Виктория Холт - Courting Her Highness

And when she answered the questions put to her and came to that one: “Will you, to the utmost of your power, maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the gospel, and the Protestant reformed religion established by law?” she answered with great fervour: “All this I promise to do.”

Supported by the Chamberlain she regained the altar and there, laying her right hand on the Bible, made a solemn oath to carry out all her promises.

The coronation ring was on her finger; the crown was placed upon her head and the repeated shouts rang out once more.

“God save the Queen. God save the Queen.”

The guns from the Abbey turrets fired a salute which was answered by the guns of the Tower of London. The trumpets sounded.

Seated on her chair of state Anne received the homage of the peers. George was the first to come forward and kiss her cheek, and there was more than homage in his eyes: there was pride and pleasure. Dear, dear George! she thought. He could not be happier if they were crowning him. But was that not like her dear boy’s father? How different he was from her sister’s husband, William. Poor Mary! I am fortunate when I think of her.

One by one they came to her … these important men who would play their part in shaping her reign for good or for evil. The thought sobered her, but the feeling of exultation remained, and for the first time since the death of her beloved son did her grief recede almost to insignificance. It would return, of course; but at this moment she felt her duty so strongly that there was a new purpose in her life, and during this solemn ceremony she believed that if she could win the love and respect of her subjects she could be happy again.

They were singing the anthem now. The triumphant ceremony was over.

But this was not the end; there was the banquet to follow. How willingly she would have dispensed with that; there was nothing she wanted so much now as to lie on her bed and rest her poor aching feet. She would like quiet Abigail Hill to unbind her hair and massage her forehead while she talked to her of the coronation and how she intended to be a good Queen. Abigail Hill would understand; and she would believe that this could be. What pleasure then to be alone in her bedchamber with Abigail Hill!

That could not be. Knowing how wearying she would find this coronation since, although she was carried to the Abbey in her chair, it would be necessary to walk up to the altar and stand for a while, she had vaguely hinted that the banquet might be dispensed with. How horrified Sarah had been at the thought!

“What!” she had cried. “They would say you were afraid. Have you forgotten what happened at William and Mary’s banquet? Then, when Dymoke made his challenge a glove was thrown … and what a scandal that made! The Jacobites would say you were afraid the same thing would happen at your coronation. No, banquet there must be, and attend you must.”

She had to agree that Sarah was right; but Sarah’s voice seemed to have become louder since the accession and more authoritative.

A banquet always had a certain charm for her; however tired she was she could always show appreciation for good food. At her left hand at the table sat George, benign and uxorious; his little eyes, embedded in fat, glistening at the sight of all the good things on the table.

It would have been a pleasant ending to the ceremonies if she were not so tired.

Dymoke made his appearance and no one accepted his challenge, and the faint embarrassment which memories of the previous coronation had provoked was ended.

It had been an inspiring and invigorating day but she was glad it was over. Anne was divested of her coronation robes at the Court of Wards and helped into the chair in which she would be carried back to St. James’s Palace. Back she thought to Abigail’s soothing ministrations. Oh, to be lying on her bed with that good woman within call!

There were bonfires in the streets; the sounds of music drifted along the river; and as she entered the Palace Anne heard sounds of revelry in the state apartments. Her attendants were preparing to give her a royal welcome.

She heard the shouts: “God save Queen Anne.”

There were toasts to be drunk and George’s eyes gleamed at the prospect, for much as he loved food he loved wine better.

Anne’s heart sank, for she had believed it would be possible to go straight to her bed. Lord Lindsay, the Chamberlain, noticed how tired she was and leaning towards Prince George said: “Perhaps Your Highness would propose going to bed.”

George looked like a child who was in danger of losing a toy he has hoped for. Then he said: “I cannot propose. I am Her Majesty’s subject. I can do nought but what she proposes.”

Anne overhearing this laughed and: “Well then, George, as I am so very tired I command you to come to bed.”

She held out her hand. George took it; and they retired to the royal bedchamber.

While the Queen was sleeping Sarah left the bedchamber in charge of Abigail Hill and went to seek her husband. She found him in their apartment waiting for her and she flew triumphantly into his arms.

“So, at last it has come!” she cried.

“ ’Tis so. But this, my love, is the beginning.”

“Never fear. I shall tell her what she must do.”

“That you will, but we must not forget that she has a Parliament. We have to go carefully. Rochester is after the office of Lord Treasurer. He must not get it, Sarah. If he does that is the end of our hopes.”

“Rochester! He shall not have office! I shall forbid Morley to consider it for a moment.”

“Two things you have forgotten, dearest. He is her uncle and she is the Queen.”

“I forget nothing. Uncle or no, he shall not have the post. And Queen or not, she shall obey me.”

“For God’s sake, my love, do not let our success go to your head.”

“Marl, I could find it in my heart to be angry with you.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “Nay,” he said, “never. You and I are as one, Sarah, and you know it. I am too cautious and you are too quick. Listen, love, let us stand together and with your speed and my caution we cannot fail.”

“Well,” she said with a grudging smile, “let us hear what you plan.”

“To keep Rochester out. He will vote against war and that will be the ruin of our country. We have to stop the French from commanding Europe. And I am going to do it.”

“Well, you are the commander of the Army.”

“Of what use if the chief minister were against me? Even if I succeeded in prosecuting the war I should be denied the necessary supplies. No. I want a Lord Treasurer who is completely with me and there is one man for the job: Godolphin.”

“Godolphin it shall be. Was it not for this purpose that we allowed Henrietta to marry his boy?”

“I have spoken to him, Sarah, and he tells me he has no love for the job.”

“No love for the job. Then Master Godolphin will have to change his views.”

“I have tried to persuade him.”

“You leave Godolphin to me. I will make him see his duty.”

John smiled. She was fierce; she was forthright; and he fancied Godolphin was a little afraid of her.

“There would be no harm, my dear,” he said, “in adding your voice to mine. You could remind Anne that Godolphin has always supported her—which is more than Rochester has. Remind her how he tried to stop William and Mary when they wanted to reduce her income and how he remained her friend when she was at the height of disfavour. She is not one to forget past friends.”

“She shall be reminded, I promise you. Have no fear, Marl; the Treasury shall go to Godolphin. And there is one other matter I wish to take up with you. It’s our own young John. I believe you have been encouraging him.”

“Oh, come, Sarah, it’s natural enough the boy should want to follow his father’s profession.”

“In due course. At the moment he stays at Cambridge.”

“Well, that is agreed. But there is surely no need for you to continue to show the boy your displeasure. He has obeyed you. Is that not enough?”

“I do not expect my children to attempt to disobey me.”

“He is but a boy.”

“But he was ready to defy me!”

John laughed affectionately. She was overbearing and arrogant, but the magic of her presence never failed to enchant him. With her flashing blue eyes and the indignant colour in her cheeks, he thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Even his daughters—beauties all—could not compete with their mother.

She should have her way, of course—even though he must lay a gentle restraining hand on her.

“Sarah, my love, do not let our son feel the force of your displeasure too long.”

“He will have to learn that I know what is best for him. But … there are important matters which need attention. I shall see Godolphin without delay and point out where his duty lies.”

Sarah came into the Queen’s bedchamber where Abigail was kneeling at Anne’s feet, bathing her swollen ankles.

“Hill has such gentle hands,” murmured Anne.

“Yes, yes,” said Sarah, signing to Abigail to get up, take her basin and be gone.

Abigail raised her eyes to the Queen who nodded her head slightly, at which Abigail dried and powdered the royal feet, while Sarah looked on impatiently. With lowered eyes, Abigail was asking herself: How can the Queen allow this? But she seems to enjoy her servitude to this woman.

Sarah waved a hand and Abigail, clasping the bowl in her hand, left the apartment.

As she went on, Abigail heard Anne murmur: “Such a good creature.”

“I have matters which must be discussed between us two. Hill can come back later and do what you wish.”

“Pray be seated, dear Mrs. Freeman.”

“Well,” said Sarah, “you will have noticed how those who have hitherto treated you with contempt have now miraculously become your friends. We must be very watchful of such; but you can trust me to be on the alert for them.”

“You are thinking of …”

“Your uncle, Rochester. Oh, he is now preening himself, I can tell you. Uncle to Her Majesty the Queen of England! Never mind if before he treated her with contempt. Never mind if he sided with that arch scoundrel, that Dutch Abortion! Never mind if he voted to reduce your income! Never mind if he never came near you when your sister and her miserable spouse picked their quarrels with you! Oh, never mind! Now he comes creeping back and would be My Lord Treasurer … if you please.”

“It is true that he was not always my friend, but I have heard that he is an able man, and as my uncle …”

“I know that Mrs. Morley would never forget her true friends. When I think of what a good friend Sidney Godolphin has been to you, when I think of the brilliance of that man! I said to Mr. Freeman: I know Her Majesty, my dearest Mrs. Morley, I know that she is not one to be led astray by the whining of curs who a short time ago were yapping at her heels.”

“It’s true of course, Mrs. Freeman.”

“Mrs. Morley agrees with me that Mr. Freeman is a genius … an absolute genius. She can safely leave the conduct of her armies to him. In the past he has had to suffer the envy of others less gifted. But that is over now. There is only one man with whom he could work and it is an essential fact that the Queen’s commander of the Armies and her Chief Minister must work together.”

“I do agree.”

“Then it can only be the Treasury for Godolphin and Master Rochester must understand that his Queen is not a fool to be duped by his pretty speeches. Godolphin at home; Marlborough abroad. Why, Mrs. Morley, you will indeed make England great … with their help.”

“I have always liked Sidney Godolphin.…”

“Then that little matter is settled. He shall be informed. Now I am going to tell you about the trouble I am having with my son. The boy has dared challenge my plans for his future. What do you think of that.”

“That is a little wicked of the young man, Mrs. Freeman.”

“He would join the Army without delay, if you please. He would leave Cambridge forthwith when I have decided he shall stay there.”

“He is eager to be a soldier … just like my boy. I can see him now, dear Mrs. Freeman, drilling his soldiers in the park. What a boy he was.…”

Let her rant on a little, thought Sarah. It would be a reward for giving the Treasury to Godolphin.

With Godolphin Lord Treasurer, and himself Commander of the Armed Forces, Marlborough saw that the future looked bright. He meant to wage war on the Continent; he was going to make his country the major power; but he needed absolute support at home. A great deal depended on the Queen—but Sarah could be relied upon to guide her. Even so there would be powerful enemies, for there were many ministers who were opposed to war. Both Whigs and Tories were oddly assorted within their own ranks. The Tory party was the Church party and the landowning classes; the Whigs were the moneyed section of the community, the commercial interest. Both parties had their encumbrances. The Tories the bigoted High Church dignitaries and the Jacobites; the Whigs, the Noncomformists and the Calvinists. But it was the Whigs who would support the war because war meant an expansion of commerce; while the Tories had no such means of enriching themselves and were impoverished by taxes. Yet in spite of his desire for war Marlborough was a Tory and there was dissension even in his close family circle, for Sarah herself was inclining more and more to Whiggery.