October 1642
[24 October, 1642.]
Whereas divers Persons now are or hereafter may be, in the
Service of the Parliament, in the present War, undertaken for the
Preservation of the King's Majesty's Person, the Defence of the
Religion and Laws of the Realm, and of the just Liberties of the
Subjects, who have little or nothing to maintain themselves, their
Wives, and Children, but by their own Labours: The Lords and
Commons, for their better Encouragement in the Service, do
Order and Declare, That they, the Lords and Commons, will
provide competent Maintenance and Allowance for such of them
as shall be maimed, and thereby disabled by their Labour to
provide for themselves, their Wives, their Children, as formerly
they did; and, in the Distribution of such Allowances and
Rewards, they will always have regard to the Deserts and the
Service of each Person.
And in case any such Person shall be slain, that they
will make Provision for the Livelihood of their Wives or
Children.
And in case any Persons of Estate shall be slain or die in the
Service, the said Lords and Commons do Declare, That they will
take the Estates, Wives, and Children, of such Persons, into their
Protection; and in case their Estates shall not, at the Time of
the Death of such Person, be settled, they will be always assistant
to the Friends of the Party deceased, in the settling and disposing
of their Estates, in such Manner as may be for the most
Advantage of their Wives and Children, and shall, upon all
Occasions, let their Children and Posterity know the Respect
they bear to the Memory of those who have spent their Lives in
Service of the Church and Commonwealth.