Soldier of Fortune

'I begin to think they do not want us to win this confounded war,' complained Marlborough, toying with a glass of brandy. 'Every time I am in a position to deliver a telling blow, I am held back by the Dutch. I vow, Sidney, there have been many occasions when I've been sorely tempted to resign my command and be done with it all.'

'Far too much is at stake for you to do that,' said his companion seriously. 'The only way we will ever defeat King Louis is by having you to lead the armies of the Grand Alliance. With English, Dutch and Austrian troops at your disposal — not to mention practical support from elsewhere in Europe — you could conceivably mount a decisive assault on the enemy.'

'I could — but only if I am given a free hand.'

'I do my best to keep Parliament off your back, John.'

'They still hamper me dreadfully.'

'That's the penalty you pay for having a Tory government,' said the other with a shrug. 'The awful truth is that my fellow Tories do not believe in armed intervention on the Continent. Oh, they are happy enough to commit our naval resources to the war but they baulk at the notion of sending more troops and equipment to the Netherlands. They constantly bicker about cost.'

'Then someone should point out the cost of not engaging fully in this war,' observed Marlborough tartly. 'Do they actually want a Frenchman on the Spanish throne? Are they content to stand by while Louis XIV annexes Spain before threatening every country on their respective boundaries? It's madness!' he argued, smacking the table with a palm for emphasis. 'Politicians must be made to confront the enormity of the danger we face,'

'I'm a politician, John.'

Marlborough grinned. 'No, Sidney,' he said with affection, 'you're that contradiction in terms — a wise politician.'

Sidney, Earl of Godolphin, acknowledged the compliment with a smile. As Lord Treasurer, he was effectively Queen Anne's leading minister, and he brought acuity, experience and a tireless energy to the role. Five years older than his host, he was now well into his fifties and time had etched deep lines into his face. Though he kept it well-hidden, Godolphin harboured a secret sorrow, still mourning the death of his wife, Margaret, who had died in childbirth within a year of the marriage. Their baby son, Francis, had survived and grown up to wed Marlborough's daughter, Henrietta, thus bringing the two fathers even closer together.

It was a friendship that excited great envy and spite. Cynics always claimed that Godolphin's advancement was entirely due to his connection with the Marlborough family. Not only was the Duke much admired by the Queen, but his wife, Sarah, was her unrivalled favourite and thus able to exert immense influence at Court. Those who claimed that Godolphin owed his position to the triumvirate of Duke, Duchess and Queen ignored the fact that he had held high office under three successive kings and, over the years, acquired all the attributes of a statesman.

Marlborough was never flamboyant but, beside the sober garb of Godolphin, his own attire looked positively ostentatious. The Lord Treasurer was a quiet man in every respect, astute, thoughtful and in the habit of measuring his words carefully before he spoke. He had unquestioning faith in his friend's military capabilities and diplomatic skills. For his part, the Duke of Marlborough trusted Godolphin completely, relying heavily on his amity and good counsel.

'I am too old to lead an army into battle, Sidney,' he said.

'Nonsense!' protested the other. 'You will never be too old. There's no better captain-general in Europe. You've proved that time and again, John.'

'I've tried to prove it,' said Marlborough, 'but I've been dogged from the outset by Dutch circumspection. My hands are tied by the States-General. Instead of trusting me to take every decision in the field, they attached two Deputies to me to dissuade me from what they consider to be rash action. These men are civilians, for heaven's sake — what do they know about warfare?'

'Last year must have been very disappointing for you.'

'It was so frustrating, Sidney. I drew up a plan for converging movements on Antwerp, while troops would also move against Ostend in the north-west and against the Lines of Brabant.'

'Yes, it was a typically ambitious plan of yours.'

'Much too ambitious for our Dutch allies,' said Marlborough, taking a sip of his brandy. 'Instead of obeying my orders, General Cohorn went off on a foraging expedition, would you believe! That was the first of two failed attempts I made to bring Villeroi to battle before Antwerp. How on earth can we defeat the French if we do not fight them toe to toe in a proper engagement?'

'Did you make that point to Grand Pensionary Heinsius?'

'I did more than that, Sidney. I gave him an ultimatum. I told him that I would never again take the field with such obstacles in my way and be forced to depend on the unanimous consent of his generals. Heinsius needs to knock a few senior heads together in the Dutch army,' added Marlborough soulfully. 'I would rather die than put up with anything like that again.'

'That should bring Heinsius to his senses,' said Godolphin. 'If we lose the Duke of Marlborough, we lose the war and the Spanish Succession will go unchallenged. France will be victorious yet again.'

He was about to expand on his comment when there was a tap on the door and a liveried servant stepped into the dining room.

'Excuse me, Your Grace,' he said. 'You have a visitor.'

'I was not expecting one,' returned Marlborough.

'The gentleman says he is here on urgent business.'

'Did he give you a name?'

'Yes, Your Grace — Captain Daniel Rawson.'

'Then bring him in at once,' said Marlborough, getting quickly to his feet and sending the man out with a dismissive wave. 'I've been waiting for Rawson to turn up.'

'Who is he?' asked Godolphin.

'Remarkable fellow — I first met him after Sedgemoor when he was a lad of ten. His father had fought with the rebels and one of my men felt that he was entitled to violate the boy's mother by way of punishment. Daniel Rawson saved her honour by killing him.'

Godolphin blinked. 'A boy of ten killed a soldier?'

'Yes — with the man's own sword. I presented it to him as a gift. He's learnt to use it well, believe me. After his father was hanged, he and his mother fled to Amsterdam. Three years later, he returned here in the army of William of Orange.'

'So he was involved in the Glorious Revolution, was he?'

'From that point on, Daniel Rawson and I have always fought on the same side. I followed his career with interest. He was far too good a soldier to waste his talents in the Dutch army so I persuaded him to join a British regiment.' The servant showed in the visitor. 'Ah, here he is! Good to see you, Daniel.'

'Thank you, Your Grace,' said Daniel.

'Allow me to present the Earl of Godolphin.'

Daniel gave a respectful bow. 'It's an honour to meet you, my lord. I apologise for interrupting your meal.'

'Not at all,' said Godolphin, rising from the table and running an approving eye over the visitor. 'I hear good things of you, Rawson, and praise from the commander-in-chief is praise indeed.' He glanced from one to the other. 'I'll leave you alone, gentlemen. I can see that you have need of private conference.'

'Don't let us frighten you away, Sidney,' said Marlborough. 'You're welcome to stay and hear what Daniel has to say.'

'After a splendid meal like that, what I most require is a walk in your delightful garden. At my time of life, a man must pay particular attention to his constitution. Pray excuse me.'

Godolphin left the room in a flurry of farewells. Marlborough came across to give Daniel a proper greeting by shaking his hand then he waved him to a chair and sat opposite him. He noted the dust on his clothing and the perspiration on his brow.