The finance of the kingdom was still ruined by extravagance and corruption in a time of rapidly-developing prosperity and wealth.

The wounds of Ireland were unhealed.

It was neither peace nor war with Spain, and hot infatuation for its friendship alternated with cold fits of distrust and estrangement.

Abuses flourished and multiplied under great patronage.

The King's one thought about Parliament was how to get as much money out of it as he could, with as little other business as possible.