June 1659: An Act constituting Charles Fleetwood esquire lieutenant-general and commander in chiefe of the forces raised, and to be raised, by authority of parliament, within England and Scotland.

June, 1659

[7 June, 1659.]

The parliament of the commonwealth of England doe enact, and be it enacted by this present parliament, and the authoritie thereof, that Charles Fleetwood esquire be, and he is heereby constituted and appointed lieutenant-general and commander in chiefe, under the parliament, of the armies and forces raised and to be raised by authoritie of parliament within England and Scotland, during the continuance of this parliament, or until the parliament take further order, giveing and granting to the said Charles Fleetwood full power and authoritie, to rule, governe, command, dispose and imploy the said armies and forces, and every part thereof, and all officers and others whatsoever, imployed in or concerning the same, in, for, or about all defences, offences, invasions, executions, and other military and hostile acts and services, as lieutenant-general and commander in chiefe, to be subject to, and pursue such orders and directions as he hath receaved, or at any time shall receave, from the parliament or council of state, appointed by authoritie of parliament; and further giveing and granting to the said Charles Fleetwood full power and authoritie to conduct and lead the said armies and forces, and every part thereof, against all enemies, rebells, traytors, and other like offenders against this commonwealth, and every of theire adherents, and with them to fight, and them to invade, resist, depresse, subdue, pursue, slay, kill, and put to execution of death, by all waies and meanes, and fullfill and execute all and singular other things for the governing of the said armies and forces, and to assigne and appoint one or more provost-martiall or marshalls for the execution of his commands, according to the tenor hereof, and to command all the forces in all garrisons, forts, castles, and townes in England and Scotland already fortified, or to be fortified; as likewise by himselfe, or others deputed and authorized by him, to take up and use such carriages, draught horses, boates, and other vessells, as (in his discretion, and as often as he shall thinke meete) shall bee needfull for the conveying and conducting of the said armies and forces, or any part thereof, or for bringing or carrying ammunition, ordinance, artillery, victuals, or any provisions necessary or requisite for the said armies and forces, or any part thereof, to and from any place or places, according to the tenor heereof, and to give rules, instructions, and directions for the governing, leading, and conducting of the said armies and forces, and every part thereof, and to execute, or cause to be executed martiall law for the punishment of all mutinies, tumults, rapines, murthers, and other crimes and misdemeanours in any persons whatsoever, in and of the said armies and forces, or any part thereof, and according to the lawes and ordinances of warr, that are or shall be allowed by parliament, and the said lawes and ordinances of warr shall cause to be proclaymed and executed, streightly charging and requiring all the officers and souldiers of the said armies, and every part thereof, to be obedient to him the said lieutenant-generall; likewise all sheriffes, officers of the ordinance, justices of the peace, mayors, bayliffes, and other officers and persons whatsoever, in theire respective counties and places, to be ayding and assisting to him in the execution of the said office of lieutenant-generall and commander in chiefe of the said armies and forces, for the ends and purposes, and in manner aforesaid.