House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 13 February 1689

Mercurii, 13 die Februarii, 1688.

Prayers.

Committees.

ORDERED, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Nine a Clock.

The Lords and Commons attend their Highnesses with the Declaration.

Ceremony of proclaiming the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen.

About Ten of the Clock Mr. Speaker, attended with the Mace, and the House of Commons following him in a Body, went in their Coaches to Whitehall: Where the Right honourable the Marquis of Hallifax, Speaker of the House of Lords, with the House of Lords, being placed on the Right Side of the Door, within the Banqueting House; and the Right Honourable Henry Powle, Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons, with the Commons on the Left Side of the Door of the said Banqueting House, waited the coming of the Prince and Princess of Orange: Who, immediately after, entering in at the upper End of the Banqueting House, came and stood upon the Step under the Canopy of State: Where being placed; the Speakers of both Houses, together with the Lords and Commons that accompanied them, were brought up by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod making three Obeisances, One at the lower End of the Room, One in the Middle, and One at the Step where their Highnesses stood. And then the Speaker of the House of Lords acquainted their Highnesses, That both Houses had agreed upon a Declaration to be presented to their Highnesses; which he desired might be read: Which being granted by their Highnesses; the Clerk of the House of Lords, by Order of that House, read the Declaration to their Highnesses: Which being ended, his Highness made a short Speech, in the Name of Himself, and of the Princess his Consort: wherein he declared their Acceptance of the Crown. Upon which, the Lords and Commons, there present, about Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon, came down to Whitehall Gate; where the Officers of Arms, and other Persons, usually concerned in Solemnities of that Nature, being ready, Garter Principal King of Arms, having received a Proclamation for proclaiming the Prince and Princess of Orange King and Queen, read the same in the Presence of the said Lords and Commons, and Multitudes of the People there assembled. From whence they proceeded in this Manner: First, the High Bailiff of Westminster, with his Men: Next the Knight Marshal, and his Men: Then a Class of Trumpets, followed by the Serjeant Trumpeter: Then an Officer of Arms, singly, followed by Six other; each accompanied by a Serjeant at Arms: Then Garter King of Arms, with the Proclamation, accompanied by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod: Then the Lord Marquis of Hallifax, attended by the eldest Serjeant at Arms and Mace, in his Lordship's Coach: Then Mr. Speaker of the House of Commons, attended by another Serjeant at Arms and Mace, in his Coach: Then the Duke of Norfolke, Earl Marshal of England, in his Coach; and other of the Nobility in their Coaches: Then the Members of the House of Commons in their Coaches. And, in this Order, came to Temple Bar; where the Gates being shut, Two of the Officers of Arms, attended by a Serjeant at Arms, and Two Trumpets, knocked thereat: And the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, coming to the Gate, and inquiring of the Occasion; and being informed thereof, ordered the Gates to be opened: And the whole Proceeding entered, except the Bailiff of Westminster and his Men, who returned back again from thence: And, the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the City of London, with the Sheriffs, receiving them in their Formalities; a second Proclamation was made, in like Manner as before, between the Two Temple Gates: From whence the Lord Mayor, being indisposed in his Health, going in his Coach; and the Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Recorder, riding on Horseback before the Lords and Commons; they proceeded to the Middle of Cheapside; and there made a Third Proclamation; and from thence to the Royal Exchange, where a Fourth Proclamation was made in like Manner; a Lane being made all the Way between Temple Bar and the Exchange, by several Companies of the Train Bands of the City.