Catalogue description EXTORTIONS of the SOLDIERS.

Orders to be observed in the English Pale against the abuses and extortions of the soldiers, made by Sir William Russell, Lord Deputy, and the Council at the Castle of Dublin, 18 April 1596. [Note: "To these orders Sir John Norryes hath refused to put his hand."]

All soldiers shall, in their travel through the country, march above 10 miles by the day, and not lie above one night in one place, each taking of his host meat and drink, without exacting money or committing any other extortion, upon pain of death, but paying ready money or giving his captain's or officer's ticket after the rate of 5d. ster. per diem.

No two soldiers shall have above one boy attending upon them, and a band of 100 foot shall have but six women for laundresses, such as shall be married wives to some of the said soldiers; the said women and boys to be in no way chargeable to the country or towns. Any women or boys found above the said number to be committed to gaol by the sheriff, justice, or high constable, till order be taken to execute them by course of martial law. The captains, officers, and soldiers shall assist in apprehending them, on pain of being discharged and punished.

No band of foot or horse shall, upon pain of death, charge the country with more than the just number allowed by her Majesty in pay and entered in the cheque rolls; and no soldier or officer shall exact or take money by the name and under colour of dead pays, or shall take any more meat than his supper and breakfast, and that without exacting any kind of meat called "Capury encreasone" or "Capure ne hairke." Any persons doing the contrary to be committed to gaol and executed by martial law.

Every two soldiers shall have a boy allowed them, to be found by the country, and pay after the rate of 5d. ster. "le piece" for their diet per diem.

"The soldiers shall not at their will (as heretofore theyhave done) be their own carvers in killing of the subjects' lambs, hens, geese, and such like, or in demanding of wine and aqua vitae to their meat, but shall take such competent meat and drink as the country is able to afford, without beating or abusing the poor people, or committing of other disorders in taking money or distresses for the same."

Neither the soldiers nor their captains shall take up the subjects' garrons for their carriage, or for the carriage of their wives and laundresses, without special warrant from us, and in such cases to pay for hire of the garrons according to her Majesty's usual rates, upon the pain and peril aforesaid.

Soldiers shall not range up and down the country or depart from their garrisons without special licence, which obtained, they are to pay for anything they take in the country to the owners' contentment.

Pain of imprisonment to such as shall not make complaint of any extortion.

The soldiers in marching through the country shall be placed by the mayor, sheriff, portreeve, sovereign, bailiff, collector, high constable, or the gentleman adjoining, according to the ability of the poor people; and the captains and soldiers are not to please themselves as heretofore, whereby many poor people were utterly undone and driven to forsake their dwellings.

Pain of death for ravishing any woman against her will, and for taking any moveable goods.

Signed: Ad. Dublin., Canc., Tho. Midensis, Henry Waloppe, Robert Gardner, Anthony St. Leger, George Bourchier, Robert Dillon, Geoffrey Fenton.

Copy.

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73), vol. III, document 239.