House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 13 May 1697

Anno 9 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Jovis, 13 Maii.

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 the Form, placed between the Throne and the Woolsack; the Earl of Bridgewater in the Middle; and the Earl of Stamford on his Right Hand; the Earl of Montagu, the Earl of Tankerville, 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. Sunderland. Romney. Oxford."

Commission for the Prorogation.

"GULIELMUS Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scotiæ, 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 Ormond, Carolo Duci Bolton, Mainbardt 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. Laurentio Comiti Roffen. Will'o Comiti Portland, Thomæ Comiti Fauconberg, Rad'o Comiti Montagu, Ric'o Comiti Scarbrough, Fran'co Comiti Bradford Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Ford Comiti Tankerville, Johanni 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 Angl. et Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ concernentibus, præsens hoc Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westmonasterii, 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 Decimum Tertium Diem Maii ulterius prorogatum et adjour natum 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, hoe instante Die Jovis, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, usque ad et in Decimum Septimum Diem Junii prox. 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 exercendis, pareant, obediant, & intendant, prout decet. In cujus Rei Testimonium, has Literas Nostras sieri secimus Patentes.

"Testibus, Thoma Archiepiscopo Cantuar. et cæteris Custodibus et Justiciariis Regni, apud Westm. Decimo Tertio Die Maii, Anno Regni Nostri Nono.

"Chute."

Which being ended; the Earl of Bridgewater said,

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

Parliament prorogued.

"By Virtue of His Majesty's Commission now read, and to us directed, we do, in His Majesty's Name, prorogue this Parliament to Thursday the Seventeenth Day of June next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to Thursday the Seventeenth Day of June next."