En temps H. 8.
4 H. 8. Pat' A Proclamation to the Maritime Counties to be in readiness, considering that the French King had prepared a great Navy to enter this Kingdom the next Month ensuing, &c. and certain Captains deputed to lead them; and they were all to be in readiness at an hours warning upon their Allegiance.
Pat' 4 H. 8. The same Commission to Bouchier &c. in Latin.
14 H. 8. Which is not in this Roll, but in a Book of Proclamations; for before E. 4. his time, all between sixteen and sixty to be ready at one hours warning.
15 H. 8. Inhabitants of Stamford, Nottingham, and Salop, &c. to attend the Earl of Surrey upon an hours warning.
30 H. 8. Palace Treasurer omnes homines ad Arma to be ready ad deserviend' nobis in Scotland, as need shall be.
Stat. 35 H. 8. ca. 13. Remission del Loanes reci∣ting and considering.
Est duty & honour del People to assist their King in Body, Goods, Lands, and Substance in his Wars, and there it was only for offensive Wars.
Pat' 36 H. 8. pars 2. 37 H. 8. in Mr. Moyle's Book, &c.
4 & 5 Philip & Mary, Commissions of Array to go to all Gentlemen of Quality; but now but one Lieutenant of a County; and that power which the Lieutenant hath now in England, was the same with the ancient Commissions of Array in substance; so that it is no new thing. These are in force by 5 H. 4. and Common Law in Queen Maries and Queen Elizabeths time; and they did not go in the legal Array, but by the power of the Councel board.
3 & 4 Phil. & Mar. 1557. Councel board. Callis was besieged on the sudden, the Enemy making pretence of going into the Low-Countries, there went presently a Command to the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Jan. 5. to make Proclamation in Kent, That all from sixteen to sixty should repair to Dover to save Callis, upon pain of death.
8 Februarij 1557. Letter of Thanksgiving to Sir John Egcombe for diligent mustering of 1000 men.
19 September 1558. Northumberland served with∣out wages.
1 September to continue Watch.
8 April 1558. Whittipoole sor not finding demy Launces, is called to the Councel Table.
These are to shew what proceedings there have been in former times.
7 Eliz. Pat' pars 5. A Commission to Muster all men against Scotland.
11 El. Pat' though not on Record, yet in a Book in the Crown Office in the Chancery with Mr. Willis.
A Commission to Array men, and provide all things prout necessitas, &c. and to inform them∣selves what Armour they had, and this to be done for our better service. But with those Commissi∣ons there went Instructions: Amongst which ob∣serve this one; We require you to consider how necessary this service committed to you is at this time for the benefit and safety of our Realm, wherein we think the more earnestness is the more requisite, because of our Subjects long con∣tinuance in Peace, and the notorious being in Arms of our Neighbours about this Realm.
If these times be not worse then that, I leave, &c.
27 El. Watson's Roll. A Warrant to the Lord Chancellor to make Lieutenants and Deputy-Lieutenants, which are the old Commissions of Array turned into English. And in 88. when that great Armado came, all the Realm was in Arms, and at the Subjects charge.
31 El. ca. 14, 15. The Subjects granted a Sub∣sidy in consideration of the Queens charge. The Subjects were at great charge both for Land and Sea, and she took it by the power of her Councel Table.
The City of London was desired to find ten Ships, and of themselves they desired to find twenty. This was the affection of those times; they did not dispute, but were ready to obey.
28 April 1588. A Letter to Sir Robert Wingfield; Whereas divers Towns in Suffolk were charged to set out a Ship, and that divers were poor and could not, a Command that the Richer should do it. A Letter to the Earl of Huntingdon, that York should contribute to a Ship charged on Hull.
A Letter to other Towns to contribute to Col∣chester; they refused; yet were compelled to do it for advancement of so necessary a Service.
The Clergy in 88. joyned, and the Archbishop was Captain.
And there were Letters for demolishing of Suburbs, 1 E. 4. Books are so for it. Town of Pool in the County of Devon, Stat. 3. Jac. c. 6. where the charge of the People in Queen Eliza∣beths time was remembred, for London was charg∣ed, and Forreigners and Sojurners were charged also to contribute, for that the charge was com∣mon.
In 88. 3000 l. Conduct-money levied for the Earl of Bath.
They did not stay here till the tops of the Ships were seen, but they made preparation in 87.
In 99. 41 El. great Troops assembled at London for defence of the Queen, when the Tumult was about the Earl of Essex.
And in 98. the Cause being common, the Charge ought to be born in common.
Nay, the Inns of Court have been charged with Arms upon the apprehending of the Earl of Es∣sex. A Letter went to the Benchers of the Inner Temple to that purpose, and all the Gentlemen did find Arms.