A bill for a general pardon has but one reading in each house; because they must take it as the King will please to give it: and when this bill is passed, the answer is, _Les Prélats, Seigneurs, & Communes, en ce parlement assemblez, au nom du tous vos autre sujets, remercient_ _très humblement vôtre Majesté, & prient Dieu vous donner en santé, bonne vie & longue_: that is, The Bishops, Lords, and Commons in this Parliament assembled, in the name of all your other subjects, most humbly thank your Majesty, and beseech God to grant you a long and healthful life. The King, without his personal presence, may, by a commission granted to some of his Nobles, give his royal assent to any bill that requires haste. When his Majesty prorogues or dissolves the Parliament, he generally comes in person, and being seated with the crown on his head, sends the Black Rod for all the house of Commons to come to the bar of the house of Lords; and then the speech being read by the Lord Chancellor, he, by the King’s special command, pronounces the Parliament prorogued or dissolved. The Parliament was formerly dissolved at the death of the King; but to prevent tumults and confusion, it is now expressly provided by a solemn act, That a Parliament sitting, or in being at the King’s demise, shall continue; and if not sitting shall meet expressly, for keeping the peace of the realm, and preserving the succession. See _House of_ LORDS. COMPASS _alley_, Spitalfields market.* COMPTER _alley_, near Compter court. COMPTER _court_, near Tooley street. COMPTER _lane_, St. Margaret’s hill. COMPTERS, two prisons, for the confinement of all who are arrested within the city and liberties; one in the Poultry, belonging to one of the Sheriffs of London, and another in Wood street, Cheapside, which belongs to the other Sheriff. Both these prisons are of the same nature, and have the like officers, each being a place of security both for debtors and criminals. Under the Sheriffs there are the following officers in each Compter, who give security to the Sheriff, for the faithful discharge of their respective trusts. I. The principal officer, next to the Sheriff, is the Secondary, who returns writs, marks warrants, and impannels juries for the courts both above and below, and also for the sessions. II. The Clerk of the Papers: whose office is to impannel juries, for the Sheriffs court; and who enters upon judgment, and makes out all processes for the Sheriffs court. III. Four Clerks Sitters, who enter actions, take bail, receive verdicts after trial, &c.