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Instructiones from the parliament to the generall concerneing the retreat of the armie
24 Augusti 1641
That the generall may dismiss suche regiments quhom he thinks fitt to go home be the neirest way to thair owne shyres quhen they croce Tweid, and for the remanent quhom he bring along this way, that he wald be advanceing with thois regiments who can not be disbanded till they cum heir.
That the general satisfie all thois quhom he thinks necessar to dismiss at Tweid as he and they can agree, bot that this pay be not givin to the souldiers, bot only sum portione for thair expensis wpon thair way, and the rest thairof delyvered to the officiars or responsall gentilmen till they cum to the places quhair they ar to disband within thair owne shyres and delyver thair horsis and armes. And quhair that agreement can not be maid and the compts ar not fitted, that quhat is deteaned be of the pay dew to the officiars till the saids officiars cum heir and fitt the accompts, and that the armes and horsis be delyvered. And that consideratione be haid be the generall of the particular skeathes done be sum regiments and troupis for whiche securitie is givin to the shyre be the comittie, that the samyne may be deduced aff the pay dew to that regiment or troup, or at least that ane consideratione be had of the same.
That for suche as have occasione to go from the armie befoir thair croceing Tweid for goeing the neirer way to the places quhair they wer leveid, the generall tak the lyk cours anent thair pay as if they had cum along with him and croced Tweid togidder and thairefter disbanded conforme to the ordour abonewreattin.
That the generall mak intimatione in the armie that suche souldiers as shall not delyver thair armes and officiars as shall not delyver thair cullours and drumes as they shalbe requyred at thair randevous of the shyre or burgh quhither they go, shall want so muche of thair pay as the cullours, drumes and armes ar worth. And the pryce of the armes to be delyverit be the captanes to the owners of the armes till the armes be delyverit to thame, and the lyk cours to be tane anent the delyverie of horsis and thair furnitour.
And moirover that the generall so sone as he cumes to Scotland shall direct the commissarie deputts with convenient diligence to Edinburgh with money and thair accompts, and that the colonell of evrie regiment with ane principall officiar or tuo, being gentilmen of qualitie of the shyre, and the quarter master or scriver of the regiment repair lykwayes to Edinburgh to fitt thair regiment accompts with the commissaries, that they may receave money for satisfeing the rests dew to the souldiers and officiars quhen they reteir to thair shyres. And that preceis ordour be takin that the rolls be callit evrie morning and evning and at suche other tymes of day as the commanders shall think fitt the tyme of thair reteiring, that incaice any of the souldiers be absent, they shalbe reputed as thives takin stealling and shalbe punished personallie for the same; and that by and attour his personall punishment whosoever shall be found in the fault shall forfaitt his haill resting pay.
And althocht this be the opinione of the parliament anent the particulars forsaids, yit they will not tye the generall to the absolute obedience thairof, bot permitts him to use his owne discretioun according as he finds the necessitie or the expediencie of the armie to requyre.