Sarah Jennings, the future Duchess of Marlborough, was born in 1660.  She belonged to a good though not a noble family, which for many generations possessed a good estate in Hertfordshire.  Her grandfather, Sir John Jennings, was a zealous adherent to the royal cause before the Revolution, and received the Order of the Bath, in company with his patron, Charles I., then Prince of Wales.  When Sarah was twelve years of age, she found a kind friend in the Duchess of York, Mary Beatrice Eleanora, Princess of Modena (an adopted daughter of Louis XIV.), who married James, brother of Charles II.  The young girl was thus introduced to the dangerous circle which surrounded the Duke of York, and she passed her time, not in profitable studies, but in amusements and revels.  She lived in the ducal household as a playmate of the Princess Anne, and was a beautiful, bright, and witty young lady, though not well educated.  In the year 1673 she became acquainted with John Churchill, a colonel of the army and a gentleman of the bedchamber to the Duke of York,—­the latter a post of honor, but of small emolument.  He was at that time twenty-three years of age, a fine-looking and gallant soldier, who had already distinguished himself at the siege of Tangier.  He had also fought under the banners of Marshal Turenne in the Low Countries, by whom he was called the “handsome Englishman.”  At the siege of Maestricht he further advanced his fortunes, succeeding the famous Earl of Peterborough in the command of the English troops, then in alliance with Louis XIV.  He was not a man of intellectual culture, nor was he deeply read.  It is said that even his spelling was bad; but his letters were clear and forcible.  He made up his deficiency in education by irresistibly pleasing manners, remarkable energy, and a coolness of judgment that was seldom known to err.

His acquaintance with the beautiful Sarah Jennings soon ripened into love; but he was too poor to marry.  Nor had she a fortune.  They however became engaged to each other, and the betrothal continued three years.  It was not till 1678 that the marriage took place.  The colonel was domestic in his tastes and amiable in his temper, and his home was happy.  He was always fond of his wife, although her temper was quick and her habits exacting.  She was proud, irascible, and overbearing, while he was meek and gentle.  In other respects they were equally matched, since both were greedy, ambitious, and worldly.  A great stain, too, rested on his character; for he had been scandalously intimate with Barbara Villiers, mistress of Charles II., who gave him L5000, with which he bought an annuity of L500 a year,—­thus enabling him to marry Miss Jennings.

In 1685 Charles II. died, and was succeeded by his brother the Duke of York, as James II.  The new King rewarded his favorite, Colonel Churchill, with a Scotch peerage and the command of a regiment of guards, James’s two daughters, the princesses Mary and Anne, now became great personages.  But from mutual jealousy they did not live together very harmoniously.  Mary, the elder daughter, was much the superior of her sister, and her marriage with William of Orange was particularly happy.