99-100.] Revenue had been one of the first cares of the Protector and Council in resuming power after the Dissolution.

By a former ordinance of theirs of June 1654 (Vol.IV.p.

562), the assessment for the Army and Navy had been renewed for three months at the rate of L120,000 per month, and for the next three months at the lowered rate of L90,000 per month.

This ordinance had expired at Christmas 1654; and, though the Parliament had then passed a Bill for extending the assessment for three months more at L60,000 per month, the Bill had never been presented to Cromwell for his assent.

On the 8th of February, 1654-5, therefore, a new Ordinance by his Highness and Council fixed the assessment for a certain term at L60,000 per month.
This acceptance of the reduction proposed by the Parliament gave general satisfaction; and there is evidence that at this time Cromwell and the Council let themselves be driven to various shifts of economy rather than overstrain their power of ordinance-making in the unpopular particular of supplies.