A. C. 1692. enough, and the Crown had not too much, nor This Conference occafion'd great Debates in both Befides this Difpute between the two Houfes of Parliament, feveral other Affairs contributed to draw this Seffion into length, and to divert the Attention of the Commons from their main Bufinefs, the Supplies. The confideration of the Monies due to the Orphans of the City of London, and the Bill brought in for their Relief, took up a great deal of time; as did alfo the Additional Bill for appointing and enabling the Commiffioners to examine, take and State the publick Accounts of the Kingdom, which haJan. 19. ving pafs'd the Lower Houfe, was fent up to the The Publick Upper for their Concurrence; but the Lords having made fome Amendments to it, which the Commons did not relifh, the Bill was thereupon loft. Bill to take Accounts left. The Rewards which the Court diftributed to the Witneffes of real Plots, encouraged one William Fuller, an illiterate mean Fellow, at this time a Prifoner in the King's-Bench-Goal, to fet up for an Evidence; though he had nothing to fupport his pretended Difcoveries but a great deal of Impudence. The Confpiracy of the Papifts in Lancashire.to raise a Rebellion in the Kingdom, in order to reinthrone the late King James, was attefted by feveral Witneffes. which the Jacobites were fo dextrous as to take off either by fair or violent means; but neverthelefs their finifter Designs being confirm'd by the Papers taken with the Lord Prefton, and feveral other Circumftances, which amounted to a moral Demonftration, fome Perfons of Note were feiz'd and fearch made after others; which brought the Bufinefs to be examin'd before the Commons. A mong * A Jan. 4. mong the reft Fuller was brought to their Bar, where A. C. he produc'd feveral Papers, which were perus'd by 1692. the Houfe. and, according to his Prayer it was Ren folv'd, That an Application be made to His Ma-William jefty, that he would pleafe to give to Mr Fuller a Fuller's Discovery: Blank Pafs for two Perfons, for their fafe coming pretended from beyond Sea, or any other Place, hither. to give their Evidence; for their Protection while they were here, and for their fafe return, if defired bout fix Weeks after Fuller was order'd to attend the Houfe of Commons, with the Perfons mention'd by him; but he Counterfeiting being fick and not able to come abroad, feveral Members were + Feb. 22, immediately order'd to repair to him, to fecure his Papers and to take his Information uponOath. The next Day Fuller's Examination was prefented to the Houfe and read, and he mentioning Mr. James Hayes, and Colonel Thomas Delaval to be the two Witneffes he inform'd the Houfe of, feveral Members, attended by Meffengers, were order'd to go to the Places directed by Fuller, and bring the faid Perfons with them. Thefe Members executed their Meffage, but found no fuch Perfons as had been defcribed to them; whereupon Fuiler was order'd to produce them himself, and alfo one Mr. Jones, which he not being able to do, the Commons unanimoufly declar'd, That William Fuller was a notorious Impoftor, He is de Impoftor, a Cheat, and a falfe Accufer, having Scandaliz'd their clar'd an Majefties and their Government, abus'd that Houfe, and falfly accus'd feveral Perfons of Honour and Quality. And Refolv'd, That an Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty to command his Attorney General to profecute the faid Impoftor. Fuller was accordingly profecuted, and fentenced to ftand in the Pillory: And Pillowhich Ignominy he underwent with a brazen Un-ied. concernment. Feb. 24. On the 6th of January the Houfe of Commons, having confider'd of the Supplies to be granted to their Majefties, order'd that a particular itate of theR folutions Revenue, and a Computation of the Civil Lift be laid out the Suppliess. before them, which was accordingly done * by His. Majefty's Vice-Chamberlain. On the 12th of the fame Jan. 7. Month a Committee was appointed to receive Pro pofils A. C. pofals for raising a Sum of Money towards carrying 1692. on the War against France.upon a Fund of perpetual Intereft; and three Days after it was refolv'd, That towards the making good the Sums of Money intended to be given by an Act made in the Second Year of their Majefties Reign, for granting feveral Additional Du ties of Excite upon Beer, Ale and other Liquors, for four Years. (from the time that an Act for doubling the Excife for one Year did expire) the Additional Duties granted by the faid Act be continued till the 17th Day of May 1697. for the ufes in the faid Act mention'd. The Commons having examin'd the Papers rela ting to the Revenue and Civil Lift, repeated the Poll Tax Refolution they had taken on the 12th of December, granted, concerning the Salaries, Fees and Perquifites of all Jan. 19 Offices under the Crown; and † refolv'd likewise, That all Penfions granted by the Crown, except Penfions payable to the Queen Dowager and the Princefs Anne of Denmark and fuch other Penfions as fhould be excepted by the House, be applied towards the carrying on the War; and that towards railing the Supplies for the fame purposes, a Tax by a Quarterly Pull be granted to their Majefties. By the Bill which was brought in according to this laft Refolution, all Perfons (except fuch as receiv'd Alms of the Parish, poor House keepers and their Children) were to pay Twelve Pence Quarterly for one Year: All Trades-men and Artificers,having and Eftate of the clear value of 300 l. and upwards, Ten Shillings; all Gentlemen or reputed Gentle men, having an Eftate of 300 l. or more, as alfo all Clergymen and Teachers, who had any Ecclefiaftical Benefice or Contribution, to the value of Sol. per Annum, or upwards, Twenty Shillings; every Lord of Parliament. either Spiritual or Temporal, the Sum of Ten Pounds; and all Perfons who fhould refufe to take the Oaths to their Majefties, double the Sums charged by the respective Heads. Bills rela Befides the Taxes already mention'd the Commons ting to the refolv d to veft the Foreited Estates inEngland and IreForfeitures land,in their Majefties,to be applied to the use of thear, but but the two Bills which they had pafs'd for that A. C. purpose, lay neglected in the Houfe of Lords, not- 1692. withstanding the repeated Meffages fent to their Lordfhips to put them in mind of the fame. * Feb. 12. t General Some time before, the Commons order'd the, Lord Castleton, Sir Henry Goodrick, and five more Ginckle of their Members, to attend upon General Ginckle, thank'd by with the Thanks of the Houfe, both to him and the the Com Officers, who, under him, had contributed to the mons, Reduction of Ireland, for the great Services they Jan. 4. had perform'd to their Majefties and the Kingdom. General Ginckle acknowledg'd this distinguishing Honour done him by the Houfe of Commons; His grates which, he faid,he valued above a Triumph, adding with fu! Aufwer. a great deal of Modesty and Juftice, That the fuccefs of their Majesties Arms in Ireland, was owing chiefly to the Valour of the English; and that he would take care to communicate the Vote of that Houfe to the Officers that ferv'd in Ireland; and always endeavour the Profperity of their Majefties and the Government. A Bill for the Eftablishment of an Eaft-India Bill for an Eaft India Company, having been receiv'd by the Commons, feveral Petitions were prefented to the Houfe Company, Jan. 16. against it, to which an unfatisfactory Answer being deliver'd by the Committee of the East-India Com- Feb. 6. pany, the House * refolv'd thereupon, That an humble Addrefs be made to His Majefty to diffolve the prefent Eaft-India Company, according to his Power re ferv'd in their Charter; and to conftitute another EastIndia Company, for the better preferving of the EastIndia Trade to this Kingdom, in fuch manner as His Majefty, in his Royal Wisdom, fhould think fit. This Addrefs being prefented to the King, His Majefty + Feb. 10. exprefs'd himself to this effect; That it was a Matter of very great Importance to the Trade of this Kingdom; That he would confider of it, and in a fhort time give the Commons a pofitive Anfwer. About this time many of the French Proteftants French prefented a Petition to the Commons, praying the Proteftants Confideration of that Houfe in order to their Relief, pray to be This Petition having had but little effect, by reafon reliev'd, of the Multiplicity of Affairs that were depending Jan. 19. in that Houfe, thofe diftreffed Exiles applied them A. C. felves to the King, with their Cafe in Print, and their 1692. Majefties Declaration of the 25th of April 1689. in their Favour, both which His Majefty commandFeb. 17. ed to be laid before the Commons. A Week after the Lower toufe confider'd His Majefty's Meffige, and the Motion already made for a fupply to be given towards the Relief of the Petitioners; but before they came to a Refolution, they were fummond to attend His Majefty in the House of Lords. Alts past, 1692. 2. The King having given his Royal Affent to the Feb. 24 Poll Bill, [*] Nine other Publick, and Thirty four [*] To Private Acts, [t] His Majefty return'd his Thanks to wit, 1.An •Act for rai both Houfes in general, for the great fatisfaction they fing the had given him of their Affections in this Seffions, and for Militia of their Zeal for the Support of the Government : And in this King particular to the Houfe of Commons, for the great Supplies dom, for they had granted him for the profecution of the War; the Year affuring them he would take care fo to difpofe of the Money they had given for the publick Occafions, as that the An Act for whole Nation might be entirely fatisfied with the Applithe better cation of it. His Majefty clos'd his Speech by acand collect. quainting both Houfes with his Intentions of going being the Du-yond Sea very fpeedily; which, he was afraid, had been ties upon already retarded more than was convenient for the prefent Low- Pofture of Affairs, and upon that acoount he thought it Wines & neceffry to put an end to this prefent Meeting. Whereupon pursuant to His Majefty's Pleafure, both Waters. Houfes immediately [*] adjourn'd themfelves until the 12th Day of April next. ordering Strong 3. An Act against Correspond ing with their Majeflies Enemies. 4. An Act for the more effectual discovery and punishment of Deer-Stealers. 5. An Act for the better repairing of Highe ways. 6. An Act for the encouragement of the breeding and feeding of Cattle. 7. An Act for the Relief of Creditors against fraudulent Devi ces. 8. An Act for the better Explanation, and supplying the Defects of the former Laws, for the Settlement of the Poor. 9. An Act to take away Clergy from fome Offenders, and to bring others to Punishment. [t] The King's Speech to both Houses. I The Parliament Adjourn'd, This |