one entirely in their power. This is a thing I have so much at my heart,
and upon which the quiet of my life depends, that I must beg you, for
Christ Jesus' sake, to endeavour to bring it about. I know very well that
you do not serve for advantage or ambition, but with entire duty and
affection, which makes me that I cannot bear the thoughts of parting with
you; and I hope, after what the Duke of Marlborough has said to you,
you will not think of it again; for, to use his words, 'you cannot answer
it neither to God nor man, but are obliged both in conscience and honour
to do it.' Let his words plead for her, who will be lost and undone if you
pursue this cruel intention, and begs that you would neither think of it,
nor mention it any more to one, that is so affectionately and sincerely your
humble servant." ^*

Godolphin received this appeal at the moment when he
was preparing to depart for Woodstock, to consult with the
duchess on the best mode of vanquishing the repugnance of
the queen. His reply we shall give without a comment.

" Woodstock, Sept. 25. -- There was so little time before I came from
Windsor, after I had the honour of your majesty's letter, that it was not
possible for me to answer it, though I thought it was very necessary for
your majesty's service not to lose time in doing it. Your majesty seems
to continue desirous I should stay in your service, and not retain a
thought of quitting it. I never had such a thought, nor ever can have,
for my own sake or ease, if I saw a possibility of supporting your ser-
vice, to which, as I have often said to your majesty, I must be a weight.
and not a help, unless you would please to let me have the assistance of
those who are able and willing to serve me.

"Your majesty is pleased in your letter to make use of some expres-
sions in the Duke of Marlborough's letter to me, which I had the honour
to read to you, that I could not answer it to God or man, that I was
obliged both in honour and conscience not to quit your service. But
you are not pleased to take any notice of those other expressions, which
he uses in the same letter, as that there is no doubt but the queen will do
any thing you can desire to make your service easy, and the like. But I
desire nothing to make my service easy; I propose nothing but what is
necessary for carrying on your majesty's business, especially in this next
winter, which is like to be the most critical of your whole reign, and
when many things of very great consequence will come to bear all at
once. I doubt whether all we can do will be able to keep off the peace
this winter. The peace will necessarily bring on the consideration of
what fleet, and what army must be continued for your majesty's safety,
and the safety of the government; besides all this, when the kingdom
has been exhausted by a long war, your majesty's enemies, and mine
particularly, which are not a few, will be grumbling at the greatness of
your revenue. All these must be defended and supported. These are
not slight things.

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