I have no good news to send you. The yachts are not yet come, nor do we know when they will, for the wind is directly against them, so that you may believe that I am not in a very good humour, since I desire nothing so much as being with you. The only comfort I had here was hearing from you, and now if we should be stopped by contrary winds, and not hear from you, you may guess with what satisfaction I shall then pass my time; therefore as you love me, you will pray for fair winds, so that we may not stay here, nor be long at sea.

"I hope all the red spots of our child will be gone, against I see her, and her nose strait, so that I may fancy it to be like the mother; for as she has your coloured hair, I would have her be like you in all things else. Till next post day farewell.

By that

time I hope we shall hear of the yachts, for till I do, I shall have no kind of patience."

We shall here insert another letter, though written after the birth of Anne, his second daughter, because it exhibits a picture, equally pleasing, of parental and conjugal affection.

"Tunbridge.

"You cannot imagine how I am pleased with the children; for they having nobody but their maid, they are so fond of me, that when I am at home, they will be always with me, kissing and hugging me. Their heats are quite gone; so that against you come home they will be in beauty. If there be room I will come on Monday, so that you need not write on Sunday.

"Miss is pulling me by the arm, that she may write to her dear mamma; so that I shall say no more, only beg that you will love me always as well as I love you, and then we cannot but be happy."

To gratify the playful importunities of the child, he concludes the letter with a postscript in her name.

" I kiss your hands, my dear mamma.

"HARRIET."

In the different peregrinations of James, during this period of agitation and alarm, colonel Churchill was his constant attendant,

except while employed on his different missions. He was also the principal channel of the private communications between the two royal brothers.*

When the popular party, and those called the exclusionists, were defeated, and Charles had attained the power of giving his brother a permanent establishment at court, colonel Churchill accompanied his royal patron on his triumphant return, in 1682. He also attended him on board the Gloucester yacht, when that ship was wrecked near the Lemon and Ore in Yarmouth roads, and so many persons of consideration perished. The colonel was one among the fortunate few who escaped, being invited by James himself to take his place in the boat, which put off to shore, as soon as the loss of the vessel was found to be inevitable.

On this return of prosperity, James did not suffer the services of his faithful attendant to pass unrewarded. He was soon afterwards created, by letters patent, baron Churchill of Aymouth, in Scotland, and on the 19th of November, 1683, was appointed colonel of the royal regiment of horse-guards, then about to be raised.†

It was at this period the intention of lord Churchill, that his wife should withdraw from court; but the marriage of the princess Anne afforded an opportunity of placing her in a post, which was no less honourable than gratifying to her feelings, that of lady of her royal highness's bed-chamber.

When Miss Jennings was first introduced into the household of the duchess of York, she was noticed by the princess Anne, then about three years younger than herself. An affectionate disposition on the part of the princess, and on that of her youthful associate, the most captivating vivacity, soon rendered them inseparable companions. Habitual intercourse ripened their mutual partiality into the most tender friendship, and at this early period we trace the rise of that romantic affection, which long reigned be

* Lord Sunderland, secretary of state, to colonel Churchill, Dec. 23. MS.

+ This commission is still extant among the family papers.

tween them. To her friend and confidante the princess recurred in all the momentous as well as in the trifling incidents of her life; and at the time when the zeal of James for popery spread the utmost alarm throughout the nation, the princess drew from the counsel and encouragement of her friend, additional motives of attachment to that system of worship in which she was educated; and which she considered as endangered by the avowed principles of her father.* The princess pressed the appointment of her favourite with affectionate zeal, and announced it to her in a letter full of satisfaction and tenderness.

"To LADY CHURCHILL.

"The duke came in just as you were gone, and made no difficulties, but has promised me that I shall have you, which I assure you is a great joy to me: I should say a great deal for your kindness in offering it, but I am not good at compliments. I will only say, that I do take it extreme kindly, and shall be ready at any time to do you all the service that lies in my power."

In this situation, and amidst the momentous incidents which marked the period, their intimacy gained new strength, until it rose to a degree of confidence and affection seldom witnessed. One of the many letters, written at this time, will show the style they reciprocally adopted, and the anxiety of the princess to set aside the restraints of high rank and etiquette.

"TO LADY CHURCHILL.

66

Winchester, Sept. 20.

"I writ to you last Wednesday from on board the yacht, and left my letter on Thursday morning at Portsmouth, to go by the post, to be as good as my word in writing to my dear lady Churchill by the first opportunity. I was in so great haste when I

* From the Conduct it appears, not only that means were used to convert the princess, but that lures were held forth to lady Churchill herself, by her brother in law, lord Tyrconnel, to use her influence with the princess, and even to renounce her own religion. Conduct, p. 16.

writ, that I fear what I said was nonsense, but I hope you have so much kindness for me as to forgive it

"If you will not let me have the satisfaction of hearing from you again before I see you, let me beg of you not to call me your highness at every word, but to be as free with me as one friend ought to be with another; and you can never give me any greater proof of your friendship, than in telling me your mind freely in all things, which I do beg you to do; and if ever it were in my power to serve you, no body would be more ready than myself. I am all impatience for Wednesday, till when farewell.”

66

This correspondence became daily more confidential, till at length, to set aside the restraints of rank and custom, the princess offered her friend the choice of two feigned names, under which she proposed to continue their intercourse: “ I," says the duchess "chose the name of Freeman, as more conformable to the frankness of my disposition, and the princess adopted that of Morley." Their style soon assumed the tone which this expedient was calculated to give; and their letters display a degree of familiarity and, tenderness which seldom exists, even between equals in the higher ranks of society.

Conduct, p. 14.

CHAPTER 3.

1684-1689.

Accession of James the second-Lord Churchill created a British peer-His rising favour—Embassy to Paris—Expedition against the duke of Monmouth-Battle of Sedgemoor-Alarmed at the king's attempts to introduce popery-Correspondence with the prince of Orange-His conduct during and after the revolution.

FROM the marriage of the princess Anne, till the death of Charles the second, in February 1684, lord Churchill does not appear on the theatre of public affairs.

The accession of James, by whose favour he had been so long distinguished, naturally opened to his view the prospect of higher honours and a more exalted fortune. Indeed, the first act of the new sovereign was, to charge his tried and confidential servant with a mission to Paris, for the purpose of notifying his accession, and gratefully acknowledging the largesses which he had recently received from the french monarch.

Hitherto lord Churchill had regarded with indulgence the failings of a prince, to whom he was bound by so many ties of respect and gratitude. But he was not so far, biassed by gratitude or ambition as to forget his duty to his religion and country, and in a conversation with lord Galway, during his embassy at Paris, he observed, "If the king should attempt to change our religion and constitution, I will instantly quit his service.”* Like many others, however, he at first gave credit to the solemn declarations of James, and waited with patience, though not without apprehension, to discover whether the conduct of the monarch would accord with his professions.

* Burnet; from the information of lord Galway, vol. 3, p. 216.