A. D. 1689. ^39 



Tinnum of the forfeited eftates in Ireland. But the Irifli parliament, in 

 the reign of Queen Anne, knowing they had purchafed thofe lands at 

 very low rates, would not permit them, in their corporate capacity, to 

 take conveyances of lands, left they might have proved too powerful a 

 body in that kingdom. This obliged them to fell off their IriOi eftates, 

 w^hich put a period to the corporation. Yet a private copartnerOiip of 

 bankers in London, pofleffed of their obfolete charter, retained the ap- 

 pellation of the fword-blade company till after the year 1720, though 

 Jong fince broke up. 



King William having found it neceffary to declare war againft France, 

 an aft was pafled, for prohibiting all trade and commerce with France, 

 from the 24th of Auguft 1689, for three years, and to the end of the 

 next following feffion of parliament, if the war ftiall laft fo long. The 

 preamble remarks, that it hath been found by long experience, that the 

 importing of French wines, vinegar, brandy, linen, filks, fait, paper, and 

 other commodities of the growth, product, or manufadure, of France, 

 hath much exhaufted the treafure of this nation, leiTened the value of 

 the native commodities and manufadlures thereof, greatly impoveriflied 

 the Englifh artificers and handicrafts, and caufed great detriment to 

 this kingdom in general *. All fuch French merchandize imported 

 fhall be forfeited to the crown, and fhall be deftroyed : with fundry pe- 

 nalties on the importer, vender, and pofFeiTor ; on the refifter of execu- 

 tion ; on the informer ading by coUulion ; on the mafter, feamen, &c. 

 importing them ; and the fhip to be forfeited likewife, as alfo the carts, 

 &c. bringing thofe goods from fuch fhips. No brandy, or other ipirits, 

 fhall at all be imported from any country whatever, on forfeiture there- 

 of and of the fliip f . And though the faid French goods are to be de- 

 ftroyed, yet a value is hereby put on them, viz. wines L30 per ton, and 

 brandy L40 per ton ; the reft as in the book of rates of the i 2th of 

 Charles II, or by a jury trying the caufe, in cafe they be not found in 

 the book of rates : one third of which value fliall go to the feizer or 

 fuer, and two thirds to the crown. With power for officers to fearch 

 houfes, and to break open locks. Perfons refifting, puniftiable, &c. 

 [i Gill, et Mar. c. 34.] 



In the fecond feffion of the parliament of the firft year of King Wil- 

 liam and Queen Mary, a moft memorable and glorious ftatute \c. 2] was 

 enaded, entitled, an ad declaring the rights and liberties of the fubjed, 

 and fettling the fucceffion of the crown : ' Or, a legal confirmation of 

 ' the Declaration of Right, prefented to the prince and princefs of 

 ' Orange, on the 13th of February preceding, by the lords and commons 



* Inftcad of this abfolute prohibition of French f This abfolutc prohibition was intended to en- 

 wines and brandies, high duties were afterwards courage the home diftillery of brand)' and fpirlts 

 laid on them in the zd, 4th, an d jth years of this from corn, on which a duty was laid by an aft of 

 reign. A. 4 the fecond year of this reign, c. 4. A. 



