February, 1644/5
[10 February, 1644/5.]
Wm. Lord Grey of; Wark an William Lenthall, Speaker, to put in use Dutchy Seal of Lancaster; Indemnity.; Patent for John Bradshaw as Sheriff.
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, Do Order
and Ordain, and be it Ordered and Ordained. That William
Lord Grey of Wark, and William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker
of the House of Commons, shall have power, and are hereby
authorized to put in use the Dutchy Seale, for the constituting
and making of Sheriffs and Justices of Peace within the County
of Lancaster, and to issue out all Writs and Processe, and to doe
and performe all Acts and things necessary for the benefit of
the said County, in as ample manner as any Chancellor of the
Dutchy heretofore hath done, or ought to do, and this Ordinance
to continue and be in force, untill both Houses take further
Order: And whatsoever the said William Lord Grey of Wark,
William Lenthall, shall do in persuance hereof, they shall be
saved harmlesse by both Houses of Parliament: And it is
further Ordered and Ordained, That the Officers belonging to
the Dutchy Court, do prepare a Patent for to make John Bradshaw of Bradshaw Esquire Sheriffe of the said County, who is
to take the Oath of Sheriff hereunto annexed.
The Oath of the Sheriff of Lancaster.
Oath of Sheriff of Lancaster.
Yee shall Swear, That well and truly ye shall serve the King
in the Office of the Sheriff of Lancaster, and do the Kings
profits in all things that belongeth you to do by way of your
Office; As much as you can or may; ye shall not respite the
Kings Debts, for any gift or favour, where you may raise them
without great grievance of the Debtors: Yee shall truly and
rightfully treat the people of your Sheriffwick, and do right
as well to poore, as to Rich, in all that belongeth to your Office;
Yee shall do no wrong unto any man for any gift or promise of
goods, nor favour nor hate: Yee shall disturb no mans Right;
Yee shall truly Accompt before the Auditor of the Dutchy of
Lancaster, of all them of whom yee shall any thing receive of
the Kings debts: Yee shall nothing take whereby the King
may lose, or whereby that Right may be disturbed, letted, or the
Kings Debts delayed: Yee shall truly returne, and truly serve
all the Kings Writs, as far-forth asit shall be in your cunning:
Yee shall have none to bee your under-Sheriff, or any of your
Sheriffs Clerkes of the last yeare passed: Yee shall take no
Bayliff into your Service, but such as you will answer for: Yee
shall make each of your Bayliffs to make such Oath as yee make
your selfe, in that that belongeth to their Occupation: Yee shall
receive no Writ by you or any of yours unsealed: Yee shall
make the Bayliffs of the true and sufficient men in the same
County: Yee shall be dwelling in your proper person within
your Bayliwick, for the time yee shall be in the same Office:
Yee shall not let your Sheriffwick, or any Bayliwick thereof to
farme to any man: Yee shall truly set and returne reasonable
and due issues of them that be in your Bayliwick, after their
Estate and Honour, and make your pannell your selfe; And over
this, in eschewing and restraint of the Manslaughters, Robberies, and other manifold grievous Offences that may be done
daily, and increase in number and multiply, so that the Kings
true Subjects may not safely ride or go to such things as they
have to do, to their intollerable hurt and hindrings: Yee shall
truly and effectually with all diligence possibly to you, execute
the Statutes touching the same: All which premises yee shall
duly and truly do and keep, as God help you, and by the Contents of this Book: And also do make a true and faithfull Accompt of all such profits and casulties as cometh and groweth
of the said Office; or that yee shall be charged with in the time
of your occupying the said Office of Sheriffwick, as God you
help, and by the Contents of this Book. Also yee shall utterly
testifie and declare in your Conscience, that the said Kings
Highnesse is the onely Supream Governour of this Realm, and
of all other His Highnesses Dominions and Countries, aswell in
all Spiritual and Ecclesiasticall things or causes, as Temporall;
and that no Forraign Prince, Person, Prelate, State, or Potentate, hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superiority,
Preheminency or Authority, Ecclesiasticall or Spirituall within
this Realm; and therefore yee shall truly renounce and forsake all Forraign Jurisdictions, Power, Superiorities, and Authorities, and shall promise, that from henceforth yee shall beare
Faith and true Alleagiance to the said Kings Highnesse, His
Heirs and Lawfull Successors; and to your power, shall Assist
and defend, all Jurisdictions, Priviledges, Preheminences, granted
or belonging to the said Kings Highnesse, His Heirs and Successors, or United or annexed to the Imperiall Crown of this
Realm; So help you God, and by the holy Contents of this Book.