January 1644: An Ordinance Authorizing the Commissioners of the great Seale of England, to call before them all Officers, Ministers, and other Attendants on the great Seale, or Court of Chancery, Kings Bench, Common Pleas, Exchequer, and Court of Wards and Liveries, and to tender unto every of them, the solemne League and Covenant for Reformation, etc. And for making voyd aswell the Places and Offices of such as shall refuse or neglect to take the same. As also for restraining of all Lawyers, Attourneys, Clerks or Solicitors, to practice or solicite in any of the said Courts, before they shall have taken the said solemne League and Covenant.

January 1644

[30 January, 1643/4.]

Commissioners of Great Seale to call before them all Officers of the Courts.; Forfeiture of offices for non-attendance None to practise in Courts without taking Solemn Covenant.

It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, That the Commissioners of the great Seale of England be Authorized, and are hereby required, to call before them all and every the Officers and Ministers, and all other Attendants on the Great Seale or Court of Chancery, Kings Bench, Common Pleas, Exchequer, and Court of Wards and Lyveries, and to tender unto every of them the solemne League and Covenant for Reformation, and Defence of Religion, the Honour and happinesse of the King, and the Peace and safety of the three Kingdomes of England, Scotland, and Ireland; And such as shall either refuse or neglect to take the same, and all such as shall not make their appearance, and give their personall attendance in their severall Places and Offices before the last day of this Terme, not having a just excuse for their absence, shall forfeit their severall and respective Offices and Places; and the same shall be determined and become absolutely voyd to all intents and purposes, as if such Persons, Officers and Ministers were naturally dead. And it is further ordered by the said Lords and Commons, that no Serjeant at Law, or other Lawyer, Attourney, Clerke or Sollicitour, shall be admitted to practise before the said Commissioners in the Court of Chancery, or in the Kings Bench, Commons Pleas, Exchequer, or Court of Wards and Lyveries, or to prosecute or to Sollicit any Cause in any of the said Courts before he shall have taken the said solemne League and Covenant, which the said Commissioners are hereby likewise Authorized and required to tender; and Administer unto them.