William and Mary, 1689: An Act for the Exercise of the Government by her Majestie dureing his Majestyes Absence. [Chapter VI. Rot. Parl. pt. 1. nu. 8.]

1 W. & M. Sess. 2. c. 2.; The Queen shall govern in the King's Absence, in the Names of their Majesties; The King's Acts in his Absence good; The passing this Act or the King's Absence not to dissolve the Parliament.

Whereas by an Act of Parlyament made in the first yeare of their Majestyes Raigne Intituled An Act Declareing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Setleing the Succession of the Crowne It is amongst other things enacted established and declared That the Crowne and Regall Government of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging shall be and continue to their said Majestyes and the Survivour of them dureing their Lives and the Life of the Survivor of them and that the entire perfect and full Exercise of the Regall Power and Government be onely in and executed by his Majestie in the Names of both their Majestyes dureing their joynt Lives And whereas the King's most excellent Majestie hath resolved to make a Royall Voyage and goe in Person into Ireland for the speedy and effectuall reduceing of that Kingdome to its due Obedience to their Majestyes and hath likewise declared his pleasure to leave the Administration of the Government in the Hands of the Queens most Excellent Majestie dureing his Absence out of this Kingdome Bee it enacted by the King and Queens most excellent Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by the authoritie of the same That whensoever and as often as it shall happen that his said Majestie shall be absent out of this Realme of England It shall and may be lawfull for the Queens Majestie to exercise and administer the Regall Power and Government of the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede and the Plantations and Territories thereunto belonging in the Names of both their Majestyes for such time onely dureing their joynt Lives as his said Majestie shall be absent or continue out of this Realme of England any thing in the said Act to the contrary notwithstanding [Provided alwayes That nothing in this Act shall be taken or construed to exclude or debarr his Majestie dureing such his absence out of this Realme from the Exercise or Administration of any Act or Acts of Regall Power or Government within this Realme the Kingdome of Ireland or any other their Majestyes Dominions whatsoever But that all and every such Act and Acts shall be as good and effectuall as if his Majestie was within this Realme and shall not be contradicted or controlled but by his Majestie onely And that neither the passing of this Act nor his Majestys Royall Voyage or Absence out of this Realme shall be any way taken or construed to dissolve this present Parliament or avoid or determine any Commission or Commissions which have beene or shall be granted by his or their Majesties Nor to avoid any other Act or Acts of Government executed or to be executed by his Majestie

II. King, when in England, to have the sole Administration of Regal Power.

Provided alwayes That as often as his Majesty shall returne into this Kingdome of England the sole Administration of the Regall Power and Government thereof and all the Dominions Territories and Plantations thereunto belonging or annexed shall be in his Majestie onely as if this Act had never beene made. (fn. 1) ]