the Lord Gen. concerning the taking off Free quarter, a work certainly that needs both
[unr] and haste, if the Letters out of the severall Counties be true, which say that persons
of ordinary quality have, since the Act forbidding Free-quarter, parted with ten times
as much in Free quarter as their Taxes came unto, and have not shew for it, not could
get thereby to obtain the least abatement.
In the interim the Lord Generals care is great to prevent these inconveniencies, for
which end he hath made publique the following Orders.
Orders and Rules by his Excellencies the Lord Fairfax, for the taking off all
Free quarter and Billet in this Nation.
WHereas the Parl. hath made provision for the constant pay of the Army, and taking
off all Fre-quarter and Billet, and to that end have passed an Act with certain Rules
and instructions, intending the necessary provision for the Souldiers most indifferently
both to the Countrey and them: these are therefore in prosecution of the said Act, to
require all Collonels, Majors, Officers and Souldiers whatsoever to observe & put in
execution such rules and instructions in their respective commands and places as hereafter
followeth. 1 That no party under the number of 25, upon a march Quarter in
private houses without the owners consent. 2. That whereas the Act allows the Soul
dies upon march to quarter in private houses two nights, to the intent they may within
that time provide for themselves, and diverse Souldiers doe take advantage thereby,
(contrary to the intent thereof) to remove Quarters ofener then is necessary, and up
on their remove march but two or three miles a day or thereabouts. It is therefore ordered
that the Lord Gen. give order that no Troop march less then ten miles a day; nor
Company of foot less then seven, except upon service or extraordinary occasions.
3 That upon settlement of Quarters the Officer in chiefe of every Troop, Company,
or commanded party, make known to the respective Landlords within his respective
Quarters, that they are to discharge their Billet, and in case any Landlord shall complain
to the Capt. Or Commander in chiefe upon the place, that any of his Souldiers
have not paid their Quarters; the said Capt. or Commander in chiefe of the said Troop,
company or party, to give satisfaction to every person out of the offenders pay, within
ten dayes after just complaint made upon pain of cashiering, and if in case the Cap.
or Officer in chife shall refuse or neglect to give satisfaction as aforesaid, the Col. or
Major of the said Regiment is to give satisfaction himselfe to the Landlord out of the
laid Officers or offenders pay next groing due, and to transmit the charge against the
Officer so offending, with the examination to the Judge Advocate at the head Quarters
within ten dayes after he hath had full information thereof, &c. 4 That in regard
the same care cannot be taken upon a march, it is ordered that the Quarter master, or
any employed to take up Quarters, do in their tickets for Quarter express the names of
the Souldier or Souldiers to quarter there, and make known that they are to pay their
Quarters, and that in case of neglect, upon complaint the next morning, the Commander
in chief of the party, Troop, or Company, they shall receive satisfaction; that if
either the Quartermaster, or any employed in that service, or the Commander in chiefe,
fail in the due observance thereof, that they incur the penalty of casheiring, giving
satisfaction to the complainers as before. [unr] That this may be the better put in execution,
it is ordered that all Colonels and other Officers (but such as I shall appoint to
attend the head Quarters) be resident with their respective Regiments, and not absent
above 14 dayes, without speciall leave from my selfe, upon pain or forfeiting their pay,
during their absence: and that no Col. doe give leave to any of his Officers to be absent
above 14 dayes, without speciall leave from my selfe, the Officer so offending to lose