Parliament

My Lords, it not being convenient for His Majesty personally to be present here this day, he has been pleased to cause a Commission under the Great Seal to be prepared in order to the holding of this Parliament. Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners desire their immediate attendance in the House to hear the Commission read.

When the Commons arrived at the Bar:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, we are commanded by His Majesty to let you know that, it not being convenient for him to be present here this day in his Royal Person, he hath thought fit, by Letters Patent under the Great Seal, to empower several Lords therein named to do all things in His Majesty’s name, which are to be done on His Majesty’s part in this Parliament as, by the Letters Patent, will more fully appear.

When the Commission had been read at the Table:

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, we have it in command from His Majesty to let you know that, as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, the causes of His Majesty calling this Parliament will be declared to you; and, it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons should be first chosen, it is His Majesty’s pleasure that you, Members of the House of Commons, repair to the place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the choice of some proper person to be your Speaker, and that you present such person whom you shall so choose here for His Majesty’s Royal Approbation.

The Commons then withdrew.

14:49:00

Prayers—read by the Lord Bishop of St. Albans.