House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 30 September 1697

Anno 9 Gulielmi Tertii. DIE Jovis, 30 Septembris.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

A Commission, for revoking a former Commission to the Earl of Bridgewater to be Speaker, was read, as follows; (videlicet,)

Signed,

"Tho.Cantuar.
Sunderland.
Romney.
Orford."

Commission for revoking the one for the E. of Bridgewater to be Speaker.

"WILLIAM the Third, by the Grace of GOD, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas, by Our Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England, bearing Date at Westminster, the Two and Twentieth Day of July last past, We did constitute, authorize, and appoint, Our Right Trusty and Right Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor John Earl of Bridgewater to supply the Place of Lord Chancellor, in the Upper House of Parliament, during the Absence of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Sir John Sommer's Knight, Our Chancellor of England, with divers other Powers in Our said Letters Patents contained and specified, as by the same more at large may appear; We, nevertheless, for certain weighty Causes and Considerations Us especially moving in that Behalf, have revoked, determined, and made void, and by these Presents do revoke, determine, and make void, Our said Letters Patents, and all Things therein contained. In Witness whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents.

"Witness, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the Guardians and Justices of the Realm, at Westminster, the 30th Day of September, in the Ninth Year of Our Reign.

"Per immediat. Warrant.

"CHUTE."

Then a Commission was read, for appointing the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench to supply the Place of Lord Chancellor in the House of Peers, as follows; (videlicet,)

Signed,

"Tho.Cantuar.
Sunderland.
Romney.
Orford."

Sir J. Holt, L. C. J. of King's Bench, Commission to be Speaker.

"WILLIAM the Third, by the Grace of GOD, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To Our Right Trusty and Wellbeloved Counsellor Sir John Holt Knight, Chief Justice of Our Court of King's Bench at Westminster, Greeting: Know ye, that We, trusting in your approved Fidelity, Wisdom, and Discretion, have constituted, named, and appointed, and by these Presents do constitute, name, and authorize you, from Time to Time, to use and supply the Room and Place of Lord Chancellor, in the Upper House of Parliament, amongst the Lords Spiritual and Temporal there assembled, during the Absence of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellor Sir John Sommers Knight, Our Chancellor of England, from his accustomed Place in Our said Upper House of Parliament; and then and there to do and execute all such Things which Our Chancellor of England, using and supplying the said Room and Place, should or might do in that Behalf: Wherefore We will and command you the said Sir John Holt to attend and execute the Premises with Effect; and these Our Letters Patents shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge for the same in every Behalf. In Witness whereof; We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents.

"Witness, Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury, and the rest of the Guardians and Justices of the Realm, at Westm'r, the Thirtieth Day of Sept'r, in the Ninth Year of Our Reign.

"Per immediat. Warrant.

"CHUTE."

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 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 (without their Speaker); the Commission was read, as follows; (videlicet,)

Signed,

"Tho.Cantuar.
Sunderland.
Romney.
Orford."

Commission for the Prerogation.

"GULIELMUS Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scoc. 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. 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, 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 Angl. et Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ concernentibus, præsens hoc Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Vicesimo Secundo Die Novembris, Anno Regni Nostri Septimo, inchoari et teneri ordinavimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad et in Vicesimum Sextum Diem Aprilis tunc proxime sequen. continuatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in instantem Tricesimum Diem Septembris 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 Primum Diem Octobris jam proxime 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 explcatis. 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 sieri fecimus Patentes.

"Testibus, Thoma Archiepiscopo Cantuar. et cæteris Custodibus et Justiciariis Regni, apud Westm. Tricesimo Die Septembris, 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, we do, in His Majesty's Name, prorogue this Parliament to the One and Twentieth Day of October next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to the One and Twentieth Day of October next."