June 1654: An Ordinance appointing who shall be Justices of Assize for the County Palatine of Lancaster.

June, 1654

[21 June, 1654.]

Judges for the Northern Circuit shall be Justices of Assize and Goal-delivery within the County Palatine of Lancaster.; Keeper of the Seal to issue Commissions.

Whereas by an Ordinance of His Highness the Lord Protector and His Council, for reviving the Jurisdiction of the County Palatine of Lancaster, and for holding of Assizes there, Matthew Hales, one of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas at Westminster, and Hugh Windham Serjeant at Law, were appointed Justices of Assize and Gaol-delivery within the said County Palatine; Be it Ordained by His Highness the Lord Protector, by the advice of His Council, That from henceforth such of the Justices of the Court of the Upper-Bench, or of the Justices of the Court of the Common-Pleas, or of the Barons of the Court of the Publique Exchequer, or Serjeants at Law, or one or more of them, as from time to time are or shall be appointed Judges for the time being, for the Northern Circuit, shall be Justices of Assizes and Gaol-delivery within the said County Palatine, in the room and place of the said Matthew Hales and Hugh Windham, and the said Justices or either of them that are or shall be from time to time so appointed, 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 Assizes at Lancaster have lawfully acted, done and performed at any time heretofore. And the Commissioner for keeping the Seal of the said County Palatine of Lancaster (for the time being) is hereby authorized and appointed from time to time, to issue forth to the said Justices that are or shall be so appointed for the execution oi the premises, such Commission or Commissions as in such cases have been heretofore in the said County Palatine used and accustomed.