House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 1 September 1696

DIE Martis, 1 Septembris.

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 Oxford in the Middle; and the Earl of Romney on his Right Hand; the Earl of Montagu and Earl of Tankerville on his Left Hand; commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to go to the House of Commons, and let them know, "That 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. Franciæ, 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, Henrico Duci Norfolc. Comiti Marescallo Angl., Jacobo Duci Ormonde, Carolo Duci Bolton, Mainherdt Duci Schonberg, Will'o Duci Bedford, Rob'to Comiti Lindsey Magno Camerario Angl., Alberico Comiti Oxon. Johanni 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, Fran'co 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 ordinavimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad et in Vicesimum Septimum Diem Aprilis tunc proxim. sequen. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in instantem Primum Diem Septembris ulterius prorogatum et adjournatum fuerat, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. prædictam, 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 Vicesimum Diem Octobris jam prox. sequen. 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. Primo Die Septembris, Anno Regni Nostri Octavo.

"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 Tuesday the Twentieth Day of October next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to Tuesday the Twentieth Day of October next."

Hitherto examined by us, this 19th Day of April, 1697,

J. Bridgewater.
Stamford.
Warrington.