Clarendon's power was gone, and he was an exile.

A board of trade, projected in 1668, never assumed the administration of colonial affairs, and had not vitality enough to last more than three or four years.

Profligate libertines gained the confidence of the king's mistresses, and secured places in the royal cabinet.

While Charles II.
was dallying with women and robbing the theatres of actresses; while the licentious Buckingham, who had succeeded in displacing Clarendon, wasted the vigor of his mind and body by indulging in every sensual pleasure "which nature could desire or wit invent"; while Louis XIV.

was increasing his influence by bribing the mistress of the chief of the king's cabal, England remained without a good government, and the colonies, despite bluster and threats, flourished in purity and peace.
The English ministry dared not interfere with Massachusetts; it was right that the stern virtues of the ascetic republicans should intimidate the members of the profligate cabinet.