s, chapters and colleges,
and the whole clergy of every diocese of the said province, to appear
before the said metropolitan in the cathedral church of St Paul,
London, on a certain day, or elsewhere, as shall seem most expedient,
to treat of, agree to and conclude upon the premises and other things,
which to them shall then at the same place be more clearly explained
on our behalf." In case the metropolitical see of Canterbury should be
vacant, the writ of the crown is addressed to the dean and chapter of
the metropolitical church of Canterbury in similar terms, as being the
guardians of the spiritualities of the see during a vacancy. Thereupon
the metropolitan, or, as the case may be, the dean and chapter of the
metropolitical church, issue a mandate to the bishop of London, as
dean of the province, and if the bishopric of London should be vacant,
then to the bishop of Winchester as subdean, which embodies the royal
writ, and directs the bishop to cause all the bishops of the province
to be cited, and through them the deans of the cathedral and
collegiate churches, and the archdeacons and other dignitaries of
churches, and each chapter by one, and the clergy of each diocese by
two sufficient proctors, to appear before the metropolitan or his
commissary, or, as the case may be, before the dean and chapter of the
metropolitical church or their commissary, in the chapter-house of the
cathedral church of St Paul, London, if that place be named in the
mandate, or elsewhere, with continuation and prorogation of days next
following, if that should be necessary, to treat upon arduous and
weighty affairs, which shall concern the state and welfare, public
good and defence of this kingdom and the subjects thereof, to be then
and there seriously laid before them, and to give their good counsel
and assistance on the said affairs, and to consent to such things as
shall happen to be wholesomely ordered and appointed by their common
advisement, for the honour of God and the good of the church.

The provincial dean, or the subdean, as the case may be, thereupon
issues a citation to the several bishops of the province, which
embodies the mandate of the metropolitan or of the dean and chapter of
the metropolitical church, as the case may be, and admonishes them to
appear, and to cite and admonish their clergy, as specified in the
metropolitical mandate, to appear at th