26th.Lord Halifax told me he thought it would be a good thing if the Prince would come over, and just upon the meeting of parliament, not knowing that it had ever been spoken of before. Lord Sunderland told me that the Duchess of Portsmouth was unsatisfied with the Prince; and desired me to advise him to write to her, and make some application to her, for that she will be of great use to us, particularly against the Duke of Monmouth; and I am to let him know how instrumental she hath been in changing the council, and in several other things. In short, I am to tell him that she is one Lord Sunderland does make use of, and that he must do so too if he intends to do any good with the King. She hath more power over him than can be imagined. Nobody can excuse what she hath done, but I hope well from her for the future. He thinks it necessary for him to see the Duke before he comes over; but it must be a good while before, or else it will give great
rection of affairs, considering the influence they had upon the House, and for this end to agree with them in the banishment of the Duke either for a certain time, or for the King's life, and desired to know whether I would fall into it with them, and join in bringing it about with the King. I told my Lord Sunderland positively I would not." — Temple's Works, ii. 503.
