House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 8 October 1695

Anno 7 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Martis, 8 Octobris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuere:

PRAYERS.

This Day the Lord Chief Baron of His Majesty's Court of Exchequer sat as Speaker; and acquainted the House, "That there was a Commission for the further proroguing of the Parliament."

Then the Lords Commissioners, in their Robes, being seated on a Form, placed between the Throne and the Woolsack; the Earl of Oxford in the Middle; and the Earl of Monmouth and Earl of Bradford on his Right Hand; (fn. 1) commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to go to the House of Commons, and let them know, "That the Commissioners desire they would be present, to hear the said Commission read."

Who being come, with their Speaker; the Commission was read, as followeth:

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

"Gulielmus Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scociæ, Franciæ, et Hib'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nostris Thomæ Duci Leeds Præsidenti Concilii Nostri, Hen'co Duci Norfolc. Comiti Marescallo Angl., Carolo Duci Bolton, Maindhart Duci Sconberge, Will'o Duci Bedford, Joh'i Marchioni de Normanby, Rob'to Comiti Lindsey Magno Camerario Angl., Alberico Comiti Oxon. Joh'i Comiti Bridgewater, Thomæ Comiti Stamford, Joh'i Comiti Bathon. Danieli Comiti Nottingham, Laurencio Comiti Roffen. Will'o Comiti Portland, Thomæ Comiti Fauconberge, Carolo Comiti Monmouth, Rad'o Comiti Montagu, Ric'o Comiti Scarbrough, Fran'co Comiti Bradford Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Henrico Comiti Rumney Guardiano Quinque Portuum Nostrorum, Ford Comiti Tankerville, ac Prædilectis et Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Carolo Domino Berkeley, Robt'o Domino Lexington, Carolo Domino Cornwallis, et Hen'co Domino Capell, Salutem: Cum nuper, pro quibusdam arduis et urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum et Defensionem Regni Nostri Angl. et Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ concernentibus, præsens hoc Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Vicesimo Die Martii, Anno Regni Nostri et Mariæ nuper Reginæ Secundo, inchoari et teneri ordinaverimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad et in Vicesimum Tertium Diem Maii tunc proxim. sequen. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in Octavum Diem instantis Octobris ulterius prorogatum et adjournatum fuerat, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. prædict. 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 Circumspectionibus vestris plurimum confidentes, 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 Martis, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, usque ad et in Tricesimum Primum Diem instantis Octobris, apud prædictam Civitatem Nostram Westm. prorogandum et continuandum, ibidemque tunc tenendum et prosequendum; et ideo vobis mandamus, quod circa Præmissa diligenter intendatis, ac ea 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 faciendis, agendis, et exercendis, pareant, obediant, & intendant, prout decet. In cujus Rei Testimonium, has Literas Nostras fieri fecimus Patentes.

"Testibus Thoma Archiepiscopo Cantuar. et cæteris Custodibus et Justiciariis Regni, apud Westm. Octavo Die Octobris, Anno Regni Nostri Septimo.

"Chute."

Which being ended; the Earl of Oxford said,

Parliament prorogued.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"By Virtue of His Majesty's Commission now read, and to us directed, we do, in His Majesty's Name, prorogue this Parliament to Thursday the One and Thirtieth Day of this Instant October: And accordingly this Parliament is prorogued to Thursday the One and Thirtieth Day of this Instant October."

Hitherto examined by us, this 30th Day of April, 1696,

J. Bridgewater.
Craven.
Hunsdon.
Culpeper.