February 1643: Ordinance to appoint Sir William Waller Serjeant Major General of the Forces in Gloucester and other adjacent Counties, and for paying his Army.

February 1642/3

[11 February, 1642/3.]

Whereas his Excellency the Lord General hath given a Commission to Sir William Waller, to command in Chief, as Serjeant Major General of all the Forces of the County of Gloucester, and the City and County of the City of Gloucester, Wilts, Som'sett, Worcester, and Salop, that are already raised, and shall be raised, for the Defence of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom, and suppressing of the malignant Party there, with Authority to raise Five Regiments of Horse, and Five of Foot, in the said Counties. It is Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Regiments and Forces aforesaid shall be paid, after the Rate and Proportion of the Parliament Pay to the other Forces of the like Nature, out of, the Estates of Papists, Delinquents, Bishops, Deans and Chapters Prebendaries, and Pluralists, within the said Counties; and out of the Estates of such Persons of Ability, as have not contributed unto the Parliament, or have opposed or assisted against the Parliament; or such Clergymen or others, as have either refused to observe and obey the Orders and Ordinances of Parliament, or otherwise have expressed a Disaffection thereunto, or to the Proceedings thereof: And it is further Ordered, That the said Sir William Waller, calling unto his Assistance the Deputy Lieutenants, or the Committee for Subscriptions, of the said Counties, or any Two or more of them, shall have Power to rate, tax, assess, or charge, all or any of the said Persons, their Lands, Goods, and Tenements, at such Rates, and in such Proportions, as they shall think fit, and the Necessity of the Cause shall require; yet with that Moderation, as not to exceed the Twentieth Part of their Personal Estate, or the Fifth Part of their Yearly Revenue (excepting Papists, Archbishops, Bishops, Deans and Chapters, and such notorious Delinquents as have taken up Arms against the Parliament, or have been active in the Commission of Array, whose Estates are already sequestered by Ordinance of Parliament, and by virtue thereof to be seized); and they shall have Power to appoint fit Persons, to collect, gather, and levy the same: And it is further Ordered and Ordained, That Sir Wm Waller shall receive and take all such Money, Plate, and Horse, as are and shall be raised, upon the Ordinance of Subscription, within those Counties, to be employed by him in that Service, upon Accompt: And, in Case that sufficient Sums of Money cannot be raised by these Ways, for the Purposes aforesaid, then, if any Person or Persons shall lend any Sums of Money, for the Advancement of the present Service, an Acquittance under Sir William Waller's Hand shall be sufficient Warrant to such Person or Persons to require Payment thereof, with Consideration after the Rates of Eight Pounds per Centum, upon the Public Faith: And it is further Ordered and Ordained, That Duplicates of Rolls be made, containing the Names and Surnames of every Person charged by virtue of this Ordinance, and Places of their Abode, together with the particular Sums upon each of them so set and assessed; and that like Duplicates be made of all such Sums of Money, or other Thing, as shall be received, disbursed, employed, or expended, in this Service, upon a just Accompt to be made, and allowed by the Commons House of Parliament: and that Sir William Waller, the Deputy Lieutenants, those of the Committee, and all others employed by them, and observing their Commands and Directions, or that join with or assist them in executing any of the Premises, or that shall willingly submit to perform and pay such Rates and Money, and perform such Services, as shall be imposed on or required of them by virtue of this Ordinance, shall be protected, defended, and saved harmless, in their Estates, Lands, Goods, and Persons, by Authority of Parliament.