Muster Roll 1569

The Privy Council of Elizabeth I issued a directive to record a general muster of all able men aged between 16 - 60 years who could be called to arms.

The weapon(s) that a man had did not always agree with the type of (a) able man - an archer may have a bill, a billman may have a bow.

The parish hath in their store 4 pair of almayne ryvetts, one jacke and a bill, 2 sallets, 3 pair of splents.

The furniture of this parish so remayninge ys one ryvet, 19 bills, one bowe.

Archer
wore a jack with a doublet underneath. He had a long bow, arrows and carried a short sword, also a dagger.
Almain rivets
light armour of overlapping plates
Bill
hooked blade with a spike on a long handle
Harquebus
heavy matchlock gun
Jack
leather jerkin
Pike
long spear
Sallet
helmet
Sheaf
24 arrows
Splints
armour to protect the forearm or lower leg

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