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A. C. Act for the continuance of feveral former A&ts therein 1690. mention'd, for the laying feveral Duties upon Wines, Vinegar, and Tobacco. 3dly, To an Act for Punishing Officers and Soldiers that fhould Mutiny or Defert their Majefties Service, and for punishing false Musters, and to feveral other Publick and Private Bills. Afterwards His Majefty took this occafion to repeat to both Houfes,How fenfibe He was of their good "Affections to Him and of their fincere Endeavours jefties "to promote the true Intereft of their Country, Speech to "in continuing to provide farther Supplies towards the Parli" defraying the Charges of the War, which He "would take care to fee diligently and ftrictly ap"plied to the Ufes for which they gave them. He told them, "He had lately acquainted them, that "the Pofture of Affairs abroad, would not admit "of deferring His Journey to the Hague much be"yond that time; and that He put them in mind

ament.

Pounds granted

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of it now, in hopes that Confideration would "prevail with them to use all poble dispatch in "what ftill remain'd to be done for the more vigo66 rous Profecution of the War. And concluded, with mentioning to the Houfe of Commons, "That "if fome Annual Provifion could be made for the "augmenting of the Navy, and building of fome new Ships of War, it would be a very neceffary "Care at this time, both for the Honour and Safety "of the Nation.

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The Commons having taken His Majefty's Speech A Supply into Confideration, particularly the latter part of of 570000 it, unanimoufly Refolv'd, Firft, That a Supply be given to their Majefties for the building of Ships of War, for Baild not exceeding the Sum of $70000 Pounds; And 2dly, ing of That the faid Supply fo to be given to their Majesties, Ships, De- be for the building of Seventeen Third Rate Ships of cem. 24. Sixty Guns a piece, to be added to the Ships in the Efti

mate already provided to be built. Three Days after, it was Refolv'd, that this Supply fhould be rais'd by the Additional Duties upon Beer, Ale and other Liquors; and order'd that an Enacting Claufe be prepar'd in purfuance to the faid Refolution.

The Commons having pafs'd a Bill for appointing and enabling Commiflioners for taking the Pub.

lick Accounts. and order'd the feveral Members to A. C. put into Glaffes at the Table the feveral Lifts of

Nine Perfons Names, to be Commiflioners in the

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faid,Bill, the Majority fell on Sir Robert Rich, Sir* Decem Thomas Clarges, Paul Foley Efq; Collonel Robert Au. 26. ften Efq; Sir Matthew Andrews, Sir Benjamin Newland, Sir Samuel Barnadifton, Sir Peter Colleton, and Robert Harley Efq;

Acts pass'd

On the 5th of January 1691, the King went to the Parliament and gave His Royal Affent to An Alt 1. for granting to their Majesties feveral Additional 1691.

Jan. 5.

Duties of Excife. 2. Another for preventing vexatious Suits against fuch as had acted for their Majesties Service in defence of the Kingdom. 3. Another for appointing Commiffioners to examine and state the Publick Accompts of the Kingdom. 4. Another for the most effectual putting in execution an Act for prohibiting all Trade and Commerce with France. 5. Another for raising the Militia in the Year 1691. 6 Another for the Relief of poor Prifoners for Debt or Damages. 7. Another for encouraging the diftilling of Brandy and Spirits from Corn, and for laying feveral Duties on Low Wines; And to Four private Bills; which done, His Majefty Addreffiing himself to both Houses, told them, "He was very glad to find that The King's "the fuccefs of their Endeavours, to bring this Speech to "Seffion to a happy Conclufion, had been fuch, both Houses "that He was now at liberty to go into Holland; "And He return'd them his hearty Thanks for "the great difpatch they had made in finifhing "the Supplies they had defign'd for carrying on the "War, which it fhould be his care to fee duly and "punctually applied to that Service for which they "had given them. And because feveral Members of the Houfe of Commmons were diffatisfied with the Bill concerning Forfeitures being laid atide as fearing the King's Favourites fhould have the large hare of the Rebels Eftates, His Majefty thought it proper to affure them, "That He fou'd not make any << Grant of the Forfeited Lands in England and Ire"land, till there was another opportunity of Settling "that matter in Parliament, in fuch manner as frould 66 be thought most expedient.

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A. C.

1690.

66

Moreover He told them, "That as He had rea"fon to be very well fatisfied with the Proofs they had given im of their good Affection in this "Sellion of Parliament, fo He promis'd himfelf "the continuance of the fame, at their return into "their feveral Countries: And as every Day pro"duc'd ftill froth Inftances of the reftleffnefs of His "and their Enemies both at home and abroad, in

defigning against the Profperity of this Nation, "and the Government Eftablifh'd; fo He did not "doubt, but that the Union and good Correfpon"dence between Him and His Parliament, and His "earn it and conftant Endeavours for their Prefer"vation on the one Hand, join'd with the continu"ance of their Zeal and Affection to fupport Him "on the other, would, by the Bledling of God, be "at all times too ftrong for the utmost Malice and "Contrivance of their Common Enemies. The Parliament King having made an end of his Speech, the Speaker adjourn'd. of the Lords declar d to both Houfes, that it was His Majefty's Pleafure that they fhould adjourn themselves till the 31ft of March next enfuing.

Bills left

Before we leave this Seffion of Praliament, 'tis finish'd. neceffary to take notice, that befides the Bill relating to the Forfeited Eftates, there were feveral others, that were left unfinished, particularly A Bill to regulate Trials in Cafes of Treafon, which was much talk'd of in the Houfe of Commons, and yet put off from time to time; Another to oblige the Lords Commifioners of the Treafury to take the like Oaths as the Lord Treasurer; Another relating to the African Trade; Another against Robbers on the High-way; Another for the Speedier determining Elections of Members of Parliament; Another to charge the Estate of the late Lord Jeffrey's in Leicestershire, with the Sum of 14760 1. and Intereft, to Edmond Prideaux Efq; Another for Regulating and Licenfing Hackney-Coaches; And another for the enabling Chyrurgeons to adminifter inward Medicines in Cafes of Chyrurgery; which laft was petition'd against by the Phyficians and Apothecaries. A Bill was alfo brought in for reducing Interest Money from Six to Four per Cent. which after the Second Reading was rejected.

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On the 15th of November the King order'd a new A. C. Commiflion to pafs the Great Seal, Conftituting 1690. the Lord Godolphin, Sir John Lowther, Richard Ham

Bishop

den Efq; Sir Stephen Fox, and Thomas Pelham Efq; New ComCommitioners of their Majefties Treafury. About miffion for a Month after His Majefty difpos'd of the vacant the Treasu Bishopricks of Ireland, and appointed Sir Charles, Novem Porter to be Lord Chancellor of that Kingdom, and! one of the Lord Juftices, in the room of the Lord ricks of Vifcount Sidney, who was recall'd to be made one Ireland of His Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State. Not difpos'd of, long before Colonel Cuts was made Baron Cuts of Decem. Goran in the Kingdom of Ireland, in confideration t Viscount of his faithful Services, and zealous Affection to Sidney His Majefties Perfon and Government.

*

made Se

cretary of

cem. 26.

On the 30th of December his Highness George William Duke of Zell, Eldeft Prince of the most Serene Houfe of Brunswick and Lunenburgh, was Col. Cuts Elected a Knight Companion of the moft noble made a Ba Order of the Garter; an Honour which juft a Year ron Debefore had been confer'd upon the Duke of Bran-cem. 3. denburgh, (the prefent King of Pruffia.) And on Sir John the first Day of the new Year Sir John Trevor, Spea- Trevor ker to the Houfe of Commons, and firft Lord Com-made a

Privy

millioner of the Great Seal of England, was ad- Counsellor, mitted into His Majefty's most Honourable Privy- Jan. 1.

Council.

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1691.

Jan. 16.

The King having fettled Affairs at home, began The King his Voyage for Holland the 6th of January, notwith-fets out for standing the rigour of the Seafon: But finding at Holland, his arrival at Canterbury, that the Wind was fet in Jan. 6. Eafterly, with a hard Froft, He return'd to Kenfington on the 9th, and feven Days after He fet out. again from Whitehall, and Embark'd at Gravefend with a noble and numerous Retinue. On the 18th in the Morning the Veffels that attended His Majefty being come up with the Geree, His Majefty was inform'd by a Fisherman, that they were within a League and half of the fhore; whereupon He left his Yatch, attended by the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Devonshire, Lord Steward, the Earl of Dorfet, Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Portland, the Earl of Monmouth, Monfieur Overkirk, and Mon

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A. C. fieur Zuyleftein, and went off with Three Shaloops 1691. thinking to get afhore in an Hour or two. But the difficulties they met with from the Ice, and the Fogginefs of the Weather were fuch, that 'twas about Eight the next Morning before they could reach Goree, where they went afhore, and after fome Refreshment, His Majefty went into his Boat again, and about Two in the Afternoon landed at Ora nien Haak, not far from Macfland-Sluys. At Hounflardyke his Majefty was receiv'd by the Heeren Ven Opdam, Belards, Witzen and Uryberg, appointed by the States for that purpofe; and about Six in the He arrives Evening he arriv'd at the Hague, to the unexpreffible Joy of all the Hollanders, to fee the Deliverer Hague, of their Country return'd amongst them adorn'd Jan. 19. with Three Crowns, and having miraculously efcaped the imminent Danger to which he had lately expos'd himself, to comfort them by his Prefence. The States General, the States of Holland, the Councel of State, the other Colleges, the Congrefs of Foreign Minifters, and all the Perfons of diftinction at the Hague, made their Compliments to his Majefty upon his fafe and happy Arrival; and becaufe he was come fo fuddenly, as to prevent the folemn Reception that was intended by the Magiftrates of that Place, His Majefty was prevail'd upon to Jan. 26. make his Publick Entry on the 26th, which was perform'd with great Solemnity; feveral triumphal Arches having been erected to reprefent his Majefties Atchievements, and all the Burghers ap. pearing in Arms with unufual Magnificence. In the Evening the Fire-works were play'd, the Cannon difcharg'd, on the Viverberg, oppofite to His Majefty's Palice, and Bonfires lighted thro' the whole Town.

Congress of

\the

derate

Not long after a more glorious Spectacle kept th Corfe the Eyes of all Europe fix'd upon the Hague; I mean the extraordinary Meeting of the Confederates. The Princes at Electors of Brandenburgh, and Bavaria, the Dukes the Hague. of Lunenburgh, the Landtgrave of Heffe, the Duke of Zell, the Duke of Wolfembuttel, the Prince of Commerci, the Prince of Wirtemberg, Prince Waldick, the Marquils de Gatanaga Governor of Flan der,

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