A copy of the letter from His Excellency the Lord Generall Cromwell, sent to the members of Parliament called to take upon them the trust of the government of this common-vvealth : which began on Munday the fourth of June, 1653, the day appointed by the letters of summons from his Excellency the Lord Gen. Cromwell for the meeting of these gentlemen : with severall transactions since that time.

A Declaration for alteration of severall Names and Forms heretofore used in Courts, &c.

OLIVER, Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, having the exercise of the chief Magi∣stracy, and the administration of Government within the said Common-wealth, invested and established in his Highnesse, assisted with a Councell, who have power untill the meeting of the next Parliament (which is to be on the third of Sep∣tember next) to make Laws and Ordinances for the peace and welfare of these Nations, where it shall be necassary, which shall be binding and in force untill order shall be taken in Parliament concerning the same.

And the said Lord Protector finding it to be most necessa∣ry that some speedy and effectuall course be taken for setling the Names and Forms to be used in Patents, Commissions, and proceedings in Courts of Justice, the said L. Protector, by, and with the advise & consent of his said Councell, and in pursuance of, and according to the power and trust reposed in him and them, doth declare and ordain, and be it by the Authority aforesaid declared and ordained, That in all Courts of Law, Justice or Equity, and in all Writs, Grants, Patents, Commissions, Indictments, Informations, Suits, returns of Writs, and in all Fines, Recoveries, Exemplifications, Recog∣nizances, Proces and Proceedings of Law, justice or equity within the said Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, instead of the Name, Stile, Title, and Teste (of the Keepers of the Liberty of England, by Authority of Parliament) heretofore used, that from and after the 26 of Decem. 1653. the Name, Stile,

Title, and Teste of the Lord Protector for the time being, of the Common-wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, shall be used, and no other, and the date shall be in the year of our Lord and no other. And that all Duties, Profits, Penalties, Issues, Fines, Amercements, and Forfeitures whatsoever, which heretofore were sued for in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament, shall from and after the said 26 of Decem. be prosecuted, sued forth, and recovered in the said name of the Lord Protector, for the time being, of the Common-wealth of England Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, and no other. And in all or any of the proceedings aforesaid, where the words were, The Jurors for the Common-wealth, or, The Jurors for the Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament, do say, or present, from and after the 26 of Decem. it shall be, The Jurors for the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of Eng∣land, Scotland, and Ireland, &c. doe say, present, and no o∣ther, &c. And it is further Ordained by the Authority afore∣said, That in all Oaths to be given to any Grand or Petty Ju∣ry, or to, or for any Witnesses to give in Evidence to any such Jury or Juries, and all other Oaths wherein the name of Kee∣pers of the Liberty, &c. was wont to be used, the same shall be given in the name of the Lord Protector instead of the name of the said Keepers, &c. any Law, Usage, or Custom, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And it is lastly Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That such Forms and course of proceedings, as was heretofore used in the name and time of the Keepers of the Liberty, &c. in Causes criminal or civil, & of which no alteration is made in this Ordinance, shall stand and continue to be so used and observed as formerly; & that all Indictments, Presentments, Inquisitions, Commissions, & Captions made with such Alterations, Additions, or Omissi∣ons as aforesaid, or with such other Omissions, Additions, or Alterations as shall be proper and necessary for making good of Indictments Presentments, Commissions, Captions, & In∣quisitions, and supplying the sence and meaning thereof, ac∣cording to the present Government of this Common-wealth

under the Lord Protector as aforesaid, shall stand and be good and effectuall in Law to all intents and purposes, as if the same had been particularly herein named, any Law, Custom or Usage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.