POLITICAL HISTORY 



they come to embarque or abandon their service very soone after comming 

 into Ireland.' Special conditions were also made as to the arming and 

 apparelling of the soldiers. 1 Later in the same year came a fresh demand for 

 fifteen men from the county to proceed from Chester to Lough Foyle in the 

 north of Ireland. As there had been moderation used in the number 

 demanded so Her Majesty had like regard in the ' arming and apparrelling ' of 

 the men ' to deminishe the charge of the county,' and therefore it should 

 suffice that they were furnished with ' harquebuses, murrions, bandolyers, and 

 Turkey swords with especiall good baskett hiltes,' while for their apparel they 

 must have ' well lyned cassockes,' and must be provided with ' hose and 

 shooes,' while for their coats there should be the ordinary government 

 allowance of 4^. the piece. 3 



Meanwhile the government was also occupied in seeing that the home 

 forces of the country were properly mustered and equipped. Thus, early in 

 1595, a letter was addressed to the mayor and burgesses of Nottingham, 

 requiring that the commissioners for musters for that shire should ' take view 

 of soch able men and souldiers as that towne hath heretofore enrolled and 

 prepared, and see them trayned with the rest of the shire.' s This, the letter 

 expressly stated, was not meant to be an infringement on the liberties of the 

 burgesses, but in order that a true certificate might be sent to the council of 

 the state of all the forces in the county.* Special care was advised in 1596 

 that the leadership of the Nottingham trained bands should not be committed 

 to any ' Recusant in any sort.' 6 Certificates of the musters were sent to the 

 council in June, i 596, and were acknowledged by a letter thanking the sheriff 

 and commissioners for their pains and ' prayeinge and requiringe ' them that 

 as they had taken ' good order with the footbandes for change of their armes 6 

 .... and for supplie of their defectes,' so they would ' take a better view 

 of the horses .... the nomber whereof we are sorie to fynde decayed.' 7 

 Concerning the provision of powder, match, and bullets to remain ' in 

 stoare ' in the county, the council advised of powder, 1,600 Ib. weight ; of 

 match, 400 Ib. weight ; of bullets, i,6oolb. or thereabouts. 8 A general order 

 to increase all stores of powder, match, and bullet came in November, 1596, 

 on account of ' the great preparacions the king of Spain doth make,' together 

 with another command that all the inrolled numbers of the county, both of 

 horse and foot, should be again viewed and mustered. 9 Although Notting- 

 hamshire is not included in the great list of musters of Elizabeth's reign, 10 a 

 paper, compiled about 16078, gives the total number of ' able men ' available 

 from the county at 4,000. Of these 1,500 were armed men, 100 were 

 pioneers, 18 were demi-lances, and 100 light horse. 11 



The reign of James I, and the early years of Charles I carry on the long 

 list of musters. 1 * In 1621 the commissioners reported that the Nottinghamshire 



I Acts ofP.C. xxviii, 412-6. ' Ibid. 790, 796-?. 



3 The proportion furnished by the town seems to have been sixteen trained soldiers and twenty-four 

 bowyers, maintained by private individuals. Rec. of Bora. ofNott. 



4 Acts ofP.C. xxv, 9. > Ibid. p. 41 1. 



* A general attempt was being made to convert ' the bowes . . . unto callyvers and muskettes.' See 

 ibid. 27. 'Ibid. p. 462. 8 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 292-5. 



10 See Peck, Desiderata Curiosa, vol. i, liber ii, 75 ; and Ordinances of the Royal Household (Soc. Antiq.). 



II Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. on MSS. of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, 8 1. 



" Levies were constantly needed for foreign service, as in 1625, when 150 men were raised in the county. 

 Cal. S.P. Dom, 1625-6, 46) ; and again in 1627, when 100 soldiers were required for the service of the king 

 of Denmark (ibid. 284). 



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