It does not appear, however, that the parliamentary tacticians of that age were aware of the extent to which a small number of members can, without violating any form, retard the course of business.
It was immediately resolved that the bill, enlarged by Sacheverell's and Howard's clauses, should be ingrossed.

The most vehement Whigs were bent on finally passing it within forty-eight hours.

The Lords, indeed, were not likely to regard it very favourably.

But it should seem that some desperate men were prepared to withhold the supplies till it should pass, nay, even to tack it to the bill of supply, and thus to place the Upper House under the necessity of either consenting to a vast proscription of the Tories or refusing to the government the means of carrying on the war, [552] There were Whigs, however, honest enough to wish that fair play should be given to the hostile party, and prudent enough to know that an advantage obtained by violence and cunning could not be permanent.

These men insisted that at least a week should be suffered to elapse before the third reading, and carried their point.
Their less scrupulous associates complained bitterly that the good cause was betrayed.