House of Lords Journal Volume 15: 16 June 1696

Anno 8 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Martis, 16 Junii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

The Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas sat Speaker, by Virtue of a Commission in the last Session; and 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 Bridgewater in the Middle; the Earl of Fauconberge and the Earl of Romney on his Right Hand; and the Earl of Monmouth and 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,

Signed,

"Tho. Cantuar. Devonshire. Shrewsbury. Godolphin."

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

"Gulielmus Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scociæ, 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, Henrico Duci Norfolc. Comiti Marescallo Angl., Jacobo Duci Ormondiæ, Carolo Duci Bolton, Mainherdt Duci Sehonberg, 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, Fran'co Comiti Bradford Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Henrico Comiti Romney Guardiano Quinque Portuum Nostrorum, Ford Comiti Tankerville, ac Prædilectis et Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Carolo Domino Berkeley, 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. sequent. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in Decimum Sextum Diem instantis Junii 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 Octavum Diem Julii proxim. 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. Decimo Sexto Die Junii, 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 Eight and Twentieth Day of July next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to Tuesday the Eight and Twentieth Day of July next."