.

but you will continue to fupport Me in this War A. C. against the declar'd Enemy of this Nation, and 1692. that you will give as fpeedy dispatch to the Affairs before you, as the Nature and Importance of them 'will admit; that the Preparations may be timely and effectual for the Prefervation of all that is 'valuable to us. I am fure, added His Majefty, 'I can have no Intereft but what is yours: We ' have the fame Religion to defend; and you cannot 'be more concern'd for the Prefervation of your 'Liberties and Properties, than I am that you fhould always remain in the full poffeflion of them; for I 'have no aim but to make you a happy People: "Hitherto, faid He, in the Conclufion, I have never fpar'd to expofe my own Perfon for the Good and Welfare of this Nation; and I am fo fenfible of your good Affections to Me,, that I fhall continue to do fo with great Chearfulness upon all occafions, wherein I may contribute to the Honour and Advantage of England.

،

mins to the

This Judicious Speech was receiv'd with the univerfal Applaufe it deferv'd, and made a deep impreffion in the Minds of both Houfes of Parliament. The Commons by their (e) Addrefs acknowledg'd Addres the great Affection His Majefty fhew'd to his Sub-of the Houfe of Com 'jects by taking notice of their Bravery and Courage, by that fenfible concern He expreft for the King, "Charges on his People, and by that tender Regard Nov. 14. For the Prefervation of their Religion, Liberties, and Properties, as muft ever be remembred with Gratitude, by all his faithful Subjects. They likewife acknowledg'd the Favour of God, in reftoring His Majefty in Safety to his People, after fo many Hazards and Dangers to which He had expos'd his Sacred Perfon; that there might be nothing wanting on his part, to oppofe the ambitious Designs of his Enemies, and to maintain the Honour of England, and the Liberties of Europe. They alfo congratulated his Deliverance from the fecret and open Defigns, which the Malice of his Enemies had form'd against him. And affur'd him, that they would always Advife and Ast His Majefty in the fupporting of his Government,

againft

A. C. against all his Enemies. The Commons at the 1692. fame time prefented their th nkful Acknowledgement to the (d) Queen, For her gracious and prud And todent Adminiftration of the Government whilst be Queen. His Majefty was hazarding his Royal Perfon a'broad; and for the Bleitings of Peace they enjoy'd at home, under her aufpicious Reign at a time when the greatest part of Europe was fuffering the miferable Effects of War. They alfo congratu lated, not only the fignal Deliverance they receiv'd 'from a bold and cruel Defign, form'd and profe'cuted for their Deftruction, when it was juft rea'dy to be executed, but likewife the return of Her Majefties Fleet with fo compleat and glorious a Victory, as was not to be equall'd in any former Age: Affuring Her Majefty, that the grateful fenfe they had of their Happinefs under Her Government, fhould be always manifefted in conftant returns of Duty and Obedience, and a firm refolution to do all that was in their Power, to render Her 'Reign Secure and Profperous.

Bill to re

Thefe mutual Affurances of Affection and Congulate Tri-fidence being pafs'd between their Majefties and als in Ca. the Parliament, the firft Bufinefs of Importance fes of High the Commons (e) went upon, was the Bill for ReTreafon, gulating Trials in Cafes of High-Treafon, which at the Nov.11.f) fecond reading was referr'd to a Committee of fNov.18.the whole Houfe: And not many Days after, a Claufe being (g) prefented, to be added to the Bill, a Debate arofe thereupon, the refult of which was, that the Bill was order'd to lie upon the Table, and no farther mention was made of it during this Seffion.

g Dec. 1.

h Thanks of the Com The (b) Thanks, which by order of the Commons given to Admiral mons were given by their Speaker to Admiral Ruffel, Ruffel, one of their Members, for his great Courage Nov. 11. and Conduct in the Victory obtain'd at Sea, feem'd Nov.12, to fecure that Admiral against any Reflections on 13,16, 17-his Behaviour in that memorable Sea Fight. But Ill Manage nevertheless, it having been fuggefted that the Adments of vantage gain'd upon the Enemy might have been better improv'd, the Houfe (i) examin d the feveral Inftructions, Orders, and Refults of Councils of

the Fleet

enquir'd

into.

War

War touching the laft Summer's Expedition, in A. C. Relation to the Proceedings of the Fleet, and the 1692. Defcent intended to be made into France, after the Victory at Sca. Upon the 19th of November Sir John Afbly being examin'd, particularly in relation to the French-Men of War that made their efcape into St. Malo, he gave the Commons an account of the Proceedings of the Ships under his Command, in and after the Engagement, with which they were fo well pleas'd, that the Speaker, by Direction of the Houfe, acquainted him, (k) That the Houfe tookk SirJohn notice of his ingenuous Behaviour at the Bar, and that Ashby he had given an Account to the fatisfaction of the Houfe, clear'd. and was difmist from farther Attendance. The next thing the Houfe took into Confideration was, why a Defcent had not been made into France? Admiral Ruffel was queftion'd about it, but he excus'd himfelf by faying, That twenty Days had past between his firit Letter to the Earl of Nottingham, after the Fight, and his Lordship's Anfwer. And on the other Hand, the Earl made it appear, that he had acted according to the Orders he had receiv'd; which was all he could do, as Secretary of State. Whilft thefe things were in Agitation, the Lords at a Conference, communicated to the Houfe of Commons fome Papers which their Lordships had receiv'd from the King relating to thofe Affairs, which Papers being read in the Lower Houfe, it was Refolv'd, (1) ↳ Admiral That Admiral Ruffel in his Command of the Fleet, du Ruffel ring the laft Summer's Expedition, had behav'd himself clear d with Fidelity, Courage and Conduct.

On (m) the 14th of November Sir Edward Seymour m Business deliver'd to the Commons a Meffage from His Ma-relating to jefty, in Anfwer to their Addrefs the laft Seflion, in the EastRelation to the Eaft-India Company. Upon occa India fion of this Meffage the Houfe took into Confide- Company. ration the matter relating to that Company, and after a great deal of time spent in it, a Bill was (n)n Dec. 14. was brought in for Preferving, Regulating, and EStablishing the Eaft-India Trade. This Bill was near two Months depending, and occafion'd several Debates the Refult of which was, that the Com⚫ March mons() prefented an Addrefs to his Majefty, That 3. 1693.

H:

A. C. He would pleafe to diffolve the East India Company up1692. on three Years Warning to the faid Company, according to the Power referv'd in their Charter. To this the King, with his ufual Prudence and Referve, made Antwer, That He would always do all the Good in his Power for this Kingdom, and that He would confider of their Addrefs.

19165161.

P Business (p) The Supply which was mov'd for on the of the Sup-15th of November, was unanimoufly granted on the ply. 22d of the fame Month; and after Confideration Dec 2. of the ftate of War for the Year 1693. it was (g) The Sum Refolv'd, That the Sum of 1926516 Pounds be of granted to their Majefties for the Charge of the Nafor the Na-Vy, (including the Charge of the Ordinance, and the finishing their Majefties Naval Yard at Hamofe And Dec. near Plymouth, and the building four Bomb Veffels, and eight new Ships of the fourth Rate) And () 20905631.the Sum of Two Millions and Ninery Thoufand for the Five Hundred Sixty Three Pounds for the Land Land Forces Forces, including the extraordinary Charge of the

vy.

10.

the Office of Ordinance, in relation to the Land Service, and the charge of the Tranfports, Hofpi

tals, Contingencies, and other extraordinary CharAnd Dec.ges of the War. Befides which it was (s) Refolv'd, 3. the That for the making good the Sum of 1341700 Pounds, Sum of intended to be rais'd by the Act for a Quarterly Poll, 750000!. the Sum of 750000 Pounds be granted to their Ma to Supply jefties.

the defect

t Dec. 13.

of the Poll To levy thefe vaft Sums it was (t) refolv'd, First, Bill. That there be a Pound Rate of four Shillings in the Pound for one Year, charg'd upon all Lands, according Dec. 15. to their Yearly value, as (u) alfo upon all Perfonal EStates, and upon all Offices and Employments of Profit ; other then Military Offices in the Army and Navy. Se. condly, that there be a Fund of 70000 Pounds per Annum, Jet a part out of the Hereditary Excife till the 17th of May 1697. And afterwards by an Additional Excife upon Beer, Ale, and other Liquors, for the Payment of the Interest of a Million of Money to be rais'd by Perfons voluntarily paying in that Sum, the Principal paid in to be funk, and the Perfons paying in the fame to receive during their Livet, their refpective Proportions of the faid 70000 Pounde according to the

Jums

1622.

z Jan. 11.

Sums paid by them, with the Advantage of Survivorship till A. C. all the Lives be dete min'd. And 3dly, (x) That certain Additional Impofitions be laid upon Merchandize. in That part of the King's Speech, whereby His x Feb. 3. Majefty feem'd to defire the Advice of the Com. 1693. mons, took up a great deal of time. After feveral Aavice of Debates a Committee was (y) appointed to confider the Combow the Army abroad, in their Majefties Pay, might be mons to Supplied with Bread, Cleaths, and other Provisions of the King, the Growth of this Kingdom, to prevent the Exportati. Dec. 12. on of the Coin thereof. And as for the Navy, a Motion (3) being made, That His Majesty be humbly advifed to conftitute a Commiffion of the Admiralty of Juch Perfons as were of known Experience in Maritime Affairs, it pafs'd in the Negative: But however it was carried, that His Majefty fhould be advised by that Houfe, That for the future all Orders for the Management of the Fleet should pass through the Hands of the Lords Commiffioners for the Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England. Which Vote fecm'd to be occafion'd by the Difference between the Earl of Nottingham and Admiral Ruffel.

1693.

don,

a

Nov. 7.

b Jan. 28.

The Confideration of the Petition, prefented (a) Business of by the Sheriffs, and feveral Aldermen of the City of the Orphans London, in favour of the Orphans of the faid City, of the City being put off from time to time, William Goodwin, of LonHenry Goodwin, and others of the diftreffed Orphans prefented alfo a Petition to the fame Effect; both which being confidered, the Commons at length (c) Order'd a Bill to be brought in for fatisfying the Debts due to the Said Orphans; but upon a Debate that arofe at the fecond reading, the Bill was committed to a Committee of the whole Houfe, where it remain'd unfinished.

1699.

Feb. 17.

d Bills re

jected. Dec. 17.

f

Dec. 13. Bill touch

(d) A Bill for the better Prefervation of their Majesties Perfons, which by the unanimous confent of the Houfe of Commons, was order'd to be brought in on the 1st of December, was nevertheless rejected at the fecond reading, the 14th of that Month: The fame Fate (e) attended the Bill to afcertain the Fees of tial ProOfficers of Justice.

ing free

and Impa..

ceedings in

Not many (f) Days before, Sir Edward Huffey Parlia prefented to the Houfe of Commons, a Bill touching ment.

A aa

Free