High as the waves of party feeling at that time rolled, the action of the State was not affected by them. The estimates for the coming year were voted at once, and the imposts settled on which the requisite loans were to be based. It was no easy matter, as Parliament could not reconcile itself to any kind of excise-duty. Among other things the very singular expedient was adopted of subjecting marriages, births, burials, as well as bachelors and widows to a new tax. The feeling was that everything must be done to enable the King to carry on the French war with due vigour.

France too had made extraordinary efforts, in order to raise the sums required as means of war for the coming campaign. Louis XIV had imposed a poll-tax, a most comprehensive source of income; the clergy had supported his demand with the declaration that the King would make a holy use of the money; every one, with royalist and Catholic enthusiasm, had done his duty as a patriot with all his might.

All eyes were directed towards the opening of the campaign from which something decisive, if not an immediate and great battle, was expected. Every one felt sure that England, under the growing alienation of the Tories from the King, would never again agree to so heavy a taxation; and if the English subsidies failed the allies must soon fall asunder.