Anno Regni Caroli Regis Angliæ, Scotiæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ, Decimo Septimo.: At the Parliament begun at Westminster the third day of November, Anno Dom. 1640. in the 16. yeer of the reign of ... Lord Charles ...

ANNO XVII. Caroli Regis.

An Act for the better raising and leavying of Souldiers for the present defence of the Kingdoms of ENGLAND and IRELAND.

FOrasinuch as great Com∣motions and Revellions have been lately raised and stirred up in his Majesties Kingdom of Ireland by the wicked plots and Conspi∣racies of divers of his Majesties Subjects there (being Traiterously affe∣cted) to the great endan∣gering, not onely of the said Kingdom, but also of this Kingdom of England, unlesse a speedy course be taken for the preventing thereof, and for the raising and pressing of Men for those Services; And whereas by the Laws of this Realm, none of his Majesties Subjects ought to be impressed, or compelled to go out of his Coun∣ty to serve as a Souldier in the wars, except in case of necessity, of the sudden coming in of strange Ene∣mies

into the Kingdom, or except they be otherwise bound by the Tenure of their Lands or Possessions: Therefore in respect of the great and urgent necessity of providing a present supplie of men for the prevent∣ing of these great and imminent dangers, and for the speedy suppressing of the said hainous and dangerous Rebellions;

Be it Enacted by Authority of this present Par∣liament, That the Iustices of the Peace of every County and Riding within this Realm, or any three, or more of them, as also the Major or other head Officer or Officers of every Citie or Town Cor∣porate within this Realm, having Iustices of the Peace, together with any two or more Iustices of the Peace of the same Citie or Town Corporate respe∣ctively, or in default of such Iustices, then with two or more Iustices of the Peace of the Countie wherein the said City or Town is, shall and may at any time or times, between the first of December, one thousand six hundred fourty and one, and the first of November which shall be in the yeer of our Lord God one thou∣sand six hundred fourty two, within their severall li∣mits and jurisdictions, Raise, Levie, and Impresse so many men for Souldiers, Gunners, and Chirur∣gions, as shall be appointed by Order of the Kings Majestie, his heirs, or Successors, and both houses of Parliament, for the said services; and to command all and every the high Constables, other Constables, and inferiour Officers, of, and within every such County, Riding, City, or Town Corporate or the Li∣berties thereof respectively, by warrant under the hands & Seals of such Iustices of the Peace, Major or other head Officer, or Officers as are authorized by this Act, as aforesaid, to bring before them any such person or persons as shall be fit and necessary for

the said services; which said persons so to be Im∣prested as aforesaid, and every of them shall have such Imprest money, and such allowance for Coat and Conduct, unto the place of their Rendevous, as likewise such wages, and entertainment from the time of their first entring into Pay, during their con∣tinuance in the said Services, and such other neces∣sary charges and allowances shall be made touching the said Presse, the said Money, and other charges and allowances to be paid by such persons, and in such manner, as by Order of his Majestie, his heirs and Successours, and of both houses of Parlia∣ment, shall be appointed: And if any person or per∣sons shall wilfully refuse to be Imprested for the said Services; That then it shall and may be lawfull, to and for the said persons so authorized as aforesaid, to the said Presse, to commit such offender to prison, there to remain without Bail or Mainprise, by the space of six moneths, and untill he shall pay the sum of ten pounds to the Treasurers for the maimed Souldiers of the same County, City, or Town cor∣porate where any such Treasurers are, to be im∣ployed for and towards the relief and maintenance of such Souldiers, Gunners, and Chirurgions as shall happen to be maimed in the said Services, or if none such shall happen to be, then for the relief of other the maimed Souldiers of the said County, City, or Town corporate respectively, and in default of paiment of the said sum, then the said person of∣fending, to remain in prison by the space of one whole yeer, over and above the said six moneths, without Bail, or Mainprize.

Provided alwayes, That this Act shall not extend to the Pressing of any Clergie-man, or any Schol∣lers, or Students, or priviledged persons of either of

the Universities, Innes of Court, or Chaneery, or any of the Trained Bands of this Realm, or to the Pressing of any other person who was Rated to∣wards the paiment of the last Subsidies, or that shall be Rated or taxed towards the paiment of any Subsidies hereafter to be granted, before the time of such Impresting, or to the eldest son of any person, who is, or shall be, before the time of such Imprest∣ing, rated in the Subsidie Book at three pound Lands, or five pound Goods, or to any person of the rank or degree of an Esquire, or upwards, or to the son of any such person of the said rank or degree, or of the widow of any such person, or to any person under the age of eighteen, or above the age of three∣score yeers, or to any Marriners, Sea-men, or Fisher∣men.

Provided also, And be it Enacted, That no Money or other reward shall be taken, or other cor∣rupt practice used, in, or for the Pressing, Changing or releasing of any person Imprested, or to be Im∣prested by force of this Act, by any person hereby authorized in that behalf, or their Agents, under pain of forfeiture of twenty pounds by every person so offending, for every such offence to be payed, and imployed to the Treasurers of the maimed Souldi∣ers in manner and to the uses aforesaid.

Provided also, and be it Enacted, That this present Act shall not extend to the Impresting of any of the meaniall Servants of the Members or Assistants or Officers of the Lords house of Parliament, or to the meaniall Servants of the Members or Offi∣cers of the house of Commons, or of any of the Inhabitants of the Isle of Wight, or of the Isle of Anglisey, or of any of the Cinque∣ports or Members thereof.

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