Anno Primo Edwardi Sexti.
Parliament Opened.
Memorandum, the 4th of November, Anno Regni Regis Edwardi Sexti Primo, the King's Majesty
sitting in Person in the Parliament Chamber at Westm. with all the Lords on both Sides, and
the Commons standing beneath the Bar, commanded the Clerk of the Parliament openly to read His
Highness's Commission, being sealed with the Great Seal of England, the Tenour whereof hereafter
ensueth:
Commission for the Protector's Precedency in Parliament.
"EDWARDE the Sixth, by the Grace of God,
King of Englande, France, and Irelande, Defender
of the Faith, and of the Church of Englande, and also
of Irelande, in Earth the Supreme Head. To all Men
to whom these present Letters shall come, Greeting.
"Forasmuch as Our most Dear Uncle Edwarde Duke
of Som'sett, whom, by the Advice of the Lords and
the rest of Our Privy Council, with the Consent and
good Agreement of the Noblemen of Our Realm, We
have Named, Ordained, and Commanded, to be Governor of Our Person, and Protector of Our Realms,
Dominions, and Subjects, during Our Minority, hath
no such Place appropriated or appointed unto him,
in Our High Court of Parliament, as is convenient
and necessary, as well in Respect of his Proximity of
Blood unto Us, being Our Uncle, and Eldest Brother
unto Our Mother, of most Noble Memory, deceased,
Queen Jane, as also for his better managing and conducting of Our Affairs, to Our Honour, Dignity, and
Surety, and the Wealth and Benefit of Our Realms,
Dominions, and Subjects; We have therefore, as well
by the Consent of Our said Uncle, as by the Advice
of other the Lords and the rest of Our Privy Council,
Willed, Ordained, and Appointed, and do by these
Presents Will, Ordain, and Appoint, that Our said
Uncle shall and do sit alone, and be placed, at all Times,
as well in our Presence, at Our said Court of Parliament, as in Our Absence, upon the Midst of the
Bench, or Stool, standing next on the Right Hand of
Our Siege Royal, in Our Parliament Chamber; and
that he further shall have, and do enjoy, in Our said
Court of Parliament, in all Sessions, all such other
Privileges, Preeminence, Prerogatives, and Liberties,
in all Things, and to all Intents and Effects, as, by any
Laws or Statutes heretofore made, or otherwise, any
the Uncles, by Father or Mother Side, to any of Our
most Noble Progenitors, or any Protector of their
Realms and Dominions, being in the Minority of Years
as We be, have had, used, or enjoyed, or ought to have
had, used, or enjoyed, in their Courts of Parliament,
the Statute concerning placing of the Lords in the
Parliament Chamber, and other Assemblies and Conferences of Council, made in the One and Thirtieth
Year of the Reign of Our most dear Father, of Famous
Memory, King Henry the Eighth, or any other Statute,
Act, Ordinance, Provision, heretofore had or made,
to the contrary notwithstanding; for that express
Mention of any other Grants, or Gifts, made to Our
said Uncle, by Us or any Our Progenitors, heretofore
had or made, in these Presents be not mentioned; or
any other Thing, Matter, or Cause, whatsoever it be,
notwithstanding. In Witness whereof, We have
caused these Our Letters to be made Patents. Witness
Our Self at Westm. the Third Day of November, in
the First Year of Our Reign.
"Southwell."
When the aforesaid Commission was openly read, and,
heard of all the House, and the Lord Protector placed
accordingly; the Lord Riche, being the Lord Chancellor, began his Oration, in Effect as followeth: (fn. *)
Parliamentum inchoatum apud Westm. quarto die Novembris, Anno Regni Metuendissimi et Illustrissimi Principis Edwardi Sexti, Dei Gratia, Anglie, Francie, et Hibernie Regis, Fidei Defensoris, ac
in Terra Ecclesie Anglicane et Hibernice Supremi Capitis, Primo.
Receivers and Trievers of Petitions, &c.
Recepueurs des Petitions de Anglitere, Irlande, et Scoce.
Richardus Lyster.
Ricardus Read.
Ricardus Lyell.
Sr Johannes Godsalve.
Et ceulx qui veullent delivrer
leurs Petitions les baillent dedens six jours prochement
ensuyans.
Recepueurs des Petitions de Gascoigne, et des altres
Terres et Paiz de par de la la Mer et des Isles.
Robertus Southwell, Custos Rotulorum.
Sir Edwarde Mountague.
Sir Robert Chambley.
Sir William Shelley.
Sir John Mason.
Robertus Oliver.
Et ceulx qui veullent delivrer leurs Petitions les baillent dedens six jours prochement ensuyans.
Et sont assignes trieurs des Petitions de Angleterre, Irlande, Gales, et de Scoce.
Duc de Som'set, estant le Protector.
L'Archevesque de Canter.
Le Countie de Arundell.
Le Seignieur John Russel, Garden de Privy Seale.
L'Evecsque de Elye.
Le Seignieur Seint John.
Tous ceulx ensemble, ou quatre des Prelats et Seigniours
avandits appellans avecque
ceulx le Chauncellier et Tresorier, et aussi les Sergeantes
du Roy, quant besoigne sera,
tiendront leur place en la
Chambre du Chambrelain.
(fn. *) Et sont assignes Trieurs des Petitions de Gascoigne, et
des aultres Terres et Paiz de par de la la Mer et des Isles.
L'Archevesque de Yorke.
Le Marques Dorset.
Le Marques Northampt.
Le Countie de Shrewsh.
Le Countie de Derbye.
Le Countie de Huntingd.
L'Evesque de Lincoln.
Tous ceulx ensemble, ou quatre des Prelatz et Seigniours
avandits. appellans avecque
eulx les Sergeans du Roy,
aussi l'Atturney et Sollicitor du Roy, quant il sera besoigne, tiendront leur place
en la Chambre du Treasorier.