June 1644: An Ordinance enabling the Militia of London, to send three Regiments of Auxiliaries under Major Generall Browne.

June 1644

[18 June, 1644.]

Power to Com. for Militia of London to send 3 Regiments of Auxiliaries under Maj.-Gen. Browne to Oxford, etc., for recovery of parts possessed by Enemy.; All Officers and Soldiers under command of said Militia to obey them, under pain of imprisonment, etc.

It is this day Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, shall have power, and is hereby Authorized to command three Regiments of Auxiliaries raised within London and the Liberties, consisting of foure thousand and two hundred men, or any lesse number, and such other Forces as they shall thinke fit, either of Horse or Foot, Raised, or to be raised, under the command of the said Militia within the Lines of Communication or Parishes mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mortalitie, and Hamlets of the Tower, to march according to the Discipline and order of Warre, under the conduct and command of Major Generall Browne, and such Collonels, Lievtenant-Collonels, Captaines, and other Officers, as the said Committee shall appoint, together with all necessary provision of Armes, Ammunitions, Ordnance, and other Carriages, into the Counties of Oxford, Berks, and Buckingham, to joyne with such other Forces under his command, of Horse and Foot already raised, or to be raised in the said Counties, or elsewhere, for the Recovery and preservation of such parts thereof as are now possessed by the Enemy; And upon such other service as shall be commanded by the said Major Generall, with the consent of the said Committee. And it is further Ordained, That the said Committee shall have power, and is hereby Authorized to call back such Forces as they shall command to march forth by vertue of this Ordinance, when they shall thinke fit: And that all the said Collonels, LievtenantCollonels, Captaines, other Officers and Souldiers, and other persons under the command of the said Committee of the Militia, whether Masters or servants, shall obey the directions of the said Committee of the Militia from time to time upon pain of Imprisonment or expulsion out of the limits aforesaid, and such other punishments as the said Committee shall thinke fit to impose upon them by reasonable Fines, or according to the course of Warre, and to leavy the said Fines by distresse and sale of their goods, and to imploy the same for the service of the City, as the said Committee shall thinke fit; And all sub-Committees made to bee made, Constables, Headboroughs, Provost Marshals, and other Officers, are hereby required to be ayding and assisting from time to time, for the better furthering and effecting all such services as are contained or intended by this Ordinance, according as they shall be directed by the said Committee within the limits aforesaid, as they will answer the contrary under the Penalties herein mentioned.

Directions for provision for said Forces during service.

And it is further ordained, That all such Forces as shall be sent forth by the Committee of the Militia by vertue of this Ordinance shall be paid during their continuance abroad according to the new establishment of the Army, under the immediate command of his Excellencie the Earle of Essex, by the Committee or Committees established, or to be established in any of the Counties aforesaid out of such moneys as shall be raised by them in any of the said Counties; And likewise to make satisfaction to the Committee of the Militia, for any Horse, Armes, Ammunition, Money, or other necessaries, which they shall provide or disburse for the furtherance of this service and in defect thereof all the said Forces and Provisions to be otherwise provided and paid for by the Parliament.

Power to Sub-Committees.

And it is further Ordained that the sub-Committees appointed, or to bee appointed by the said Committee of the Militia shall have power, and are hereby Authorized to cause all or any of the Clauses contained in this Ordinance to be put in due Execution, when and as often as they shall receive directions from the said Committee.

Indemnity.

And aswell the said Committee, as also their sub-Committees, and all other persons acting in the premisses, according to the intent of this Ordinance shall be saved harmlesse by the Authority of both Houses of Parliament.