AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT;  
For Raising an Army of Horse and Foot in the several Counties and Cities herein mentioned.  
To be ready to march the Twentieth day of this instant july, and to continue only for the space of Two months.  
The said Forces to be paid by their several Counties, according to their several proportions.  

Die Veneris, 12. Julii; 1644.  
ORdered by the Commons in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed; And that the Gentlemen of the several Counties, Members of the House of Commons, on which any proportions are set, are hereby required to send Copies of them down into their several Counties, and to write to the several and respective Committees, to take care that this Ordinance may be forthwith put in execution.  
H: Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   
London, Printed for Edward Husbands, july 15. 1644.   

An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, for raising an Army of Horse and Foot in the several Counties herein expressed.  
WHereas the Counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, and other counties and places have lately raised divers great Forces both of Horse and Foot, to withstand the incursion of the Enemy, and to preserve themselves from plundering, and their Countries from ruin and destruction, which Forces should they be continued abroad any long time would not only be a prejudice to those Countries in respect of their Harvest, but would be too great a charge for them to bear. And for as much as it is necessary that some course be taken for the keeping of the Enemy from plundering and spoiling, and securing the Countries from the danger of Alarms, which otherwise will enforce them to continual rising, disturb them in their Harvest, and other necessary employment, and make their charge insupportable; To the end therefore the Trained Bands now upon these late Alarms raised, may return home, and their Country secured from such further trouble, Be it Ordained by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, that the several Counties, Cities, and places hereafter mentioned, shall immediately after the receipt of this Ordinance, raise such forces of Horse and Foot well and sufficiently armed, as are hereafter particularly set down, to be ready to march the twentieth day of this present july, one thousand six hundred forty four; That is to say:  
The county of Essex, one thousand Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The county of Suffolk, one thousand Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The County of Norfolk, and City of Norwich, one thousand Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The County of Hertford, five hundred Foot, fifty Horse, and fifty Dragoones.  
The Counties of Huntingdon and Cambridge, with the Isle of Ely, eight hundred Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The County of Bedford, five hundred Foot, fifty Horse, and fifty Dragoones.  
The County of Kent, and the City and County of the City of Canterbury, and the Cinque Port, one thousand Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The City of London, and County of Middlesex, two hundred Horse.  
The Counties of Oxon, Berks, and Buckingham, one thousand Foot, two hundred Horse, and two hundred Dragoones.  
The county of Northampton, three hundred Foot, two hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The county of Warwick, the City and County of the City of Coventry, three hundred Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The county of Gloucester, the City and County of the City of Gloucester, five hundred Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The county of Wilts, five hundred Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
The counties of Sussex and Surrey, one thousand Foot, one hundred Horse, and one hundred Dragoones.  
And the county of Hampshire, and the Town and county of Southampton, six hundred Foot, one hundred Horse, and fifty Dragoones, which said Forces so levied are to be employed about Oxon, or such other places as by both Houses of Parliament, or the Committee of both Kingdoms shall be thought necessary for the purposes aforesaid, and to continue only for the space of two Months, from the time that they shall come to the place of general Rendezvouz.  
And it is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, that the several and respective Committees of Parliament, of the several counties, cities, and places aforesaid, or any three of them, are hereby authorised and required, to cause this Ordinance to be put in speedy execution. And for the more speedy execution of this Ordinance, and that the Committees of Parliament (unto whose care and fidelity the same is especially entrusted, & recommended to be forthwith dispatched) may be armed with power sufficient for the effecting the same, Be it likewise Ordained by the authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for them, or any three of them respectively, by such reason able ways and means as they shall find most convenient, to raise and levy such moneys out of the several counties, cities and places aforesaid, as shall enable them to raise and arm the said Forces of Horse, Foot, and Dragoones, and pay them during the time they shall be employed; And if any person or persons shall neglect to pay any sum of money whereat he shall be so rated or assessed, that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Committees, or any three of them respectively, to appoint a distress of the goods of such persons to be taken and sold for satisfaction of the same, restoring unto the owner the overplus after all necessary charges deducted; & further power and authority is hereby given to the said respective Committees, or any three of them respectively, to use all good ways and means for the effecting of this service, as they in their wisdoms shall think convenient; And if any person shall show himself opposite or refractory unto this service, so as the same by means thereof shall be delayed, disturbed, or hindered; it shall and may be lawful to the said several Committees, or any three of them respectively, to impose a reasonable Fine upon such person for his contempt therein, so as the same exceed not the sum of ten pounds for any one offence; and to levy the same by sequestration of his Estate, or imprisonment of his body. And because it is not expected that the Trained Band-men should in this time of Harvest be employed in this service without their own consents, or an absolute necessity, and that probably it may be difficult to find so many volunteers as will be sufficient to make up the full numbers in this Ordinance expressed;  
It is hereby further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the said respective Committees or any three of them, are hereby authorised in their respective counties, cities and places, to Impressed fit and able men for this service, and to imprison such persons as shall refuse to give obedience, until they conform thereunto.  
And it is lastly Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, that the said respective Committees or any three of them, in their respective counties, cities and places, are hereby authorised to reduce the said Foot forces respectively into companies and Regiments, and the Horse and Dragoons into Troops, and nominate and place over them Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, except the Majors of the said Regiments, whose several and respective companies are to be commanded by the respective Lieutenants thereof, to the place of Rendezvous. Provided that no Regiment of Foot shall consist of less than One thousand Foot, besides Officers, and no Troop of Horse or Dragoons of less than One hundred, besides Officers; and where any county is hereby to raise a less number of men than will make up an entire Regiment, the several and respective Committees of such counties and places, are to meet together with what conveniency they shall think most fit, and to join their Forces into Regiments as aforesaid.  
And the Committee of both Kingdoms are hereby authorised to nominate a Major of every Regiment of Foot, and to form the Horse and Dragoons into Regiments, and nominate the Field-Officers, the said Majors and Field-Officers to be approved by both Houses of Parliament.  
Provided always, That this Ordinance shall not extend to the Pressing of any Clergyman, Scholar, or Student in any the Universities, Inues of Court or Chancery, or Houses of Law, or any the Trained Bands in any county, city or place, or of any person rated in the last Subsidies granted by the Parliament, or the son of any person rated at Fine pounds Goods, or three pound Lands in the Subsidy Books; or of any person of the rank or degree of an Esquire or upwards, or the son of any such person, or the son 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 the Menial servants of the Members or Officers of either of the said Houses, or any the Assistants of the Lords House, or any of their Menial servants; or any the Inhabitants of the I●les of Wight or Anglesey, or Cinque Ports, or of any Mariner, Seaman or Fisherman.  
FINIS.