Militia equipment, 17th century
/Militia equipment 17th century
June 5, 1986
Michael Moad explores the 17th-century military equipment that have been exhibited at both the Cathedral and Rochester’s Guildhall Museum for many years. Extract from The Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Report for 1986.
Displayed in a large showcase in the Guildhall Museum may be seen an interesting collection of 17th Century military equipment which, visitors to the museum are often surprised to learn, was originally housed in Rochester Cathderal. The collection consists of three buff leather coats, two bandoliers, one sword belt, two swords, four muskets and two powder chargers detached from the bandoliers.
The story of the origin of these interesting relics and their subsequent history is a fascinating one. An old tradition ascribes these items to 'equipment left behind by Cromwell's troops who garrisoned men in the crypt during the English Civil War. However, the merest novice in the study of arms and armour would see at a glance that all of the surviving items, with the possible exception of the swords, are too late in date to have had any association with that conflict. The truth, therefore, lies elsewhere and, as is often the case, it is far more interesting than the erroneous tradition.
The Cathedral is fortunate in having extensive archive records, and reference to these has made it clear that this equipment was not accidentally left in the crypt by anyone but was, from the outset, purchased and maintained by the Cathedral authorities for the equipping of a small troop of six soldiers.
NOTE: The buttons, plug bayonet, sword scabbard, powder horn, musket rest and bandolier powder chargers mounted on the figure in the Museum display are all reproductions manufactured in the Museum's workshop.
The principle of having landowners responsible for raising armed men which might be called upon by the sovereign in times of crisis is a very old one, certainly pre-dating the period to which the Cathedral equipment belongs. However, by the middle of the 17th Century the raising and training of armed bodies of men in this way was governed by a series of Militia Acts which served to provide more standardisation in respect of uniforms and equipment together with requirements for periodic musters. The number of armed men required to be provided in this way depended upon the amount of land or property held by any individual or public body.
Locally we find recorded in the archives of Sir John Hawkins' Hospital: '1679 Paid Mr. Phipps for a soldier's coat, Pike, sword, belt, Militia Tax etc., £2.7s.6d.'
In exactly the same year the Cathedral archives record: '4th June 1679.
To the Church soldiers for serving in the Church armes six dayes and for powder and ye Muster Mr. (Muster Master) as by their bill and receipt appeares £4.11s.Od.
It will be apparent, therefore, that the buff coats, guns, swords and other accoutrements from the Cathedral are all that now remains of the equipment of the Dean and Chapter's contribution to the Militia.
Of the equipment now surviving, the two swords, which are of a type sometimes referred to as 'mortuary' style, are the oldest and date from the second quarter of the 17th Century (it should be borne in mind, however, that outdated but serviceable arms were often impressed into Militia service). The muskets are all of a type known as English dog-locks and date from circa 1650-70. The examples from the Cathedral's armory and particularly interesting as their various owners have carved a variety of graftiti into the stocks.
These usually have taken the form of simple initials but they also include, in one instance the date 'June 14 1700' and in two cases the arms of Jerusalem appear!
The three buff coats that survive are all that now remain from six that are recorded in the Cathedral archives as having been purchased in 1684.
'1684
May 31 Pd. for Six New Buffe Coats £15.2s.6d.
Pd. for bringing them down from London £0.1s.6d.
It is clear from this entry that the buff coats were not of local manufacture and that they were rather an expensive item at £2.10s.5d. each which would, of course, have represented a considerable sum in those days. For the purpose of display after their deposit in the Museum a mannequin of precisely the correct size was constructed for the most complete of the buff coats. This revealed that it would originally have been worn by a man of very slight build and approximately 5•4" in height.
As has been previously noted, the Cathedral's troop of soldiers comprised six men and it is obvious, therefore, that the surviving items of equipment represent only a portion of that originally issued. However, it would be a mistake to suppose that all of the items now missing were lost in antiquity, for records held in various sources can show that between 1939 and 1961 no less than four musket rests, two sword scabbards, one bandolier and a plug bayonet have all disappeared. In addition to these losses three of the muskets, together with the two swords, were damaged during a burglary in 1973. This damage has since been repaired.
Anxieties surrounding both the security and the generally unsatisfactory environment of the storage of these historic relics in the Cathedral led to the Dean and Chapter depositing the entire collection into the Guildhall Museum in February 1981.
Michael Moad
Extract from The Friends of Rochester Cathedral Annual Report for 1986
The Friends of Rochester Cathedral were founded to help finance the maintenance of the fabric and grounds. The Friends’ annual reports have become a trove of articles on the fabric and history of the cathedral.
The Guild of Embroiderers are proud to care for over 100 ecclesiastical vestments and textile treasures.
