Ordines cancellariæ, being orders of the High Court of Chancery, from the first year of King Charles I, to this present Hillary term, 1697 ... to which is added the Rules and orders of the Court of Exchequer.

Thursday the 16th of March, 1653.

An Order made by the Honourable William Lenthall, Esq; Master of the Rolls, for the better ordering and safe-keeping the Records in the Six Clerk Offices.

FOr as much as there have been Complaints lately made to the Honourable the Master of the Rolls of divers Records lost, or so mislaied in the Six Clerks Offices, that they are not to be found; which abuse and other mischiefs, upon enquiry, he finds to grow from the great neglect of due filing of Bills, Answers and other Plead∣ings, and carrying them out of the Office to be copied, and lying scattered up and down the Offices in the Under-Clerks Seats. His Honour taking consideration thereof, and for redress for the future doth order and command all the Clerks in the said se∣veral Offices, that they forthwith turn over all Bills, Answers and Pleadings which they have in their several cu∣stodies, or have delivered out to be co∣pied,

and which ought to have been turned over and filed before this time, to the end they may be all forthwith filed with the several Six Clerks for their safe custody. And that all the Clerks hereafter be more careful for the filing all Bills, Answers and other Plead∣ings in due time, and that no Clerk hereafter presume upon any pretences whatsoever, to Copy any Bill, Answer, or other Pleadings before they be duly filed;* 1.1 and that the Client who delivers any Bill, Answer, or other Pleading to be so copied before the filing thereof, shall be adjudged equally faulty, as the other Clerk that shall so copy them. And that no Clerk shall deliver any Re∣cord to be carried forth of the Offices to be copied. And it is further order∣ed, That if hereafter any disobedience by any of the Under-Clerks in that Office shall appear; it is thereby order∣ed, That the Six Clerks in whose Office the default shall be found, shall forth∣with present such default to the said Master; and if the same be found true, such Clerk or Clerks are hereby disa∣bled to sit any more in that Office, as an Under-Clerk, or keep any Desk there, and shall pay the full Damage and Costs that the party grieved, whom it may concern, shall be at by such de∣fault:

And it is further ordered, That this Order be fixed up forthwith in the Office of the Six Clerks, that every one may take notice thereof. And his Honour doth further charge and com∣mand the Six Clerks, that they respe∣ctively see these Orders from time to time duly observed, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.

William Lenthall.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bills, Answers and Pleadings to be duly filed, and no Copies to be taken thereof till they are filed.

  No Record to be carried out of the Office to be filed.