A PROCLAMATION PUBLISHED Through every Regiment of Horse and Foot, and all the Garrisons of the North OF ENGLAND (Upon Orders received from his Excellency Sir THOMAS FAIRFAX.) By Major General LAMBERT. ALSO The sentence of the Council of War, for inflicting of exemplary punishment upon divers Soldiers, that mutinyed at Halifax, with others. And a Copy of Major General Lambert's speech, made at a Council of War, concerning disbanding. With Instructions to the Colonels and other Officers. Subscribed, JO. LAMBERT: Printed at London by Robert Ibbitson in Smithfield, near the Queens-head Tavern. 1647. BY Major General LAMBERT, A PROCLAMATION TO All Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels Majors, and Captains, of Horse and Foot, and to all Governors of Garrisons under his Command. WHereas the Parliament hath ordained that a certain number of Horse and Foot shall be continued, modelled, and form (accordingly as his Excellency shall appoint) out of all the standing Forces of the Kingdom, for the safety and defence thereof, and that all other Forces which shall exceed or be above that Number, shall have their Accounts audited, from the time they have been in Service for the Parliament, (except those entertained since the sixth of August last) and shall have Deb●nters from the Commissioners Signed and Registered, as a due debt from the State, (according to the Ordinance of Parliament) to be paid out of such Moneys or Securities as the Parliament have, or shall Ordain for that purpose, and shall receive two Months Pay in part of their Arrears, and be disbanded and dismissed from their Services. And whereas I have also (in prosecution thereof) received Orders and Directions from his Excellency for the continuing a certain Number of Horse and Foot to be appointed and form by me, out of the standing Forces belonging to the several Counties of the Northern Association, and for disbanding those which shall exceed the said Number, as is before expressed. These are therefore (by virtue and authority of his Excellencies Order directed unto me) to require you forthwith to Disband and Dismiss (or cause to be Disbanded and Dismissed) all those who have been entertained since the sixth of August last, without money; and to choose out and appoint such Officers and Soldiers under your command (which are to be such as are comprised within the ensuing Instructions) to make ready their Accounts to be audited, stated, and registered as aforesaid, with all possible speed; Which being done, and two Month's Arrears paid unto them, you are to Disband and Dismiss the said Number or cause them to be Disbanded and Dismissed accordingly, as is before expressed. And for so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given under my Hand and Seal at YORK the twenty ninth of January, 1647. To Captain. etc. Jo. LAMBERT A Copy of what the Commander in Chief spoke at a Council of War, to the Officers there, concerning disbanding. Gentlemen, I Make no question but you are acquainted with the Parliaments last resolution, for the modelling and continuing of a certain number of Horse and Foot for the safety and defence of the Kingdom, and that all above that Number are to be disbanded, the work is very necessary; and I hope we shall appear to be of such public spirits, as not only to comply with what the Parliament hath ordered, but ready, now our work is done, to return to our places and that not without honour, and some satisfaction for our Arrears. It may be thought by some that two Month's Pay is but a small sum: but if you consider the poverty of the Kingdom and great Assessments on it, reason will tell you 'tis as much as can be done at this time, and more, if ye weigh the care taken by the Parliament for Arrears which I think is as much as they can do, and the Kingdom give: So that nothing remains but to consider of some sweet and amiable way for the affecting thereof, which willbe expected from us, Many Officers must be laid aside, and some stand, here are of both sorts, and I desire we may go about the business so, as may be of most advantage to both, and that the one may assist the other in the new modelling, and so order it as we may have respect to the Parliament and the General, that none may be abstracters but assisters in this work. THE Copy of a Letter from Major General Lambert's Quarters at York. Right Honourable, WE are proceeding here to the work of disbanding as fast as we can, Accounts are going to be audited, some persons are appointed for expedition sake to audite the same, and present them to the Commons. Orders are gone out of each Troop and Company (according to the enclosed Orders) which will both prevent discontent, and take away the worst Members, Till the business of Disbanding the Forces lie as they did. Major Smithsons Regiament are upon their march out of Straford-shire into Yorkshire upon the payment of six Month's Assessments, and are now in Darbyshire. The Souldery here are now for the present in a very ill condition, the Country complaining of them for lying on them still, and they on the Country for resisting to give them Quarters, but 'tis hoped a sudden Disbanding and Payment, will prevent both. Thursday last and Yesterday Counsels of War sat in this City for the trial of some Offenders, particularly five Soldiers of Captain Byards' Troop for committing several disorders and misdemeanours at Hallifax, were adjudged to suffer an exemplary punishment. And also four Soldiers of Major Rookbies' Troop, for misdemeaning themselves at their Quarters at Melton, I am Sir in great haste. York 29 Jan. 1647, Your Humble Servant. Instructions For the Officers of each Regiament for the choosing and appointing of Officers and Soldiers of every Company of Foot, and Troop of Horse, who are to be Disbanded. 1. THose who shall be willing or desire to be Disbanded. 2. Those who have been in Arms against the Parliament since the Battle at Naseby, being the 14 of June, 1645. 3. Those who are of deboyst or dishonest conversation, and demeanour, as in Drinking, Swearing, abusing their Quarters or Country, or other demeanours contrary to the Laws and Ordinances of War. 4. That in case the foregoing Instructions comprehend not the full Number appointed hereby to be Disbanded, you are to make it up of those that have been latest entertained, or have continued least in the Service. York the 29 of Jan. 1647. Jo. LAMBERT Jan. 31. 1647. Imprimatur Gil. Mabbot FINIS.