Armes, viz. ACROSSE, and this Inscription in the Circle, IN THE FIRST YEAR
OF OUR FREEDOME, BY GODS BLESSING RESTORED, 1648. And
upon the other side whereof is engraven the Map of ENGLAND and IRELAND, with the
English and Irish Armes viz. ACROSSE and a HARPE, with this inscription in the
Circle, SIGILLUM PRO BRENEBUS CORAM JUSTICIARIIS COMMUNIS
BANCI, 1648. shall be the Seale of the Court of Common Pleas, and none other.
And it is also hereby Enacted, that the former Seale of the Common Pleas shall be from
henceforth no further used, but shall be broken and defaced.
Hen. Scobell Cleric. Parliamenti.
Another Act passed for the Court of the Upper-bench, formerly called the
Kings-bench, just as the above said, onely instead of Communis BANCI, in the
Circle is ingraven SUPERIORIS BANCI, and for the words Common-Pleas, is
put in Upper-bench.
A third Act passed also for the Court of Exchequer, altered Scaccarii
PUBLICI. And the English words, The Court of the Exchequer inserted.
The Committee for the Army should have brought in the Act for the Assesments
this morning; but it being not wholly written out faire, the House ordered
that it should be referred untill the afternoon.
The Act for reliefe of the poore was read, which (with some Amendments)
was committed. The poore are in great want. I was my selfe at the house of
William Deacan a Glover in Reasons Rents in Petty France, at Westminster, where
he, his wife, and six children, have eaten of Dogs, and Cats. It is sad; and the
Officers of those Parishes where such things are, deserve to be punished.
Die Veneris 23. Martii 1648.
ORdered by the Commons Assembled in Parliament, That the Committee appointed to
take satisfactions from absent Members of this House, doe sit at Derby house, between
two and three of the clocke every day wheron the House doth not sit. And the said Members
may resort thither from time to time for that purpose if they please.
Hen. Scobell Cler. Parliamenti.
The House passed Instructions for the Lord Mayor of the City of London,
with the Sheriffe, in their persons, to see the Act for nulling the Kingly office
proclaimed in the chiefe places of the City, and to make their returns thereof
to the House. And the like Instructions to be sent to all the Sheriffes in England to
publish it in all Market Townes. And ordered 2000. of their late Declarations
to be Printed for the Publick, and sent into Counties by the Members.
There is much robbing about the City of London; and amongst other things,
some have stolne I ead off from severall Churches.
The Provisions are safe delivered to Col. Jones at Dublin, that went from Milford
haven, and the Convoy is returned backe, having given out over and above
all the Bisket that she could spare of her owne store.
Letters from the West complaine of great danger to Merchants Ships in passing
the Seas, and that there lye some Pickroones that have taken three or foure
severall Merchants Ships, some of them laden with Merchandize.
Sir Henry Vane made Reports from the Councell of Stats, of Severall things