CHAP. XLII. -- RETURNS TO ENGLAND. -- 1705, 1706. WHILE Marlborough continued at the Hague, maturing the preparations for the ensuing campaign, he, with his friend Godolphin, was exposed to the most malicious invectives, in consequence of the inclination which they had recently mani- fested to coalesce with the Whigs. This coalition was regarded by the Tories as a dereliction of their principles; and with a view to operate equally on the fears of the queen, and of a large body among the people, who considered the Whigs as enemies to the religious establishment, a clamour was raised that the church was in danger. This plea was advanced in numerous libels of the most virulent kind, in which Marlborough and Godolphin were severely arraigned, for deserting their former friends, for combining with the enemies of the church, and for assisting to defeat the bill against occasional conformity. Among the rest, "The Memorial of the Church of Eng- land" attracted particular notice, and made a deep impres- sion. A single extract will suffice to display the tone assumed in this inflammatory production. "All attempts," observes the author, "to settle the church on a perpetual foundation have been opposed and rendered ineffectual, by ministers who owe their present grandeur to its protection, and who, with a prevarication as shameful as their ingratitude, pretend to vote and speak for it themselves, and bribe others with pen- sions and places to vote against it." Nor was this accusation confined to the ministers: less pointed though not less in- jurious reflections were cast on the queen herself, for con- senting to the removal of the Tory chiefs, from the disgrace of Rochester, to the recent dismission of Buckingham, who were held forth as the patrons and assertors of the church. This libel was transmitted to Marlborough, in the midst of his operations on the Ische, but was laid aside till he reached the camp of Corbais. Notwithstanding the heavy chagrin which weighed on his mind, the perusal drew from him some remarks, in a more jocund style than his corre- spondence generally assumes. To Lord Godolphin. "August 24. -- In this camp I have had time to read the pamphlet called 'The Memorial of the Church of England.' I think it the most -371- |