Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/143

Rh of Orange that she never writ any letter, but she hoped I would make the best compliments I could for her. At my taking leave of the Duchess of Portsmouth, she said a great deal of her readiness to do the Prince any service. I am to tell the Prince the chief reasons for the King dissolving this parliament; it is principally because the King had no hope of the last, having done so many things for them, and having such ill returns as sending away the Duke, Lord Danby, purging the courts at Westminster, establishing a new council; which was done because we saw the King going into the hands of such as the Duchess of Portsmouth would recommend.

This day I dined at Shene with Lord Sunderland and Sir Henry Capel; going thither, we talked much of the Prince's coming, the advantage it would be to him and to us all, how they would be pleased if he did make a speech in favour of the Provinces, and of the interest of England against France. We afterwards fell to consult of elections.

15th.I took leave of the King at Hampton Court, and presently after the Duke of Monmouth desired me to give the Prince of Orange thanks for the message he received from him by Sir W. Temple; and for all the favours he did him at the army, with the