Accession of the Queen--Meeting of the Houses of Parliament--Scotland and Ireland--Power of Marlborough--The Revenue--Tory Colour of the Ministry--The Coronation--Declaration of War--Marlborough goes to the Seat of War--General Aspect of Affairs--Marlborough's Difficulties--His Campaign--Operations by Sea--Meeting of Parliament--Supply--Marlborough's Dukedom--The Occasional Conformity Bill--Dismissal of Rochester--Opening of the Campaign of 1703--Fall of Bonn--Failure to take Antwerp--Savoy and Portugal join the Allies--Visit of the Archduke Charles to England--The Storm--Jacobite Conspiracy--Ashby _versus_ White--Queen Anne's Bounty--Marlborough's Great Plans--The States-General hoodwinked--His March--Dismay of the French--Junction with Eugene--Advance on the Danube--Assault of the Schellenberg--The Prince of Baden's Conceit--Approach of Tallard--The Eve of Blenheim--The Battle--Conclusion of the Campaign--Marlborough's Diplomacy--Capture of Gibraltar--Battle of Malaga--Proceedings in Parliament--The Campaign of 1705--Attempt to recover Gibraltar--Peterborough's Exploits in Spain--Proposal to Invite the Electress Sophia to England--Consequent Legislation--Battle of Ramillies--Eugene relieves Turin--Disasters in Spain--Meeting of the Commissioners for the Union--Condition of the Treaty--Opposition in Scotland--Riots in Edinburgh--Conduct of the Opposition--The Measure carried by Bribery--Its Discussion in the English Parliament--The Royal Assent given 535
Negotiations for Peace--The Ministry becomes Whig--Harley--Marlborough and Charles of Sweden--The Allies in Spain--Battle of Almanza--The French Triumphant in Spain--Attack on Toulon--Destruction of Shovel's Fleet--Jacobitism in Scotland--First Parliament of Great Britain--Abigail Hill--The Gregg Affair--Retirement of Harley and St. John from the Ministry--Attempted Invasion of Scotland--Campaign of 1708--Battle of Oudenarde--Capture of Lille--Leake takes Sardinia and Minorca--Death of Prince George of Denmark--The Junto--Terrible Plight of France--Marlborough's Plans for 1709--Louis Negotiates with Holland--Torcy's Terms--Ultimatum of the Allies--Rejection of the Terms--Patriotism of the French Nation--Fall of Tournay--Battle of Malplaquet--Meeting of Parliament--Dr. Sacheverell's Sermons--His Impeachment resolved upon--Attitude of the Court--The Trial and Sacheverell's Defence--The Riots--Dispersal of the Rabble--The Sentence--Bias of the Queen--The Tories in Power--Renewed Overtures for Peace--Their Failure--The Campaigns in the Netherlands and in Spain--Brihuega and its Consequence--Marlborough's Reign at an End--Unpopularity of Marlborough--Dismissal of the Duchess--Triumph of the Tories--Guiscard's Attack on Harley--Popularity of Harley--Marlborough's Last Campaign--Failure of the Attack on Quebec--The Ministry determine to make Peace--Overtures to the Pretender--He refuses to Change his Religion--Gualtier's Mission to Versailles--Indignation of the Dutch--The Basis of Negotiations--Signing of the Preliminaries--Excitement Abroad and at Home--Prorogation of Parliament--Strengthening of the Ministry--Debates in the two Houses--The Whigs adopt the Occasional Conformity Bill--Creation of Peers--Dismissal of Marlborough from his Employments--Walpole expelled the House 574