Die Veneris 4 Octob. 1644.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament: For sending forth Five Regiments out of the City of LONDON; and parts adjacent.  
IT is this day Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, that the Committee of the Militia of the City of London and parts adjacent, within the Lines of Communication, and Parishes mentioned in the weekly bills of Mortality, shall have power, and is hereby authorised to command the Red and Blue Regiments of trained Bands of the said City; and the Red Regiment of trained Bands of Westminster; the Yellow Regiment of trained Bands of the Borough of Southwark; and the Yellow Regiment of Auxiliaries of the hamlets of the Tower, consisting of five thousand men, or thereabouts, and such other Forces as they shall think fit, either of Horse, or Foot, raised or to be raised under the command of the said Committee of the Militia, within the Limits aforesaid, to March from the several parts aforesaid, 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 said Committee shall appoint, together with all such necessary provisions of arms Ammunition, Ordnance, and other Carriages, and to join with such other Forces of Horse and foot, as are under the command of the Earl of Manchester, and Sir William Waller, or either of them, according as they shall be directed by both Houses, or the Committee of both kingdoms; to resist and subdue the Forces raised without authority of Parliament; and to recover, and preserve such places as are now possessed by the Enemy.  
And for prevention of such inconveniences, as by experience hath been discovered to fall out in former expeditions by giving great sums of money before hand to hired soldiers, and by their refusing to serve; unless they may have their own demands.  
It is further ordained, That no advance shall be henceforth given before hand, to any soldiers hired, or to be hired, besides their weekly pay; and that the Committee of the Militia, and their subcommittees respectively, shall have power to impress within their several Limits, all such persons as shall be by them thought fit to be hired, to serve in this expedition, excepting such persons as are excepted in the Ordinance of Parliament, made the 12 of July last, 1644.  
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 that all the said colonels, Lieutenant colonels, captains, Officers, soldiers, and other persons under the command of the said Committee of the Militia, whether Masters, or Servants, shall obey the directions of the said Committee of the Militia from time to time, upon pain of imprisonment, or expulsion out of the Limits aforesaid, and such other punishments as the said Committee shall think fit to impose upon them by reasonable Fines, or according to the course of war: and to levy the said Fines, by distress, and sale of their goods, and to employ the same for the service of the City, as the said Committee shall appoint: And all subcommittees made, or to be made, 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 all such services as are contained or intended by this Ordinance, according as they shall be directed by the said Committee within the Limits aforesaid; as they will answer the contrary under the penalties herein mentioned.  
And it is further ordained, that all such Forces as shall be sent forth by the said Committees of the Militia, by virtue of this Ordinance, shall be paid during their continuance abroad by the Parliament, according to the new establishment of the Army under his Excellency the Earl of Essex.  
And it is further ordained, that the subcommittees appointed, or to be appointed by the said Committee of the Militia shall have power, and are hereby authorized to cause all or any the clauses contained in this Ordinance to be put in due execution, when, and as often as they shall receive directions from the said Committee; and as well the said Committee, as also their subcommittees, and all other persons acting in the Premises, according to the true intent of this Ordinance, shall be saved harmless by the authority of both Houses of Parliament.  
Joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.   

Printed at London by Richard Cotes, 1644.