An ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT, Whereby Sir George Vane Knight is appointed and authorised to be high sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge, and for regulating of some other things concerning the said Office, and supply of Justice in that County.  

Die Lunae 23. Febr. 1645.  
ORdered by the Lords assembled in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published.  
Joh. Brown clear. Parliamentorum.   
London printed for John Wright at the Kings Head in the old Bayley. 1645.   

Die Mercurii 18. Febr. 1645.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, whereby Sir George Vane Knight, is appointed and authorised to be high sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge, and for regulating of some other things concerning the said Office, and supply of Justice in that County.  
THe Lords and Commons taking into consideration the necessity of appointing an High sheriff for the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge▪ for that heretofore all Writs and process out of the Exchequer, and some other Courts at Westminster were directed to the Bishop himself, who made a Mandate thereupon to the sheriff to proceed therein, according to the command and direction of such Writ or process, and Writs and Processes issuing out of the Chancery at Durham, and other Courts there, were directed immediately to the sheriff of that County, which sheriff was heretofore appointed by the said Bishop of Durham for the time being, and not in such course as other Sheriffs of other Counties of this Kingdom are: And for that no sheriff hath of late been appointed for that County, Do think fit to Order and Ordain, and be it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That Sir George Vane Knight, shall be and is hereby authorised and appointed to be sheriff of the said County, and do commit unto him the said Sir George Vane the Office of sheriff, and the custody of the said County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge, to have and execute the same for and during the space of one whole year, next after the passing of this Ordinance, in as large and ample manner as any other sheriff of any other County of this Realm, may or ought to do. And the said Lords and Commons do further ordain, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England, shall issue out a Commission under the Great Seal unto Christopher Fulthropp, Tho. bows, Richard Lilburne, George Lilburne, Esquires, or to any two of them, thereby commanding and enabling them, the said Christopher Fulthropp, Tho. bows, Richard Lilburne and George Lilburne, or any two of them, to Minister unto the said Sir George Vane, the two usual Oaths, to wit, the Oath for the due execution of the Office of the said sheriff, and the Oath of Supremacy: And the said Commissioners are hereby authorised and commanded to return in the said Commission to them directed, and the execution thereof into the Chancery of England there to remain of Record, which shall be a sufficient discharge to them, the said Commissioners and every of them in that behalf. And whereas by a Statute made at Westminster, the fourth day of February, in the 31 year of the late queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, Proclamations upon all Writs of Exigent, against any person or persons dwelling within the County Palatine of Durham, are to be directed to the Bishop of Durham, for the time being, and during the Vacation of the bishopric, then to the Chancellor of the said bishopric, or County Palatine, for the time being, and not to the sheriff of any other Shire, next adjoining to the said bishopric or County Palatine. It is hereby Ordained, That all Proclamations upon Exigents against any person or persons dwelling within the said County Palatine, shall be directed immediately to the said sheriff, and the said sheriff is hereby required and authorised to cause Proclamation to be made of the same Writs of Proclamation, according to the Tenor of the same, and shall make true returns of the same, in such Court and Courts, and before such Justices as the Tenor of the same Writ and Writs of Proclamation shall require and demand; the said Statute of Queen Elizabeth, or any other matter or thing to the contrary therof in any wise notwithstanding. And it is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That all Writs of special Capias ut lagatum, single Capias ut lagatum non molestando, and all other process and Writs, issuing out of any the Courts at Westminster, for or against any person or persons resiant within the said County Palatine, shall and may from henceforth be directed from time to time to the said sheriff immediately, who shall do therein, and make such returns themupon, as other Sheriffs of any other County, not being County Palatine, have heretofore used, or might do. And be it further declared, That this Ordinance nor any thing therein contained, is to be construed otherwise then by way of Provision, until some further course for settling of the said County Palatine of Duresme shall be taken by the Parliament; And that this Ordinance, nor any thing therein contained, shall be of force bey●nd one year only next after the Date hereof, and no longer. And it is lastly Ordained and Declared, That as well the said sheriff in the execution of his said Place and Office, as also all other Officers and persons that shall do any thing by virtue, and in execution and pursuance of this Ordinance, and of the power therein contained, and according to the direction of the same, shall be kept and indemnified by the Authority and Power of both Houses of Parliament.  
jo. Brown. clear. Parliamentorum. H. elsing. clear. Parl. D. come.