June 1644: An Ordinance Constituting and appointing Serjeant Major Generall Richard Brown...for the reducing of the City or Oxford, the Town and Castle of Wallingford...

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.