Embedded Files
BATTLES,
In Times of War
In Times of War
Through the centuries war was an almost permanent state for England. The Kings of England all men with different characters but all of them wanted to prove themselves. The young men of the land , rich and poor alike, became Foot Soldiers, Men at Arms and Archers , willing to fight, & die, for the King in battl. Later in the centuries they were referred to as cannon fodder but inthe 14th century there were no cannons, just swords, 9 foot pikes & brute force ; & after Agincourt, waves of arrows.
Until the Restoration in 1660 England did not having a standing army. However every land-owning knight held his lands by a Knights Service and the dukes and earls all had their own private armies. Barons like the Pomeroy's would have had a small retinue of trained, armed men that he provided for . It was an expensive business keeping up appearances.
The local lord of the manor, when the king demanded it, would canvas his estates to discover who had what by way of weaponry the local men might have.
Whether it was the bill hook he used to harvest his barley or a 9 ‘ pike or more importantly a long bow, it was all of use in a fight. The single most formidable weapon of medieval England was the simple longbow, with the archer that wielded it. These were 6’ feet long, made of English yew, and all males from the age of about 8 or 9 were required practice every Sunday, at the village butts . This training was under the tutorledge of an expert archer, often a soldier too old to go to war but able to pass on his skills.
By the time they reached adulthood the ordinary men of England had received many years of training & could let fly arrows at a rate of about one every 7 seconds.
Before a battle each archer would be given 60 or 70 arrows. They could sustain this rate of fire for only about 6 minutes, before their hand and arm muscles were too tired to continue. But the rain of arrows they created caused serious casualties to the enemy and their expertise made the English army a considerable opponent.
Agincourt, possibly the most famous English victory of all, was fought in 1415 by small English army against a much larger French army. Henry V English army had shrunk from about 30,00, through attrition & disease, to about 5,000 knights, men at arms and archers. They were confronted with a French army of somewhere between 30,000 and 100,000 men yet because of the English archers, they won the day.
The Hundred Years War.
DETAILS from the Gascon Rolls ,
Here on Connections
Chivalry reached its height during the conflict and subsequently declined.
Stronger national identities took root in both England & France which became more centralized, gradually emerging as global powers.
BRITANNICA
Hundred Years’ War, 1337 to 1453 was an intermittent struggle between England and France in the 14th–15th century over a series of disputes, including the question of the legitimate succession to the French crown. The struggle involved several generations of English and French claimants to the crown and actually occupied a period of more than 100 years.
By convention the war is said to have started on May 24, 1337, with the confiscation of the English-held duchy of Guyenne by French King Philip VI.
The English Kings involved between 1337 & 1453
Edward III-1327, a 50 year rule - Richard I, 1377 ; deposed by Henry Bolinbroke son of Edw III - Henry IV 1399;
Henry V, 1413 ; Henry VI , 1422 to 1461 (the catatonic king) & 1455 saw the start of the civil war at home Wars of the Roses - 1455 to 1487.
No sooner was one war ended than they began another.
GASCON ROLLS were drawn up Every year from 1273 a ‘Gascon roll’ by the English royal administration. The recorded a wide range of business & mentioning many people and places. The rolls were continued until 1467 even though the area was lost by the English in 1453. The campaigns seem to have been usually undertaken durng the summer months.The Gascon Rolls are to be found today in The National Archives at Kew
Pomeroy's involved were brothers Henry Pomeroy the Younger , William & his youngest brother Thomas
Henry the Younger was eldes, the heir , of the 5 sons of Henry de la Pomerai & his wife Joan de Moels. He had been knighted by 1340 & served under John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, at Crécy in 1346 & was later appointed to commissions of peace and oyer and terminer. His wife was Emmot, his son was John & his daughters Johanna Chudleigh & Margaret Cole.
1378 Henry the younger Granted Letters of protection for Gascony ; he was in the king's service & going to Gascony by the king’s order .
1378 William Assigned to assess troops & in 1379 to supervise the muster.
1378 Thomas Assigned to assess troops
William in June & July of 1355 had been amongst 49 men—including the Black Prince—granted protection for service in Gascony.
[View Source: GSR C61/67]
Thomas the youngest of the 5 sons ,was a knight of the shire,(MP) He married Johan (family as yet unknown) & by 1372 had a son William. That year he made provision for his wife & son, leaving his properties in the hands of the local vicar and others , with the power of attorney, when he went on a Journey for the king. Possibly to Wales or maybe Scotland.
Their brother Nicholas,Sheriff of Devon was also a merchant in Tewkesbury in Glocestershire with ships carrying cargo to Berwick on Tween supplying the kings army on the Borders between 1320 & 1380.
89 4 May 1378 . Westminster . For supervising the muster of men-at-arms. Assignment to John Daumarle , sheriff of Devon , Martin de Ferrers , William de Pomeroy , Thomas Credy , the king's serjeant-at-arms , and William de Lockington, clerk , to supervise the muster of the men-at-arms, both of Thomas Trivett and of a certain other knight, and 78 esquires and 100 archers retained by Trivett, and of Geoffrey d'Argenton, kt , and 20 men-at-arms and 20 archers retained by him, to go in the king's service from Plymouth to Aquitaine to prosecute the king's war there, and to do all other things surrounding the muster.
They are to certify the treasurer and chamberlain in the exchequer of the names of the men-at-arms and archers, and also of any defect in the array of the men and archers, if they find that there has been any, under the seals of at least two of them.
The king orders them to diligently attend to this, and has ordered both the men-at-arms and archers, and the king's faithful subjects that they are to be intendant on, advise and aid the sheriff and others as often and when they are warned to do so. 1 By C. 1.
For a later assignment to most of the same group to assess the troops of John, lord Neville, see entry 111 . In this later assignment, a Thomas la Pomeroy is named as one of those assigned, and it is not clear whether there has been some sort of clerical error in one of the assignments, or two separate Pomeroys are being referred to.
14 June 1378 . Westminster . For making a muster. Assignment to John Daumarle, kt , Martin de Ferrers , Thomas la Pomeroy , William de Lockington and Thomas Credy, the king's serjeant-at-arms , to take and supervise the muster of John, lord Neville , the king's lieutenant in Aquitaine , and all the men-at-arms and the archers retained by the lieutenant to go in the king's service at his wages to Aquitaine for the expedition of the war there according to the form of certain indentures. They are to certify in writing the names of the men-at-arms and archers, and any defect in them if there be any, and of all singular concerning the muster that they have done to the tresurer and barons of the exchequer under the seals of the four, three or two of them. They are ordered diligently to attend to this, and the king has given order to all of the men-at-arms and archers who have been retained to obey and answer them. 1 By bill of p.s. 1. For an earlier assignment to most of the same group to assess the troops of Thomas Trivett, see entry 89 . In this earlier assignment, a William de Pomeroy is named as one of those assigned, and it is not clear whether there has been some sort of clerical error in one of the assignments, or two separate Pomeroys are being referred to.
For an earlier assignment to most of the same group to assess the troops of Thomas Trivett, see entry 89 . In this earlier assignment, a William de Pomeroy is named as one of those assigned, and it is not clear whether there has been some sort of clerical error in one of the assignments, or two separate Pomeroys are being referred to.
Shrewsbury 1403
The main weapons against invading an Spanish army was a bill and the fearsome English longbow seen above
The long bow was 6 foot long & made of yew wood or sometime ash or elm. Which is why every church yard has a yew tree . The arrows made of ash, beech or hazel .
Archery Law of 1363 This required that men & boys between 17 & 60 practice with a longbow on Sundays - Sundays which allowed the Church to enforced this law. This law forbade, on pain of death, any sport that took up time was better spent on war training.
Muster for Cornwall 1569
Ordinary working men defending the country from invasion
The Muster included all able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 .
However it was only the hundreds of Powder, Pydar , West and East limited themselves to able men. The other hundreds included unable men.
If your wageswere over £5 a certain amount of weaponry & armour had to be provided
If you had goods of a value over £10 the same applied; bow arrows and bill being the lowest contribution, up to included furnishing horses at the higher end if you had goods over £400 or if your income was 100 marks or more anyone with a park was expected to supply horse ( 100 marks about £70 a year)
A mark was worth two-thirds of a pound, 160 pence or 13s 4d.In England it was never physical money but was a common amount used for accounting purposes.
Abilties
a or ar = archer, b = billman, h (or g) = harquebusier; p = pikeman
additional “a” such as “a ar” is better than able
Armour
Common abbreviations include: harq = harquebut, pr = pair, sh.arr = sheaf of arrows, alm.rivet = almayne armour, fur = furnished
Additionally there are 4 missing parishes thought to be combined as follows:
Temple with Blisland, Tremaine with Egloskerry, Trewen with South Petherwin and Callington with South Hill.
When searching do not search surnames too tightly as spellings are very varied and there are omissions. I would suggest searching by Parishes and when a likely candidate is found always check the additional notes. Also surnames still seem to be in their formative years especially in some areas.
With no standing army Musters were to raise a force of militia to defend England from invasion
The local men were expected to fight with what they had to hand.
The main weapons against invading an Spanish army was a bill and the fearsome English longbow a 6 foot long and made of yew wood ,which is why every church yard has a yew tree . The arrows made of ash, beech or hazel .
The men of a village had to target practice with their bows every Sunday
At one time only 5 English medieval longbows were known to exist.
When the Mary Rose, Henry VIII's flagship which sank in 1545, was recovered from the Solent in 1980 they found 137 longbows & 3,4500 arrows
Sennen Cove . the farthest point west on the English coastllne -
Even today, is remote & lightly populated
*Hereafter followith the names of these men within the parish of Sennen within the hundred of Penwith that are within the age of sixty score and above the age of 16 years in the 11^th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Touching the acts and statutes for the breed of horses and mares we have none such within the compass of our parish.
Touching the acts and statutes for ground or parke enclosed, we have none we have none such within the compass of our parish.
Touching the rateing of any man in our parish we have none according to the acts and statutes.
Touching the transporting or conveyance of any horse mare or gelding into Scotland or beyond the seas we know of none.
Touching the armour and weapons for the better service of the prince we have within our parish of Sennen the following in defence of England.
1569 Sennen Muster Roll
Richard Treffe Bow & 12 arrows ;
Semon Mathew Bow & 12 arrows ;
John Korvosow Bow & 12 arrows ;
John William Bow & 12 arrows ;
Thomas Maye Bow & 12 arrows
Harry William Bow & 12 arrows;
John Hanyforth Bow & 12 arrows;
James Treveyn Bow & 12 arrows;
John Mathews Bow & 12 arrows ;
Willm Joce Bow & 12 arrows;
Willm Huth Bow & 12 arrows
John Richard Bow & 12 arrows
Benett Penrose Bow & 12 arrows
Jamy Kelyneke Bow & 12 arrows
Robert Thomas Bow & 6 arrows
Charles Bretton Bow & 6 arrows
Jamys William Bow & 6 arrows
Hoskyn Davy Bow & 6 arrows;
John Richard Bow & 6 arrows ;
Raw Thomas Bow & 6 arrows ;
Symon William Bow & 6 arrows;
John Saundry Bow & 6 arrows;
Men with Bills
Bennett Angueryak , Hocken Ronold ,
John William, Richard Hike,
John Stephin , Benett Treffe,
John Hoskyn , John Joce ,
William Hugyn , Saundry Alsa ,
Saundry Trevey, Willm Jamys,
John Beryman , Marten Tonkyn,
Walter William & Nyclis Huth ,
Ric Toby had a scull sallet ( steel helmet ) & Martin William a Bag sling .
OLPC/C CORNISH MUSTER ROLL - to Defend England against invasion
1535 St. Enoder John POMERY archer b= billman Weaponry bill
1535 St.Clement John PENARE Moreske Manor. Abil. Ab weapons
sallet & bill
1535 St.Neot, William POMERY Bow & 6 Arrows
1535 St.Neot, John POMERY bill & sallet (steel helmet)
1569 Michaelstow Elysaunder POMERYE a Bow & 6 arrows
1569 Michaelstow John POMERYE 3 arrows
1569 Pillaton John POMEROY bow & 12 arrows
1569 St St'ph'ns by Salt'sh Thomas POMERY a bill
1569 Kenwyn Thomas PENAYRE a bill
1569 Tywardreath John Pomery Mariner
1569 St.Austell Thomas POMERYE bow 6 arrows breastplate & salle
1569 Cardinham William POMERYE bow 6 arrows
1569 St.Neot Pasco POMERYE a bill, breastplate & salle
Sennen Cove Watercolour by Farquharson
Sennen Parish Constable John Bans, Bill & 12 arrows
Richard Joce Bow ;
Thomas Osborne Bow Jowling ;
Nicholl Vyngow Bill & 6 arrows;
John Jeffryy Bill & 12 arrows ;
John Gowffe Bill 12 arrows;
Niclis Ronold Bill 12 arrows ;
Thomas Myllerd Bill & 6 arrows;
John Robert Bill 6 & arrows;
Jamys Toby Bill & 6 arrows;
Walter Coke Bill 12 arrows
John Thorns 6 arrows;.
1569 -1700
Troubles in Ireland were followed by the 1603 Nine Years' War with Ireland.
Henry VIII also made war on France whilst fighting the Scots when they were having at go at England’s northern border lands. Between his wars and his castle building and his flamboyant lifestyle Henry VIII almost bankrupted England.
His son the boy king Edward Vi had Scottish troubles and the Battle of Pinkie Clough and Prestonpans in Scotland in September 1549 after which one Thomas Pomeroy was made a knight bachelor. We were uncertain which Sir Thomas this was because as far as we can tell Sir Thomas of Sandridge was imprisoned at the time for his part on the Prayerbook Rebellion.
Elizabeth I tried to avoid war with Spain hence the Spanish Armadas, but she too had troubles in Ireland
1603 James V of Scotland became James I of England thus no more Scottish wars
1627 to 1629 an Anglo-French War under Charles I followed by the devastation of the English Civil War 1639 -1651
1652 to 1654 First Anglo-Dutch War England ,during the period of the Commonwealth, & Dutch Republic
1654 to 1660 Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660) Commonwealth of England
followed in 1667 by another Anglo-Dutch War
1672 to 1674 a third Anglo-Dutch War then
1672 - 1678 Franco-Dutch War
1690 An Anglo Dutch Alliance lost to the French at the sea Battle of Beach Head. The French in a spirit of Victory sailed to Torbay a two weeks later and came into Teignmouth where they pillaged & burned the little town. Battle of the Boyne in Ireland happened the day before the sea Battle of Beachy Head . It was James II against William of Orange who had been invited to take the throne by English Protestant nobles. They did not want another Catholic King after the devastation caused by Charles I & the Civil War. William III won the battle of the Boyne and rousted James, who fled to France where he and his descendants continued to make trouble giving us the Bonnie Prince Charlie,& Culluden.
William III reigned from 1629 to 1689 and when he died his wife, Mary daughter of James II, reigned in her own right until 1702 but they had no children and her sister Anne took the throne until 1714. She had 17 pregnancies and all the babies died...How awful must that have been !
When Anne died her 2nd cousin, the 54 year old German George of Hanover, took the throne in 1714
1702 onwards
Queen Anne fought Wars on three fronts:
Spanish Florida and the English Province of Carolina were each subjected to attacks from the other, and the English engaged the French based at Mobile in what was essentially a proxy war involving primarily allied Native Americans on both sides. The southern war, although it did not result in significant territorial changes, had the effect of nearly wiping out the Native population of Spanish Florida, including parts of present-day southern Georgia, and destroying Spain's network of missions in the area.
The English colonies of New England fought with French and Native American forces based in Acadia and Canada. Quebec City was repeatedly targeted (but never successfully reached) by British expeditions, and the Acadian capital Port Royal was taken in 1710. The French and Wabanaki Confederacy sought to thwart New England expansion into Acadia, whose border New France defined as the Kennebec River in southern Maine.[6] Toward this end, they executed raids against targets in Massachusetts (including present-day Maine), most famously raiding Deerfield in 1704.
On Newfoundland, English colonists based at St. John's disputed control of the island with the French based at Plaisance. Most of the conflict consisted of economically destructive raids against the other side's settlements. The French successfully captured St. John's in 1709, but the British quickly reoccupied it after the French abandoned it.
1739 hostilities with Spain under George II who I think was the one who spoke no English... Great Britain, Hanover and Prussia and their allies were pitted against other European powers, including France, Austria, Russia, Sweden and Saxony. Multiple theatres of war from Europe to North America and India, where British dominance increased ...
Then in 1745 there was the Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland with Bonnie Prince Charles Stuart grandson of James II, attempting to take the throne. This was mainly in Scotland and culminated in the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. This single bloody slaughter lasted less than an hour with English cannon against Highlanders swords. It left some 2,000 Jacobites, Scottish Highland clansmen, dead.
The aftermath brought brutal reprisals like no other. Highlanders forbidden to wear their traditional dress , the clan tartan, or speak their own language of Gaelic and prisons in London and in Scotland there were executions of a great many the clan chieftains.
Then as English landlords turfed the highlands crofters out of their subsistence farming crofts, in favour of more profitable sheep, there began the Highland Clearances. Expelled, often violently, from the lands they had lived on for generations the ruthless treatment of the Highlands of Scotland by the crown of England caused mass migration of Scots to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse