WHereas We have been certainly informed, that diverse persons, who either are actually Souldiers of Our Army, or pretend themselves to be so, do wander up and down from Parish to Parish, in severall Counties of this Our Kingdom under Our obedience, and there Quarter themselves upon the Inhabitants, and enforce them to give them Free-Quarter, without making any sa­tisfaction; and likewise very often Robbe and despoyle them of their Horses; Cattell, and o­ther goods, to the great prejudice and discouragement of Our good Subjects in those Coun­ties. For prevention whereof, and that We may not be wanting, in these times of distraction and Rebellion, to give Our good Subjects all the reliefe and Protection We can possible, We are gratiously pleased to declare Our Pleasure, and hereby to Will and Command, all and every Constable or other Officer of any Parish or Towne, whereunto any persons shall come, pretending themselves to be Souldiers, strictly to examine them, and if he either find they have Robbed, or taken away any Horses, Cattell, or other goods from any Our Subjects whatsoever, without authority, or that they cannot produce any authentique passe, under the Hand and Seale of the Colonell, Lieutenant, Colonell, or Sergeant-Major of the Regiment whereof he or they pre­tend themselves, or other the superior-Officers of Our Army, then the said Constable or other Officer, is forthwith to ap­prehend them, and cause them to be safely brought and delivered to the chiefe Officers of any Our neerest Garrisons or Quarters, who are speedily to cause them to be sent and delivered to the Provost Marshall-Generall of Our Army, or to such other Provost-Marshall, whom We shall for the ease and safety of each County cause to reside therein, who recei­ving with them particulars of the Offences of such Offenders, shall cause them to be brought to a Court of Warre, there to receive punishment as they deserve, for the satisfaction, and future security of Our good Subjects. And if it shall hap­pen that such straglers shall be of so great force and number, that the Constables shall not dare to apprehend them, then Our Command is, that upon notice given to the chiefe Officer of Our next Garrison or Quarter, he give the Constable, or other Officer such assistance, by sending out such a party, as shall be requisite to performe the same. But if any Souldi­ers of Our Army (especially those who are sick or wounded) shall passe through any of Our Counties, having such Passe or Testimoniall, then Our Command is, that the Constable of every Parish, where they come to Lodge, shall pro­vide for them necessary dyet, and Lodging, the charge whereof shall be allowed out of the Contribution, in all those Counties who pay us the same. This Our Pleasure, We Command shall instantly be published in all the severall Pari­shes of the Counties in Our Obedience, and be therein duly and fully observed by all Persons whatsoever, whom it may in any sort concerne, at their utmost perills.

Given at Our Court at OXFORD, this first of December, in the Nineteenth yeare of Our Reigne. 1643.

GOD SAVE THE KING.