Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/79

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INTRODUCTION.
lxvii

the rest remain as they were. Yesterday was the first day of their opening; yesterday, likewise, the bill for incapacitating my Lord Treasurer and for banishing him was sent down from the Lords to the Commons, but 'twas flung out with great scorn, and they proceed to a bill of attainder, and seem now not to be content with less. They talk also of making his two sons, by an act, incapable of bearing any office in the Kingdom. This is all the news I can send you.

"Mrs. Boscawen, Mrs. Godolphin, and I dined yesterday at Parsons' Green, when we wished for you, and resolved to come quietly to Deptford. Our friend Mr. Godolphin seems to like his employment much better since my Lord of Essex was joined with him.

"My little boy is very well, and I am entirely and sincerely yours,

" A. S."

The course of their true friendship did not always run quite smooth. Lady Sunderland was one who could ill bear even the appearance of a slight, and she writes to her friend more than once in this strain: