July 1643: Ordinance for adjourning the Assizes.

July 1643

[10 July, 1643.]

The Lords and Commons, taking into Consideration the miserable Distractions and Calamities with which this whole Kingdom and Nation is now infested, the Face and cruel Effects of an unnatural Civil War being too visible and apparent in all the Parts thereof, and the Power of the Sword so prevailing as that the Public Justice of the Kingdom cannot be expected to be administered in a just and indifferent Way, but that the Judges and Ministers thereof may be terrified and awed by the Power of armed Men; and also for preventing of Inconveniences which may happen, by Assemblies of Multitudes of People, in these Times of such miserable Distraction, have thought fit to Order, and the said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do Ordain and Declare, That the several Judges and Justices of the Assize and Nisi Prius, and Justices of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, and thier Associates, and the Clerks of Assize, and every of them, of or within any the Counties or Cities of England and Dominion of Wales, do forbear to execute any of the said Commissions, or to hold or keep any Assizes or Gaol Delivery, at any Time during this Summer Vacation, or to issue any Warrant for summoning the Assizes, within any County in which they shall be appointed Judges or Justices; and, if they have already issued any, that they forthwith revoke and re-call the same; and herein their ready and perfect Obedience is expected and required, as they will answer the Contempt and Neglect hereof before the Lords and Commons in Parliament.