Maid of Honour became a duchess. Before John Churchill and Sarah Jennings became man and wife, another marriage was celebrated which 36 Ubc diueen's Comraftc was destined to have inconceivable efFects on the nation ; the bridegroom being the Prince of Orange, nephew to Charles II., and the bride, the Princess Mary, eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, then in her fifteenth year. The Prince was a person calculated to inspire aversion in any woman fated to become his wife, for his face, with its ghastly complexion and severe expression, was deeply pitted from small-pox ; his eagle eye showed a stubborn temper and determined will ; whilst his stature was diminutive and his shoulders so round that they gave him an appearance of deformity. Nor were these defects compensated for by his manner which was silent and gloomy, clownish and morose ; the little conversation he was inclined to indulge in being constantly interrupted by a distressing cough, the result of chronic asthma. With all these imperfections lying heavy upon him, he was unwisely selected as a husband for the Princess Mary by their uncle, Charles II., from motives of policy. The nation was now more than ever disturbed by a dread of popery, carefully stimulated by means of inflammatory pamphlets and dark rumours by Lords Wharton, Buckingham, and Shaftesbury for political purposes, A new Test Act, introduced In 1678, prevented Catholics from holding civil or military offices, or sitting in Parliament, or coming within five miles of the Court ; and only by a majority of two was the Duke of York excluded from this latter tCbe Xtttle Earl of Sbaftesburi^ 37 clause. This was but a step towards excluding him from succession to the Crown. As it failed, " the little Earl of Shaftesbury " who, as Bishop Burnet says, " had no regard to truth or justice," and who through three reigns betrayed and intrigued, waited on the King to make him two proposals, either of which would prevent James from coming to the throne. One was that His Majesty should divorce the Queen, who had failed to get him an heir, and marry again ; the other was to declare that he had married Lucy Walters, and that the result of that union, the Duke of Monmouth, was his legitimate son and heir. But although Bishop Burnet — whose hatred of James was only equalled by his aspirations to higher sees — obligingly undertook to write a paper still extant in which he declared divorce " might be easily justified before God and man," the King, who was more honourable if less virtuous, was indignant at the suggestion that he should put away his wife ; whilst as to the second proposal he declared, that much as he loved the Duke of Monmouth, he had " rather see him hanged at Tyburn than own him as his legitimate son." As neither Charles nor his brother had male issue at this time, the Princess Mary was heir apparent to the Crown, and the King, believing it would pacify his people to see her married to a Protestant, selected William of Orange, who from having freed Holland from the power of France, was, though a follower of Calvin, popularly regarded as the protector of ii Zbc (Jiueen's Comrab^ Protestantism. This union had been suggested to the Prince three years previously and been coldly received by him when there had been a prospect of the Duchess of York giving birth to an heir, and at a time when, as he owned, he had endeavoured to persuade the King to acknowledge Monmouth as his legitimate son. But now when the Duchess of York's children had died soon after birth, and the project of excluding the Duke from the succession, was becoming general, William, as Macpherson relates, " formed a secret connection with the popular party in England by the means of one Frymans, a man of abandoned principles and a profligate life. His views which he had formed even at this early period upon the throne, are said to have been the source of his animosity against France, to please a people over whom he was resolved to reign." Though the Duke of York was unwilling that his daughter should marry a man who had already con- spired against him, and to whom he had taken an instinctive dislike, he, as was his invariable custom, submitted to the King's wishes ; and when His Majesty announced the union to Parliament, James declared his consent to it, adding that he hoped he had given a sufficient proof of his testimony for the public good, and that it would no longer be said that he designed to alter the government in Church or State, for whatever his opinions on religion might be, all he desired was that men might not be molested merely for conscience' sake. Caliban 39 The Prince of Orange reached London on October 13th, 1677, and he was received with great rejoicing by the populace. He was lodged at Whitehall, and was entertained that evening at a great banquet where under the glow of hundreds of lights that reflected themselves in services of gold, surrounded by the most gallant men, the fairest women that ever graced a Court, and listening to the wit and badinage, the flattering speeches and piquant raillery that fell from their lips, he sat cold, watchful and unmoved. When the Princess Mary, at this time a bright and happy child, with placid and comely features, and a quick intelligent mind, was first told by her father of her proposed marriage, she wept all that afternoon and the following day, as her tutor Dr. Edward Lake tells us. And when the Lord Chief Justice and the Judges waited on her, she answered their congratula- tions by an outburst of tears. Nor was she more reconciled by a better knowledge of William, who had already been nicknamed " the Dutch Monster," and " CaUban " by the Maids of Honour ; whilst " the Court began to whisper of his sullenness and clownishness, that he took no notice of the Princess at the playe and balle." On November 4th at nine o'clock at night the marriage was celebrated by the Bishop of London : whilst the narrow streets with their houses of oak-beamed fronts and high-pitched roofs, glowed with the red light of bonfires and torches, and were thronged by rejoicing crowds whose shouts were almost drowned 40 Xlbe (Queen's ComtaJ>e by the sound of bells ringing from a hundred church towers and steeples. On the 1 9 th of the month, surrounded and accom- panied by the Court, the bride and bridegroom set out in barges from Whitehall to Greenwich, where they were to take ship for Holland ; the poor Princess vainly striving to suppress her tears and clinging to her friends from whom she was so unwilling to depart ; in this way taking her sad leave of England, to which after an absence of twelve years, she was to return a changed woman. The marriage of Princess Mary failed to have the desired effect of propitiating those whose rabid hatred of Catholicity stirred their worst passions ; for towards the close of the year 1678, the nation was thrilled with horror at the so-called discovery of an atrocious plot by which the Catholics intended to assassinate His Majesty, place James on the throne, and establish their religion in England. This supposititious plot was declared to have been discovered by Titus Oates, who even in those days of lax living had been dismissed from his post of Chaplain in the Navy because of his gross immorality. An account of the reign of terror which followed is given in Royalty Restored ; and it will be sufficient to state here that although his infamous character was known, it was not until many innocent lives had been sacrificed that the plot was proved to be the invention of Oates, who ultimately was whipped at the hands of the common hangman, exposed on the pillory, and flung into prison where he remained until fjapps H>ass at /llMntern 41 he was liberated by William and rewarded with a pension. The dread with which the public was seized on hearing of this Popish plot, was utilised by James's enemies, fresh efforts were made to exclude him from succeeding to the crown, and a bill was passed in the Commons for that purpose. But before it could reach the Lords, Parliament was prorogued by the King. Seeing it was best for the peace of the nation and his own security that James should leave the kingdom, Charles yielded to the advice of his councillors and ordered his brother to " withdraw beyond sea." In quitting England the Duke wished to have his family with him, but permission to take the Princess Anne was refused him, though it was granted some six months later. Accompanied by its other members, and by his suite, amongst whom were Colonel Churchill and his wife, he set out for Brussels in March 1679. Soon after their marriage Colonel Churchill and his wife went to live with his parents at Mintern in Dorsetshire. It was the young husband's desire at this time that she should leave the profligate Court and settle in a home of their own near London ; but he, who according to Sarah's statement never " from the very beginning of his life spent a shilling beyond what his income was," did not think it advisable to incur the expenses of housekeeping just yet. Those days at Mintern were probably the happiest of his life, though their contentment was chequered by his occasional absences when on duty at Court. 42 trbe diuecn's (tomrabe At such times he wrote her letters as full of ardent affection as those he sent when wooing her. In one of them he tells his wife that as she is always in his thoughts, he would be perpetually conversing with her by letter, and repeating what he had so often sworn, that she was dearer to him than life ; " but I find," he adds reproachfully, " you are not of the same mind, for when you write you are afraid to tell me that you love me." In another of these letters which would have thrilled the heart of an ordinary woman, he says he is so ill that he can scarcely look upon the paper, " but you are so dear to me that I will never omit writing, for fear you should think it proceed from unkind- ness, which I can never be guilty of to you. I will not complain, but it is now three weeks and above since you writ to me." • His gracious manner and handsome presence recom- mended him to the royal brothers as a fit person for employment on important diplomatic missions abroad, and whilst on one of these he writes in April 1678, to tell his young wife he had sent her a letter from Antwerp, for he desired that she should hear from him by every post, and adds that he will be absent from England two or three days longer than he anticipated. " But because I would lose no time, I despatch all other things in the meantime, for I do with all my heart and soul long to be with you, you being dearer to me than my own life. On Sunday morning I shall leave this place for Breda, where the Prince and Princess of (Iburcbill becltnes a ^cat in B^arltament 43 Orange are ; and from thence you shall be sure to hear from me again. Till then my soul's soul, farewell." But these protestations failed to satisfy one who in return expressed so little affection for him ; for in another of his letters he says " You are very unjust to me in making a doubt of my love, since there is nothing in the world I desire so much as to be able to give you proofs of how well I love you ; for by all that is good and holy, you are dearer to me than my own life, for could I follow my own inclinations, I would never be from you." This letter had the effect of drawing from her, one which was less cold than usual ; for he tells her how extremely pleased he was with " her kind expressions." He was then on the eve of departing from Holland, but assured her he would take every opportunity of writing to her " for I do if possible love you better than I ever did. I believe it will be about the beginning of October before I shall get back, which time will appear an age to me, since in all that time I shall not be made happy with the sight of you. Pray write constantly to me. ... So dearest soul of my life, farewell." He was back in England in the spring of 1679, when he was offered a seat in Parliament, but this he wisely declined, at a time when the kingdom was disturbed by religious and political factions that eventu- ally led to a revolution. But though keeping in the service and preserving the confidence of the Duke of York, Colonel Churchill had little sympathy with his religious convictions, and still less with the rigorous 44 '^bc (Siueen'B (tomra&e measures ' taken against the Catholic party ; for, as he assured a friend, " though I have an aversion to Popery, yet I am not less averse to persecution for conscience sake, and I deem it the highest act of injustice to set any one aside from his inheritance upon bare suppo- sitions of intentional evils, when nothing that is actual appears to preclude him from the exercise of his just rights." The Duke of York having withdrawn beyond sea, settled with his family in Brussels, where he was joined in August 1679, by his daughter, usually called The Lady Anne, who now renewed her friendship with her former playfellow Sarah Churchill. James sorely fretted under his enforced exile, dreading lest his enemies by power or strategy might secure the suc- cession to the Protestant Duke, as Monmouth was styled. All that James could do at present was to keep careful watch on the political movements of his opponents, and maintain a correspondence with the King, and for both of these purposes Colonel Churchill was constantly sent to England. It was whilst the Duke of York was disturbed by news of Monmouth's increasing popularity and the prejudice raging against Catholics, that word was secretly brought him of his brother's sudden and serious illness. Accordingly he set out for England in hot haste, racked by suspense, not knowing but that he might find the King dead and the usurper on the throne. He was accompanied by Lord Peter- borough and Colonel Churchill, they riding post to JUness of tbe muQ 4S Calais, crossing to Dover, and then in disguise making for London which they reached dust-covered and worn from want of rest, and lodged the night at the residence of Sir Alleyn Apsley in St. James's Square, their host being a sturdy supporter of the Stuarts and a good friend of the Duke's ; their intention being to hurry next morning to Windsor, where the King lay ill. Tired as he was after his journey. Colonel Churchill sat down that night to write to his wife. Beginning with an apology for not having sent her word of himself sooner, he continues, " By this you will find that we are landed in England, so that now we shall not be long before we shall be at Windsor, from whence you shall be sure to hear from me by the first opportunity, for I hope I am not deceived in the belief I have that you love me, which thought pleases me more than all other things in this world, and I do assure you that whilst I live I will never give you any reason to do other than love me, for I had much rather lose my own life than to lose you or your love. Pray do not fail of writing every post to me." James left London so early next morning that he was at the King's bedside before His Majesty awoke. Charles greeted him affectionately, told him he had been cured of the tertian ague from which he suffered, by using Jesuit's bark, and later assured him that it would be imprudent for him to live in England. On this James represented how dangerous it might be for him to continue to reside abroad, as in case of His Majesty's death there was every reason to suppose 46 Zbc