The majority of the late House of Commons, a majority which had saved the State, was nicknamed the Court party.
The Tory gentry, who were powerful in all the counties, had special grievances.

The whole patronage of the government, they said, was in Whig hands.

The old landed interest, the old Cavalier interest, had now no share in the favours of the Crown.

Every public office, every bench of justice, every commission of Lieutenancy, was filled with Roundheads.
The Tory rectors and vicars were not less exasperated.

They accused the men in power of systematically protecting and preferring Presbyterians, Latitudinarians, Arians, Socinians, Deists, Atheists.