Page:English Historical Review Volume 37.djvu/57

 1922 COUNCIL AND CABINET, 1679-88 49 Sir T. Chichele in 1687. Thus at the end of 1688 the privy council contained forty-eight members. More important, however, than this augmentation beyond the number prescribed in 1679 was the total failure to observe the promise that policy should be in accordance with the advice of the reformed council. Small unofficial cliques, or even single individuals such as Barillon or the duchess of Portsmouth, 1 often wielded more influence than any properly constituted body, and during 1679-80 Charles chiefly relied first on a group of four 2 and then of three advisers, 3 and finally Laurence Hyde was the only minister cognizant of the treaty with Louis XIV which enabled Charles to dispense with parliament for the rest of his reign. 4 The king's failure to redeem his pledge to govern by the ' constant advice ' of the privy council is most clearly shown in his dealings with parliament. The parliament which met in March 1679 was prorogued on 27 May without the council's being informed beforehand at all. The king explained that if he had allowed a debate in council on the question his intention would have become known and the two houses would have thus had an opportunity of passing some angry votes. 5 This sudden proroga- tion, we are told, was received ' with very great resentment of both houses ; and such rage of my Lord Shaftesbury, that he said upon it aloud in the house, that he would have the heads of those who were the advisers of this prorogation '. 6 Charles soon determined to go a step further and to get rid of the obnoxious assembly altogether. On this occasion, however, he and his four confidential advisers planned to secure a majority of the council on their side by sounding members before the formal meeting. 7 By some extraordinary oversight this prudent step was neglected, and when on 3 July Charles brought forward the suggestion that the parliament should be dissolved he met with determined opposition. According to Temple, the lord chancellor 1 As Sir H.(? enry) C.(? apel) is reported to have said on 26 October 1680, Barillon resembled ' rather a prime minister of state of this kingdom than a counsellor to another prince ' (Kennet, Complete History, iii. 385). Of the duchess Halifax wrote : 2 Essex, Halifax, Sunderland, and Temple. 3 Godolphin, Hyde, and Sunderland. 4 ' Mr. Heyde qui est le seul des ministres avec qui j'aye commerce ' (Barillon to Louis, 3 April 1681 (N.S.). Transcripts from Paris, Public Record Office) 6 Southwell to Ormonde (Hist. MSS. Comm., Ormonde MSS., N.S., iv. 520). The great secrecy observed is well illustrated by a letter from Henry Coventry, secretary <jf state, to Ormonde, in which he calls the prorogation ' great news to me ', and by an entry in the diary of the lord privy seal : ' This morning was in parliament where about two of the clock the king passed some bills & prorogued us unexpectedly till Aug. 14. God avert danger by it ' (Anglesey's Diary, Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 18730. Of. Ormonde MSS. v. 117, 118). Sir William Temple's Works (ed. 1754), i. 424-5. ' Ibid. p. 429. VOL- XXXVII. NO. CXLV. E
 * Her chamber was the true Cabinet Council ' (Character of King Charles II).