House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 26 August 1697

Anno 9 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Jovis, 26 Augusti.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

The Earl of Bridgewater sat Speaker, by virtue of a former Commission.

"The Speaker 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 Scarbrough 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 (their Speaker being absent); the Commission was read, as follows; (videlicet,)

Signed,

"Tho. Cantuar.
Sunderland.
Dorsett.
Romney."

Commission for the Prorogation.

"GULIELMUS Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scociæ, Franciæ & Hib'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Charissimis Consanguineis & Consiliariis Nostris Thomæ Duci Leeds Præsidenti Concilii Nostri, Hen'co Duci Norfolc. Comiti Marescallo Angl. Jacobo Duci Ormond, Carolo Duci Bolton, Mainherdt Duci Sconberg, Will'o Duci Bedford, Rob'to Comiti Lindsey Magno Camerario Angl., Alberico Comiti Oxon. Thomæ Comiti Stamford, Joh'i Comiti Bathon. Laurentio Comiti Roffen. Will'mo 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 & Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Carolo Domino Berkeley de Berkeley, Thomæ Domino Wharton Contrarotulatori Hospitii Nostri, Rob'to Domino Lexington, Carolo Domino Cornwallis, & Sidney Domino Godolphin, Salutem: Cum nuper, pro quibusdam arduis & urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum & Defensionem Regni Nostri Angl. & Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ concernentibus, præsens hoc Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westmonaster. Vicesimo Secundo Die Novembris, Anno Regni Nostri Septimo, inchoari & teneri ordinaverimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad & in Vicesimum Sextum Diem Aprilis tunc proxim. sequent. continuatum fuerat; & abinde, per separales Prorogationes & Adjournationes, ad & in instantem Vicesimum Sextum Diem Augusti ulterius prorogatum & adjournatum fuerat, apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. prædictam, ibidem tunc tenendum & prosequendum: Sciatis tamen, quod, certis urgentibus Causis & Considerationibus Nos specialiter moventibus, idem Parliamentum Nostrum prorogandum duximus. De Fidelitate igitur, Prudentia, & Circumspectionibus vestris plurimum confidentes, de Avisamento & Assensu Concilii Nostri, assignavimus vos Commissionarios Nostros; dantes vobis, & aliquibus Tribus vel pluribus vestrum, Tenore Præsentium, plenam Potestatem & Auctoritatem, hoc instante Die Jovis, præsens Parliamentum Nostrum, Nomine Nostro, usque ad & in Tricesimum Diem Septembris jam proxim. sequen. apud prædictam Civitatem Nostram Westm. prorogandum & continuandum, ibidemque tunc tenendum & prosequendum; et ideo vobis mandamus, quod circa Præmissa diligenter intendatis, ac ea in Forma prædicta effectualiter expleatis. Damus autem universis & singulis Archiepiscopis, Ducibus, Marchionibus, Comitibus, Vicecomitibus, Episcopis, Baronibus, Militibus, Civibus, & Burgensibus, ac omnibus aliis quorum interest ad dictum Parliamentum Nostrum conventuris, Tenore Præsentium, sirmiter in Mandatis, quod vobis in Præmissis faciendis, agendis, & exercendis, pareant, obediant, & intendant, prout decet. In cujus Rei Testimonium, has Literas Nostras sieri secimus Patentes.

"Testibus, Thoma Archiepiscopo Cantuar. et cæteris Custodibus & Justiciariis Regni, apud Westmonaster. Vicesimo Sexto Die Augusti, 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 Thirtieth Day of September next: And this Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Thursday the Thirtieth Day of September next."