His friend Sidney was soon recalled, and consoled for the loss of the viceregal dignity with the lucrative place of Master of the Ordnance.

The government of Ireland was for a time entrusted to Lords justices, among whom Sir Henry Capel, a zealous Whig, very little disposed to show indulgence to Papists, had the foremost place.
The prorogation drew nigh; and still the fate of the Triennial Bill was uncertain.

Some of the ablest ministers thought the bill a good one; and, even had they thought it a bad one, they would probably have tried to dissuade their master from rejecting it.

It was impossible, however, to remove from his mind the impression that a concession on this point would seriously impair his authority.

Not relying on the judgment of his ordinary advisers, he sent Portland to ask the opinion of Sir William Temple.