May 1643
[10 May, 1643.]
The Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, being
informed of the great Abuses in the several Counties of this
Kingdom, by the Taking of Horses for the Service of the Parliament, by reason the Officers assigned for that Purpose can
neither judge of the Affections nor Abilities of the People, not
knowing what they have contributed, nor in what Proportion, to
the Propositions; and that other Officers do suffer the Horses
so taken to be sold again, and others likewise take Composition,
and spare the Horses that are fit for Service; by all which Ways
and Means the Countries are distasted, and discouraged, the
Parliament injured contrary to their Intentions, and the Service
much hindered and prejudiced: It is therefore Declared and
Ordained, That every Captain, or other Officer or Soldier, that
hath or shall have any Commission or Order to take any Horses,
within any County, that he or they respectively repair to Two of
the Deputy Lieutenants, or Two of the Committees for the
Propositions for raising and bringing in of Horses, Plate, and
Money, being and residing in those Parts or Limits where he or
they intend to take such Horses; or, if no such Deputy
Lieutenants be in that Part of the County, nor any of the Committees, then to the next Two Deputy Lieutenants or Committees
dwelling nearest to the Place within the said County; and that
neither he nor they do take any Horses without the Directions
or Privity of the said Deputy Lieutenants or Committees as
aforesaid; and that every Horse, so taken as aforesaid, be marked by the Deputy Lieutenants or Committees, or Two of them, and the Captain, or other Officer
or Soldier; and a Duplicate to be made and signed respectively,
under the Hands of the Deputy Lieutenants or Committees as
aforesaid, and the said Officer and Soldier, so employed;
and therein to be entered the Parties Name from whom the
Horse is so taken, the Colour of every Horse, the Number
taken within that Part of the County, and the Mark set upon
them; One Part of the Duplicate to be sent to the Commissary Genera for the Horse belonging to the Army, wherein
the Lord General may receive upon all Occasions an Account,
the other to remain with the said Deputy Lieutenants, or
Committees; and, if any Officer or Soldier shall do any Act
in any County otherwise than is here expressed, the Deputy
Lieutenants, or any One of them, shall then have Power to
stay the said Horses otherwise taken, and also apprehend the
Officer or Soldier, and bring them to the Parliament or the Lord
General, that he or they may be proceeded against as Contemners
of the Orders of Parliament, and Abusers of the Country, and
Disturbers of the Peace thereof.