House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 21 October 1697

Anno 9 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Jovis, 21 Octobris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

This Day the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench sat Speaker, by virtue of a former Commission:

Who acquainted the House, "That there was a Commission for 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; the Earl of Stamford on his Right Hand; 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 follows; (videlicet,)

Signed.

"Tho. Cantuar.
J. Sommers, C.
C. Sunderland.
Romney."

Commission for the Prorogation.

"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., Jacobo Duci Ormond, 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, Johanni Comiti Bathon. Laurentio Comiti Roffen. Will'o Comiti Portland, Thomæ Comiti Fauconberg, Rad'o Comiti Montagu, Ric'o Comiti Scarbrough, Franc'o Comiti Bradford Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Ford Comiti Tankerville, Joh'i Vicecomiti Lonsdale, ac Prædilectis et Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Carolo Domino Berkeley de Berkeley, Thomæ Domino Wharton Contrarotulatori Hospitii Nostri, Rob'to Domino Lexington, Carolo Domino Cornwallis, et Sidney Domino Godolphin, 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. Vicesimo Secundo Die Novembris, Anno Regni Nostri Septimo, inchoari et teneri ordinaverimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad et in Vicesimum Sextum Diem Aprilis tunc proxim. sequen. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in instantem Vicesimum Primum Diem Octobris 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 Jovis, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, usque ad et in Vicesimum Tertium Diem Novembris 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, 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 Primo Die Octobris, Anno Regni Nostri Nono.

"Per immediat. Warrant.

"Chute."

Which being ended; the Earl of Oxford said,

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

Parliament prorogued.

"By Virtue of His Majesty's Commission now read, we do, in His Majesty's Name, prorogue this Parliament to the Three and Twentieth Day of November next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to the Three and Twentieth Day of November next."