Parliament of the United Kingdom

“ WHEREAS Doubts have arisen whether a Witness can by Law refuse to answer a Question relevant to the Matter in Issue, the answering of which has no Tendency to accuse himself, or to expose him to any Penalty or Forfeiture, but the answering of which may establish, or tend to establish that he owes a Debt, or is otherwise subject to a Civil Suit at the Instance of His Majesty, or of some other Person or Persons ”