| AdminHistory | James II fled the country in December 1688, and William and Mary were declared King and Queen on 6 February 1689. On 5 May 1689, William III issued a declaration 'for the encouraging of French Protestants to transport themselves into this Kingdom', promising them protection, support and aid. In the same month, ministers of French churches presented a petition to the House of Commons praying a yearly relief for their poor out of a revenue arising from a tax to be put on hackney coaches. A Committee appointed to consider the problem resolved that a revenue of £17200 per annum was necessary; and that the new tax upon wine and vinegar due to expire 20 July 1693 was a proper fund for the charging of that sum. No action appears to have been taken on this resolution by the Commons; but there was a grant from the King, and by September 1689 a Committee had been nominated to distribute it. |