Williams threw down his brief; and, in truth, a more honest advocate might well have done the same.

The prisoners who were at the bar were instantly acquitted; those who had not yet been tried were set at liberty; the witnesses for the prosecution were pelted out of Manchester; the Clerk of the Crown narrowly escaped with life; and the judges took their departure amidst hisses and execrations.
A few days after the close of the trials at Manchester William returned to England.

On the twelfth of November, only forty-eight hours after his arrival at Kensington, the Houses met.

He congratulated them on the improved aspect of affairs.

Both by land and by sea the events of the year which was about to close had been, on the whole, favourable to the allies; the French armies had made no progress; the French fleets had not ventured to show themselves; nevertheless, a safe and honourable peace could be obtained only by a vigorous prosecution of the war; and the war could not be vigorously prosecuted without large supplies.
William then reminded the Commons that the Act by which they had settled the tonnage and poundage on the Crown for four years was about to expire, and expressed his hope that it would be renewed.
After the King had spoken, the Commons, for some reason which no writer has explained, adjourned for a week.