June, 1645
[5 June, 1645.]
Forasmuch as the true Protestant Religion, the Laws and
Liberties of the Subjects, and the Parliament, are in Danger to be
subverted, Idolatry and Tyranny like to be introduced, by the
Force and Power of several Armies, raised by Pretence of the
King's Authority, consisting of Papists and other dangerous and
ill-affected Persons of this Kingdom, and Irish Rebels, and of
divers Popish Soldiers and others of Foreign Kingdoms and
Nations, being not under the King's Obedience, for the Ruin and
Destruction of this Kingdom; and whereas the Western Parts of
this Realm, having for a long Time lain under the Power of
such Persons, are miserably wasted and destroyed, and have
endured many grievous Oppressions, and are likely longer to continue under the same Sufferings, unless prevented by a considerable Power of Forces, to be suddently raised by Authority of both
Houses of Parliament: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords
and Commons assembled in Parliament, That all and every
Person and Persons as shall be nominated and appointed, deputed
or authorized by the Committee of Lords and Commons for the
Safety of the Western associated Counties, or any Eight or more of
them, whereof Two to be Members of the House of Peers, and Four
to be Members of the House of Commons, shall be, and are hereby
authorized, required, and enjoined, from Time to Time, to raise,
levy, and imprest, within the Limits of the Western Association,
such Number of Soldiers, Gunners, and Chirurgeons, and to take
and raise Horses, in such Manner as shall be directed and
appointed by the said Committee of the Western Associations,
who are hereby further authorized to command all Constables
and other Officers to be aiding and assisting in the said Service
of impresting; all and every which Persons so to be imprested
shall have such Imprest-money, Coat and Conduct-money, Wages
and Entertainment, and other necessary Charges, Allowances,
Accommodations, as shall be fit and convenient, according to the
Discretion of the Persons authorized for Execution of the said
Service, or any Two or more of them respectively; and if any
Person or Persons shall wilfully refuse to be imprested for the
said Service, that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the
said Persons, so authorized as aforesaid, to commit them to
Prison, until they shall yield Obedience, or pay the Sum of Ten
Pounds, to be imposed for the Supply of the said Service:
Provided always, That this Ordinance shall not extend to the
pressing of any Clergyman, Scholar, or Student, in any the
Universities, Inns of Court or Chancery, or Houses of Law, or of
any Person rated in the last Subsidies granted by Parliament, or
the Son of any Person rated at Five Pounds Goods, or Three
Pounds Lands, in the Subsidy-books; or of any Person of the
Rank or Degree of an Esquire or upwards, or the Son of and
such Peron, or the Sons of the Widow of any such Person; or to
the pressing of any Person under the Age of Eighteen, or above
the Age of Fifty; or of the Members or Officers of either House
of Parliament, or of their menial Servants, or any the Assistants
or Attendants of the Lords House, or any of their menial
Servants; or of any Mariner, Seaman, Waterman, or Fisherman;
or any Officer employed in the Office of Excise, or in the Office
of Customs for Tonnage or Poundage: Provided, That this
Ordinance shall continue, and be in Force, for the Space of Six
Months from the Date hereof, and no longer.