Abigail's Cousin (25 page)

As Henry St
John and Robert Harley had already discovered the information that
vital funds had not reached their allies in Spain might have had
nothing at all to do with the allied defeat at Alamanza. Yet the
principle of confidentiality remained. Among colleagues in
government such information had to be considered as learned in
confidence and to be kept secret until the leadership of the
government had been notified. In Harley's and St John's defence,
both men might have believed they owed their advancement to the
queen who had notified them of their promotion though what both men
had overlooked was that each was recommended to the queen by
Marlborough and Godolphin.

Their loyalty
was first and foremost to the Duumvirs who would consider
information learned in whatever way should be notified to either
Godolphin or Marlborough. It was up to them to notify the queen. As
a principle it was sacrosanct and that principle would govern the
tone of the discussion between the queen and her lord treasurer
taking place. When the meeting began Anne looked and felt bright
having enjoyed a good night's sleep thanks to her servant's
ministrations but physical well-being was not enough when it came
to dealing with her lord treasurer that morning. She addressed her
employee sprucely enough:

"I understand
my lord treasurer that certain monies voted by Parliament to ye
allies in Spain were not sent. If I recall you came to me to
request my permission to send these funds. Ye allied defeat at
Alamanza can therefore be laid to you. What have you to say?"

Godolphin
aware that something was in the wind but unaware of its precise
nature is taken aback his mind in turmoil thinking back over the
many orders he approved of in the course of the previous months and
wondering which particular one the queen is talking about but also
aware that someone has slyly told the queen. He falls back on the
principle of confidentiality and replies:

"These are
secret matters ma'am and what concerns me is that a breach of
confidence has taken place and I beg you further to leave the
matter with me until I can discover its true nature."

The queen is
also somewhat surprised by his reply as it seemed to indicate that
her lord treasurer was running affairs and not her. She felt as
monarch above the fray of politics between these warring men. She
will decide what is important, what is confidential, what is
secret. She, Queen Anne will decide and even a favourite like her
lord treasurer must be brought to acknowledge it. Her reply is
therefore uncompromising:

"My lord! This
interview grieves me as you have been my faithful advisor these
several years. Your long service is therefore justification to
allow until tomorrow to consider your position."

"Ma'am!" Godolphin now firm in his resolve
said: "My trust has been betrayed. Be assured the perpetrator will
derive no satisfaction there
of."

Anne was
nonplussed by her lord treasurer's reply. This is not what she had
expected. This was not an apology, but a defiance that she would
not tolerate so she informed him:

"Pray be so
kind and admit ye duke to my presence on your way out, my
lord!"

"Ma'am!"
Godolphin uttered the single acknowledgement and getting up slowly,
nodded and bowed courteously before retreating to the door and
knocking whereupon it was opened by a footman and he left the room.
Outside the room he stood somewhat shaken and his face registered
some distress which is how Marlborough found him anxious to find
out what was upsetting his old friend and colleague.

Campaigning
had come to an end in October and the duke hardly knew what to do
with himself. This little fracas he had seen developing promised
some excitement and gave scope perhaps to using up an excess of
energy. The infighting of government would serve very well in the
absence of the real thing but it was clear to him that Godolphin
viewed things differently. After their interview he understood what
must be done and agreed with him that on no account would he keep
her majesty waiting. Had not Marlborough himself been a courtier
before being called to the colours?

But he left
his friend with a heavy heart being saddened by Godolphin's
demeanour and disappointment with the world and it was in this
sombre mood that he allowed himself to be let into the queen's
presence by the footman. Her majesty was clearly getting impatient
asking the duke imperiously:

"Please be
seated your grace." And he was in the act of sitting where
Godolphin had sat a few minutes before when she added: "Spain is
lost to us. Yet ye Junto trumpet their war-cry of, 'No Peace
without Spain'."

The duke was nonplussed as Godolphin had
been simply muttering: "Ma'am!" as Anne continued in full spate:
"You have my continued support your grace, and will have in ye
future until an honourable peace is with us, but Alamanza must sure
prejudice the
..."

To Marlborough
the words seemed an echo of words he had heard recently and sought,
as the queen was talking, to remember. Her words came to him: "the
outcome of the war and that peace which my people so desperately
desire and which is being denied them."

"Ma'am!"
repeated the duke stupidly as the queen said: "Tell me you will
continue to work for ye peace which we all want; do all of us
want."

Marlborough
was at last stung to a bitter reply saying: "I must avow ma'am,
that I cannot serve longer in a ministry with someone who betrays
his friends and his colleagues."

There! It was out, somewhat hastily but
the queen's words had reminded Marlborough of Robert Harley's
overheard at a dinner party. He felt bitter moreover in that the
man in whom they had placed so much trust was acting in this manner
and compelling him to contradict his queen to whom
h
e felt loyalty and
friendship. He felt bitter that her good nature was being put upon
by unscrupulous men to the detriment of England's war effort, let
alone their government, and he was determined to take a
stand.

His queen was outraged: "Your
G
race!" was all she
could utter but it was everything being spoken in a tone not
hitherto heard and Marlborough was stung with a pang of conscience
as he uttered the fateful words:

"Accordingly,
your majesty, I must place my sword, the sword of the
captain-general that your majesty was kind enough to bestow on your
faithful servant, into the hands of another."

The queen was visibly
moved
, slumping back
into her chair, seemingly robbed of all life. Her earlier spirit
had deserted her. Slowly she reopened her eyes and focussed them
upon the man in front of her realising there was nobody to replace
him. He knew it. She knew it. He knew she knew. Bravely she
declared:

"Do not resign your sword,
Your Grace. You may as well run
it into my head."

But her
captain-General was adamant: "Circumstances afford me no choice
ma'am."

The queen
reached up and pulled the cord for the footman and when he appeared
told him to show lord Dartmouth into her presence and turning back
to the duke she said wearily:

"I shall not
accept it your grace. Please attend the council thither your queen
is presently bound as soon as I have had a short conference with my
lord Dartmouth, my secretary."

A man appeared
and offered his hand to the queen as Marlborough rose also. Grim
faced he stood as Dartmouth and the queen withdrew through the door
behind her chair, but just before she disappeared, she turned round
to the duke to say:

"Pra
y, I beseech Your Grace; follow me from the council
chamber."

And then she was gone. The duke left
behind slumped in his chair dreading his imminent disobedience. She
was not only his queen but his commanding officer. What punishment
would an officer of his expect should he defy the captain-general
as Marlborough was about to do in ignoring the queen's order. Then
he thought of his friend Lord Godolphin and whom he would not
betray.
It was a choice
between Queen or friend.

Then he
thought of the arch-betrayer Robert Harley and cursed the day he
had set eyes on him.

------------------------------------------

William Legge, Lord Dartmouth, paused
briefly outside in the ante-room and idly observed the scaffolding
in place against the newly reconstructed walls of the cabinet
office, or, rather the workmen who were occupied in various tasks.
There were plasterers busy daubing gypsum upon the wall and another
against the ceiling whereby goblets of plaster fell back into his
face or onto his shoulders, and Legge shivered not envying his task
and was so occupied nonetheless in observation that he was sure he
must have missed the plaintive calls by her majesty who was ready
and waiting to proceed to the meeting. He reddened inwardly that
such plebian distractions had kept him away from the needs of
royalty.

With
difficulty she held onto his arm as he negotiated the corridor
where the scaffolding caused them to go single-file hearing the
hubbub of talk at the end of the passage and aware they were about
to reach the council chamber. As they approached a footman opened
the door wide, it having been slightly ajar, and as they entered
every man rose and bowed to his monarch and there was a continued
hush as she prepared to take her place in the chair provided.
Having made herself comfortable she gestured to Legge with a nod
that the meeting should be called to order whereupon Harley half
rose indicating to Legge his location.

But Legge while aware of Harley also is
made aware of the Master of the Horse whose place is filled by
Charles Seymour and who fidgets but nonetheless Legge invites the
Secretary of State for Europe, Robert Harley to begin reading the
agenda and Legge scarcely listens but finally does catch his words:
"...pursuant to the plenary meeting of the cabinet on the tenth of
February.
.."

Legge suddenly
sees the empty chair of the lord treasurer and then his eyes swivel
to the chair of the captain-general and Harley drones on: "..in the
year of our lord seventeen hundred and eight, matters arose which
the secretary of.."

He got no
further for there was a scraping of chair against the uncarpeted
floor as Seymour rose up from his chair, his face serious and
clearly angry. He nodded towards the queen and said:

"Beg pardon
ma'am. Should these proceedings be allowed to continue in the
absence of his grace, the Duke of Marlborough and your lord
treasurer, ma'am, the right honourable Lord Godolphin?"

Harley had not
only stopped reading but put down the paper upon the polished
surface of the table and sat down slowly. The queen glowered at
Seymour then shifted her attention back to Harley who arose to
resume his reading but was forestalled by Seymour who again
addressed the queen:

"Your majesty,
I respectfully submit that I do not understand how any worthwhile
business may be carried on in the absence of his grace, the duke
and my lord Godolphin." Then Seymour turned towards the person of
Robert Harley sitting at a tangent across the table and addressed
him icily:

"I am given to
understand that the duke and earl are not present owing to the
treacherous dealings and machinations of a certain gentleman."

Then
emboldened by his rhetoric, Seymour swivelled his gaze at the queen
who did not look at him but sat with eyes down looking at her lap.
She says nothing and Seymour persists:

"Your majesty,
I see no purpose in continuing this meeting. It is my immediate
intention to leave this room. With your permission!" He turned his
head confidently to look at his fellow dukes, Newcastle and
Devonshire; next, at the earls of Pembroke and Sunderland, and, for
some reason, pointedly at the lord high admiral, George Churchill,
before declaring:

"I would
anticipate anyone present who feels as I do, with her majesty's
gracious leave, to follow my lead." Then taking up his briefcase,
Seymour, hesitantly, nodding at Legge, swivelling his eyes in
deference to Anne, silently pushes back his chair, hesitates
another fraction then with decision marches from the room. Nobody
follows but the moment the door closes, the queen nods at Legge who
as though observing a pre-arranged routine, gets up to say:

"Your majesty,
gentlemen. This meeting is adjourned."

Nobody moves
until the queen is assisted to her feet by Legge who knocks at the
door whereupon a footman ensures there is sufficient space for the
queen, resting her arm upon Legge's, as she walks slowly, stiffly,
painfully, judging from her facial expression, from the room and
only when the footman has seen the queen several paces along the
corridor, does he shut the door after her, and the gentlemen arise
from their seats prepared to depart themselves.

A few remain
waiting deferentially until those senior in rank have left before
vacating their own seats in order to join the throng around Robert
Harley, who has not moved but sits still occasionally eyeing his
colleagues. One of a pair of men approaches his chair:

"You will have my support, Robert,
whatever happens." Harley is suddenly alive and turns to the
speaker: "Thank you, Sir Thomas." At which answer, the second man
offers also his support being thanked by Ha
rley whereupon Sir Thomas says:

"You gentlemen
must have much on your minds. Simon and I will leave you to your
discussions, but once again, let me say that however the situation
turns out, you have my support." His friend, Sir Simon Mansell
says: "Hear, hear." uttering the MPs favourite phrase of
support.