An Early Kentish Militia Roll

AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL By FELIX HULL, B.A., Ph.D. WHEN Henry V set out on the campaign which reached its climax in the battle of Agincourt he wisely realized that the shore of this island was as vulnerable to invading armies as that of France. In accordance with precedent, therefore, and lest the French should attempt a diversionary campaign in the south-eastern counties, Commissioners of Array were appointed in 1415 to raise suitable bands of the militia to face the potential invader.1 Among the Commissioners for Kent was Sir John Darell, who had purchased the CalehUl estate only a few years earlier,2 and when the residue of the archives of Darell of CalehUl came into the County Archives Office late in 1953, a roll was found among these MSS. which may indicate in some measure, the zeal of Sir John in carrying out military duties during his sovereign's absence.3 Unfortunately the roll in question is incomplete, its beginning and ending are both missing and any exact title or date is irretrievably lost. Of its character as a mUitia list there is no doubt. In dating it at about 1415, the evidence of handwriting, the appearance in this roll of at least twenty-four persons named in contemporary deeds in the Darell or other collections, and the place of Sir John Darell among the Commission of Array for that year, have all been borne in mind. The surviving part of the roll is a parchment membrane approximately 29 inches long by 6 J inches wide, written on both sides and about 22 inches of the text on each side is complete. It is divided into sections comprising seven of the seventeen boroughs of the CalehUl Hundred.4 The list for one of the seven is incomplete and there are fragments surviving for at least two more boroughs. The " borough " an early administrative unit peculiar to Kent, was intimately linked with the hundredal organization of lathe and county and bore little relationship to that more modern organism—the parish. It seems, 1 Col. J. Bonhote. Historical Record of the West Kent Militia, p. 18, and Rymer's Foedera, Orig. Edn., vii, 539. 4 Hasted, vol. IDC, p. 224, says that Darell purchased Calehill from Thomas de Brokhull in 12 Henry TV (1410-11). For this actual deed see Kent Archives Office, Darell MSS. (Cat. mark TJ386 Tl/1). 3 Darell of Calehill MSS. (K.A.O. Cat. mark 11386), the roll is U386 03/1. 4 According to Lambarde the boroughs were : Nashe, Felde, Hayslathe, Sandpit, Charte, Welles, Charing, Sandhill, Acton, Eastlenham, Stanforde, Pluckley, Edisley, Halingarse, Sednor, Halmeste, St. Johns, Grenehill, but St. Johns seems to have been insignificant and an assessment for an aid, c. 1490 (K.A.O., TJ386 05/1), only gives the 17 main boroughs. 159 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL however, that the boroughs given feU approximately into the following parishes : Sandpett and FUethe in Charing ; Edesle, Grenehelde and Sedenore in Egerton ; Halyngherst and Stoneforde in Smarden. This may well represent the whole of Egerton parish and a large part of Charing and Smarden, but it means that the record for Little Chart, Pluckley and WestweU is entirely missing. Within this borough arrangement the names are set out roughly in two columns, the first listing those responsible for providing fighting men, the second giving the names of the men chosen and some indication of military rank. In all, 140 complete names survive, the first column containing 128 of these. The second column of 53 names adds only twelve new ones, the remaining 41 fighting men being also listed as providers. Unfortunately, beyond the indication of military rank, noted below, there is httle evidence of the status of the persons involved, only John Pemel of Edesle, baker, and John Swyft of Halyngherst, tanner, being given their occupations. On the other hand no fewer than nine women appear in the hst of those responsible for finding militia-men. Between the Statute of Winchester, 1285,1 and the Act of 1662,2 numerous statutes related to the militia, and modified the existing system of liability to provide arms and of responsibUity on the part of the high constables of the hundred to view arms twice a year. Beyond the statutory obhgation laid upon all men, not clerics, from the age of 15 to that of 60, to provide arms and to serve when called either within their own locality or, in the event of invasion, within the country, no detailed provisions were laid down for the method of apportioning liabUity for service. UntU the sixteenth century when the modern lieutenancy system came into being, this duty lay with the Commismissioners of Array working through the high constables, and we have little knowledge of the practical arrangements made. Naturally only a proportion of persons liable for service were caUed up at any one time and this roll indicates that each borough was assessed for so many archers and so many fully armed men up to between one-third and one-half of the liable population. Once the assessment was made it would appear that a further division of responsibUity was accorded within the terms of the Statute of Winchester which provided for the maintenance of weapons and armour on a strict property basis. All those owning less than five pounds but more than two pounds worth of real estate were to provide swords and bows and arrows and the poorest of aU classes were required to maintain bows and arrows or bolts according as they lived without or within the Royal Forest. The more wealthy found other weapons and armour 1 13 Edward I, st. 2, c. 6. 2 13 & 14 Charles II, c. 3. 160 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL according to their estate. It would seem, therefore, that the high constable for CalehUl arranged his people on this basis, so that the great majority were liable to find archers and only a few more heavily accoutred soldiers. It is on this property basis too, that the incorporation of women into the list can be understood. Actual service was not theirs to give, but as property owners they were responsible for finding arms and, if need be, men. A more subtle arrangement seems to have been at work also, for the persons providing soldiers are grouped together in twos, threes, or fours, each group being responsible for one man. Without considerably more evidence than is available it would be dangerous to argue much from this arrangement, but it may be suggested that the number of persons thus grouped gives some indication of their social position. This would be both reasonable and equitable and would account for the distinction of Thomas Whitsparrok of Halyngherst who provides Ralph Hitchys, archer, himself, as compared with John Homershame jun., Thomas Gateman, Robert Hersynden, WUliam Halyngherst, Richard Tornour and John Aylard of the same borough who between them only provide one archer.1 The same suggestion also helps to explain why the groups usually chose one of their number to act on their behalf, while individuals more often procured the services of substitutes. A measure of uncertainty also lies in the rank of the soldiers as given. The 44 archers present no difficulty, but each borough was responsible for providing one " pavacarius," who appears to have been a man bearing a large shield or a fully armed soldier. In five cases groups of persons provide these men and choose one of their own number for the duty, but in Grenehelde there is no indication of anysuch group, the entry merely reading : Tota Borgh'j pavacarium Et Johannes Pemel pavacarius. This may indicate that John Pemel alone in that borough was of sufficient standing to provide or serve in that capacity. So, too, at Stonforde John Glovere and WUliam Berman provide John Wysenden as pavacarius and these two are termed inventores, i.e., " finders " or " providers." This term is not used elsewhere and may be used here solely because they do not choose either of themselves to serve. In the borough of Sandpette in Charing a further comphcation appears in the person of Henry Colbach, " armatus." The distinction implied by this rank is unknown, nor do we know how the " armatus " differed from the " pavacarius." It is the only case of its kind, Colbach serves in his own right, and aU that seems safe to say is that he must have been a man of considerably greater means than the archers hsted for the borough. This is borne out by the slight evidence of his connec- 1 Although this argument may apply within any one borough it might be dangerous to try to compare the boroughs without far more knowledge of the basis of assessment. 161 14 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL tions in the parish. In the year 1414 a WiU was registered in the Consistory Court of Canterbury of Henry Colbache, vicar of Charing, in the course of which " Magister " Henry Colbach is appointed executor.1 We do not know the relationship of these men, nor whether the executor of 1414 could be the "armatus" of the foUowing year, but at least it can be suggested that our Henry belonged to a rather more notable Charing family with clerical connections. The transcript which foUows remains as close to the original as possible with all normal Latin abbreviations extended and the Latin forms of names retained. It is offered for its value as an early nominal roU, its interest as a medieval mUitia list and its special character as a list of some of those men of the hundred of CalehiU who might aptly be termed the " Home Guard " of 1415. [First 7 inches of roll badly damaged.'] . . . . Archerarius . . . . m ' . . . . [?]omie — Archerarius Thomas Stompard — Archerarius [about 2 ins. of roll blank] . . . . at Watere sen. — Archerarius ..[quijbus Henricus atte Watere — Archerarius . . . . us Henricus a t e . . .. [about 1 in. of roll blank] Borgh' de Filethe . . . .d — Archerarius . . . . — Archerarius . . . . pro quo Ricardus films suus — Archerarius Wi[llelmus] u' 1 pro quibus Rogerus Payn — Rogerus Payn [struck through] J Archerarius WUlelmus Lowe — Archerarius [added] Henricus Dodynton 1 pro quibus Henricus Dodynton Thomas Stonhouse, sen. I Archerarius Robertus Robyn WUlelmus Walynghame Walterus Conseyl Robertus at Wode WUlelmus Chelynton Thomas Best WUlelmus Beste pro quibus WUlelmus Walynghame— Archerarius pro quibus WillelmuS Chelynton — Archerarius 1 K.A.O., P.R.C. 32/l.f30. 162 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL Tota Borgh' j pavacarium Thomas Davy WUlelmus Runham Johannes [?Run]ham Johannes Stokelot j pavacarium pro quibus Thomas Davy pavacarius Borgh' de Grenehelde Thomas Munde, sen.—archerarius Robertus Warener [all added] Henricus Smyth Johannes Bromle WUlelmus Bacheler Thomas Chilton Johannes Fokes Thomas Oulegate Laurentius Newlonde Thomas Bacheler Thomas Godard Thomas Monde, jun. Ricardus Godard pro quibus Johannes Bromle—Archerarius pro quibus WUlelmus Bacheler—Archerarius . pro quibus Laurentius Newlonde— Archerarius • pro quibus WUlelmus Munde—Archerarius Tota Borgh' j pavacarium Et Johannes Pemell pavacarius Borgh' de Sedenore pro quibus WUlelmus Coltfole—Archerarius J Thomas Petynden WUlelmus Coltfole Johanna at Watere WUlelmus ChUton 1 pro quibus WUlelmus Chilton— Anic' [?Anicia or Avicia] Sedenore J Archerarius Anic' Sedenore [struck through] ~] Johanna Sedenore Robertus Warener Henricus Marbeler Ricardus at Welle Johanna at Welle Ricardus PcmeU WUlelmus Sedenore Thomas Pemell Ricardus Donstalle Robertus Burgeys 1 pro quibus Robertus Warener [struck through]—Archerarius pro quibus Henry Marbeler [written above Robertus Warener struck through]—Archerarius pro quibus Ricardus Pemell—Archerarius • pro quibus Robertus Burgoys—Archerarius 163 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL Tota Borgh' j pavacarium WUlelmus Wardon Robertus Sedenore Johannes Newe Johannes Pemel at Crowche j pavacarium pro quibus Johannes Pemel —pavacarius WUlelmus Bocher Nicholaus Bocher Johannes Bocher Thomas Bocher WUlelmus Ricard, sen. Johannes Berman WUlelmus Wytherynden Johannes HUgarden, sen. Thomas Glover Johannes HUgarden, jun. Laurentius at Melle Johannes Denys WUlelmus Ricard, jun. Borgh' de Stonforde pro quibus Nicholaus Bocherpro quibus Thomas Bocher- Archerarius Archerarius • pro quibus WUlelmus Wytherynden— Archerarius • pro quibus Johannes HUgarden, jun.— Archerarius pro quibus WUlelmus Ricard, jun.— Archerarius Tota Borgh' j pavacarium Johannes Glovere 1 Inventores. Et Johannes Wysenden— WUlelmus Berman J pavacarius [On dorse of roll] Borgh' de Sandpette Henricus Colbach—Armatus Ricardus Pyece—Archerarius [all added] Ricardus Tubbe—[Archerarius added] 1 pro quibus Robertus Triton Henricus at Hooks Johannes Cole 1 WUlelmus Haukere \ Johannes Triton J Henricus Walynghame Johannes Chapman Ricardus Beste > [struck through]—Archerarius J non arr' pro quo Robertus Triton [added] pro quibus Johannes Triton—Archerarius Johannes Swon Johannes Wealdish Thomas CalhUl Ricardus Curteys pro quibus Ricardus Beste—Archerarius Tota Borgh' j pavacarium pro quibus Johannes Swon—pavacarius 164 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL Thomas Borlynge Johannes Smythiot Johanna Wyldemed Johannes Baldok WUlelmus Burghasshe Agnes Welshe John Pemel, baker Ricardus Oulegate Thomas at Frithe Johannes at Frithe Thomas at Frithe jun. Johannes Wanden Robertus Bourne WUlelmus Baldok Margareta Elmherst Johannes Philipot Johannes Barlynge Johannes Beste Thomas Jekyn Borgh' de Edesle pro quibus Johannes Smythiot— Archerarius pro quibus WUlelmus Burghassh'— Archerarius pro quibus Johannes Pemel, baker— Archerarius - pro quibus Johannes Wanden—Archerarius pro quibus WUlelmus Baldok'—Archerarius • pro quibus Thomas Jekyn—Archerarius Tota Borgh' j pavacarium Johannes Beste at Helle 1 WUlelmus Hoke I pro quibus Ricardus Stonhouse- Anges Swyft | pavacarius WUlelmus Stonhouse Borgh' de Halynghest Thomas Whitsparrok—Archerarius pro quo Radulphus Hikkys Henricus Burden—pro quo Petrus Garynton—Archerarius Henricus Thornherst 1 Johannes at Chirche i- pro quibus Ricardus Aylesbury—Archerarius Robertus Lombehist | Radulphus Wytheryngbrookl pro quibus Thomas Robyn—Archerarius Thomas Robyn j Johannes Homershame, jun. Thomas Gateman Robertus Hessynden WUlelmus Halyngherst Ricardus Tornour Johannes Aylard pro quibus Johannes Aylard- Archerarius 165 AN EARLY KENTISH MILITIA ROLL Johannes Swyft, tannere Johannes Newenden WiUelmus Bromle Johannes Beste WUlelmus Robyn Johannes Knok WUlelmus Knok WUlelmus PhUipot Thomas Brewere Jacobus Tubbell WiUelmus Marlere Ricardus Holmherst WUlelmus Helstrete pro quibus Johannes Beste—Archerarius pro quibus WiUelmus Knok—Archerarius pro quibus WUlelmus Helstrete- Archerarius [Last 7 ins. of roll badly damaged.] Katerina at Melle . . . . n a y . . . . Robertus (?) Wory WUlelmus at Wode Simon Swan.... Robertus.... Johannes S . . .. [pro] quibus Johannes Frend—Archerarius [Tota Borgh' j pavacarium] ^ j pavacarium pro quibus WiUelmus at Wode— pavacarius J Swan archerarius [Borough heading missing] ... .Webbe—Archerarius . . . . —Archerarius . . . . —Archerarius selwode—Archerarius [1 inch blank] . . . . Swift—Archerarius [1 inch blank] . . . . Henricus Salmon—Archerarius . .s . . . .eman—Archerarius 166