- Clenennau Letters and Papers 22 [RESTRICTED ACCESS]
- Ffeil
- 1589, May 24.
The Privy Council (named), at the Court at Whitehall, to [Henry Herbert], Earl of Pembroke, President of [the Council in the Marches of] the principality of Wales and Lieutenant of the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset, and of the counties of Wales and the Marches. Henry Herbert, as Lieutenant General of the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Hereford, Monmouthshire and the principality of Wales, has received various orders for mustering, arming, arraying and organising the forces of the counties in his charge, both 'on horsbacke and on foote', wherein last year he was active in his labours, both personally and through his deputies. But now the winter and spring are past, and summer well advanced, and nothing has been done to renew the former orders to make ready the forces of the country, as is essential. The Queen, who is most anxious that her whole realm be made ready without delay to withstand enemy attacks, commands her Lieutenants that all directions given last year or in previous years for viewing, mustering, arraying, arming and making ready the forces, namely for horse, foot and pioneers, and for provisions of powder, match, carriages etc., be diligently renewed. Where there was last year, or is now, a lack of men, armour, weapons, horses, powder and munitions or other necessities, they should by supplied. Let Henry Herbert by his authority assemble forthwith the justices of the peace whom he has already used in this kind of service or now thinks fit to use, to arrange for the county forces, namely horse and foot, with their captains and other officers, to be instructed to be ready at convenient places on one or several days soon, to be fully equipped, viewed and mustered, Henry Herbert or his deputies to muster them at suitable places where least inconvenience is caused to the people. Whereupon let there be replaced any captains, officers and soldiers of those put into bands last year, who are missing for any reason, and let all the forces be put into bands under captains and officers with 'furniture of all thinges warlyke' such as was formerly directed. For detailed instructions the Council refer Henry Herbert to former directions for equipping the people, who are to be armed on horseback and on foot, the provision of stores of powder and munitions, the watches in the county, the maintenance and guarding of beacons in the usual places and all other things generally appertaining to a Lieutenant's authority, in order with the assistance and advice of chosen justices, to organise the country, maintain peace and suppress riots and rebellions. Because of the expense to the country of maintaining many people in training as was done last year in some places, the Council refers this matter to Henry Herbert's discretion. Henry Herbert should see that at the musters the men are able to use their weapons and to have suitable armour and weapons, the horses and riders to be well-equipped and ready to serve therewith, after which the Council, anxious to keep down the costs, think that there should be no training. The musters should be taken at several places and times such as are suitable and least awkward for those who travel there. Postscript: Request for a certificate of the forces in his charge, as was required last year. Copy.