November 1723

Anno 10^o Georgii Regis.

DIE Martis, 19^o Novembris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

The Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas sat Speaker, by Virtue of a former Commission.

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

The House was adjourned during Pleasure.

The House was resumed.

Then Three of the Lords Commissioners (in their Robes), being seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack (the Speaker being retired to the usual Place by the State, as the Speakers do when His Majesty is present); the Duke of Chandos in the Middle; and the Earl of Lincoln on his Right Hand; and the Earl of Sutherland on his Left; commanded the Deputy Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know, "The Commissioners desire their immediate Attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read."

Who being come, with their Speaker; the Commission was read, by the Clerk, as follows:

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

"W. Cant
Macclesfield, C.
Carleton, P.
Holles Newcastle.
R. Walpole.

"Georgius, Dei Gratia, Magn. Britann. Franc. et Hib'niæ Rex, Fider Defensor, &c. Præcharissimo Filio et perquam Fideli Consiliario Nostro Georgio Principi Walliæ, Reverendissimo in Christo Patri et Fideli Consiliario Nostro Will'o Archiepiscopo Ebor. Angl. Primati et Metropolitano, Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nostris Carolo Duci Somerset, Hen'co Duci Kent, Jacobo Duci Montrose, Jacobo Duci Chandos, Lionel. Duci Dorset, Jacobo Comiti Derby, Thomæ Comiti Pembroke & Montgomery, Hen'co Comiti Lincoln. Georgio Comiti North'ton, Thomæ Comiti Westmorland, Arthuro Comiti Anglesey, Carolo Comiti Carlisle, Daniel. Comiti Nottingham, Montagu Comiti Abingdon, Will'o Comiti Coventry, Ed'r'o Comiti Orford, Hugon. Comiti Cholmondeley Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Joh'i Comiti Sutherland, Hugon. Comiti Loudoun, Jacobo Comiti Findlater & Seafield, Joh'i Comiti Stair, Archibald. Comiti Ilay, Hen'co Comiti Uxbridge, Georgio Comiti Halifax, Thomæ Comiti Coningesby, Ric'o Vicecomiti Cobham, Hugon. Vicecomiti Falmouth, Georgio Vicecomiti Torrington, Reverendo in Christo Patri et Fideli Consiliario Nostro Ed'o Episcopo London. Prædilectis & Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Will'o Domino Berkeley de Stratton, et Nic'o Domino Lechmere Cancellario Ducatus (fn. 1) Nostri Lancastr. Salutem. Cum nuper, pro quibusdam arduis et urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum ec Defensionem Regni Nostri Magn. Britann. et Ecclesiæ concernentibus, præsens hoc Parliamentum Nostrum, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Decimo Die Maii, Anno Regni Nostri Octavo, inchoari et teneri ordinaverimus; quod Parliamentum Nostrum abinde, per separalia Brevia Nostra, usque ad et in Nonum Diem Octobris, Anno Regni Nostri Nono, prorogatum fuit; et abinde, per separalia Adjournamenta et Prorogationes, usque ad et in Diem Martis, Decimum Nonum Diem hujus instantis Novembris, adjournatum et prorogatum fuit, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. prædictam, ibidem tunc tenendum et prosequendum: Sciatis tamen, quod, certis urgentibus Causis et Considerationibus Nos specialiter moventibus, idem Parliamentum Nostrum ulterius prorogandum duximus. De Fidelitate igitur, Prudentia, et Circumspectionibus 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, a dicto Decimo Nono Die Novembris, ad præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, usque ad et in Diem Martis, Decimum Diem Decembris prox. sequend. apud prædictam Civitatem Nostram Wesrm. prorogandum et continuandum, ibidem 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, Baroni bus, Militibus, Civibus, Burgensibus, et Commissionariis pro Comitatibus et Burgis, 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 Gulielmo Archiepiscopo Cantuar. et cæteris Custodibus et Justiciariis Regni, apud Westm. Decimo Quarto Die Novembris, Anno Regni Nostri Decimo.

"Per ipsos Justiciarios, propriis Manibus signat.

"Wrighte."

Then the Duke of Chandos said,

Parliament prorogued.

"My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"By virtue of His Majesty's Commission now read, to us and others directed, we do, in His Majesty's Name, and by His Royal Authority, prorogue this Parliament to Tuesday the Tenth Day of December next, to be then here held: And this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday the Tenth Day of December next."

Footnotes