Hearing, however, that a popular clamour was raised, and that the house of commons intended to pass some votes that would be disagreeable to her and her new counsellors, she ordered the earl of Godolphin to write to the duke to dispose of the regiment as he should think proper, and return to town immediately.

Before he received this intimation, he had sent a letter to the queen desiring she would permit him to retire from business.

In answer to this petition, she assured him his suspicions were groundless, and insisted upon his coming to council.

The duchess demanded an audience of her majesty, on pretence of vindicating her own character from some aspersions.

She hoped to work upon the queen's tenderness, and retrieve the influence she had lost.
She protested, argued, wept, and supplicated; but the queen was too well pleased with her own deliverance from the tyranny of the other's friendship, to incur such slavery for the future.