Edinburgh, October 20. 1648. The Committee of Estates considering how necessary it is that some orderly course be taken how the forces to be kept up within this kingdom may be entertained by the publick, with as little burthen as may be to the country ...

EDINBURGH, October 20. 1648.

THE Committee of Estates considering how necessary it is that some orderly course be taken how the Forces to be kept up within this Kingdom may be entertained by the publick, with as little burthen as may be to the Country; Have therefore thought fit that a proportionable part of the Maintenance due by the Shires shall be particularly assigned to each Regiment or Troop for their entertainment: And for that end the Committee appoints the maintenance due out of the Shyres of

To be allowed for entertainment of the Regiment or Troop which should consist of _____ _____

And to the effect that neither the Publick be prejudged by paying more Souldiers then actually they have on foot, and that the Souldiers also want none of their due: The Committee ordains that there be a Muster of the several Regiments and Troops, and upon attestation from the Muster-Master of their particular numbers, that the Generall Commissary and his Deputies accordingly give out particular assignations upon so much of the Maintenance of the Shires aforesaid, as will fall due for their entertainment for the space of one moneth, and after the expiring of that time, the Muster-Master shall take new tryall of the number of the Souldiers, and the Collectors shall also try whether they have lifted more nor was assigned, and give attestation thereof, upon report whereof the Generall Commissary is to renew Orders for their assignations according to the number attested, and where there is more lifted nor was as∣signed, he is to give assignations for no more nor what shall be found then due the whole intromission being compted; And the Committee also is to take course for the ease and reparation of the Shires so oppressed and burthened: And the Generall Commissary hath hereby power and direction to renew orders for assignations every moneth, from time to time in manner above expressed, untill he be discharged by the Committee of Estates; And to the end the Souldiers may be the more orderly paid, and the Country people kept from oppression: The Committee appoints the Maintenance assigned to any Regiment or Troop to be lifted up in manner after following, viz. That the Officer of the Regiment or Troop shall intimate this their Assignement received from the General Commissary unto the Committee of War in the Shire or Shires respectively, and unto the Collectors thereof, and desire them to advance in moneys, or give them surety for the paying to them the first fortnights pay, from the time of their entry set down in their locality; And that the Committee of War by some of their number, or others, or by their Collectors, will give them Band for to advance unto them the first day of every fortnight thereafter, their fortnights means, which if the Committee of War by themselves, their Collectors or others bin••e for and perform: The Committee of Estates doth absolutely discharge any Officer or Souldier belonging to that Regiment or Troop to take any free quarter within that Shire, but seeing they are orderly paid by the Shire, they shall orderly pay for whatsoever they take, With certification that if upon com∣plaint verified to the Officers, he do not make reparation of the wrong, and condignely punish the offender, the Offi∣cer shall be cashiered with infamy, and be obliged to satisfie the party; Likeas, the Committee Ordains the Officers of that Regiment or Troop having that locality, to furnish what assistance shall be craved by the Committee of War, or by these who are bound for them, that they may exact what is due by any deficient for their relief, with allowance of Free quarter to these who are bound to this service, so imployed by them upon the deficient his Lands untill he be pay∣ed: But upon the other party, if the Committee of War in the Shires, after this intimation made by the Officers, shall refuse to give surety, by themselves or their Collectors, or by some others in this orderly way, to advance a fortnights means, from fortninght to fortnight, or if giving the security, they shall fail in the performance: In these cases the Com∣mittee of Estates gives power and Warrant to the Officers of that Regiment or Troop, for to appoint any of themselves or any other they think fit to lift up the maintenance due by the bonds assigned to them, and for to have Free Quarter upon all such deficients as will not advance unto them, or give them surety for to pay duly their maintenance the first day of every fortnight, untill they get satisfaction therein; but withall, absolutely dischargeth them to trouble any, or quarter upon any who thus advanceth or secureth to them what is their due, to be payed at the beginning of every fort∣night: And Ordains this to be published at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh, and other places needfull, and also to be Printed.

THO. HENDERSON.