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Chapter X.
THE SPANISH ARMADA & LOCAL LEVIES.
From papers relating to Derbyshire musters in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth, made in expectation of the Spanish invasion. Original documents
preserved at Belvoir Castle, in the possession of the Duke of Rutland; first
published in the Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological Society, January
1895.
[Ed: Entries for 1585 are in the left column; those for 1587 are on the
right.]
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"Derby 1585. The names of all such
persons as are appointed to be in readiness in the Heighe Peake by John
Manners & Robte Eyre esquirs at a muster taken at Backewell the
viiiith Daye of November in the xxviiith yeare of the raigne of Or.
Soveraigne Ladie Queene Elizabethe. And a particular note wth. all of
such armor. & weapons as every Township hath in readiness
for the ffurnishinge and settinge forthe of the same".
(Extracts referring to the Hope district only)
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From "A muster Booke of all the selected men
appointed for trayned soldiers made the seconde of November in the
xxixth yeare of the raigne of Or. Soveraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth
1587."
(Note at the foot of the page: "all trayned in May
1588.")
Hundred of the Heighe Peake. |
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"Hope: Thomas Slake (Slack); Ralphe Glover;
Richard Slake; Edward Halle; Thurston Hall; Renolde Purslove; Richard
Needhame; Robte Arnefeelde; Gilbarte Marshall; Robte Marshall of
Thornell.
iii Calliv' (Caliver[1] a firearm) iii ar' (arquebus a firearm) ii corselets,
ii bills (a staff weapon, with a head like a bill-hook, furnished with
spikes at the top and back.)
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Hopetowneshippe: Robte Halle; Victor Morten;
George Needham; call' (Caliver); Willm Morten, ar' (arquebus); Thomas
Hall, musk, (muskett); Gilbarte Marshall, ar'; Reignolde Purslove,
Charles Hatfield, cor' (corslet); Willm Stevenson; Robte ffurness, cor.;
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Hathersiche: Robte Barker; Nicholas Whittley;
James Bradwall; Robte Carne
ii Calliv; i corslet; i bill
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"Hathersedgetowneship: Robte Hawkesworth; Thomas
Shershawe, calliv'; Henry Swyndell, cor'; Thomas Morten, cor'.
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Baslowe: George Hinman; William
Norman, Robin Lees, James Gregory; Henry Peniston; Simon Spooner.
iii
call'; i ar' i cor'; i bill.
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Baslowe: George Hynman; James Ellyott; ffrancis
Rippon, calliv'; Robte Lees, ar'; James Gregory, cor' ; Willm Norman,
cor'; James Ragg (name erased.)
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Eyam: Thomas Townsende; Edmunde Willson;
Christopher Merill, Nycholas Redfferne.
i call'; i corslet; i ar'; i
bill.
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Eyam: Christopher Merrell, calliv', George
Bagshawe, cor'; George Hallam, musk'; Willm Chapman, cor'.
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Tydswall: Martyn Willson; Willia' Owtram; John
Healde, Willi' Symson; Will' Benitte; Thomas Smithe,
ii cal'; ii ar';
i corslett; i bill".
"Md. that every of the foresaide persons beside the [?]furniture of
theyre (...) have swoordes and daggers."
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Tyddeswall: John Healde; James Robinson, calliv';
Thomas Smythe; Willm Symson, ar'; Willm Bennytt, cor'; Anthony Otefelde,
cor'."
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(There is no mention in either of these lists of any levy of men
from Castleton and Edale; though "Robert Eyre of Edall" was one of the
two leaders appointed to make the levy, and he is recorded as
contributing xxs towards providing horses, and as furnishing one
petronell.
Bradwell of course would be in- cluded in Hope, and
Bamford in Hathersage.)
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(the following entry occurs at the end of the list)
"firste of May 1588"
"Received towards the charge of the trayning of 200 men 3 dayes at
Bakewell, vizt for every man 5s.
Disbursed as followeth:"
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Solders paye for 3 dayes having 12d. a day
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30li
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ffor 145li of powder at 16d. the pounde
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lxli
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14s
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ffor 12li of matche at 6d the pounde
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6s
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to the Leuetennant
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40s
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to 4 Serjants
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4li
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Clarks
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40s
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2 Corporalls
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20s
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2 Auncyents (ancients or or ensigns)
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15s
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2 Drumers
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15d
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Sum 50li."
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Accompanying the Derbyshire Muster Rolls are copies of several letters from
the Queen to the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, as
well as other corrsepondence. Following the levies of 1585 and 1587, Queen
Elizabeth makes an urgent appeal to the gentry of the county, in view of the
imminent danger of the invasion of England by the forces of the King of
Spain, then on the seas.
'Copy. Addressed "To the erle of Shrewsbury".(1588. June
18) "Right trustie and right wellbeloved Cousin and Councellor.
wee greet youe well. Whereas heretofore upon the the advertisements from
tyme to tyme and from sondrie places, of the greate preparacons of forren
forces, with a full intention to invade this our Relme and our other
Dominions, wee gave our directions unto youe for the preparinge of our
Subjects within your Lieutenancie to be in a readines and defence against
anie attempt that might be made against us and Or. Realme: which
our directions wee finde so well performed as wee cannot but receave great
contentmente thereby, both in respecte of your carefull proceedinge therein;
and also of the greate willingnes of our people in generall to the
accomplishment of that whereunto they were required; shewinge thereby their
great love and loyaltie towardes us; wch as its wee accepte most
thanckfullye at their hands, acknowledging ourselves infinitely bounde to
Almightie God in that it hath pleased him to blesse us with so lovinge and
dutifull subjects, so wee woulde have youe make it knowne unto them:
fforasmuche as wee finde the same Intention not onlye of invadinge but of
making a Conqueste alsoe of this our Realme, nowe constantly more & more
detected & confirmed, as a matter fullye resolved on, an armie alreadie
being put to the Seas for that purpose, althoughe we doubt not but by Gods
goodness the same shall prove frustrate; wee have therefore thought meet to
will and require you. forthwith with as muche convenient speed as
you may, to call together at som convenient place or places, the beste sorte
of gentlemen under yor. Lieutenancie, and to declare unto them,
that, considering those great preparacions and threatnings nowe burst out in
accon upon the Seas, tendinge to a purposed Conquest, wherein everie
manes particular estate is in the highest degree to be touched in respecte
of Contrie, Libertie, Wife, Children, Lands, Lyfe, and that wch.
is specially to be regarded for the profession of the true & sincere
Religion of Christ, wee doe looke that the most partie of them should have,
upon this instante extraordinarie occasion, a larger proportion of furniture
both for horsemen and footmen (but specially horsemen) than hath been
certified; thereby to be in their beste strengthe againste any attempte
whatsoever, & to be employed both about our owne person and otherwise as
they shall have knowledge given them. The nomber of whiche larger
proportion, as soone as you. shall knowe, wee require you to
signafie to the rest of our privie Councell. And hereunto as its wee doubt
not by yor. good endevor. they wilbe the rather
conformable; so also wee assure Or.self, that Almightie God will
so blesse those their loyall harts borne towards us their lovinge
Soveraigne, & their natural Contrie; that all the attempts of anie
enemies whatsoever shall be made void and frustrate to their confusion,
yor. comforts & God's high glorie.
Given under Or. Signet" etc, etc'
Another letter from the Queen to the Earl of Shrewsbury, of May 5th 1593,
in this correspondence, is of special interest in view of recent history, as
shewing that Ireland was then as now a source of danger to this country.
"Forasmuche as wee have cause to doubte of some troubles to be
stirred in our Realme of Ireland by the intention of some Spanish Shipping
wth. men of warre to be sent into Scotland, and by the way to
touche in some ports of the north parts of our said Realme, wth.
some nombers of men of warre to be there also landed, to stirre upp our
Subjects to some
rebellion; for wthstanding whereof wee thinke it
necessarye to increase our forces whch. presentlie wee have in
that land."
After giving directions as to the number of men to be
raised in the County of Derby, and for their being "conducted into Ireland at
our ports of Chester or Lyrpoole", the letter proceeds:
"And to cause them to be to he armed in this sorte following,
that is In the nomber of one hundred and eight and thirtie, to have fortie
pikes wth. corsletts, threescore Culyvers, ten musketts,
eighteene Bowes, and ten Halberdes; And also to cause Coates to be provided
for them of some one Coulor. for the wch. there shall
be allowance made after the rate of fower shillings a Coate. And these our
lres (letters) shall be your sufficient warrant and discharge in their
behalf.
Given under Or. Signet" etc, etc.
Details as to the cost of equipment of a soldier are given in a letter,
dated March 21st 1594-5, from John Harpur to John Manners of Haddon, as
follows:
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"The Corslett & Pike
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xxixs
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viiid
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for his Apparell & in his purse
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xxs
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for his Cassock
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xiiiis
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Sword dagger & girdle
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xiiiis
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iiiid
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His Conduccon money (conduct money)
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iiis
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To the Captaine for ev'ry Soldier.
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And for the Musketts & Callyvers Ratablie as
yesterday was agreed upon.
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The Rates Agreed yesterdaie I have here subscribed, and
have by the Captaine's consent agreed for our Cassocks for the
Soldiers of blew cloth to be lyned for xiiiis a peece."
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The Cassock was probably an overcoat.
Notes on Chapter X
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[1]
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Ed: A caliver was a scaled-down version of the musket,
commensurately lighter, and loading smaller bullets (17 to the pound, by
weight). Unlike the musket, it did not normally require the support of a
rest when being fired.
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