HERTFORD'S ORDERS FOR THE NAVY AND ARMY.

(April 28th, 1544.)

Source.—Hamilton Papers, No. 227, Vol. II., H.M. General Register House, Edinburgh.

51. Wafters[61] appointed for the vawarde:

The "Pauncye," the "Minion," the "Swallow," the "Gabian" of Ipswich, the "John Evangeliste," the "Gallye Subtile," Harwoddes "Barke of Calais" to attend upon the "Pauncye."

Wafters appointed for the battell:

The "Swepestake," the "Swanne" of Hamburghe, the "Mary Grace," the "Elizabeth" of Lynne, Cumberfordes Shippe.

Wafters appointed for the rerewarde:

The "Great Galley," the "Gillian" of Dartmouth, the "Peter" of Fowery, the "Anthony Fulford," the "Bark Riveley."

Orders taken at the Shelys within Tynemouth haven, the xxviiith day of April in the xxxvith year of the reign of our sovereign lord King Henry the Eighth, by the Earl of Hertford, great Chamberlain of England, his highness' lieutenant in the north parties, and captain-general of His Majesty's army by sea and land at this present against the Scots.

1. First, his lordship in the King's Majesty's name, straightly chargeth and commandeth, that all captains, with their soldiers and mariners, shall be in readiness on shipboard in such ships as they be appointed unto by the said lord lieutenant, according to such proclamations as have been made in his lordship's name for that purpose, to the intent that every such ship may weigh anchor with the first prosperous wind that God shall send to depart.

2. Item, the lord admiral, with certain wafters with him, shall be foremost of the fleet, bearing in his fore top-mast a flag of St. George's Cross, and in the night ii lights of a good height in his ship. And all those ships (whose captains with their soldiers be appointed to the vaward, whereof the said lord admiral is chieftain) shall as near as they can follow the said lord admiral. And at such time as the said lord admiral shall come to an anchor, all the ships of the vaward shall likewise come to an anchor, as near unto his ship as they may conveniently.

3. Item, the said lord lieutenant hath appointed his own ship, and the ship which the King's treasure is in, to make sail next unto the fleet of the vaward, and all such ships (whose captains with their soldiers, are appointed to be about his person in the battell) shall follow his lordship as near as they can, and shall come to an anchor as near as they can about him. And his lordship hath ordained to have upon his main top-mast a flag of Saint George's Cross, and every night two lights on high in his shrouds, and one above his main top, to the intent that every man may know his lordship's ship from all other, as well by night as by day.

4. Item, next unto the said fleet of battell, the Earl of Shrewsbury (whom the said lord lieutenant hath appointed to be chieftain of the rearwarde) shall make sail, bearing upon his mizzen top mast one flag of St. George's Cross, and every night in the prow of his ship, one cressitt[62] burning, to the intent all the fleet appointed to the rereward may know the said Earl of Shrewsbury his ship from all others.

5. Item, when the said lord lieutenant would have the lord admiral to come on board his ship, his lordship hath appointed to put out a flag above his forecastle. And when his lordship would have the captain of the rearward to come on board his ship, his pleasure is to set out a flag on the poop of his ship. And when his lordship would have all the captains of the middle ward to come on board his ship, he hath appointed to set out a banner of counsel against the midst of his mainmast. And forbecause, that every captain of the vaward shall have better knowledge of the tokens afforerehersed, his lordship straightly chargeth and commandeth, that no ship shall spread any flag in any place above the hatches, nor bear any lights in the night above the decks, other than the said lord lieutenant's own ship, the lord admiral's ship, and the captain of the rereward his ship as aforesaid.

6. Item, that if any ship or crayer chance by tempest of weather or other cause to be put from the fleet, the same ships or crayers shall resort to the Firth, as they will answer for the contrary at their perils.

7. Item, that every captain, as well of the vaward, rereward and battell, shall cause their boats to be in readiness for the landing of their men, when they shall be commanded by the said lord lieutenant or the said chieftaines. And that every captain (whose ship hath any baseis or double verseis)[63] shall cause a trestle to be made in the fore part of his boat with ii halys[64] to carye ii baseis or verseis, for the more annoyance of their enemies at landing.

Officers to be appointed.

Item, vii captains to have the rule of the watch,—every night one of them to watch, and the Scouts from time to time to send him advertisements.

Nevell. Item, one principal man to have the rule and charge of the victuals, that the soldiers may have it for their money.

Gower and Everard. Item, one to be appointed, as well to see the bringing of the victuals to the market, as also to order such others as shall come to the market by any other means.

To land 12,000 men as followeth:

Harquebusiers, 500; Archers, 1000; Pikes, 1000; bills, 1500. 4000.

And these to be supported with the rest as they may land.

Ordenance to be landed before we march.

Fawcons,[66] 4; Fawconetes,[67] 6; Close waggons, 12. 22.

The vawarde.

Harquebusiers, 150; Archers, 1000; pikes, 500; bills, 2000. 3650.

The battell.

Harquebusiers, 200; archers, 1000; pikes, 1000; bills, 2500. 4700.

The rearewarde.

Harquebusiers, 100; archers, 1000; pikes, 550; bills, 2000. 3650.

To land 12,000 men at two places at one instant, as near as they can together and at either place, these numbers following:

Harquebusiers, 250; archers, 1500; pikes, 1000; bills, 1500. 4250.

[61] = transport boats.

[62] = An iron basket containing inflammable material, often a coil of tarred rope.

[63] i.e. "base and verse" = small light cannons.

[64] = ropes?

[65] These officials were responsible for the discipline; the former for the officers, and the latter for the men.

[66] = a ten pounder.

[67] = a five pounder.