June 1644
[10 June, 1644.]
Richard Brown to be Serj.-Maj.-Gen. of all Forces raised for reduction of Oxford, etc.; His Powers.
The Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, Doe
hereby constitute and appoint Serjeant Major Generall Richard
Brown to be Serjeant Major Generall of all the Forces raised, or
to be raised and employed by Authority of Parliament, for the
reducing of the City of Oxford, the Town and Castle of Wallingford, the Fort of Greenland-House, and the Town and
Castle of Banbury: As also Serjeant Major Generall of the
Forces of the Counties of Oxon, Berks, and Buckingham: And
of the Forces of the said City of Oxford; to serve for the Defence of the King, Parliament and Kingdom, for this present
expedition: And doe hereby will and require the said Serjeant
Major Generall Richard Brown to take the said Forces into his
Charge as Serjeant Major Generall, and to make his present
repaire unto the said Counties; Giving him hereby Power and
Authority to Command, Lead, and Conduct the same into any
part of the said Counties or parts adjacent; or in the absence
of the Earle of Essex, Lord Generall, as Serjeant Major Generall
to doe any other Act or thing, as he in his Judgment shall think
fit for the defence and security thereof: And also to draw forth
of the said Counties, such well-affected Souldiers as will follow
him for the Service aforesaid: And also to secure the severall
Forts, Castles, and Towns within the said Counties, for the
safety of King, Parliament, and Kingdome, as aforesaid, and
preservation of the aforesaid Counties, and parts adjacent from
Spoile and Rapine: And the said Lords and Commons doe
hereby likewise Authorize the said Serjeant Major Generall
Richard Brown, to nominate and appoint all such Officers as
shall be by him thought requisite for the better Conduct of the
said Forces, and diligently to Exercise the said Forces in
Armes; as also to call together and Assemble a Councell of
Warre, to consist of Twelve Collonels or other Officers, or more,
as he in his discretion shall thinke fit, none to be under the
degree of Captaines: And to Constitute and Appoint him President of the said Councell, to Examine upon Oath all such Witnesses as he shall find necessary for the cleering of the Truth,
in Cases which shall depend before him; and to heare and Determine, all and every Crimes and Offences to be committed or
done by any Officer or Souldier under his Command: by vertue
of this Ordinance, and to Punish and Execute Justice upon
them, and all Enemies which shall be under his power, as he in
his Judgement, by the advice of his Councell of Warre, according
to the rules of Martiall Law published by his Excellencie the
Earle of Essex, Lord Generall of the Forces for the King and
Parliament, shall thinke fit: And to doe any other thing whatsoever, as to him shall seeme requisite, for the infesting and destroying of the Enemy in those parts, and Reducing the said
City of Oxford, Town and Castle of Wallingford, the Town and
Castle of Banbury, the Fort of Greenland-House and parts adjacent; Commanding all Officers and Souldiers of the said
Forces, to Obey him as their Serjeant Major Generall for the
Service above-mentioned, according to this Commission given
him: And the said Serjeant Major Generall Richard Brown,
is likewise from time to time to observe and follow such Orders
and Directions as he shall receive from both Houses of Parliament, the Committee of both Kingdomes, and the Earle of Essex
Lord Generall, or any of them: And the Lord Generall is
hereby desired, to grant a Commission according to the Tenor of
this Ordinance.