The prince's enemies derived the most plausible reasons of their opposition from the situation of England, and the known and avowed attachments of the English monarch.
No sooner had Charles dismissed his parliament, and embraced the resolution of governing by prerogative alone, than he dropped his new alliance with Spain, and returned to his former dangerous connections with Lewis.

This prince had even offered to make him arbiter of his differences with Spain; and the latter power, sensible of Charles's partiality, had refused to submit to such a disadvantageous proposal.
Whether any money was now remitted to England, we do not certainly know; but we may fairly presume, that the king's necessities were in some degree relieved by France.[*] And though Charles had reason to apprehend the utmost danger from the great, and still increasing naval power of that kingdom, joined to the weak condition of the English fleet, no consideration was able to rouse him from his present lethargy.
* The following passage is an extract from M.Barillon's letters kept in the Depot des Affaires etrangeres at Versailles.

It was lately communicated to the author while in France.

"Convention verbale arretee le 1 Avril 1681.
Charles 2 s'engage a ne rien omettre pour pouvoir faire connoitre a sa majeste qu'elle avoit raison de prendre confiance en lui; a se degager peu-a-peu de l'alliance avec l'Espagne, et a se mettre en etat de ne point etre contraint par son parlement de faire quelque chose d'oppose aux nouveaux engagemens qu'il prenoit.

En consequence, le roi promet un subside de deux millions la premiere des trois annees de cet engagement, et 500,000 ecus les deux autres se contentant de la parole de sa majeste Britannique, d'agir a l'egard de sa majeste conformement aux obligations qu'il lui avoit.