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pp152.
In his presentation to all available J.P.s in Star Chamber Lord
Burghley (1588?) stressed the adequacy of the Queen's naval
and military as part of a public relations exercise. More effective
still was the “Letter to Mendoza ” composed by Lord Burghley
and passed on by Walsingham. It emphasised the unprecedented
arming, training and voluntary contributions; the readiness
of the maritime counties, where any place could have 20,000
men to its aid within 48 hours complete with ordinance, victuals
and pioneers. This piece of polemic succeeded so well
that Jean le Petit incorporated it in Grande Chronique as fact.
pp160.
A great number of troops, maybe 27,000 foot and 2,500 horse
followed the Armada along up the English Channel to cover the
potential landing places along the coast. Very little is recorded
about their itinerary. However the Dorset orders provided for
purveyors , surveyors, guards for strategic
points, and carriage masters. Bread, beer, wine, beef,
butter, cheese and biscuit were supplied. Stratton
in Cornwall sent beef, bacon, bread, butter and cheese to Saltash
for the trained bands, and gave each man a supper
when they returned.
pp173.
…action to correct the deficiencies which had been apparent
in practise during the Armada crisis… Colonels and captains
must see that J.P.s ordered posts, carriages and pioneers to
be ready, and the captain's multifarious duties included sending
tithingmen to warn the constables to have carts, carters and
provisions always to hand. In Hampshire, for
example, Captain Richard Poulet's company was serviced in 1590
by 14 carters and as many victuallers . 6
years later it had 10 posts, 20 victuallers
and 22 carters.
pp191.
The year 1596 brought reports not of a mere incursion but of
an immanent full scale invasion, thought he government scarcely
knew whether the goal was Ireland or England , much less which
part of either country. That the authorities took the information
seriously was seen in Francis Godolphin's order to Cornish soldiers
to bring their supper in readiness for training
all night on midsummer's eve, since they must be expected to
fight with the enemy at night as well as by day.
pp
192. For the first time a “ general of victuals ”
was appointed to see to provisions and an
approach was made to the Dutch States General for extra food
supplies .
pp
200. .. In 1599 Mountjoy sent under Jervoise the re-enforcements
for the Isle of Wight , with 15 days' supplies .
pp202.
The death penalty also applied to failure to produce arms and
armour, to defaulters amongst the pioneers in charge of ordnance,
and to the victuallers , who had to produce
15days' provisions or money in lieu at the
daily rate of 8d per man. As Portsmouth was likely to be besieged,
the victuallers and constables must requisition
enough flour, cheese, butter and bacon to last 20 days,
to remain in the owners' hands until needed. When forces
crossed to the island they were billeted at St. Helen's it was
alleged that they lacked food and money and
the Constables were ordered to raise funds to relieve their
plight.
pp204.
The whole machinery of sending soldiers to Portsmouth and across
the Solent began for the third time in a month. This time the
government induced them to hurry by giving them official army
status and pay. They were to bring three days food
and to march at night.
pp
258. 1626. Each man must have a snap-sack for his victuals
. (Note this is the earliest written usage of snap-sack).
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