The king's revenue lay under great debts and anticipations: those branches granted in the years 1669 and 1670 were ready to expire.

And the fleet was represented by the king as in great decay and disorder.

But the commons, instead of being affected by these distresses of the crown, trusted chiefly to them for passing the exclusion bill, and for punishing and displacing all the ministers who were obnoxious to them.

They were therefore in no haste to relieve the king; and grew only the more assuming on account of his complaints and uneasiness.

Jealous, however, of the army, they granted the sum of two hundred and six thousand pounds, which had been voted for disbanding it by the last parliament; though the vote, by reason of the subsequent prorogation and dissolution, joined to some scruples of the lords, had not been carried into an act.