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Gentlemen,

Thank you heartily for your Addrefs, and the many Marks of Zeal and Affection which you exprefs for my Honour and Safety, and the Security of the Kingdom.

I will give immediate Directions for putting in Execusion the feveral Matters which you so justly recommend to me; and as I am refolv'd, on all Occafions, to follow the Advice of my Parliament, fo I have no Doubt, but that, by the Bleffing of Almighty God, and your feasonable and vigorous Affiftance, I shall foon be enabled effectually to fupprefs that Spirit of Rebellion which is fa induftrionfly fomented among us, and to eßtablish the Peace and Prosperity of my People.

The fame Day likewife the Commons order'd, that the Reverend Dr. Linford, Prebendary of Westminster, be defir'd to preach before the Houfe at St. Margaret's, Westminster, upon the ft Day of Auguft next, being the Anniversary of his Majefty's happy Acceffion to the Crown. Then the Houfe proceeded in the further Hearing the Merits of the Election for the County of Bedford; and refolv'd, That John Harvey, Efq; fitting Member, was not duly elected, and, on the contrary, that John Cater, Efq; Petitioner, was duly elected a Knight of the Shire to ferve in this prefent Parliament for the faid County. After this it was order'd, That such Members of the Committee of Secrecy, who are Juftices of the Peace for the County of Middlefex, do examine fuch Perfons as they think fic at the faid Committee, touching Matters contain'd in the feveral Books and Papers before them.

July 20. The Governor of the Bank of England being call'd in, laid before the House a Propofal for the publick Service; which was referr'd to the Grand Committee on Ways and Means; into which the Houfe refolv'd itfelf immediately, and came to feveral Refolutions, the Report of which was order'd to be made the next Day. After this, the Commons were acquainted by a Meffage from the Lords, that their Lordships had agreed to the Bill for relieving William Paterfon, Efq; &c. and to the Bill, entitled, An Act for preventing Tumults and riotous Affemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing of the Rioters, without Amendment. Then the Speaker of the House of Commons having reported his Majefty's moft gracious Anfwer to their Addrefs, it was refolv'd, Nemine Contradicente, that the humble Thanks of this Houfe be return'd to his Majesty.

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The fame Day, the King went to the House of Peers with the ufual State, and gave the Royal Affent to the following Bills.

An Act to explain the Act made in the 12th Year of the Reign of King William the Third, entitled, An Act for the further Limitation of the Crown, and better fecuring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject.

An Act for preventing Tumults and riotous Assemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing Rioters.

An Act for making perpetual an Act of the 7th and 8th Years of the Reign of his late Majesty King William the Third, entitled, An Act that the folemn Affirmation and Declaration of the People call'd Quakers, shall be accepted inftead of an Oath in the ufual Form; and for explaining and enforcing the faid Act in Relation to the Payment of Tythes and Church Rates; and for appointing the Form of an Affirmation to be taken by the faid People call'd Quakers, inftead of the Oath of Abjuration.

An Act for continuing the Imprisonment of Robert Blackburn, and others, for the horrid Confpiracy to affaffinate the Perfon of his late facred Majefty King William the Third. And to nine private Acts.

Then his Majefty was pleas'd to declare from the Throne, that he had given Direction to the Lord Chancellor to declare to both Houfes a Matter of the greatest Importance in his Majefty's Name and Words; and accordingly the Lord Chancellor read a Speech deliver❜d into his Hands by his Majefty from the Throne, as follows:

My Lords and Gentlemen,

HE Zeal you have shewn for preferving the Peace of my T Kingdoms, and your Wifdom in providing fo good a Law to prevent all riotous and tumultuous Proceedings, give me great Satisfaction; but I am forry to find that fuch a Spirit of Rebellion has difcover'd itfelf, as leaves no Room to doubt, but thefe Disorders are fet on Foot and encourag'd by Perfons difaffected to my Government, in Expectation of being supported from Abroad.

The Prefervation of our excellent Conflitution, and the Secu rity of our Holy Religion, has been, and always shall be, my chief Care; and I cannot queftion but your Concern for thefe invaluable Blaffings is fo great, as not to let them be expos'd to fuch Attempts as I have certain Advices are preparing by the Pretender

Pretender from Abroad, and carrying on at Home by a restless Party in his Favour.

Gentlemen of the Houfe of Commons,

In thefe Circumftances, I think it proper to ask your Affi ftance, and make no Doubt but you will fo far confult your own Security, as not to leave the Nation, under a Rebellion actually begun at Home, and threaten'd with an Invafion from Abroad, in a defenceless Condition: And I shall look upon the Provifion you shall make for the Safery of my People, as the beft Mark of your Affection to me.

The Commons being return'd to their House, it was refolv'd, Nemine Contradicente, That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, to return the most humble and dutiful Thanks of this Houfe to his Majefty, for communicating to his Parliament, the Advices he has receiv'd of an Attempt preparing to be made upon the Nation from Abroad, abetted and encourag'd by treasonable Practices at Home, in Favour of a Popish Pretender; and to affure his Majefty, that this Houfe will, with their Lives and Fortunes, ftand by and fupport his Majefty against all his open and fecret Enemies; and to defire his Majefty, that he will immediately give Directions for fitting out fuch a Number of Ships as may effectually guard the Coafts, and to iffue out Commiflions for augmenting his Forces by Land; affuring his Majefty, this House will, without Lofs of Time, effectually enable him to raise and maintain fuch a Number of Forces, both by Sea and Land, as fhall be neceffary for the Defence of his facred Perfon, and for the Security of his Kingdoms. After this, Mr. Freeman ftood up, and represented, That in fo important a Juncture, they ought to lofe no Time in drawing up an Addrefs; and therefore mov'd, That the faid Refolu tion be forthwith laid before his Majefty by the whole Houfe." He was feconded by the Lord Guernsey, eldest Son to the Earl of Ailesford, who faid, It was well

• known he had, on many Occafions, differ'd from fome ← Members in that Houfe; but being now convinc'd that < our Liberty, Religion, and all that is dear to Englishmen, were aim'd at, he would (laying his Hand on his Sword) racher die with his Sword in his Hand, than furvive the Pretender's coming in, tho' he were to enjoy the 'greatest Honours and Preferments under him." Mr. Hampden did likewife back Mr. Freeman's Motion, which pafs'd into a Refolution, Nemine Contradicente; and Mr. Controller, who was order'd to wait on the King to know

his Majefty's Pleasure, when he would be attended by the Houfe, having, about fix a-Clock in the Evening, report ed, that his Majefty had been pleas'd to appoint immediately at his Palace at St. James's, the House went thither with their Speaker, and laid before his Majefty the faid Refolution, to which the King was pleas'd to return the following Answer:

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Gentlemen,

Thank

you heartily for this Addrefs. The Zeal and Vigour which you fhew upon this Occafion, will, I trust in God, enable me to defeat the evil Defigns of our Enemies. will immediately give Directions for fuch an Increase of our Forces, by Sea and Land, as I fhall judge necessary for your Security; and will order Efiimates of the Charge thereof to be laid before you.

The fame Day, before the Commons waited on the King with the Addrefs before mention'd, they refolv'd, immediately to take into Confideration his Majefty's gracious Speech, that Day made to both Houses; and the fame being again read by Mr. Speaker, upon a Motion made, That a Supply be granted to his Majefty, it was unanimously refolv'd, That the Houfe would the next Morning, refolve itfelf into a Grand Committee to confider of that Motion. Accordingly, on the 21st of July, it was folv'd to grant his Majefty a Supply; which Refolution was, on the 22d, reported by Mr. Farrer, and agreed to by

the Houfe.

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July 21. The Houfe being mov'd, that the A&t of the 31st Year of King Charles the Second, entitled, An Act for the better fecuring the Liberty of the Subject, and for Prevention of Imprisonment beyond the Seas: And alfo an Act of Parliament of Scotland, of the 31st of January, 1701, entitled, An Act for preventing wrongous Imprisonment, and against undue Delays in Trials, be read; the fame were read accordingly: After which it was order'd, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to impower his Majefty to secure and detain fuch Perfans as his Majesty shall fufpect are conspiring against his Perfon and Government. Hereupon Mr. Sollicitor General immediately prefented to the Houfe, a Bill to impower his Majefty to fecure and detain fuch Berfons as his Majefty fhall fufpect are confpiring against his Perfon and Government; and the fame was receiv'd and read the first Time, and order'd to be read a fecond Time. The Bill was accordingly immediately read a fecond Time, and commit

ted

ted to a Committee of the whole Houfe for the next Day. It was obferv'd, that Mr. Shippen only made a flight Objection against the bringing in of the faid Bill; which on the 22d of July, went through the Grand Committee, and was order'd to be ingrofs'd.

The fame Day (July 21 ) Mr. Farrer reported also from the Grand Committee on Ways and Means, the Refolutions they had came to, viz.

ift, That the Propofition prefented by the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, and referr'd by the Houfe to this Committee, for fupplying out of fuch a Fund as is therein mention'd, the additional yearly Sum of 120cool. during his Majefty's Life, (which God long preferve) for the Service of his Houfhold and Family, and other his neceffary Expences and Occafions; and a further yearly Sum of 54600l. to be a Fund or Security for raifing a Sum not exceeding 910000l. as Part of the Supply granted for publick Services, upon fuch Terms and Conditions, and in fuch Manner, as in the faid Propofi tion are exprefs'd, be accepted.

2dly, That for answering the Sum of 28000l. per Ar num, or thereabouts, mention'd in the faid Propofition, the Duties on Hops, which have Continuance until the ift of August 1715, be further continu'd and made payable to his Majefty, his Heirs and Succeffors, fubject neverthelefs to Redemption by Parliament.

3dly, That fuch of the Duties and Revenues for raising the general Fund to be establish'd pursuant to the faid Propofition, as are now temporary, be made perpetual, subject alfo to Redemption by Parliament.

4thly, That if the Revenues fettled by the Act of the ift Year of his Majefty's Reign, (entitled, An Act for the better Support of his Majefty's Houfbold, and of the Honour and Dignity of the Crown of Great Britain) together with the faid additional Revenue of 120000l. per Annum, shall produce more in clear Money than the yearly Sum of 700000l. to be reckon'd from Michaelmas 1715. Then the Overplus of fuch Produce be made Part of the general Fund to be establish'd as aforefaid, and be appropriated, iffu'd, and apply'd accordingly, until all the Exchequer Bills fhall be paid off, or the faid general Fund fhall be redeem'd by Parliament; and that afterwards fuch Overplus exceeding 700000l. per Annum, be not iffu'd, granted, difpos'd, or apply'd to any Ufe or Purpose, or upon any Pretext what foever, without Authority of Parliament.