These victories had not prevented the position of Marlborough from being undermined by party intrigues at home. In the early part of Anne's reign his political friends were among the Tories, and the ministry under Sidney Godolphin was chiefly composed of members of that party. After a year or two, however, the more ardent Tories withdrew, and two younger adherents of the same cause, Harley and St. John, were introduced in May into the ministry. The duchess, partly through the influence of her son-in-law, the earl of Sunderland, who came into office against the queen's wish in Dec. 1706, and partly through the op position of the Tories to the French war, had gone over to the Whig cause, and she pressed her views on the sovereign with more vehemence than discretion. The love of the two friends changed into hate, and no opportunity for humiliating the family of Marl borough was allowed to pass., Sunderland and Godolphin were the first to fall (July—Aug. 1710) ; a few months later the duchess was dismissed from her offices; and the fall of Marlborough him self came on the last day of 171r. He went to the Continent in Nov. 1712 and remained abroad until the death of Anne (Aug. I, Then he once more returned to England and resumed his old military posts, but he took little part in public affairs. He died on June 16, 1722, at Cranbourn Lodge, near Windsor. His re mains were deposited in Westminster Abbey, in the vault at the east end of King Henry VII.'s chapel, but they now rest in a mausoleum in the chapel at Blenheim. His widow, to whom must be assigned a considerable share both in his rise and in his fall, survived till Oct. 18, 1744. To Pitt she left Lio,000 and to Chesterfield twice that sum and a reversionary interest in her landed property at Wimbledon.
The rapid rise of Marlborough to the highest position in the State was due to his singular tact and his diplomatic skill in the management of men. Through his consideration for the welfare of his soldiers he held together for years an army drawn from every nation in Christendom. Alike in planning and in executing, he took infinite pains in all points of detail. Nothing escaped his observation, and in the hottest moment of the fight the coolness of his intellect was conspicuous. His enemies affected to attribute his uniform success to fortune, and they magnified his love of money by drawing up balance sheets which included every penny which he had received, but omitted the pounds which he had spent in the cause he had at heart. All that can be alleged in excuse of his attempts to serve two masters, the king whom he had de serted and the king who had received him into favour, is that not one of his associates was without sin in this respect.