WHereas William Merrick Doctor of the Laws , late Commissary Generall , Master or keeper of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury , wilfully and contrary to his duty , hath absented himself from due attendance on the said Office , revoked all Surrogations and Deputations by him made , in or neer London , Kent , Middlesex , and other places within the power of the Parliament , wilfully , and to the end that Iustice might not be administred in Causes Ecclesiasticall in the said places , in things to his jurisdiction belonging ; by reason whereof , the Administration of the goods and Chattels , Rights , and credits of such persons who have died intestate , could not be had nor taken , nor the Wills of others , who made their last Wills and Testaments duely proved , nor Iustice in such cases administred ; The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled , taking into their consideration , the necessity of that service , declare & adjudge the said place void of the said Doctor Merrick , and him from the Execution of the said Office doe amove ; And have constituted and Ordained , and by these presents doe Ordaine , that Sir Nathaniell Brent Knight , Doctor of the Laws , by himself , his Deputy and Deputies , use , have , exercise , and enjoy the Office of Master or keeper of the said Prerogative Court , together with all and singular Emoluments , Wages , Fees , Profits , Commodities , and Iurisdictions to the said Office belonging or appertaining : And do appoint him the said Sir Nathaniell Brent , Doctor of the Laws , by himself and Deputy or Deputies , sufficient to do , execute and perform all such Offices , duties and things , as to the Master or keeper of the said Court , doth belong or appertain , for the granting of Administrations , making Probate of Wills and other things , to do and perform , as fully and amply , as by the Laws and Statutes of this Land , any Commissary Generall , Master or keeper of the said Court , ought to do and perform ; To have , hold , vse and exercise the said Office , with the appurtenances , till it shal be otherwise Ordained by both Houses of Parliament : And that all Processes , probates of Testaments , Letters of Administration , and other things whatsoever , which shall passe the Seal of the said Court , shall passe in the Name and Stile of the King , and with the Teste of the said Sir Nathaniell Brent ; And that the said Sir Nathaniell Brent , in the execution of his said Office , shall have in the Seal of his said Office , the Kings Highnesse Arms , decently set , with these Characters ingraven about it ( SIGILLUM CURIae PREROGATIVae ) and shall use no other Seal for the said Office . And the said Lords and Commons do further Ordain and declare , that an probate of Wills , and Letters of Administration , and other Acts that since the twenty third day of May , which was in the year of our Lord God 1643. have been done , or that shall be done hereafter , by the said William Merrick , or any other person or persons , as Master or keeper of the said Office , other then by the said Sir Nathaniell Brent , his Deputy or Deputies , or by such person or persons , as shal be appointed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament , to grant such administrations , or take probate of such Wills , shal be void and of no effect , to all intents , unlesse that the Administrators or Executors that claim thereby , shall again take new Letters of Administration , or make new Probate according to the intent of this Ordinance , before the end of Hillary terme next , in the year of our Lord God 1644. In which case it is meant , that they should not be prejudiced any way by this Ordinance , but that the said former Letters of Administration and Probate , remain of force , any thing in this Ordinance notwithstanding .

Neverthelesse , every person who had right to demand Letters of Administration , or that might justly have opposed the former Probate , of any such Will at the first granting of such Letters , and making of such Probate , shall bee heard ab integro upon demand of such new Letters of Administration , or making of such new Probate , to demand Letters of Administration , and to oppose the probate of any Will formerly proved as aforesaid , as fully and freely , and Iustice shall be done to all parties , respectively in like manner , as if no former Administration or probate had been formerly granted or made .

And further it is Ordained , That in case that opposition of any Letters of Administration , or Probate formerly made as aforesaid , shall be made , and Suit thereon arise , and not determined before the end of the said Term , then the Administrators or Executors shall have further time and liberty to take new Letters of Administration , or make new Probate , as the Iustice of their cause shall require , untill that the same Suit shall be ended or determined ; and then within one Term next following , to take new Letters of Administration , or make new Probate , and be in like condition , as if the same had been done before the end of the said Hillary Term .