Chapter 53: Marlborough, Grand Duke
The problem with Whitehall compared to Windsor, as far as John was concerned was that Whitehall was constantly hot, the number of bodies within the Palace-which was bigger than Versailles according to some estimates- meant that there was always some chance of sweating. Whereas Windsor was more balanced, and even keeled, ensuring that those living within it could get some air when needed. The Queen had insisted through executive decree that all those who wished to attend court, live in Whitehall, with some eight hundred rooms and more being built, meant the nobility were always meeting one another. Rivalries were formenting, such as the one between John and Peterborough.
Yet whilst Peterborough had an exalted military reputation, he was not in the Queen’s cabinet nor was he her closest advisor. John was. That was why when he spoke he knew he’d be listened to. “Your Majesty, I have conducted a thorough review of the army as you requested, and I have found the following things.” He looked at the Queen who nodded for him to continue. “We have enough cannons and gunpowder to ensure a stable army campaign for four years at present. We have enough food and water to ensure a stable supply for a campaign of eight years at the present. And with the regiments current stationed across England, Wales and Ireland, we have enough men to keep fighting for eight years also. We have the financial capability to keep these men going and to add perhaps another ten thousand men at a stretch.” Given his conclusions at the end of the Six Years War, John had urged the Queen and put the case before Parliament for keeping a standing army of forty thousand men. He’d been successful in that, and had been tasked with keeping them maintained and trained as Master General of the Ordinance, and Commander in Chief of the Forces.
“And should war be declared tomorrow, as we are sure it might be given, King Louis’ inclinations, would the army be capable of holding its own in protracted sieges?” The Queen asked.
After the war, John had met with Her Majesty to discuss the war, and he had informed her of his belief that the days of siege warfare might well be over. Open battles were necessary. “I believe, Your Majesty that Your Majesty’s army at present could withstand a siege for some three years, it could maintain one for four years. But I believe we must look away from sieges toward active combat.”
“And if that were the case, how would we do?” The Queen asked, John once again got the sense that the Queen wished for another war, to prove her mettle to the people and to the world. He had been raised to the Dukedom of Marlborough after his return from war, and he knew that he would need to justify such a rise.
“I believe, Your Majesty from my assessments of how the army performed during the recently concluded war, and the performance of the regiments across the board during drills and mock exercises, that we would be able to win three out of four battles that we fought.” John said. He noticed that Sunderland was hiding a smirk. The man did not like him, he knew, considered him beneath him. John ignored him and focused simply on the Queen. “Your Majesty, whilst I would like for us to win all of our battles, it is my belief that this is the best we can hope for now. With the current training and equipment that we have.”
The Queen said nothing for some time, instead she drank some wine, and then drank some water, and for a moment John worried that he had said something wrong and was about to get a tongue lashing. It was only when she flicked her fingers that he realised what she was doing. Then she spoke and he got his confirmation. “Sidney, tell us, what are our financial restrictions at the present moment?”
Sidney Godolphin, a friend of John’s who sat on the Board of the Treasury and aimed to become Lord High Treasurer, looked down at his notes and then said. “Your Majesty, at present the Bank is making a healthy profit, and government funds are growing by the month. I would say that our limits are merely what you wish them to be.”
That was the smart answer, the Queen never liked being told what she could not do, and usually relied on her husband, the Duke of Cumberland to break the news to her. The Duke had decided not to attend today’s meeting, instead John had heard he had retired to Bath for a week, taking his and the Queen’s children with him for some fun. The Queen was to join them after this meeting. “Very well,” the Queen replied. “We have received word that there are some within Parliament who wish for fresh elections to be called. Those who believe that it would benefit the country, especially in light of the missives being sent by both the Earl of Argyll and the Earl of Perth in regards to discussions of union. We wish to get your thoughts.”
To John fresh elections would do more harm than good. Those who sat on the front bench in the Commons were people he was friends with, people such as Henry St John and Robert Harley, whilst those such as Stanhope and Hopkins had the support of Peterborough. Deciding to speak before anyone else could, he said. “Your Majesty, I do not think that new elections would serve much purpose. The people calling for them are those who stand opposed to the country’s agenda. They wish to bring their own form of puritanism into the fore. I would recommend meeting with the Earl of Perth to get the best out of any unification discussions.”
Shrewsbury who was John’s ally, if not friend, spoke then. “Your Majesty, I agree with His Grace. I feel that the best hand we can get is to ensure that the Scots know where we come from is a position of strength. Every question asked of the gentry has shown no party would have a majority in the Commons if it went to a new election. Whilst today we have a strong majority.”
The Queen looked at Sunderland and asked. “Sunderland, what do you think?”
Sunderland was a believer in the heresy that was the system of Versailles, he would never want fresh elections, therefore John was not surprised that he said. “I agree with Shrewsbury, Your Majesty. New elections makes no sense.”
The Queen nodded. “Very well, Parliament remains in session. Now if you would excuse us, we have a celebration to attend to.” The Queen rose as did they all, they bowed their heads as she left. John was left wondering if his daughters would come back with stories about the adventures they got up to with the Queen’s daughters, before he remembered he was going as well.
