Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough's letter to Queen Anne, year 1707

Source:

Private correspondence of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough: illustrative of the court and times of Queen Anne, volume 1, H. Colburn, London, 1838

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89073382673&view=1up&seq=137

Above: Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, painted after Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Above: Queen Anne, painted by Charles Jervas after Sir Godfrey Kneller.

The letter:

[first part missing] seems to have in the worst men in this kingdom; but this is certain, that neither Lord Marlborough nor Lord Treasurer differ in what I have so often said, whenever I have had occasion to speak upon these subjects to either of them, and very lately I have some proofs of that by letters from Lord Marlborough, therefore I hope your majesty will be not so much offended with me as you have lately been, if I believe those things for your good that are thought so, by those that have served you with so much success, — men that have a view of all things and all sorts of people, whereas your Majesty has had the misfortune to be misinformed in general things. Even from twelve years old, you have heard in your father's court, strange names given to men by flatterers in these former reigns, for no reason in the world but that they would not contribute to carry on Popery. That, and many other things too long to repeat in a letter, has given your Majesty very wrong notions; and you are like people that never read but one sort of books — you can't possibly judge, unless you heard all things stated fairly. Besides, everybody in your station has a great disadvantage in conversing freely as others do in the world, and it is not so easy for you to come at truth as those that see with their own eyes all that passes; you must depend upon the information and judgement of others, and I am sorry you have so little opinion of those, that have hitherto led your Majesty into no misfortunes, nor that can have no interest but yours. Much more might be said, but I will not trouble you with another sheet of paper; I will end in begging and praying that you may be freed from the enchantment, which is the only thing I can call it.