The tories professed themselves willing to enter into a negative engagement against the late king and his adherents; but they opposed the oath of abjuration with all their might: and the house was so equally divided that neither side was willing to hazard a decision, so that all the fruit of their debates was a prolongation of the session.
KING WILLIAM LANDS IN IRELAND.
An act was prepared for investing the queen with the administration during the king's absence; another for reversing the judgment on a _quo warranto_ against the city of London, and restoring it to its ancient rights and privileges; at length the bill of indemnity so cordially recommended by the king passed both houses.

[021] _[See note G, at the end of this Vol.]_ On the twenty-first day of May, the king closed the session with a Short speech, in which he thanked them for the supplies they had granted, and recommended to them a punctual discharge of their duties in their respective counties, that the peace of the nation might not be interrupted in his absence.

The houses were adjourned to the seventh day of July, when the parliament was prorogued and adjourned successively.

As a further security for the peace of the kingdom, the deputy-lieutenants were authorized to raise the militia in case of necessity.

All papists were prohibited to stir above five miles from their respective places of abode; a proclamation was published for apprehending certain disaffected persons; sir John Cochran and Ferguson were actually arrested on suspicion of treasonable practices.