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After the Pilgrimage of Grace of October 1536, the whole of the North remained unsettled. The area was ruled by the Council in the North. However, the Council had not been given the power to levy troops. As a result, Lords Lieutenant with these powers were appointed.
In 1556 private individuals were assessed, as to the scale of weapons and equipment which they could be called upon to provide, depending on the size of their estates. Each township was ordered to supply gear for those of its troop members who could not afford to find their own. Weapons or armour provided by a township were referred to by the muster masters as "common weapons" and "common armour", and the men so equipped as "common soldiers".
During this time a proportion of those liable for service was called out for training once or twice a year, and grouped in companies or bands. Units exercising in this way were called the "trained bands"
A copy of a muster roll for part of the East Riding dated 1584 has survived, which shows the total number of men available for service, the proportion eventually earmarked (one in every three, producing a force of 1,400) and a great deal of useful information about their weapons. It is interesting to note that this roll was made in a transitional period when the old weapons, such as the bow and the bill , were going out of use and the new firearms, with pikes, were coming into service. [2]
1584
1584
"HARTHILL
The certificate of the habelmen and common armour within the wapentake of Harthill . . . viewed at the musters taken at Wighton xviith September anno Elizabeth xxvi by John Hothome, Edward Ellerker and Thomas Dowmon Esquires Justices of the Peace and Deputies Com¬ missioners in the East Riding, by force of a commission to them directed by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, Lord President of Her Majestie’s Council in the North Parts, with a note of those that be most able and selected persons, declaring what weapon every of them are most fitted to serve with Anno 1584."
Spaldington.
Spaldington.
Common armour: 1 corselet, 1 calever.
0 pikemen
5 billmen (all self-armed)
2 calevers (both self-armed)
3 archers (all self-armed) Total 10
24 labourers
George Vavasour: 1 calever, 1 bill [1]
George Vavasour
George Vavasour
It seems likely that this may have been George, the son of John Vavasour and Juliana Aske. George was born c.1550. He married Katherine Babthorpe in 1574. Following George's death, Katherine married John Ingleby of Ripley. [4]
Glossary
Glossary
A corslet, also corselet, started as a simple breastplate. By the 16th century, the corslet was popular as a light half-armour for general military use. It comprised a gorget, breastplate, backplate, tassets, full arms and gauntlets.
A bill, also known as a billhook, was a polearm weapon used by infantry. It had a hooked blade on the end of a long staff and was also used in the fields on farms.
A pikeman is an infantryman who carried and used a pike.
A calever was a short sword. [3]
Sources
Sources
YAS Record Series Vol. 116: Miscellanea, vol v, by F. W. Brooks (ed)
Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteer Forces of the East Riding, 1689-1908, by R.W.S. Norfolk
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