It soon appeared that a grave offence had been committed, but that the offenders were not altogether without excuse.

The public money which had been issued from the Exchequer for their pay and subsistence had been fraudulently detained by their colonel and by his agent.

It was not strange that men who had arms and who had not necessaries should trouble themselves little about the Petition of Right and the Declaration of Right.

But it was monstrous that, while the citizen was heavily taxed for the purpose of paying to the soldier the largest military stipend known in Europe, the soldier should be driven by absolute want to plunder the citizen.
This was strongly set forth in a representation which the Commons laid before William.

William, who had been long struggling against abuses which grievously impaired the efficiency of his army, was glad to have his hands thus strengthened.