Page:Studies in Irish History, 1649-1775 (1903).djvu/176

James II "at a time when others of my subjects undutifully misbehaved themselves to me or so basely deserted me," and his firm adherence to those principles of religious liberty which he had so long professed, and an address from both Houses representing to his Majesty "our abhorrence and detestation of the late treasons and defections of many of your Majesty's subjects in this and your other kingdoms, and of the unnatural usurpation of the Prince of Orange," the work of legislation began. The Parliament sat for ten weeks, and in that short time no less than thirty-five Acts were passed. Of these five affected only the interests of individuals; many of the others are of slight importance and may be dismissed with a passing notice. Against the Acts for punishing persons circulating counterfeit coin, for taking off all incapacities on the natives of this kingdom, for taking away benefit of clergy in cases of felony, for preventing delays in execution, for repealing the Act for keeping and celebrating the 23rd day of October—the anniversary of the alleged massacre of 1641—for the relief and release of poor distressed prisoners for debt, for the encouragement of strangers and others to inhabit and plant in the kingdom of Ireland, for the prevention of frauds and perjuries, for ratifying 164