October 1643: An Ordinance concerning Forces to be sent by the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, for the Recovering of Reading, agreed upon the 9 day of October, 1643.

October 1643

[9 October, 1643.]

Power to Committee for Militia of London to send Forces under Earl of Essex to recover Reading.

It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, that the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, shall be and are hereby Authorized to Command seven, or more Regiments of Foote, consisting of Ten thousand men, or any lesse number; As likewise Fifteene hundred horse, or any lesse number, either of their Trayned Bands, or Auxiliaries, or other Forces under the Command of the said Committee, within the Cities of London and Westminster, and all other Places within the Forts, or Lynes of Communication, and the Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortalitie, To March according to the discipline and Order of Warre, under the Conduct, and Command of such Collonels, Liev-tenant-Collonels, Captaines, and other Officers, as the same Committee shall nominate and appoint, with all necessary Provisions of Armes, Ordnance, Ammunition, and other Carriages from the Cities of London and Westminster, and Places afore-mentioned, unto the Lord Generall, the Earle of Essex wheresoever he shall be, And according to his Excellencies direction, to proceed, for the Recovering the Towne of Redding, and preservation thereof, now possessed by the Enemie, by Diversion, or otherwise; And upon such other service as shall be Commanded by his Excellencie, with the consent of the said Committee; And those Services being performed, the said Collonels, LievtenantCollonels, and other Officers shall be, And are hereby Authorized to Command and Conduct all the said Forces, both of Horse and Foot, in their returne to the City of London, or otherwise, upon any other service, according to such Order as they shall receive from the Committee of the Militia aforementioned.

And to recall them at will.

And it is further Ordained, That the said Committee of the Militia, shall have Power, and is hereby Authorized to call backe such Forces as they shall Command to march forth by vertue of this Ordinance, when they shall thinke fit.

Officers and Soldiers to obey commands of Militia.; Constables etc., to be aiding.

And it is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons That all Collonels, Lievtenant-Collonels, Captaines, and other Officers and Souldiers whatsoever, under the Command of the said Militia, whether Masters, or servants, shall obey the Commands and Direction of the said Militia from time to time within the said Cities and Lynes of Communication; And likewise to march with their Colours, to any place whatsoever, for the defence of the said City, and the publique safetie; Upon paine of Imprisonment, or Expulsion out of the Lymits aforesaid, and such other Punishment as the said Militia shall thinke fit to Impose upon them, according to the course of Warre, for doing whereof, aswell the said Committee, as all other persons whom it may concerne, shall be, and are sufficiently warranted, and saved harmlesse by the Authoritie of both Houses of Parliament, And all Constables, Headboroughs, Provost-Marshalls and other Officers, are hereby required to be ayding and assisting from time to time for the better furthering, and effecting of all such services as are contained or intended by this Ordinance, according as they shall be directed by the said Committee for the Militia, or their Sub-Committees, within the Lymits aforesaid; As they will Answer the contrary under the Penalties herein mentioned.