Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by Colonell Sir Hardresse Waller, 24. Decemb. 1647.

UPon the late Resolutions in Parliament con­cerning the taking away of Free-Quarter, and disbanding supernumeraries, we find divers things which require a further consideration, in order to the more secure and effectuall dispatch of that worke, wherein we shall shortly offer our humble Advise and desires.

But at present we find an immediate necessity, to take notice of what hath past on Tuesday last the 21. instant, in an Ordinance prepared for the bringing in of six moneths Arreares of Assessement by the 15. of January next; and for the taking away of Free Quar­ter thereupon: wherein we observe,

1. It is provided and ordained, That no Officer or Souldier, shall enter into the House of any person or per­sons who shall duly pay their Assessement, without his con­sent, except Innes, Tavernes, Victualling-Houses or Ale-Houses.

2. Nor shall take away Victualls, or other provisions for [Page 3] Horse or Man, without consent of the owner, and due satis­faction given to him for the same.

As to the first of these, wee must desire the Houses to consider, That if the Souldiery must not have so much as Lodging or Stable room, but at Innes and Ale-Houses without the owners consent: it will follow,

1. That is like to fall out oft-times, and in many Townes, that there will be more Men or Horse to Quarter, then the Innes, or Ale-Houses have roome for.

2. That Souldiers must either pay for their victuall and horse meat at such rates as the Innes where they quarter will reckon, as to other guests, or else give large satisfacti­on to the Inne-keeper for their lodging and stable roome, so as they may have liberty to take their victuall and horsemeat at other places where they can agree for it cheaper; otherwise an Inne-keeper where the lod­ging or stable-roome is taken up by Soul­diers, will lose the whole benefit of his Inne, which is his livelihood: And if the souldier either must pay the Inne-keeper at the rates of other guests, or satisfie him for his lodging and stable-roome at such rates as to countervaile his ordinarie gaine, [Page 4] It is most evident, that the Souldiers whole pay, nor scarce the double of it, would not satisfie at such rates, and unlesse either the pay, or way of Quarter bee such, as that the Souldier may above the charge of his victuall or Horse-meat, save something for other uses, wee believe few Souldiers will bee found to serve, that intend to be honest.

And we feare the Souldiery that shall consider the consequences of these limitati­tions of Quarter, may be too apt to mis­understand it, as if those that shall not have the benefit of disbanding now as Supernu­meraries, should be left to be worse then disbanded, even to be necessitated to a sud­den dissolution, without any benefit of Con­ditions at all.

For our parts, if it be found that the safe­ty and quiet of the Kingdome will admit it, we shall be as readie to disband all as any: but whilest the Parliament finds cause to continue any Forces in the Kingdome, wee must earnestly desire, they may have that al­lowance [Page 5] of necessarie billet which is allow­ed in all Nations where any Souldiers are kept, and particularly, that they may still be allowed lodging and stable-roome at such houses where they shall by order be duly and equally billetted.

To the second particular in the Ordi­nance aforementioned, we are well satisfied and presume all Souldiers will be content (when they shall be duly supplied with pay in hand wherewithall) to pay for their victualls and horse-meat at such rates as they can agree upon: only we must desire, these cases may be provided for;

1. That for the first fortnight after the Souldiery shall bee drawne into Townes and Garrisons, and untill the Parliament shall there supply them with pay, (as in our late Propositions to the Commissioners) they may have horse meat and mans meat at the places where they shall be billetted, at the rates allowed for the Army, which the Officers are to undertake to see paid.

[Page 6] 2. That upon all occasions of Marching where any Souldiers shall by Order be billeted (not lying above two nights at a place) they may have their dyet at the same rates, and Horse meat also, if the Land-Lord have it of his owne.