When the parish armour was carefully viewed throughout England at the time of the expected Spanish invasion in the reign of Elizabeth, returns show that much of it was in safe quarters within the consecrated walls of our churches. We have met with various instances of inventories or mention of “townes armour” in old constable accounts. One of the fullest of these is in the parish books of Repton, Derbyshire. In 1590 is this entry:—
“A Note of the armoure of Repton receaved into the handes of Rycharde Weatte, berjinge Constable.
Imprimis ij corsletts wth all that belongeth unto them.
It. ij platt’ cotts (coats of plate armour).
It. ij swordes and iij daigers and ij gyrgells.
It. ij calevers wth flaxes and tuch boxe.
It. ij pyckes and ij halberds.
It. for the Tr’band Souldiar a cote and bowe and a shiffe of arrowes and a quiver.”
In 1616, the inventory is as follows:—
“Receaved by Christopher Ward Constable from John Couttrell the Townes Armore.