eem in the presence of
the enemy to be the very Genius of Victory.

I think it was more from conviction than policy, though that policy was
surely the most prudent in the world, that the great Duke always spoke
of his victories with an extraordinary modesty, and as if it was not so
much his own admirable genius and courage which achieved these amazing
successes, but as if he was a special and fatal instrument in the hands
of Providence, that willed irresistibly the enemy's overthrow. Before
his actions he always had the church service read solemnly, and
professed an undoubting belief that our Queen's arms were blessed and
our victory sure. All the letters which he writ after his battles
show awe rather than exultation; and he attributes the glory of these
achievements, about which I have heard mere petty officers and men
bragging with a pardonable vainglory, in nowise to his own bravery or
skill, but to the superintending protection of heaven, which he ever
seemed to think was our especial ally. And our army got to believe so,
and the enemy learnt to think so too; for we never entered into a battle
without a perfect confidence that it was to end in a victory; nor did
the French, after the issue of Blenheim, and that astonishing triumph of
Ramillies, ever meet us without feeling that the game was lost before it
was begun to be played, and that our general's fortune was irresistible.
Here, as at Blenheim, the Duke's charger was shot, and 'twas thought for
a moment he was dead. As he mounted another, Binfield, his master of the
horse, kneeling to hold his Grace's stirrup, had his head shot away by
a cannon-ball. A French gentleman of the Royal Household, that was a
prisoner with us, told the writer that at the time of the charge of
the Household, when their horse and ours were mingled, an Irish officer
recognized the Prince-Duke, and calling out--"Marlborough, Marlborough!"
fired his pistol at him a bout-portant, and that a score more carbines
and pistols were discharged at him. Not one touched him: he rode through
the French Curiassiers sword-in-hand, and entirely unhurt, and calm and
smiling, rallied the German Horse, that was reeling before the enemy,
brought these and twenty squadrons of Orkney's back upon them, and
drove the French across the river, again leading the charge himself, and
defeating the only dangerous move the French made that day.

Major-General Webb commanded on the left of our line, and had his own
r