July, 1647
[9 July. 1647.]
All disbanded officers and soldiers to depart from London, Westminster and Lines of Communication.; Not to return for 2 months, under penalties.; Officers' and soldiers' arrears to be paid as soon as accounts shall be audited.
Whereas there hath been of late an extraordinary confluence,
and resort of Officers, Souldiers, and other persons pretending
themselves to have been Souldiers of reduced or disbanded
Forces from severall parts of the Kingdome to the Cities of
London and Westminster, some of which have assembled themselves in tumultuous manner in severall parts of the City of
London and neer the Houses of Parliament, to the disturbance
of the said Houses in the great affaires they have in hand;
For remedy whereof; and as one means by the blessing of God
to prevent the increase and spreading of the Plague in the said
Cities, and other inconveniences; Be it therefore Ordained by the
Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled that all such Officers
and Souldiers or other persons aforesaid shall by the fifteenth day
of this instant July 1647 depart from the said Cities of London
and Westminster, and Lines of Communication, not having had
their usuall habitations within the said Cities of London and
Westminster, or within the Lines of Communication aforesaid,
nor having and just and necessary occasion for their abode and
continuance there, to be allowed by the Committee of the
Militia of the City of London or any four of them under their
hands, And that the Persons aforesaid shall not return to the
said Cities of London or Westminster, or within the said line or
Communication within the space of two moneths next after the
publication of this present Ordinance, upon pain of three months
imprisonment, and losse of their Arrears. And it is further
Ordained, That the said Committee of the Militia are hereby
authorized and required to see this present Ordinance to be
effectually put in Execution. And it is likewise Ordained that
after the said fifteenth day of July aforesaid the said Committee
or any four of them shall have hereby power and authority, and
are hereby required to imprison the said persons, according to
the tenour of this Ordinance, that shall offend against the same.
And the said Lords and Commons do declare that it is not
their intention to deprive any Officer, or Souldier of their
just dues, owing unto any such Officer or Souldier from the
Parliament, but that their Accompts being audited as is
directed by several Ordinances of Parliament, and so soon as
the pressing affairs at the Kingdom will permit, the said Lords
and Commons will take order to give just satisfaction to them or
to any other person or persons unto whom they shall assigne
their Arrears, or any part thereof.
Certain officers and soldiers excepted.
Provided that this shall not extend to the Officers or Souldiers
of the Trained Bands or Auxiliaries within the said Lines of
Communication, or to any Colonel or Officer of Estate or quality
which shall have occasion to stay in Town, or to such as are lately
come from the Army, and shal manifest the same to both Houses,
or to the Speakers of both Houses, and shal have allowance
thereof accordingly under the hands of the said Speakers.