May 1643: An Ordinance concerning the Trained Bands of the Cities of London and Westminster, and the County of Middlesex, for their better appearance and execution of their Duties, as often as they shall be called thereunto, by their Captains or other Officers.

May 1643

[2 May, 1643.]

Captains of Trained Bands to appoint Marshals.; Their Office.; And Allowance.; Soldiers reviling officers or neglecting duty to be imprisoned.

Whereas by an Order of Parliament, the fourth of January last, it was Ordered that the Colonells, Captaines and Lieutenants of the Trained Bands or others in the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs thereof, and the County of Middlesex, might inflict the punishment of two dayes imprisonment without Bayle or Main-price, or the Mulct of five shillings for supply of the Service, upon such Souldiers under their commands, as should not repaire to their Colours at the time appointed, and to do their duties there, when, and as often as they should be thereunto required, unlesse they be reasonably excused by their Captain or Lieutenant: Which Order is not onely troublesome, but begets much dis-affection between the chief Officers and Souldiers, and therefore it is not so fully executed upon the Offendors as it ought to be: Therefore it is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, That for the better execution of the aforesaid Order in every branch therein contained, (which every Captain respectively is hereby required to doe) every of the said Captains respectively shall elect and appoint, one able person to be Marshall of his Trained Band, who shall by vertue of this Ordinance repaire to such Souldiers as his Captain or Lieutenant shall from time to time give him notice of, that have made breach of the aforesaid Order of the fourth of January, or any part thereof: which Marshall so elected, shall with a Constable, who is hereby required to assist him, and such others as he shall call to aide him in the name of his Captain, inflict (according to the same Order) the punishment of two dayes imprisonment upon him or them, or the Mulct of five shillings, which he shall forthwith after the receipt of the same, deliver and pay to his Captain, to bee employed as by the same Order is appointed: And for the pains taken of every such Marshall, and to encourage him the better to perform his Office, It is also Ordered, that every Captain respectively shall allow unto him the said Marshall, out of every five shillings so collected as aforesaid, the sum of twelve pence, and if any such Marshall shall be found remisse, negligent or partiall in not performing the trust in him reposed, It is likewise Ordered, That every Captain may at his pleasure dismisse him from his place, and elect another in his stead, which hee shall conceive to bee more faithfull to performe the same: Also it is Ordered by the Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament, That if any Souldier or Souldiers, Listed under any of the Captains before mentioned, shall in the time of his or their Service, when he or they shall be commanded to doe duty, revile, or give any ill beseeming language to the Captain or any other Officer belonging unto him, or neglect to doe such duty, as at any time ought or shall bee imposed upon him, or them, that then the Captain or Lieutenant, may upon the Examination thereof, commit such Souldier or Souldiers as shall so offend to Prison, there to remain 24 houres without Bayle or Maine-prise: And that every Captain respectively shall be saved harmlesse by the Authority of both Houses of Parliament, for executing the severall Orders aforesaid, or any of them.