- 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?
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.
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 .
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?)
They
can be keeping the records (one in the merchants' hall?)
They
can be making new ledgers to keep the records of food issued
to the militia.
Alchemists
making firebombs,
Making
tallow candles for those who might have to fight in the dark.
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