Commons attend in the House of Lords

8.17On receiving the message from Black Rod, the House of Commons, accompanied by the Clerk, go up to the House of Lords. The presiding Commissioner there addresses the Members of both Houses, and acquaints them that Her Majesty has thought fit, by letters patent under the Great Seal, to empower several Lords Members, therein named as Commissioners, ‘to do all things in Her Majesty's name, which are to be done on Her Majesty's part in this Parliament’. The letters patent are then read, after which the presiding Commissioner, acting in obedience to these general directions, again addresses both Houses, and acquaints them:

‘That, as soon as the Members of both Houses shall be sworn, the causes of Her 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 Her 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 Her Majesty's royal approbation.’1