AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT: authorising the Committee of the Militia of the City of LONDON, and all Deputy-Lieutenants, Committees, High-Constables and Petty-Constables in the several Divisions in all the Counties under the power of the Parliament, to make search for all soldiers that have been or shall be Listed or Imprested to serve for the defence of the kingdom, under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.  
And that they forthwith repair to their Colours within six days after the publishing of this Ordinance, upon pain of death.  
Die Jovis 24. April 1645.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed, and published in all Market Towns and Parish Churches in the several Counties under the power of the Parliament.  
Joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.  
LONDON, Printed for John Wright at the King's Head in the Old Bayley. 25. April. 1645.   

Die Jovis 24. April 1645.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament: For punishing soldiers Imprested and forsaking their Colours.  
WHereas by Ordinance of Parliament entitled, An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, For the speedy Raising and Impresting of Men for the recruiting of the forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax in the defence of the kingdom. It is Ordained (inter●alia) that the Committee of the Militia for the City of London, the Deputy Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament, in every County, City, or place within this realm, or any two or more of them, within their several Limits and Jurisdictions, shall be and are thereby Authorized, Required, and enjoined from time to time to Raise, levy, and impress such number of soldiers for the defence of the King, Parliament, and kingdom as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament, by the Committee of both Kingdoms, or by Sir Thomas Fairfax. The said Lords and Commons for preventing abuses which may happen by the soldiers absenting themselves from their Colours and the Army, and by the harbouring and concealing of soldiers so Raised, levied, and Imprested, as aforesaid, do therefore Order and ordain, That all soldiers already Raised, Listed, or Imprested, or which hereafter shall be Raised, Listed or Imprested under the command o● Sir Thomas Fairfax, shall upon pain of death to be inflicted without mercy repair to their Colours within six days after publication hereof: And for such as shall be hereafter Imprested and Listed, within six days after their Listing; and constantly abide there, and not depart without Licence under the hand of Sir Thomas Fairfax, or of the superior Officer then present of the Regiment wherein such soldier or soldiers shall serve. And for the better discovery of all such persons who have been Imprested or Listed, as already have, or hereafter shall absent themselves from their Colours, The said Lords and Commons do hereby require and command all High constable, petty Constables, Lithingmen, and Headboroughs in their several Divisions, Hundreds, Towns, and Parishes, to make strict search and inquiry in the several Houses within their respective Limits and Parishes, for finding out such soldiers as may be harboured there. And if any soldier or soldiers shall be found remaining in any of the towns and Places aforesaid the high Constables and petty Constables aforementioned, are hereby authorized and required to apprehend their persons, and carry them before such of the Deputy-Lieutenants, Committees of Parliament, or Justices of Peace as are nearest to the places where they are so apprehended; who are hereby authorized and required to commit such soldiers to the county-goal, or other Prison, and to secure their Horses, arms, soldiers clothes, and Moneys, if they have any, for the service of the State. And for the preventing the harbouring and concealing any soldier or soldiers, as aforesaid, who shall depart out, or absent himself from the said service without licence, It is further Ordained and Declared, that every town or Parish wherein such soldier or soldiers shall be found to be harboured or concealed, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds; and every person harbouring or concealing any soldier or soldiers, as aforesaid, shall pay for every soldier so concealed and harboured forty shillings: All which said several sums of Money to be forfeited as aforesaid, shall be collected, levied, and paid in such sort, manner, way, and form, and shall be employed to the same uses as are prescribed and set down for levying of Money in the former Ordinance of Parliament, For raising and maintaining Forces for defence of the kingdom under the command of sir Thomas Fairfax. And to the intent that all soldiers under the command of the said sir Thomas Fairfax, and all and every other person and persons concerned in the premises may take notice hereof, It is further Ordained, That this present Ordinance be forthwith printed, and published in the several Market Towns and Parish Churches of every County within the power of the Parliament within fire days next following the receipt thereof, that none may pretend ignorance of any of the particulars before mentioned.  
And it is hereby further Ordained, That the Deputy-Lieutenants, Committees of Parliaments, all majors, Bailiffs, Sheriffs, governors of Towns, and Justices of peace of the several Counties, Cities and places within this kingdom, shall take special care to put this Ordinance in due execution, according to the purport and true meaning thereof.  
Ioh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.  
FINIS.