April 1645: An Ordinance for the Militia of London and Middlesex to Prest Soldiers and send to Maidenhead.

April, 1645

[4 April, 1645.]

Committee of Militia of London to press Soldiers.; Rulers of Watermen to press Watermen and Barges for conveying Soldiers to Maidennead.; Allowance to Watermen; No Peer's house to be entered.

It is this day Ordained and Declared by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the respective Committees of the Militia, of London and Middlesex, and of the neighbouring Counties, and their Sub-Committees, shall have power, and are hereby required and Authorized to enter into any house or place, where they suspect any person or persons fit to be imprested for the present Service are hid or harbored, and to imprest every such person and persons according to the Limitations of the Ordinances for impresting of them. And further the said Lords and Commons do hereby likewise Ordain and Declare, That the Eight Rulers of the Water-men or any two of them, shall have power, and are hereby also Authorized and required to imprest so many Water-men and Barges, as shall be by the said several Committees and their Sub-Committees thought necessary, For conveying and carrying such Soldiers as shall be imprestedf for the present Service, from London to Maydenhead, allowing to every such Water-man or Barge-man as shall be imprested and imployed in this Service, the sum of five shilling for his voyage, or fraight from London to Maidenhead, and back again: Provided always, That neither this Ordinance nor any thing therein contained, shall extend to the entring into any house or other place in the possession of any Peer of this Realm, or any Member, Assistant or Attendant of, or on either House of Parliament: Any thing herein contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.