VI.--The Wife of the Great Conde 80 PART II. The Duchess of Portsmouth 93 PART III. BOOK I. PRINCESS DES URSINS. CHAP. I.--Two ladies of the Bedchamber during _the war of the Spanish Succession_--Lady Churchill and the Princess des Ursins--Political motives for their elevation in England and Spain 127 II.--The Princess des Ursins--The married life of Anne de la Tremouille--She becomes the centre of contemporary politics in Rome 131 III.--Madame des Ursins aspires to govern Spain--Her manoeuvres to secure the post of Camerara-Mayor 141 IV.--The Princess assumes the functions of Camerara-Mayor to the young Queen of Spain--An unpropitious royal wedding 148 V.--Onerous and incongruous duties of the Camerara-Mayor--She renders Marie Louise popular with the Spaniards--The policy adopted by the Princess for the regeneration of Spain--Character of Philip and Marie Louise--Two political systems combated by Madame des Ursins--She effects the ruin of her political rivals and reigns absolutely in the Councils of the Crown 161 VI.--The Princess makes a false step in her Statecraft--A blunder and an imbroglio 175 VII.--The Princess quits Madrid by command of Louis XIV.--After a short exile, she receives permission to visit Versailles 184 VIII.--The Princess triumphs at Versailles 192 BOOK II. CHAP. I.--Sarah Jennings and John Churchill 207 II.--State of parties in action on the accession of Queen Anne--Harley and Bolingbroke aim at overthrowing the sway of the female "Viceroy"--Abigail Hill becomes the instrument of the Duchess's downfall--Squabbles between the Queen and her Mistress of the Robes 215 III.--Success of the Cabal--The Queen emancipates herself from all obligations to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough--The downfall of the Duchess and the Whigs resolved upon--The Duchess's stormy and final interview with the Queen 233