AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT, For Execution of Martial Law, According to the meaning of this Ordinance, to continue for the space of four Months from the date hereof.  
Together with the Names of such Commissioners as are appointed for the Execution thereof.  

16. August, 1644.  
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed & published.  
Henry Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
Printed for Edward Husbands, August 17.   

August 16. 1644.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for execution of Martial Law, according to the meaning of the Ordinance, to continue for the space of four Months from the date hereof.  
BE it Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, and by authority of the same, That Robert Earl of Essex, Captain General of the Forces raised by the authority of Parliament, Algernon Earl of Northumberland, Henry Earl of Kent, Philip Earl of Pembroke, William Earl of Salisbury, Oliver Earl of Bullingbrook, Edward Earl of Manchester, Basil Earl of Denbigh, William Lord Viscount Say and Seal, Philip Lord Whatton, Dudley Lord North, William Lord Grey of Werk, John Lord Roberts, Philip Lord Lisle, Sir William Waller, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Sir John Corbet, Sir John Bamfield, Sir Henry Heyman, Colonel Alexander Popham, Col: Stapeley, Col: Whitehead, Col: Morley, Col: Purefoy, Col: Venus, Edward Bainton Esq Col: William Jephson, Col: Alexander Rigby, Tho: Arundel Esq Sergeant Major General Skippon, Sir Nathaniel Brent, Doctor Tho: Eden, John Bradshaw Esq William Steel Esq Sir James Harrington, Col: Brown, Col: West, Col: Charles Fleetwood, Col: William Strode, Col: Turner, Col: Manwaring, Col: Whitchcote, Col: Pyndar, Lieutenant Col: Welden, Lieutenant Col: Underwood, Lieutenant Col: Wilson, Major Salloway, Major Titchborn, Col: Humphrey, Col: Player, Col: Prince, Col: Harsnet, Major Camfield, _____ Molyns, Col: Owen, Lieutenant Col: Web, Lieutenant Col: Bradley, or any Twelve or more of them, whereof such of the Members of either House of Parliament, as have Commission and commands in any of the Armies or Garrisons; and Sir William Waller, Sir Arthur Haslerig, Sir John Corbet, Sir Henry Heyman, Col. Alexander Rigby, Col: William Jephson, Col: Venus, Sir Nathaniel Brent, always to be Three, shall be Commissioners, and shall have full power and authority to hear and determine all such causes as belong to Military cognizance, according to the Articles in this present Ordinance mentioned; And to proceed to the Trial, Condemnation, and Execution of all Offenders against the said Articles, and to inflict upon the Offenders such punishment, either by Death or otherwise corporally, as the said Commissioners or the major part of them then present shall judge to appertain to justice, according to the nature of the Offence, and Articles here ensuing:  
I. NO persons whatsoever shall from henceforth voluntarily repair or go from the Cities of London and Westminster, or from any other parts of the kingdom, under the power of the Parliament, unto the person of the King or Queen, or Lords of the Counsel abiding with him or her, or to any Commander or Officer of the King's Army, or shall give or hold any Intelligence by Letters, Messages or otherwise with any in Arms against the Parliament, without consent of both Houses of Parliament, or the Committee appointed by Ordinance of Parliament for managing the war, the Lord General of the forces raised by the two Houses, or from the respective Officers that shall Command in chief any of the said forces, upon pain of death, or other Corporal punishment at discretion.  
II. Whosoever hath or shall Plot, Contrive, or endeavour the betraying, surrendering, or yielding up to the Enemy, or hath or shall contrary to the rules of War, surrender, yield up or betray any Cities, Towns, Forts, Magazines, or forces which now are, or hereafter shall be under the power of the Parliament, shall be punished with death.  
III. No Person or Persons whatsoever not under the power of the Enemy, shall voluntarily relieve any Person being in Arms against the Parliament, knowing him to have been so in Arms, with any money, victuals, or Ammunition, upon pain of death or other corporal punishment at discretion, or shall voluntarily and knowingly harbour or receive any being in Arms as aforesaid, upon pain of punishment at discretion.  
FOUR No Officer or Soldier shall make any mutinous assemblies, or be assisting thereunto upon pain of death.  
V. No Guardian, or Officer of any Prison, shall wilfully suffer any Prisoner of War to escape under pain of death, or negligently under pain of imprisonment, and further punishment at discretion.  
VI Whosoever shall voluntarily take up Arms against the Parliament, having taken the Nationall Covenant, shall die without mercy.  
VII. Whatsoever Officer, or Commander, hath or shall desert their trust, and adhere to the enemy, shall die without mercy.  
And it is hereby further Ordained by the authority aforesaid, that the said Commissioners, or any twelve or more of them, whereof such of the Members of either House of Parliament as have Commissions, and commands in any of the Armies or Garrisons, and sir William Waller, sir Arthur Haslerig, sir john Corbet, sir Henry Heyman, Colonel Alexander Rigby, Col. William jephson, Col. Venn, sir Nathaniel Brent, always to be three, shall be authorized from time to time so often as they shall think fit, or shall be ordered thereunto by both or either House of Parliament, to sit in some convenient place within the cities of London and Westminster, or Lines of Communication, and to appoint a judge Advocate, a Provost Marshal, and all other Officers needful. And it is hereby further Ordained, that all Majors, Sheriffs, justices of Peace, Constables, Bailiffs, and other Officers shall be aiding and assisting to the said Commissioners in the execution of the Premises, and that the said Commissioners, and every of them, and all and every other Person and Persons, that shall be aiding and assisting to them in the execution of the Premises, shall be saved harmless and indemnified for what they shall do therein by authority of Parliament, provided nevertheless that no Member of either Houses of Parliament, or Assistants of the house of Peers shall be questioned, or tried before the Commissioners appointed by virtue of this present Ordinance, without assent and leave first had and obtained of both Houses of Parliament.  
And be it also provided, that this present Ordinance, and the authority hereby given, and appointed to the Persons hereby nominated, shall endure and have continuance for four months from the making hereof.  
Provided that this Ordinance for any offence hereafter to be committed shall not take place, or be of force until eight days after the publication hereof, any thing in this Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding.  
FINIS.