House of Lords Journal Volume 13: 17 October 1679

Anno 31 Caroli Secundi.

DIE Veneris, Decimo Septimo die Octobris, 1679, Anno Regni Serenissimi Domini Nostri Caroli Secundi, Dei Gratia, Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Regis, Fidei Defensoris, &c. Tricesimo Primo, in Superiori Parliamenti Domo convenere Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum Nomina subscribuntur:

MEMORANDUM, That whereas the King's Majesty, by His Writs of Summons, bearing Date at Westminster, the Four and Twentieth Day of July last past, appointed His Parliament to open and begin this present Day, being the Seventeenth Day of October, in the One and Thirtieth Year of His Majesty's Reign (as by the said Writs more plainly appeareth); His Majesty, upon great and weighty Considerations, having thought fit to prorogue this present Parliament to the Six and Twentieth Day of January next, by His Royal Commission under the Great Seal of England, directed to several Lords for that Purpose; the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Finch Lord High Chancellor of England, the Earl of Anglesey Lord Privy Seal, the Earl of Bridgewater, the Earl of Craven, Viscount Newport, and the Lord Maynard (Seven of the Lords authorized by His Majesty to make the said Prorogation), being placed in their Robes on a Form cross the House, at the Foot of His Majesty's Throne, after the usual Manner (the rest of the Lords being in their Robes also); the Lord Chancellor, in the Name of the said Lords Commissioners, commanded Thomas Duppa Esquire (who by His Majesty is appointed to execute the Office of Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the Absence of Sir Edward Carteret), "That he go, and desire the immediate Attendance of the House of Commons in this House, to hear His Majesty's Commission read."

Who being come; His Majesty's Commission was publicly read, by the Clerk, as followeth:

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

Memorandum, That whereas the Name of the Duke of Lauderdai is inserted in this Commission by the Mistake of the Clerk of the Crown, it being a Scotch Title: He ought to have been named by the Stile of John Earl of Guildford.

Huntingdon.
J. Bridgewater.
Craven.
P. Bath & Wells.

"CAROLUS R.

"Carolus Secundus, Dei Gratia, Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, et Hiberniæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Præcharissimo Consanguineo et Consiliario Nostro Principi Ruperto Comiti Palatini Rheni Duci Bavariæ et Cumbriæ, Constabulario Castri Nostri de Windsor, &c. Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Fideli Consiliario Nostro Willielmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi totius Angliæ Primati et Metropolitano, Prædilecto et Fideli Consiliario Nostro Heneagio Domino Finch Domino Cancellario Nostro Angliæ, Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nostri, Christophero Duci Albemarle, /?/ Duci Launderdale, Henrico Marchi/?/ Wigorniæ Præsidenti Concilii Nostri infra Principalitatem et Marchias Walliæ, Charissimo Consanguineo Nostro Roberto Comiti Lindsey Magno Camerario Angliæ, Charissimo Consanguineo et Consiliario Nostro Henrico Comiti Arlington Camerario Hospitii Nostri, Charissimo Consanguineo Nostro Willielmo Comiti Bedford, Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nosstris Johanni Comiti Bridgewater, Arthuro Comiti Essex, Charissimis Consanguineis Nostris Willielmo Comiti Craven, Francisco Vicecomiti Newport Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, et Prædilecto et Fideli Nostro Willielmo Domino Maynard Contrarotulatori Hospitii Nostri, Salutem: Cum nuper, pro quibusdam arduis et urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum et Defensionem Regni Nostri Angliæ et Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ concernentibus, præsens hoc Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Decimo Septimo die instantis Octobris inchoari et teneri ordinaverimus; ibidem tunc tenendum et prosequendum: Sciatis tamen, quod, certis urgentibus Causis et Considerationibus Nos specialiter moventibus, idem Parliamentum Nostrum prorogandum duximus: De Fidelitate igitur, Prudentia, et Circumspectione vestris plurimum considentes; de Avisamento et Assensu Concilii Nostri, assignavimus vos Commissionarios Nostros; dantes vobis, et aliquibus tribus vel pluribus vestrum, Tenore Præsentium, plenam Potestatem et Auctoritatem, hoc instante die Veneris, ad præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, ad et in Vicesimum Sextum diem Januarii jam proxime sequentis, apud Civitatem Nostram prædictam, prorogandum et continuandum ibidemque tune tenendum et prosequendum: Et ideo vobis mandamus, quod circa Præmissa diligenter intendatis, ac ca in Forma prædicta effectualiter expleatis. Damus autem universis et singulis Archiepiscopis, Ducibus, Marchionibus, Comitibus, Vicecomitibus, Episcopis, Baronibus, Militibus, Civibus, et Burgensibus, ac omnibus aliis quorum interest ad dictum Parliamentum Nostrum conventuris, Tenore Præsentium, firmiter in Mandatis, quod vobis in Præmissis faciend. agend. et exequend. pareant, obediant, et intendant, prout decet. In cujus Rei Testimonium, has Literas Nostras fieri fecimus Patentes.

"Teste Meipso, apud Westm. Decimo Septimo die Octobris, Anno Regni Nostri Tricesimo Primo.

"Barker.

"Per ipsum Regem, propria Manu signat."

Then the Lord Chancellor, in the Name of the said Lords Commissioners, said,

Parliament prorogued.

"By virtue of this Commission to us directed, we do prorogue this Parliament to the Twenty-sixth Day of January next. And this Parliament is prorogued to the Twenty-sixth Day of January next."

Hitherto examined, this 27th of October, 1680, by us,

Huntingdon.

J. Bridgewater.

Craven.