He was not even told that there was to be another prorogation, but was left to learn the news from the Gazette.

The real direction of affairs had passed to the cabal which dined with Sunderland on Fridays.

The cabinet met only to hear the despatches from foreign courts read: nor did those despatches contain anything which was not known on the Royal Exchange; for all the English Envoys had received orders to put into the official letters only the common talk of antechambers, and to reserve important secrets for private communications which were addressed to James himself, to Sunderland, or to Petre.

[191] Yet the victorious faction was not content.

The King was assured by those whom he most trusted that the obstinacy with which the nation opposed his designs was really to be imputed to Rochester.