VOTES CONCERNING THE POSTMASTER.  
ALSO RULES OF DIRECTION FOR The Government of Soldiers, made by Captain DOWET, and delivered to his Troopers.  
With his Speech for their Observance.  
LONDON: Printed for H: Blunden, August 22.  
1642.   

VOTES.  
Upon Mr Prideaux Report from the Committee, for the Post-Masters, It was resolved upon the Question, That the Taking of the several Letters in this Case from the several Carriers, and the several restraints, imprisonments of Dover, Chapman, Cotton, and Mackcarell, is against the Law and Liberty and freedom of the Subject.  
Resolved, etc. 
 That these several persons ought to have Reparations and Damages, from Sir john Cook, and Sir Francis Windibanke, than Secretaries of State, and Master Witherings respectively.  
Resolved. etc. 
 That Sir john Cook, Sir Francis Windibanke, and Master Witherings are Delinquents.   

AN ORDER MADE BY CAPTAIN DOWET, FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF HIS SOLDIERS.  
GEntlemen,  
being as it hath pleased his Excellency, the Earl of Essex General, to appoint me to be your Captain. Therefore I humbly desire you all to do your endeavours to observe my Commands; which Command shall never be but for the good and service of His Majesty, and High Court of Parliament, and your own safeties, against those malignant parties which doth employ their industries to breed dissension between his Majesty and his great Council, which at length will prove a destruction to his people, if God doth not put his hand to the Cause. Therefore to render you more capable for this employment, I have here set part of the Rules which you are to observe under me.  
1 First, That no man shall take the Name of the Lord in vain, or any other profane Oath.  
2 That all men shall observe the Lords day, excepting when you are upon duty.  
3 That no man shall be drunk or disorder himself.  
4 That no man shall bring, or cause to be brought, any lewd or uncivil women in his Quarter.  
5 That no man shall abuse his fellows by ill language, or stroke, or give them the lie.  
6 That none shall play at Cards or Dice, or any Game which is not lawful. And if any plays above half a Crown at any game which is lawful, both winner and loser shall be punished, and the money distributed to those that gives notice of their gaming.  
7 That every man shall give notice to his Officers, what quarrel there is amongst the Troopers; and in case that any knows of the quarrel and doth not hinder it, and give intelligence to the Officers, both quarrel and spectator shall be punished.  
8 That all men shall repair to their lodging after the setting of the Watch, which will be performed by the sound of the Trumpet or the touling of the Bell.  
9 That no man upon a March shall offer to stay behind, or march before the Troop, or go out of his Quarter without licence of the Officers.  
10 That no man shall offer to steal one from another, or any body else, especially any Tackling belonging to Horse or Armour.  
11 That no man shall abate the allowance of his Horse, or sell or pawn any of his Armour.  
12 That no man shall give any uncivil language in the quarters where they lodge, or as they march, especially to a woman or maid.  
13 That all men shall pay for whatsoever they call for, or have from their Landlord or parts where they are billetted.  
14 That none shall offer to shoot his Pistol or Carabine upon exercising, especially upon the Watch without command.  
15 That all men shall give notice to their Officers, if they hear of any that means to fall off from the service.  
16 That all men shall obey the command of the Officers from the highest to the lowest.  
17 That every man shall take notice that he is bound to do his endeavour to bring to condign punishment any that transgresseth in these Articles; And if they know and do not give intelligence of it, they shall be as guilty as the offenders.  
Gentlemen, I am confident that he which desires to do his Country service, and expect hereafter to deserve to be a Commander, shall not find this Rule hard to be observed; he that is nobly minded shall find it easy.  
One thing more which I desire of you all is, that you may love one another; for where there is a true love and unity, there is a blessing of God: And where there is a blessing of God; there can happen no evil.  
Secondly, that you be careful of your horses and armour; for if you neglect that, you can do no good service.  
Thirdly, that you live peaceably with all those that stands for King and Parliament; fly dissensions amongst yourselves, and be contented with your pay, and extort upon no man. Fly from vices, and no doubt God shall bless all that you shall undertake. And more assure yourselves, if you do your endeavours to follow these rules here mentioned, that nothing shall be lacking of my part to do you good, and to further you in it.  
If there be any of you that thinks he shall not be able to observe this, and that this is too exact, let him freely speak before his name be listed, and he shall have free leave to change Troop, and to put himself under the Command of any other Captain.   
FINIS.