May 1644
[28 May, 1644.]
Upon the humble Petition of the Officers and Clerks belonging to the Courts of Common Law now sitting at Westm. That
the Course and Proceedings of the Common Law are now greatly
obstructed by the Absence of the Attorney General, who, by his
Place, is to attend the said Courts, to do several necessary Acts
in divers Causes now depending, or hereafter to be commenced,
betwixt His Majesty and Private Persons; as namely, for granting his Warrant to the Cursitors, to make Writs of Errors, for
several Outlawries in His Majesty's Court of King's Bench, for
Persons outlawed for offences of a small Nature, being the
ancient Course of that Court, as also for exhibiting Informations
for Offences of several Natures; and likewise Informations of
Quo Warranto; and for his Warrants for Nisi Prius and Tales,
amongst divers other necessary Acts; which may be done as
well by the Solicitor General as by the Attorney General, and
lately have been done by His Majesty's Solicitor General, in the
Absence or Vacancy of the Attorney-General: For Redress of
the said Obstructions, it is this Day Declared and Ordained, by
the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, That
Oliver St. John Esquire, His Majesty's now Solicitor General, be
authorized and required, and is hereby authorized and required,
to do and execute, from Time to Time, all and every the Matters
and Things beforementioned, with such other necessary Acts belonging to the said Places of Attorney and Solicitor General, as
may or shall be requisite for the Expedition of the Proceedings
of the said several Courts at Law; and the said Oliver St. John
is hereby enabled to take all Fees and Profits belonging to the
said Place of Attorney General, during the Absence of the said
Attorney; and this Ordinance to continue till both Houses of Parliament shall otherwise direct; and all Judges, Justices of either
Bench, Barons of the Exchequer, Clerks, and other Officers, are
hereby enjoined and required to yield Obedience to all Warrants
and other Acts touching the Premises, as shall be issued forth
from the said Solicitor General, in as full and ample Manner as
if they had been issued forth by the Attorney-General.