and speeches, Fairfax conspicuous for his indignation; and, at
length, the House, without paying attention to the summons of the
Black Rod, adjourned itself to Monday morning at eight o'clock. The
Dissolution, therefore, had to be effected by published proclamation,
and by padlocking and guarding the doors of the House.[1]

[Footnote 1: Ludlow, 639-641; Whitlocke under date April 21, 1659;
Commons Journals of April 22; Phillips, 641-642; Guizot, I.
120-128, with Letters of M. de Bordeaux to Mazarin appended at pp.
366-375.]

A week before the Dissolution the Parliament had estimated the public
debt, as it would stand at the end of the year then current, at a
total of L2,222,090, besides what might be due to the forces in
Flanders. Of this sum L1,747,584 was existing debt in arrears,
L393,883 was debt of the Navy running on for the year, and L80,623
was the calculated deficit for the year by the excess of the ordinary
expenditure in England, Scotland, and Ireland over the revenues from
these countries. It is interesting to note the particulars of this
last item. The annual income from England was L1,517,275, and the
annual expenses in England L1,547,788, leaving a deficit for England
of L30,513; the annual income from Scotland was L143,652, but the
outlay L307,271 (more than double the income), leaving a deficit for
Scotland of L163,619; the annual income from Ireland was L207,790,
and the outlay L346,480, leaving a deficit for Ireland of L138,690.
This would have made the total deficit, for the ordinary
administration, civil and military, of the three nations, L332,823;
but, as L252,200 of this sum would be met by special taxes on England
for the support of the Armies in Scotland and Ireland, the real
deficit was L80,623, as above. How to meet that, and the L393,883
running on for the Navy, and the arrears of L1,747,584 besides, and
the unknown amount that might be due to the Army in Flanders, was the
financial problem to be solved. Two millions and a half, it may be
said roughly, were required to set the Commonwealth clear.[1]

[Footnote 1: Commons Journals, April 16, 1659.]

The late Parliament having stated the problem, but having had no time
to attempt the solution, the responsibility had descended to those
who had turned them out. It was but one form of the enormous and most
complex responsibility they had undertaken; but it was the particular
form of responsibility that had most to do in determining their
im