ere
circulated by the enemies of Godolphin, who represented it as a
measure of that minister; and the kingdom was filled with murmurs and
discontent. People openly declared, that the two kingdoms were now
separated by law so as never to be rejoined. Reports were spread that
great quantities of arms had been conveyed to Scotland, and that the
natives were employed in preparations to invade England. All the blame
of these transactions was imputed to lord Godolphin, whom the tories
determined to attack, while the other party resolved to exert their
whole influence for his preservation; yet, in all probability, he
owed his immediate support to the success of his friend the duke of
Marlborough.

SITUATION OF THE EMPEROR'S AFFAIRS.

Nothing could be more deplorable than the situation to which the emperor
was reduced in the beginning of the season. The malcontents in Hungary
had rendered themselves formidable by their success; the elector of
Bavaria possessed all the places on the Danube as far as Passau, and
even threatened the city of Vienna, which must have been infallibly
lost, had the Hungarians and Bavarians acted in concert. By the advice
of prince Eugene, the emperor implored the assistance of her Britannic
majesty; and the duke of Marlborough explained to her the necessity
of undertaking his relief. This nobleman in the month of January had
crossed the sea to Holland, and concerted a scheme with the deputies
of the states-general for the operations of the ensuing campaign. They
agreed that general Averquerque should lie upon the defensive with a
small body of troops in the Netherlands, while the main army of the
allies should act upon the Rhine, under the command of the duke of
Marlborough. Such was the pretext under which this consummate general
concealed another plan, which was communicated to a few only in whose
discretion he could confide. It was approved by the pensionary and
some leading men, who secured its favourable reception with the
states-general when it became necessary to impart the secret to that
numerous assembly. In the meantime, the preparations were made on
pretence of carrying the war to the banks of the Moselle.

MARLBOROUGH MARCHES WITH THE ALLIED ARMY INTO GERMANY.

In the month of April, the duke, accompanied by his brother general
Churchill, lieutentant-general Lumley, the earl of Orkney, and other
officers of distinction, embarked for Holland, where he had a long
conference w