February 1654: An Ordinance for reviving the Jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and for holding an Assize there.

February, 1654

[28 February, 1653/4.]

Reviving the Priviledges and Jurisdictions of Lancaster.; Actions Pleas, Precepts, &c.,; revived and continued.

Be it Declared and Ordained by His Highness the Lord Protector, by the advice and consent of His Council, That all Priviledges and Jurisdictions belonging to the County Palatine of Lancaster, and the Inhabitants thereof, be, and are hereby Revived and Continued, as fully and amply to all intents and purposes, as the same were at any time before the tenth day of October last. And that all actions as well real as personal, and all other Actions mixt or otherwise, Pleas, Precepts, Writs, Proces, Demurrers, Recognizances, Fines, Recoveries and all other Proceedings, matters and things, of what nature or quality soever, now depending in any Court within the said County Palatine, or there commenced or prosecuted since the said tenth day of October, shall be and stand revived, continued and of full force and effect in the Law, to all intents, constructions and purposes. And that all Proces, Pleas, Demurrers and Proceedings in every such Action, Actions, Suits, Bills or Plaints, which were there depending the said tenth day of October last, or commenced or prosecuted there at any time since, shall stand good and effectual, and be proceeded in according to the Laws of the Nation, and the proceedings used within the aid County Palatine of Lancaster.

Judges of Assise.; Commissioner for keeping the Seal.

And be it hereby further Ordained, that Matthew Hales, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster and Hugh Wyndham, Sergeant at Law, shall be justices of Assises and Gaol-delivery within the said County Palatine: and that the said Justices, or either of them, shall and may act, do and perform all matters and things, as well concerning Criminal as Common Pleas, and all other Pleas and Proces whatsoever, in such maner and form as any other Justice or Justices of Assises at Lancaster have usually acted, done and performed at any time heretofore. And the Commissioner for keeping the Seal of the said County Palatine of Lancaster hereafter named, is hereby authorized and appointed to issue forth to the said Justices, for the execution of the premises, such Commission or Commissions as in such cases have been heretofore in the said County Palatine used and accustomed. And that Thomas Fell Esq; be, and is hereby made and appointed Commissioner for keeping of the Seal of the said County Palatine of Lancaster, and shall have all such powers as any Chancellor or Commissioner for keeping the Seal of the said County Palatine hath formerly lawfully used and exercised concerning the same, till further Order.