House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 17 June 1697

Anno 9 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Jovis, 17 Junii.

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; the Earl of Bridgewater on his Right Hand; and the Earl of Montagu 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; (videlicet,)

Signed,

"Tho. Cantuar.
Sunderland.
Romney.
Oxford."

Commission for the Prorogation.

"GULIELMUS Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scotiæ, Franciæ, et Hih'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Præcharissimo Fratri Nostro Principi Georgio de Denmarke, Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nostris Thomæ Duci Leeds Præsidenti Concilii Nostri, Hen'co Duci Norfolc. Comiti Marescallo Angl., Jacobo Duci Ormonde, Carolo Duci Bolton, Mainhardt Duci Schonberg, 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. 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, 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 Angl. et Ecclesæ 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 prox. sequen. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in instantem Decimum Septimum Diem Junii ulterius prorogatum et adjournatum fuerat, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. prædictam, ibidem tune 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 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, hoc instante Die Jovis, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, ad et in Vicesimum Secundum Diem Julii 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 ac Justiciariis Regni, apud Westm. Decimo Septimo Die Junii, Anno Regni Nostri Nono.

Per immediat. Warrant.

"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 Thursday the Two and Twentieth Day of July next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to Thursday the Two and Twentieth Day of July next."