May 1644
[9 May, 1644.]
It is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament
That the Committee of the Militia of the City of London shall be
and hereby are, authorized to command the Regiment of the
Trained Band, raised in the Hamlets belonging to the Tower of
London, the Regiment of Auxiliaries raised in and about Westm.
and the Regiment of Auxiliaries raised in the Borough of Southwarke, consisting of Four Thousand Two Hundred Men, or any
less Number, to march, according to the Discipline and Order of
War, under the Conduct and Command of Such Major General,
Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, as
the same Committee shall nominate and appoint, with all
necessary Provisions of Arms, Ordnance, Ammunition, and other
Carriages, from the Cities of London and Westm. and all other
Places within the Forts or Lines of Communication, and the
Parishes mentioned in the Weekly Bill of Mortality, unto Sir
William Waller, wheresoever he shall be, and according to his
Direction to proceed for the recovering of the Town of Reading,
and Preservation thereof, now possessed by the Enemy, by
Diversion or otherwise, and upon such other Service as shall
be commanded by Sir William Waller, with the Consent of
the said Committee: And it is further Ordained, That the
said Committee shall be, and hereby are, authorized to command Three Regiments of Auxiliaries, raised within London and
the Liberties, consisting of Four Thousand Two Hundred Men,
or any less Number, to march according to the Discipline and
Order of War, under the Conduct and Command of such Major
General, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Captains, and other
Officers, as the same Committee shall nominate and appoint,
with all necessary Provisions of Arms, Ordnance, Ammunition,
and other Carriages, from the City of London, unto the Lord
General the Earl of Essex, wheresoever he shall be and, according to his Excellency's Direction, to proceed for the Recovering
of the City of Oxford, and Preservation thereof, now possessed,
by the Enemies to the King and Parliament, by Diversion or
otherwise, and upon such other Service as shall be commanded
by his Excellency, with the Consent of the said Committee; and
those Services being performed, the said Major General, Colonels,
Lieutenant Colonels, and other Officers, shall be, and are hereby,
authorized to command and conduct all the said Forces in their
Return to the Places aforementioned where they were raised, or
otherwise upon any other Service, according to such Order as
they shall receive from 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 virtue of this Ordinance, when they
shall think fit: And it is further Ordained, by the said Lords
and Commons, That all Major Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant
Colonels, Captains, and other Officers and Soldiers whatsoever,
under the Command of the said Committee of the Militia, whether
Masters or Servants, shall obey the Commands and Directions of
the said Committee of the Militia from Time to Time, and likewise
to march, with their Colours, to any Place whatsoever, for the
Defence of the said City and the Public Safety, according to the
Direction of the said Committee, upon Pain of Imprisonment or
Expulsion out of the Limits aforesaid, and such other Punishment as the said Committee shall think fit to impose upon them
by reasonable Fines, or according to the Course of War; and all
Constables, Headboroughs, Provost Marshals, and other Officers,
are hereby required to be aiding 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 Limits aforesaid, as they will answer
the contrary under the Penalties herein mentioned: And it is
further Ordained, That such Forces as are or shall be sent forth
by the said Committee, for the Expeditions aforesaid, shall be
paid by the Parliament for the Time they shall continue abroad,
according to the new Establishment of the Army under the
immediate Command of His Excellency the Earl of Essex; and
as well the said Committee, as also their Sub-committees, and all
other Persons acting in the Premises according to the Intent of
this Ordinance, shall be saved harmless by Authority of both
Houses of Parliament.