THe Committee of Parliament taking into their consideration, the present Condition of the Regiments raised in this Kingdome, and now imployed, either within the same or in the Kingdome of England, Do finde the same to be very weake, through the numbers of Deficients and Runawayes that are wanting, and the flownesse of the Officers in put­ting to execution these publike Acts made against them: And that by the great number of Officers and small number of Souldiers they are become very burdenable to the Kingdome, and almost uselesse for Service; Yet the Committee, to testifie their desires to have these Regiments Recruted, if the Officers will performe what is incumbent to them in that behalfe, They have thought fit, for some time, to forbeare the reforming thereof, And do declare, that if betwixt and the first day of May next, the weak Regi­ments of Foot shall not be made up to consist of 600 at least, and the Companies of 60. and the weak Regi­ments of Horse having eight Troups, to consist of 320. and the Troupe of 40. beside the Officers: then the Com­mittees with the Armies respectivè, by advice of the Lord Generall, or Commander in chiefe, shall reforme and joyne these Regiments to stronger as they shall think fitting.

And to the effect these Regiments may be the better made up betwixt and the said day, The Committee Ordains some Officers of each Regiment, To bring to the Committee of the Shire, out of which that Regiment was rai­sed, A List or such persons as were designed to have gone out in the publick Service, and did not go out; or having gone out, did returne: And designe them by Name and sirname, with the persons and places from which they should have come, or the Resetters of such as have come home; which being done, It is declared, That the Commit­tee of the Shire is obliged within Ten dayes thereafter, To deliver to the Officers these Deficients and Run-awayes, and any others that have come to that Shire without Testimonials (they not being claimed by other Regiments:) And failing thereof, The Committee doth hereby Ordaine the Committee of Warre of the Shire, to make up and deliver to the Officers, the like number both of Horse and Foot, within other Ten dayes, under the pains contained in the Acts of Parliament formerly made, for putting out of Horse and Foot: Which Acts the Officers are Ordai­ned to prosecute and see put in execution. And if it shall be found that any Officers have, or shall receive money for Horse and Men, and not furnish and out them out, The Officers are to be casheered, disgraced, and ordained to consign the Money in the hand of the Clerk of the Commitee of the Shire, to be disposed of as that Committee after hearing of the parties shal think fitting: And these who gave the money, shal be stil obliged notwithstanding thereof, to put out their Men and Horse. And it is hereby recommended to the Committees with the Armies, to set downe some course how Colonel Ereskines Regiment, and these Regiments and Troups that were leavyed and not put out by the Shires, may be best recruted. And Ordains this Act to be Printed and Published at the Armies and Mar­ket-Crosses of the Shires, that none pretend ignorance thereof.