Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough: With His Original Correspondence, Collected from the Family Records at Blenheim and Other Authenic Sources, Volume 1H.G. Bohn, 1847 |
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advance alarm allies Antwerp army arrived artillery attack battalions battle Blenheim borough British camp campaign cavalry Charles Cohorn command common conduct confederates confidence correspondence Count Wratislaw court Danube despatched detachment duchess Duke of Marlborough duke of Savoy Dutch earl effect elector of Bavaria emperor endeavour enemy England English favour force France French friends garrison give grace Hague Holland honour hope horse imperial infantry interest Italy king Lady Landau letter lines Lord Galway Lord Godolphin Lord Sunderland Maestricht majesty margrave of Baden Marl Mehaigne ment Meuse military ministers Moselle Nebel Nimeguen obliged occasion officers operations opinion Overkirk parliament party person Prince Eugene Prince Louis princess proposed quarters queen received resolution Rhine sent siege Slangenberg sovereign Spain spirit squadrons success succours Sunderland Tallard thing tion Tories treaty Treves troops Venloo victory Vienna Villeroy Whigs William zeal
Popular passages
Page 209 - Inspired repulsed battalions to engage, And taught the doubtful battle where to rage. So when an angel, by divine command, With rising tempests shakes a guilty land (Such as of late o'er pale Britannia passed), Calm and serene he drives the furious blast; And pleased the Almighty's orders to perform, Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.
Page 38 - If you hear there is any such thing designed, and that 'tis easy to you, pray let me see you before the wind changes, for afterwards one does not know whether they will let one have opportunities of speaking to one another. But let them do what they please, nothing shall ever vex me, so I can have the satisfaction of seeing dear Mrs. Freeman ; and I swear I would live on bread and water between four walls with her without repining ; for as long as you continue kind, nothing can ever be a real mortification...
Page 206 - August 13, 1704. — I have not time to say more, but to beg you will give my duty to the queen, and let her know her army has had a glorious victory. M. Tallard and two other generals are in my coach, and I am following the rest. The bearer, my aide-de-camp, Colonel Parke, will give her an account of what has passed. I shall do it in a day or two, by another more at large. — MARLBOROUGH.
Page 102 - I shall have a mind to nothing, but as it may be easy to you. I do agree with you that we ought not to wish for a greater title, till we have a better estate.
Page 311 - Every post occupied by the enemy was deemed too strong to be forced ; the river was declared not fordable ; and the most trifling elevation was considered as inaccessible to cavalry. All the arguments of Bothmar and Stark were unavailing. Salisch demanded of Bothmar, who was present at Blenheim, whether the position of the Ische was not the most formidable. Instead of listening to the reply, he indulged himself in a long digression, and concluded with censuring that engagement as a rash and imprudent...
Page 19 - The princess of Denmark having ordered me to discourse with Monsieur Dykvelt, and to let him know her resolutions, so that he might let your highness and the princess her sister know that she was resolved, by the assistance of God, to suffer all extremities, even to death itself, rather than be brought to change her religion...
Page 32 - Vaudemont, being asked by the king to give his opinion on the characters of the English generals, replied, "Kirk has fire, Laneir thought, Mackay skill, and Colchester bravery ; but there is something inexpressible in the Earl of Marlborough. All their virtues seem to be united in his single person. I have lost...
Page 21 - Mr. Sidney will let you know how I intend to behave myself : I think it is what I owe to God and my country. My honour I take leave to put into your Highness's hands, in which I think it safe. If you think there is anything else that I ought to do, you have but to command me ; I shall pay an entire obedience to it, being resolved to die in that religion that it has pleased God to give you both the will and power to protect.
Page 282 - I have for these last ten days been so troubled by the many disappointments I have had, that I think if it were possible to vex me so for a fortnight longer, it would make an end of me. In short, I am weary of my life...
Page 19 - Dykevelt, to give you assurances under my own hand, that my places and the King's favour I set at nought, in comparison of being true to my religion. In all things but this the King may command me; and I call God to witness, that even with joy I should expose my life for his service, so sensible am I of his favours. I know the troubling you, sir, with thus much of myself, I being of so little use to your highness, is very impertinent, but...