Image used by permission: Robert H. Taylor Collection. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Princeton University Library
PRIOR to [JOHN CHURCHILL, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH], 16/[27] November 1709, Westminster
- 1. 1709.1127.Fa
West:r Nov:r 16: 1709.My Lord./
I haue been at your
Graces'
Grace's
Levée among the Many
who pay their general Complement to you, but
had not the good fortune to approach near e
nough: I therefore take this oppertunity of
your being a little alone, to congratulate your
safe arrival in England, and of wishing you
may find here all those gratefull returns w:ch
the Glory of your Arms (and particularly of
the last Campagne )1 may deserue . I assure my
self that I continue in your Graces' fa[v]our,2
and in that assurance I place the welfare of
my life: but one of those Things w:ch would
make life much easier to Me than it is at
present, is, my being released from the fear
of lying under my Lady Dutchesses' displea
sure: 3 I beleiue some of your Graces' friends
will trouble you in my behalf, that by your
Kindneſs to Me I may be restored to the Com
miſsion ,4 in wch there is now a Vacancy,
or sent to Florence, or where else your
Commands may dispose of Me, and that too,
at such time as you may think proper: but
if, in my own person, I may say what I most
desire, it is, that I may haue the liberty
of laying my self at my Lady Dutchesses'
feett , and of begging Her to hear Me de
monstrate my Innocence as to any thing![]()
that might ever haue offended Her, and to accept
my service in what ever may hereafter ob
lige Her; in one word, my Lord, to show
Her Grace the contents of this letter:
I haue lost my Employment after Sixteen
years service; fare it well:5 I still sub
sist, God almighty bless your goodneſs
and bounty for it: I desire no more of my
Lady Dutchesse then that She would not
think Me a Villain, and a Libeller: I begg
no other Eclaircissement of what is past, then
that She would forgett it; and with the most
solemn protestation I averr that I haue ever
esteem'd Her as One of the best of Women,
and would justify That esteem with my Life,
thô that at present is no great Complement
for in truth I grow pretty weary of it: your
Grace will be pleased to indulge this request to
who pay their general Complement to you, but
had not the good fortune to approach near e
nough: I therefore take this oppertunity of
your being a little alone, to congratulate your
safe arrival in England, and of wishing you
may find here all those gratefull returns w:ch
the Glory of your Arms (and particularly of
the last Campagne )1 may deserue . I assure my
self that I continue in your Graces' fa[v]our,2
and in that assurance I place the welfare of
my life: but one of those Things w:ch would
make life much easier to Me than it is at
present, is, my being released from the fear
of lying under my Lady Dutchesses' displea
sure: 3 I beleiue some of your Graces' friends
will trouble you in my behalf, that by your
Kindneſs to Me I may be restored to the Com
miſsion ,4 in wch there is now a Vacancy,
or sent to Florence, or where else your
Commands may dispose of Me, and that too,
at such time as you may think proper: but
if, in my own person, I may say what I most
desire, it is, that I may haue the liberty
of laying my self at my Lady Dutchesses'
feett , and of begging Her to hear Me de
monstrate my Innocence as to any thing
that might ever haue offended Her, and to accept
my service in what ever may hereafter ob
lige Her; in one word, my Lord, to show
Her Grace the contents of this letter:
I haue lost my Employment after Sixteen
years service; fare it well:5 I still sub
sist, God almighty bless your goodneſs
and bounty for it: I desire no more of my
Lady Dutchesse then that She would not
think Me a Villain, and a Libeller: I begg
no other Eclaircissement of what is past, then
that She would forgett it; and with the most
solemn protestation I averr that I haue ever
esteem'd Her as One of the best of Women,
and would justify That esteem with my Life,
thô that at present is no great Complement
for in truth I grow pretty weary of it: your
Grace will be pleased to indulge this request to
the most vnhappy but the most faithfull of
your ServantsMat: Prior.
Mr Priors letter to the Duke
of Marlborough in 17096
In a later hand:
Two letters from Prior to the Duke
In a later hand:
Maggs 5/5/24
2154-9-10-27
3.
Prior fell into disfavor with the Duchess in 1704 when he was widely,
though wrongly, assumed to be the author of "Faction Display'd," a poem that
satirized the Whigs, including the Marlboroughs (Lit.
Works 797). He never recovered her favor.
4.
Board of Trade and
Plantations. Prior had served as a Commissioner from his appointment in July
1700 until his dismissal in April 1707.