William III, 1695-6: An Act for the continueing meeting and sitting of a Parliament in case of the Death or Demise of His Majesty His Heirs and Successors [Chapter XV. Rot. Parl. 7&8 Gul. III. p.s. n.1]

Parliament not dissolved by the Demise of His Majesty or his Successors, but may sit 6 Months after, unless sooner prorogued or dissolved.

1 W. & M. Sess. 2. c. 2.

Whereas this Kingdome of England may be exposed to great Dangers by the Invasion of Foreigners or [by the (fn. 1) ] traiterous Conspiracies of wicked and ill disposed Persons whenever itt shall please God to afflict these Realmes by the Death of our Gracious Sovereigne King William (whome God long preserve) or by the Death of any of His Heires and Successors before a Parliam[en]t can bee summoned and called by the next Heire and Successor to the Crowne For Prevention whereof bee itt enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That this present Parliament or any other Parliament which shall hereafter bee summoned and called by His Majesty King William His Heirs and Successors shall not determine or bee dissolved by the Death or Demise of His said Majesty His Heirs and Successors but such Parliament shall and is hereby enacted to continue and is hereby impowered and required immediately to meete convene and sitt and to act notwithstanding such Death or Demise for and dureing the time of Six Moneths and noe longer unlesse the same shall bee sooner prorogued or dissolved by such Person who shall be next Heire to the Crowne of this Realme of England in Succession according to an Act of Parliament made in the first Yeare of the Reigne of King William and Queene Mary intituled An Act declareing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and settling the Succession of the Crowne [And if the said Parliament shall bee soe prorogued then itt shall meete and sitt on and upon the Day unto which itt shall be prorogued and continue for the Residue of the said time of Six Months unlesse sooner prorogued or dissolved as aforesaid. (fn. 2).]

II. If no Parliament sitting at the King's Demise, then last preceding Parliament to sit.

And itt is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in case there shall be noe Parliament in being att the time of the Death or Demise of His Majesty or any of His Heirs and Successors then the last preceding Parliament shall immediately convene and sitt and is hereby impowered and required to act as aforesaid to all Intents and Purposes as if the said Parliam[en]t had never beene dissolved.

III. Proviso for Power of the King to prorogue or dissolve Parliament, and also for Stat. 6 & 7 W. & M. c. 2.

Provided always and itt is hereby declared That nothing in this Act contained shall extend or bee construed to extend to alter or abridge the Power of the King His Heires and Successors to prorogue or dissolve Parliaments nor to repeale or make voyd one Act of Parliament made in the Sixth and Seventh Yeares of the Reigne of His present Majesty King William intituled An Act for the frequent Meeting and calling of Parliaments but that the said Act shall continue in force in every thing that is not contrary to or inconsistent with the Direction of this Act