[A1625/10/23]¹

Regarding wappenschaws

Charles Rex, right trusty and right well-beloved cousins, right reverend fathers in God and reverend fathers in God, right trusty and right well-beloved and others our trusty and well-beloved subjects presently assembled in convention, we greet you all and every one of you heartily well. Whereas it is not only requisite that our subjects of that kingdom should be taught and trained up in military discipline, but also be provided of sufficient store of arms of all sorts according to their several ranks, to the intent that upon all occasions they may be both fit and ready for our service and the defence of their country, it is therefore our pleasure that you make intimation to every one before a certain day by you to be prefixed to provide and furnish himself with such armour and weapons as shall be enjoined to every one according to his rank, under such penalties as you shall think convenient to enjoin. And whereas the broil which not long since fell out between the Hollanders and Dunkirkers in the very harbour of Leith, to our no small discontentment and public disgrace of that whole kingdom, has given us sufficient proof of the necessity of forts to defend the harbours and towns thereto adjacent from sudden surprises, it is our pleasure that you give order to Sir Andrew Gray, general muster-master of that our kingdom, to visit all the sea ports therein with such diligence as conveniently may be and to advise and consider of the most convenient places whereupon to raise bulwarks and blockhouses for the best defence of the same, of what form the several fortifications shall be and with the advice of skilful workmen conclude to what charges the building of every one of them will extend, and to certify our council thereof. And that you in the meantime resolve upon some solid course how means may be furnished for defraying the charges of the building the said forts to the intent that upon the report of the said Sir Andrew Gray back to our council they may presently give order to workmen to go in hand with the said fortifications. And this most earnestly recommending to your special care and dispatch, we bid you farewell. Given at Sarisbury, 24 October 1625.