and the Commonalties of the Cities and Borroughs
aforesaid leberally, may babafull and sufficient power to
do and consent unto those things which then and there shall
happen to be ordained for the good and safety of the Church
and Commonwealth: So that for defea of such [unr] power,
or by reason of improbident choice of the Knights, Citizens
and Burgesses aforesaid, the said Affairs may not remain
un[unr]one in any wife. And we will that neither you, nor any
other Sheriff of this Commonwealth, be in any wise thosen;
and that the choice in your full County aforesaid so
made, you certifie to us, in our Chancery, at the day and
Place aforesaid, di[unr]naly and openly, without delay, under
the Seal of the County aforesaid, and the Seals of the[unr]
who wall be present at such Election sending back to us
the other part of the said Indentures to these presents annexed,
together with this Writ. Witness our selves at
Westminster the Sixteenth day of March in the year of
our Lord, 1659.
LENTHAL.
The Principal Points of Qualification enacted by Parliament, touching
persons to be elected, are these.
That no man be capable of being chosen who hath been in Arms against
the Parliament.
Nor the Son of any such person; unless they have since give signal Testimony
of their Good Affection [unr]e.
That no Papist; nor any who hath had any hand in the Rebellion of
Ireland, be Capable.
That if any man shall by corruption in conferring Lands, or Bribes by
money, procure himself to be elected, such Election shall become void info
fa[unr], and be as if no return had been made.
That if any man shall presume to stand Elected, he not being duly qualified,
he shall undergoe the penalty of one Thousand pounds, and the Return shall
become void, as if no such return had been made.
Whitehal, March 17.
Yesternight the Parliament declaring the Dissolution of their Assembly, departed
about seven, a clock at night.
By Several letters out of Flanders, it is Certified, that Charls Stuart remains
still at Brussels.
From the Hague it is written, that he French Ambassador lately delivered
in to Lords States General a Memorandum, expostulating with them in very
high language about many Particulars, whereof some relate to the state of the
Commerce Betwixt France and the United Provinces; others concern the interest
to assert it.
From Ireland we have missed two Posts and so no accounts had touching
the State of affairs there.