250 



Longleat Papers, A.D. 1553 — 1588. 



Item, that there be a contynuall watch and ward of Four, every night, andt 

 Two every day, in every town and village, and that every stranger whom they 

 know not to he an honest man, that they take and bring to the next Justice of 

 Peace, Mayor or Constable. And that they deliver to the next Justice any 

 Letters they shall find about them. 



Item, that every constable or other officer to take specyall regarde, that if 

 they shall find any people drawing themselves together in any disordered manner 

 under the number of Twelve, that he or they do presently apprehend the said 

 parties of assembling themselves together and bring them before the next 

 Justice of Peace, and if they exceede the number of 12, that then the constable or 

 other officer forthwith give notice thereof to the next Justice of peace who shall 

 minister to every such partie the oath of supremacy and punish them according 

 to the quality of their offence. 



Item, that every constable, tythingman or other offycer do diligently appre- 

 hend all rogues and wandering persons and such as will not labour, and bring 

 them to the Devizes to John Trew, gentleman, appointed provost marshall. 



Item, that the said Provost marshall be authorized to travaile over the coun- 

 try at his pleasure, and be aided from any Justice of peace with 2 horses, and 2 

 men, for a day and a night ; and from any other party of ability, with 1 horse 

 and man for the lyke tyme at the charge of the parties to whom he shall direct 

 his precept for that purpose : which provost marshall is authorized by the Lord 

 Lieutenant or his deputies to punish all such persons according to the quality 

 of their offence. 



Item, that after the departure of the 2000 men there be within every Division 

 a general muster and view of all the able and armed men and of all manner of 

 armour and weapon which they have left, and to put the same in present readi- 

 ness under Captaynes, to every of them 150 men : and that the Justice of Peace 

 in the mean tyme do procure as much force by persuasion as possibly they can. 

 Item that the beacons of Ambrosbury be watched by the watchmen and also 



by John Mathew of Bulford, Wm. Mylle of Cholston, Bushell of Nether- 



avon, Libyas Maynes and Wm. Staples of Bulford, or one of them by turn ; 

 viz : one of them by day and the other by night : and if any of those beacons 

 of Amesbury be fired, that then one of the said 5 persons shall presently ride 

 to the beacon so fired, and enquire the true cause thereof, and then with all 

 possible speed to repair to the next beacon and there deliver to the watchman 

 there, and let them know the cause of the firing of the said beacons, that they 

 may fire the said beacons, if cause so require. 



Every 100 men to be thus sorted 35 picks [pikes'], 



10 bills. 



30 calyvers. 



10 musketts. 



15 bows. 



Item, to send for every musket lacking, 30 s . 



Item, for every lance's livery 30 s . besides some powder bulletts and pistols. 



Item, yf any man be unwillinge to contribute towards the said chardge he is 

 to be comytted to the gayol, or else bounde to appeare before the Lo. Lieutenant 

 or the Lords of her Ma tie ' s Privy Council. 



Item, that the Launces be at Hungerford fully furnished upon Thursday 



