October 1646: An Ordinance concerning the Peers of Parliament, and other Honours and Titles.

October, 1646

[30 October, 1646.]

Ordinance to prevent Peers from sitting in Parliament who have been created since May, 1642.

Whereas the Well-government of this Kingdom doth much depend upon the Wisdom Faithfulness, and Integrity of Persons as shall serve in Parliament; and great Danger might ensue to the Commonwealth, if the King, since such Time as (being seduced by evil Counsel) He hath raised War against the Parliament, might convey any Honours and Preferments without Consent of Parliament: The Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament have Declared, Ordered and Ordained, and do hereby Order, Declare, and Ordain, That all Persons who pretend or challenge, or shall pretend or challenge, to be Peers and Lords of Parliament, made since the Day that Edward Lord Littleton then Lord Keeper of the Great Seal deserted the Parliament, and that the said Great Seal was surreptitiously conveyed from the Parliament, being the 21th Day of May 1642, and likewise that those who will be hereafter made Peers or Lords of Parliament, shall not sit or vote in the Parliament of England, without Consent of both Houses of Parliament; and that all Honours and Titles conferred an any, without Consent of both Houses of Parliament, since the 20th Day of May, 1642, being the Day that both Houses declared, "That the King seduced by evil Counsel intended to raise War against the Parliament," be null and void: And it is hereby Declared, Ordered, and Ordained, That no Person or Persons, upon whom any Honour or Title hath been conferred, without Consent of both Houses of Parliament, since the said 20th Day of May, 1642, shall, in any Writ, Summons, Process, or other legal Proceedings, or in any Grant, Contract, or Converse, be called or styled by the Name of any such Honour or Title; nor shall, by Colour of any such Grant, have, use, or enjoy, any Place, Privilege, or Precedence, whatsoever.