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.