y a new subsidy of tonnage and poundage,
the hereditary and temporary excise, a weekly portion from the revenue
of the post-office, the first-fruits and tenths of the clergy, the
fines in the alienation office, and post-fines, the revenue of the
wine-license, money arising by sheriffs, proffers, and compositions in
the exchequer; and seizures, the income of the duchy of Cornwall, the
rents of all other crown lands in England or Wales, and the duty of four
and a half per cent, upon specie from Barbadoes and the Leeward-islands.
The bill imported, That the overplus arising from these funds should be
accounted for to parliament. Six hundred thousand pounds of this money
was allotted for the purposes of the civil list: the rest was granted
for the jointure of fifty thousand pounds per annum, to be paid to queen
Mary d'Este, according to the stipulation at Ryswick; and to maintain a
court for the duke of Gloucester, son of the princess Anne of Denmark,
now in the ninth year of his age; but the jointure was never paid; nor
would the king allow above fifteen thousand pounds per annum for the
use of the duke of Gloucester, to whom Burnet, bishop of Salisbury, was
appointed preceptor.

COGNIZANCE TAKEN OF FRAUDULENT ENDORSEMENTS OF EXCHEQUER BILLS.

The commons having discussed the ways and means for raising the supplies
of the ensuing year, which rose almost to five millions, took cognizance
of some fraudulent endorsements of exchequer bills, a species of
forgery which had been practised by a confederacy, consisting of
Charles Duncomb, receiver-general of the excise, Bartholomew Burton, who
possessed a place in that branch of the revenue, John Knight, treasurer
of the customs, and Reginald Marriot, a deputy-teller of the exchequer.
This last became evidence, and the proof turning out very strong and
full, the house resolved to make examples of the delinquents. Duncomb
and Knight, both members of parliament, were expelled and committed to
the Tower; Burton was sent to Newgate; and bills of pains and penalties
were ordered to be brought in against them. The first, levelled at
Duncomb, passed the lower house, though not without great opposition,
but was rejected in the house of lords by the majority of one voice.
Duncomb, who was extremely rich, is said to have paid dear for his
escape. The other two bills met with the same fate. The peers discharged
Duncomb from his confinement; but he was recommitted by the commons, and