Sir Winston Churchill did not live to witness the new honours conferred on his son; for he died in London, on the 26th of March, 1688.* By his will he left his whole property at the disposal of his wife, who had brought him a considerable fortune.

Besides the earl of Marlborough, the surviving children were George, Charles, and Arabella.

George was at this time in the naval service, in which he afterwards rose to the rank of admiral. In the latter part of William's reign, he was a member of the board of admiralty; and in that of Anne was one of the council of prince George of Denmark, lord high admiral, whose confidence he possessed in a peculiar degree. He was also gentleman of his bed-chamber.

Charles, at the age of thirteen, was made page of honour to Christian king of Denmark, and at sixteen gentleman of the bedchamber to his brother prince George. He probably came to England with the prince, embraced the profession of arms, and after distinguishing himself at the battle of Steenkirk, and in the sieges of Cork and Kinsale, bore an important command in the most memorable operations of his brother. His services and connections, raised him to high military rank and honours.

Arabella, the eldest of the family, and the only daughter, was appointed maid of honour to the duchess of York. In this situation she captivated the duke of York, and bore him two sons, James Fitz James, afterwards marshal Berwick, and Henry, grand prior of France. Also two daughters, Henrietta, who espoused Henry lord Waldegrave, and Elizabeth, who became a nun.

Some time before the revolution, Arabella was deserted by her royal paramour, and remained in England, in comparative obscurity. She She appears to have enjoyed a pension on the Irish establishment, under king William, and finally espoused colonel Godfrey, who by the influence of her brother was made keeper of the Jewel Office in the Tower.

* The entry of his burial in the parish register of St. Martin's in the Fields, is dated March 29, 1688. Communicated by the vicar, the Rev. Archdeacon Pott.

In 1697, Sir Winston Churchill was followed to the grave by his widow. As lord Marlborough was in a prosperous situation, and as little provision was made for his brothers and sister, he derived no benefit from his paternal property. The family seat and annexed demesne at Mintern,* were left by lady Churchill, at the desire of her deceased husband, to Charles the third son, in consideration of the money which he had advanced, to discharge his father's debts. By him it was bequeathed to his widow, who on her second marriage with lord Abingdon, conveyed it to his family. It has been since transferred to other proprietors.

esq.

Having no mansion, lord Marlborough fixed his principal residence at Sandridge, near St. Albans, a manor belonging to the family of his wife. This estate by the death of Richard Jennings, had devolved on his three sisters and coheiresses, Frances, Sarah, and Barbara. As lady Marlborough was partial to her birth place, her husband gratified her by purchasing the share of the two other sisters, and soon after built a mansion on the spot, which was called Holywell House. This residence and property gave him an interest in the borough of St. Albans, for which place, by his influence with James the second, he obtained a new charter of incorporation. He was chosen the first high steward under the new charter; a post which had always been filled by persons of distinction.

The mansion of Holywell is described by local writers as a building of great magnificence; and was the favourite residence both of lord Marlborough and his lady, till the construction of Blenheim gave him a new interest in a place, which presented the most striking monuments, both of his own and the national glory.

*Copies of the wills of Sir Winston and lady Churchill in the family papers. The probate of her will is dated 1st March, 1697.

This estate and mansion being left at the disposal of the duchess, were by her bequeathed to her grand-son John, second son of Charles earl of Sunderland. From him it descended to his son, the first earl Spencer.

CHAPTER 4.

1688-1690.

Marlborough obtains the confidence of the king-Serves a campaign in the Netherlands -Expedition to Ireland-Reduces Cork and Kinsale-Commencement of his clandestine intercourse with the exiled monarch-His campaign in the Netherlands, under the king.

AFTER

FTER the conclusion of the arrangements arising out of the Revolution, Marlborough appears to have taken little share in public business, except in the settlement of a revenue on the princess Anne.

The princess having announced her acquiescence in the new order of succession, expected that a permanent and independent revenue would have been secured to her for life; as the king had been allowed no less a sum than £.600,000 a year for the civil list. Instead, however, of gratifying her expectations, he even shewed some reluctance to continue the allowance of £.30,000 a year, which she had enjoyed under her father. She was highly incensed by this disappointment, and testified her resolution to appeal to parliament; while the king and queen were no less offended by her wish to acquire an independent establishment. The subject occasioned the most indecorous altercations between the two royal sisters, and became the source of the subsequent quarrel, which divided the royal family.

Irritated by these bickerings, Anne pursued her purpose with redoubled zeal, and her 'cause was earnestly promoted by the earl and countess of Marlborough. Her pretensions were warmly supported by the tories and disaffected, while the king would rely only on his own personal friends and the zealous whigs. A considerable majority of the parliament was therefore enlisted on the

side of the princess, and her claims became generally popular among the great body of the nation.

In this state of the public mind, her friends in the house of commons proposed to grant her an independent revenue of £. 70,000 a year. To prevent the decision of the question, the king adjourned the parliament. But the princess was of too tenacious a character to relinquish her object, particularly as her party was increased by many who were alienated by the reserve of the king. In this crisis lures and threats were alternately held forth to the countess of Marlborough, with the hope of inducing the princess to desist, through her influence. The countess continued firm, and the question was revived in the house of commons, soon after the commencement of the session. The court now found that opposition was fruitless. By the consent of both parties, the debate was adjourned; and in the interval a compromise was effected, by which an annual allowance of £.50,000 was settled in parliament, as the civil list of the princess.

The success of this measure being principally ascribed by Anne to the exertions of the earl and countess of Marlborough, contributed still more to endear them to her, while it rendered them in an equal degree obnoxious to the king and queen. Anne was not tardy in testifying her gratitude for so acceptable a service; and, in an affectionate letter,* offered her favourite an additional salary of £1,000 a-year. The countess at first declined the generous proposal, from motives of delicacy; but her scruples were over-ruled by the representations of lord Godolphin. †

Though dissatisfied with Marlborough's conduct respecting the settlement of the princess, William was unwilling to lose the services of so able an officer. As his presence was deemed necessary in England, for the regulation of public business, Marlborough

* Letter from the princess to lady Marlborough, partly printed in the Conduct, p. 36. Journals-Tindal-Boyer-Dalrymple-MS. copies of letters from Mrs. Morley to Mrs. Freeman, with a narrative on the subject, in the hand-writing of the duchess of MarlboroughConduct, p. 36, 37-And a letter supposed to have been written by Mr. Wharton to the king -Dalrymple, vol. 2. b. 4. p. 199.

was intrusted with the command of the British forces acting against the French in the Netherlands.*

On the 27th of May he landed at Rotterdam, and repairing to Maestricht, joined the confederate army, then commanded by the prince of Waldeck. Being inferior to the enemy, they were reduced to act on the defensive, but Marlborough soon found an opportunity to signalise his courage and skill. The hostile armies being separated only by the petty town of Walcourt, the french commander, marshal d'Humieres, on the 25th of August formed the design of surprising his antagonists by an unexpected attack. Fortunately the post of Walcourt was confided to Marlborough, with a force composed of british and foreign troops. He not only checked the advance of the enemy, till the commander in chief could move with the main army; but by a vigorous and welldirected attack on the flank, he discomfited the assailants, and forced them to retreat with a serious loss. To this action the army owed their safety; and the prince of Waldeck did ample justice to the skill and promptitude of his younger associate, by declaring, that he had manifested greater military talents in a single battle, than generals of longer experience had shewn in many years.

In several letters, which are still extant, the king testified his satisfaction at the conduct of Marlborough. They also prove that he performed this exploit, not with troops in high spirit and order, but ill-disciplined, defective in zeal, and labouring under the usual maladies attendant on a long campaign. On the combat of Walcourt, in particular, the king observes :

"I am very happy that my troops behaved so well in the affair of Walcourt. It is to you that this advantage is principally owing. You will please accordingly to accept my thanks, and rest assured that your conduct will induce me to confer on you still farther marks of my esteem and friendship, on which you may always rely.”ተ

Instructions, &c. to the earl of Marlborough, MS. countersigned "Shrewsbury."

+ Letters of king William to the earl of Marlborough, 16 July, 23 August, and 13 and 23