BY THE LORD PROTECTOR. A Proclamation of his HIGHNES, with the consent of his Council, for continuing all persons being in Office for the Execution of publike Justice at the time of the late Change of Government, untill his HIGHNES further direction.

OLIVER, LORD PROTECTOR of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, considering, That wheras the exercise of the chief Magistracy, and the Administration of Government within the said Commonwealth, is invested and established in his Highness, assisted with a Council, And lest therupon the setled and ordinary course of Justice in the Commonwealth (if remedy were not provided) might receive interruption, his Highness in his care of the State, and publike Iustice thereof, (reserv­ing to future consideration the reformation and redresse of any abuses by mis-government, up­on better knowledge taken thereof) is pleased, and doth hereby expresly signifie, declare and ordain, by and with the advice and consent of his Council, who have power untill the Meeting of the next Parliament, to make Laws and Ordinances for the peace and welfare of these Nati­ons, where it shall be necessary, which shall be binding and in force untill Order shall be taken in Parliament concerning the same, That all persons who on the 10. day of this instant Decemb [...] were duly and lawfully possessed of any place of Iudicature, or Office of Authority, Iurisd [...] ction or Government, within this Commonwealth, shall be, and shall so hold themselves con­tinued in the said Offices and places respectively as formerly they held and enjoyed the same, and not otherwise, untill his Highness pleasure be further known; And all Commissions, Pa­tents, and other Grants, which respect or relate unto the doing and executing of publick Iustice, and all Proceedings of what Nature soever in Courts of Common Law, or Equity, or in the Court of Admiralty, or by Commissioners of Sewers, shall stand and be in the same and like force to all Intents and Purposes as the same were on the said tenth day of this instant Decem­ber, untill further Order given by his Highness therein. And that in the mean time (for pre­servation of the publick Peace, and necessary proceedings in matters of Iustice, and for Safety of the State) all the said Persons of whatsoever Place, Power, Degree, or Condition, may not fail, every one severally, according to his respective Place, Office or Charge, to proceed in the performance and execution of all Duties thereunto belonging, as formerly appertained to them and every of them, whilst the former Government was in being.

Given at VVhite-Hall this 21. of December, in the year of our Lord, 1653.

Printed at London, and re-printed at Leith, Anno Dom. 1653.

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