March 1646: An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for committing the Great Seal of England into the Hands and Custody of Commissioners therein named, and appointed by both Houses of Parliament.

March, 1646

[19 March, 1645/6.]

Ordinance concerning the Great Seal

The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled do Order and Ordain, and be it Ordained, That the Great Seal of England shall be committed to the Custody and Keeping of the Persons hereafter named, who are hereby ordained Commissioners for that Purpose, for and during the Time of Six Months from the passing of this present Ordinance; that is to say, unto Henry Earl of Kent and Oliver Earl of Bolingbrooke, Members of the House of Peers; and unto Oliver St. John Esquire His Majesty's Solicitor General, John Wild Serjeant at Law, Samuell Browne and Edmond Prideaux Esquires, Members of the House of Commons, which said Persons are hereby constituted and appointed to be Commissioners for the Custody of the said Great Seal of England, during the Time aforesaid; and they, or any Three or more of them (whereof One of the said Earls, or both of them, to be present), shall have, and are hereby authorized to have, the Custody, Keeping, Ordering, and Disposing thereof; as also all such and the like Powers and Authorities as any Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper, or Commissioners of the Great Seal, for the Time being, hath lawfully had and used, or ought to have had or used.