House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 7 August 1701

Die Jovis, 7 Augustii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

E. of Oxford, Commission to be Speaker.

A Commission was read, appointing Aubrey Earl of Oxford Speaker, as followeth; (videlicet,)

"Signed,

Tho. Cantuar.
Pembroke, P.
Somerset.
Godolphin.

"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 Right Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor Aubrey Earl of Oxford, 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 Keeper, 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 Nathan Wrighte Knight, Lord Keeper of Our Great Seal 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 Lord Keeper of Our Great Seal 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 Aubrey Earl of Oxford 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 Westminster, the Seventh Day of August, in the Thirteenth Year of Our Reign.

"Per ipsos Justic. propriis Manibus signat.

"Wrighte."

PRAYERS.

The Speaker acquainted the House, "That there was a Commission for further proroguing of the Parliament."

Then the Lords 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 Duke of Ormonde on his Right Hand; the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Earl of Dorsett and Mid'x on his Left Hand; commanded the Deputy 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.
Pembroke, P.
Devonshire.
Somerset.
Jersey.
Godolphin.

Commission for proroguing the Parliament.

Gulielmus Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scotiæ, Franc. et Hib'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Charissimis Consanguineis et Consiliariis Nostris Jacobo Duci Ormonde, Mainherdt Duci Schonberg, Carolo Duci Bolton, Thomæ Duci Leeds, Carolo Duci Salop, Rob'to Comiti Lindsey Magno Camerario Angl., Alberico Comiti Oxon. Carolo Comiti Dorset et Middl'x, Carolo Comiti Manchester, Thomæ Comiti Stamford, Rob'to Comiti Sunderland, Johanni Comiti Bathon. Carolo Comiti Carlisle, Carolo Comiti Berkeley, Laurentio Comiti Roffen. Will'o Comiti Portland, Rad'o Comiti Montagu, Joh'i Comiti Marlborough, Ric'o Comiti Scarbrough, Fran'co Comiti Bradford Thesaurario Hospitii Nostri, Henrico Comiti Romney Guardiano Quinque Portuum Nostrorum, Ed'r'o Comiti Orford, Reverendo in Christo Patri et Fideli Consiliario Nostro Henrico Episcopo London. Prædilectis et Fidelibus Consiliariis Nostris Rob'to Domino Ferrars, Thomæ Domino Wharton Contrarotulatori Hospitii Nostri, Rob'to Domino Lexington, Johanni Domino Sommers, et Carolo Domino Halifax, 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. Sexto Die Februarii ult. Præterit. inchoari et teneri ordinaverimus; a quo Die idem Parliamentum Nostrum usque ad et in Decimum Diem ejusdem Februarii prorogatum fuerat; et abinde, per separales Prorogationes et Adjournationes, ad et in instantem Diem Jovis, Septimum Diem Augusti, 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 ulterius 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 Diem Jovis, Decimum Octavum Diem Septembris 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 Archiepifcopis, 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, obedient, 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. Septimo Die Augusti, Anno Regni Nostri Decimo Tertio.

"Per ipsos Justiciar. propriis Manibus signat.

"Wrighte."

Then 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 Eighteenth Day of September next: And this Parliament is prorogued accordingly to Thursday the Eighteenth Day of September next."