DERBYSHIRE MUSTERS. 37 



comanded vs to recomend to yo' care theis observacons foUow- 

 inge, w^"" beinge carefuUie by you considered, out of doubt the 

 forces sent thither will be of better strength & service, & the 

 Countreies should not neede to be so ofien visited w"* theis Kinde 

 of Imposicons. The first regard that is to be vsed, is in the 

 careful! & good choise of the men, both to be of habilitie of 

 bodie and lykelihoode, & not of loose people that are addicted to 

 idlenes & lewdnes, & are often tymes taken vp rather to dis- 

 burden the Countrey of such vnnecessarie people, then for choise 

 of their aptnes & disposicon. This shalbe best performed, if the 

 Justices in pson doe performe their indevoures, & not coiiiitte 

 the choise of the men to inferio' officers. The next consideracon 

 to be had, is to see them sorted w"" good Armo' & weapons, 

 accordinge to this proporcion, that in everie hundredthe theare 

 may be twentie pykes armed w"" corsletts, pouldrens, & good 

 Murrions, ten halberts armed as the pykes, twelve musketts w"' 

 good Murrions, twelve bastard musketts w"* good Murrions, & 

 fortie Calliuers armed lykewise w"* good Murrions. And that 

 theare may be verie p'cise Regard vsed to see them all furnished 

 w"" good swords and daggers, w"^'' for the most parte haue bene 

 verie bad, & for no vse of service. And therefore we are 

 earnestlie to require yo' L : to be most careful! in the choise of 

 that weapon, for such as shalbe founde vnfitte shalbe refused. 

 And wheras theare doth remaine by this Reckoninge Six in 

 euerie hundreth & three in euerie fiftie not sorted w"" weapons, 

 they are to be provided of Targetts of wood, together w"^ other 

 Amies, And because the Targetts are not to be had in Readines 

 in the Countrey it shall suffice that so much money be sent to 

 the Porte of Embarqueinge as may serve to buy the Targetts & 

 the other Armes after the rate of xxx"" for a man, w''*' shalbe pro- 

 vided heere & sent thither. And heere her Ma''*" callinge to 

 mynde the great negligence that hath beene found in divers 

 Counties of the Realme in settinge forth of souldiors in former 

 services, in bare & naked sorte wherby they are boath vnhable to 

 indure the could of the Contrey vnmeete for service, & subiect to 



