Kentwell Stations

and their contribution to the Armada Preparations

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A Purveyor for the Armada

  • The militia and the butts

They will consume the food. Old soldiers and sailors will complain loudly at the lack of quantity, quality and variety on their previous campaigns. They will each need their snap-sack to keep their three days supply of food in. Food for the rest of the 15 days of the campaign will follow by cart or river lighter (barge). They were not yet an army so there would no doubt be murmurs about the lower pay not covering the cost of victuals .

  • The gentry who are organizing the resources to fight the Armada

They will complain of the effect of the Purveyance regulations where they pay a “tax” to the Crown by having to sell their produce at the “Queen's price” to the Purveyors and Victuallers . This could often be half the market price in times of famine and scarcity. Maybe there national pride will overcome the demands on their purse. It might meant the death penalty if they refused the requisitions which would be seen as traitorous. They would have their suspicions of what happened to the provisions. Were they being sold in the next market town for inflated prices (brought on by scarcity caused by the requisitioning of provisions) by the Victualler's wife? They would be talking to their M.P. to propose a vote in the next parliament to exempt their county from this toll. Any J.P.s would have to assist the Purveyors ; they would have had instructions from the Officers of the Greencloth?

  • the Constable

He has the duty of helping the Purveyors fulfill their quota.

  • the carter repairing the cart for transport

Transport would be requisitioned by the Sheriff to take the victuals and ordinance to Tilbury.

  • the ostlers/carters who will transport it

If we have a working cart this could trundle around the manor with various barrels and sacks upon it “collecting” the produce or at very least be on station doing the same if not moving.

  • the cooper

Can be making the barrels for the salted meat/fish/butter/cheese?

  • The bakery, brewers, dairy, herds and sutlers

They can be making the food/beer. A little extra will be needed each day to make up the requirements of the victuallers .

  • Seamstresses

They can be making snap-sacks for each man to carry it in and the large canvass bags for the biscuits (one in the merchants' hall?)

  • Clerks / Scribes

They can be keeping the records (one in the merchants' hall?)

  • Bookbinders

They can be making new ledgers to keep the records of food issued to the militia.

  • Alchemists

Alchemists making firebombs,

  • Chandlers

Making tallow candles for those who might have to fight in the dark.

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A Purveyor for the Armada