The Lives of the Lord Chancellorsand Keepers of the Great Seal of England

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851. Excerpt: ... Prynne's argumentation--dwelt upon a proclamation lately put forth by the King for seizing the estates of all parliament men, and any who adhere to the parliament, --and pointed out the absolute necessity for the use of a new Great Seal, to preserve the government of this kingdom, and to provide for the administration of justice. The Lords yielded; and taking into serious consideration the necessity of preserving the government of the kingdom and his Majesty's authority in parliament, and the being thereof, and the due administration of justice, and perceiving, by the mischiefs already experienced, how absolutely indispensable it is to have the Great Seal attending the parliament, --after a mature debate this question was put, --Whether a Great Seal of England shall be forthwith made to attend the parliament for despatch of the affairs of the parliament and of the kingdom?--and it passed affirmatively.! A message to this effect coming down to the Commons, they resolved, on the motion of Serjeant Wilde, that 17 ipQi an ordinance should forthwith be framed for ' ' more effectually invalidating all proceedings under the Great Seal at Oxford, and for vesting the Seal of the parliament in Commissioners, with the powers of Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper, to be exercised under the directions of both Houses. t An ordinance to this effect speedily passed through the House of Commons; but it seems to have met with some obstruction in the Lords, and not fewer than six messages were sent up from the Commons praying their Lordships to concur with them in putting the new Great Seal in execution, and to expedite their answer concerning the Great Seal, --the messengers from the Commons always being informed that their Lordships would send an answer by messengers of the...