House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 28 July 1696

Anno 8 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Martis, 28 Julii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas sat Speaker.

The Speaker acquainted the House, "That there was a Commission for the further proroguing of the Parliament."

Then the Commissioners, in their Robes, took their Places on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack; the Earl of Bridgewater in the Middle; and the Earl of Portland, Earl of Scarbrough, and Earl of Romney, on his Right Hand; the Earl of Stamford, Earl of Bradford, and the Lord Berkeley of Berkeley, on his Left Hand; commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to go to the House of Commons, and let them know, "The Lords Commissioners desire "them to come and hear the said Commission read."

Who being come, with their Speaker; the Commission was read, as followeth; (videlicet,)

Signed,

"Tho. Cantuar. Shrewsbury. Dorsett. Godolphin."

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

"Gulielmus Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scoc. Franc. et Hib'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Præcharissimo Fratri Nostro Principi Georgio de Denmarke, Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nostris Thomæ Duci Leeds Præsidenti Concilii Nostri, Henric. Duci Norfolc. Comiti Marescallo Angl., Jacobo Duci Ormonde, Carolo Duci Bolton, Mainhardt Duci Schonberg, Will'o Duci Bedford, Rob'to Comiti Lindsey Magno Camerario Angl., Alberico Comiti Oxon. Joh'i Comiti Bridgewater, Thomæ Comiti Stamford, Joh'i Comiti Bathon. Lawrentio Comiti Roffen. Will'o Comiti Portland, Thomæ Comiti Fauconberge, Carolo Comiti Monmouth, Rad'o Comiti Montagu, Ric'o Comiti Scarbrough, Franc'o Comiti Bradford Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Henrico Comiti Romney Guardiano Quinque Portuum Nostrorum, Ford Comiti Tankerville, Joh'i Vicecomiti Lonsdale, ac Prædilectis et Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Carolo Domino Berkley, Thomæ Domino Wharton Contrarotulatori Hospitii Nostri, Rob'to Domino Lexington, et Carolo Domino Cornwallis, 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 Secundo Die Novembris ult. præterit. inchoari et teneri ordinaverimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad et in Vicesimum Septimum Diem Aprilis tunc proxime sequen. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in instantem Vicesimum Octavum Diem Julii ulterius prorogatum et adjournatum fuerat, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. prædicram, 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, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, ad et in Primum Diem Septembris proxime futur. 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 exequendis, pareant, obediant, et 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. Vicesimo Octavo Die Julii, Anno Regni Nostri Octavo.

"Chute."

Which being ended; the Earl of Bridgewater 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 Tuesday the First Day of September next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to Tuesday the First Day of September next."