between the two royal sisters, and the queen did not hesitate
to threaten the princess with a reduction of her revenue to
one half of the actual amount. Whether Marlborough and
his lady were implicated in this uncourtly scene is uncertain;
but he felt the first public effect of the royal displeasure.
On the ensuing morning, after fulfilling his usual duties as
lord of the bed-chamber, he received an order from the king,
through Lord Nottingham, secretary of state, announcing his
dismission from all his offices, both civil and military, and
prohibiting his appearance at court.

This affront towards a faithful servant rankled in the mind
of the princess, and a gloomy reserve prevailed in the royal
family, which portended a new commotion. At this moment,
also, the enemies whom Marlborough had provoked by his
remonstrances and sarcasms, omitted no effort to widen the
breach. A powerful cabal was formed by the earl of Port-
land and the family of Villiers ^* whose intrigues were ren-
dered more dangerous by their intimate access to the king.
To this cabal belonged Lady Fitzharding, a sister of the
countess of Portland, who availed herself of her situation in
the household of the princess, and the confidence of Lady
Marlborough, to act as a spy on the conduct of the princess
and her favourite; and to report, in aggravated terms, the
indecorous and insulting language which they habitually
used in speaking of the king. ^†

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