An English parliamentary regulation under which all Members of Parliament had to resign their military commands. Oliver Cromwell was determined to create an efficient national army controlled and paid from Westminster, rather than by the counties. The House of Lords amended the Ordinance, so that it was possible for certain Members of Parliament to be reappointed to the New Model Army, thereby enabling Cromwell to continue his military career as lieutenant-general under commander-in-chief Sir Thomas Fairfax.