Richard Roberts 1995
The list of The Train of Artillery of eleven pieces of
Great Ordnance. Late 1626 early 1627.
The Officers, Artificers and Attendants.
| Per man each day. |
| Master of the Ordnance | 60s | . | 60s | . |
| Lieutenant of the Ordnance | 10s | . | 10s | . |
| Clerk of the Ordnance | 5s | . | 5s | . |
| Clerks under him two | 4s | . | 2s | . |
| Gentlemen of the Ordnance two | 6s | . | 3s | . |
| Chief Petardier | 6s | 8d | 6s | 8d |
| Attendants on him two | 3s | . | 1s | 6d |
| Surveyor of the water engines | 3s | 4d | 3s | 4d |
| Assistants to him two | 5s | . | 2s | 6d |
| Master Gunner | 5s | . | 5s | . |
| Master Gunner’s mate two | 4s | . | 2s | . |
| Gunners under them eighteen | 18s | . | 1s | . |
| Conductors two | 4s | . | 2s | . |
| Labourers twenty-five | 25s | . | 1s | . |
| Engineers two | 13s | 4d | 6s | 8d |
| Four Servants | 8s | . | 2s | . |
| Chief Carpenter | 2s | . | 2s | . |
| Assistants to him eight | 8s | . | 1s | . |
| Chief Smith | 2s | . | 2s | . |
| Assistants to him four | 4s | . | 1s | . |
| Chief Wheelewright | 2s | . | 2s | . |
| Assistants to him two | 2s | . | 1s | . |
| Miners six | 9s | . | 1s | 6d |
| Pioneers thirty | 30s | . | 1s | . |
| Armourer | 2s | . | 2s | . |
| Servant under him | 1s | . | 1s | . |
| Barber Chirurgion. (surgeon) | 2s | 6d | 2s | 6d |
| Servant under him | 1s | 6d | 1s | 6d |
| Tent Keeper | 2s | . | 2s | . |
| Six Halberdiers | 6s | . | 1s | . |
The total cost of salaries and wages for The Train of Artillery is twelve pounds fourteen shillings and four pence each day.
Table of “such Ordnance as are usual in England” 1639.
| C | L | Wt | D | Sw | Pc | Ps | Pb | Mx | |
| Cannon of Eight | 8 | 12 | 8000 | 7½ | 64 | 32 | 40 | 300 | 1500 |
| Cannon Serpentine | 7½ | 11½ | 7000 | 6¾ | 52 | 26 | 25¼ | 340 | 1600 |
| French Cannon | 7¼ | 12 | 6500 | 7 | 46¾ | 23¼ | 25 | 360 | 1740 |
| Old Demi-cannon | 6¾ | 11¼ | 6000 | 6½ | 36 a | 20 | 20¾ | 370 | 1800 |
| Ordinary Demi-cannon | 6½ | 10½ | 5600 | 6¼ | 32 | 18 | 20 | 350 | 1700 |
| Demi-cannon | 6 | 11 | 5000 | 5¾ | 24½ | 16 | 18 | 340 | 1600 |
| Culverin | 5½ | 13¼ | 4500 | 5¼ | 19 | 15 | 16 | 420 | 2100 |
| Ordinary Culverin | 5¼ | 12 | 4300 | 5 | 16¼ | 12½ | 15 | 400 | 2000 |
| Demi- Culverin | 4½ | 11 | 3000 | 4¼ | 11¾ | 9 | 9 | 380 | 1800 |
| Small Culverin | 4¼ | 10 | 2300 | 4 | 9 | 7½ | 8 | 320 | 1600 |
| Ordinary Saker | 3¾ | 9½ | 1900 | 3½ | 5¼ | 5 | 5½ | 200 | 1500 |
| Sakeret or Minion | 3¼ | 8 | 1100 | 3 | 3¼ | 3½ | 5 | 280 | 1400 |
| Falcon | 2¾ | 7 | 750 | 2½ | 2 b | 2¼ | 2½ | 260 | 1200 |
| Falconet | 2¼ | 6 | 400 | 2 | 1c | 1½ | 1½ | 220 | 1000 |
| Robinet | 1½ | 5½ | 300 | 1¼ | ¾ | ½ | ¾ | 150 | 700 |
| Base | 1¼ | 4½ | 200 | 1 | b | ¼ | b | 100 | 560 |
| a | Five eights. |
| b | One third. |
| c | One seventh. |
Key:
C Calibre in inches.
L Length of barrel in feet.
Wt Weight of Ordnance in pounds.
D Diameter of shot in inches.
Sw Weight of shot in pounds.
Pc Weight of corn powder in pounds.
Ps Weight of Serp. powder in pounds.
Pb Point blank range measured in paces
Mx Maximum range measured in paces.
An additional range of non-standard Ordnance, cannon which differ in length and weight to those normally excepted for their calibre. Except for the Cannon series with a calibre decreasing in one inch increments from fourteen to nine inches and the Base cannon all are available either reinforced or reduced.
Non-standard Ordnance.
| Wtrf | Wtrd | ||
| Cannon 14 ins Cal. | . | . | . |
| Cannon 13 ins Cal. | . | . | . |
| Cannon 12 ins Cal. | . | . | . |
| Cannon 11 ins Cal. | . | . | . |
| Cannon 10 ins Cal. | . | . | . |
| Cannon 9 ins Cal. | . | . | . |
| Double Culverin | Dragon | 14000 | 11000 |
| Bastard Double Culverin | Basilisk | 14660 | 10500 |
| Whole Culverin | . | 8500 | 6300 |
| Bastard Culverin | Serpentine | 8100 | 6300 |
| Demi-culverin | . | 4600 | 3150 |
| Bastard Demi-culverin | Aspike | 7600 | 3700 |
| Half-culverin | Saker | 2650 | 2000 |
| Bastard Quarter Culverin | Pelican | 2550 | 2100 |
| Falcon | . | 1500 | 1100 |
| Bastard Falcon | . | 1500 | 1200 |
| Falconet | . | 850 | 600 |
| Robinet | . | 425 | 350 |
| Bastard Robinet | . | 800 | 650 |
| Base | . | 300 | . |
| Bastard Base | . | 450 | 155 |
Key:
Wtrf Weight in pounds when Reinforced.
Wtrd Weight in pounds when Reduced in length.
List of Ordnance published in 1643.
| C | L | Wt | P | |
| Cannon Perier | 12 | 8 | 3500 | 4 |
| Cannon Perier | 10 | 6 d | 3500 | 3½ |
| Cannon Perier | 9 | 6 | 3500 | 3 |
| Cannon of Eight | 8 | 10 | 8000 | 40 |
| Cannon of Seven | 7 | 9 b | 7000 | 25 |
| Demi-cannon | 6½ | 9¾ | 6000 | 20 |
| Demi-cannon Drake | 6½ | 8 d | 3000 | 9 |
| Culverin | 5½ | 13 d | 4500 | 15 |
| Culverin Drake | 5½ | 7 b | 2000 | 5 |
| Demi-culverin | 4½ | 12 | 2500 | 9 |
| Demi-culverin, Drake | 4½ | 6 | 1500 | 3½ |
| Saker | 3½ | 10½ | 1500 | 5¼ |
| Saker Drake | 3½ | 5¼ | 1200 | 2 |
| Minion | 3¼ | 8 e | 1200 | 3¾ |
| Falconet | 2¾ | 9 a | 700 | 2½ |
| Falconet | 2¼ | 9 | 500 | 1¼ |
| a | Five eights. |
| b | One third. |
| d | Two thirds. |
| e | One eights. |
Key:
C Calibre in inches.
L Length of barrel in feet calculated from the calibre.
Wt Weight of Ordnance in pounds.
P Weight of Powder in pounds.
The calibre and weight of Great Ordnance 1626. (sample years 1587-1643, England).
Calibre to a maximum of eight and a half inch with the heaviest cannons a Basilisk of 1587 weighting nine thousand pounds, having a calibre of eight and one quarter inch. Not until 1639 are cannons with a calibre of fourteen inches listed with a reinforced Bastard Double Culverin (Basilisk) attributed with a weight of fourteen thousand six hundred and sixty pounds.
Military personnel’s income varied with the level of political or military tension. Representative incomes based on monetary pay per day and excluding food, accommodation and clothing where applicable are list
| 1625 | Gunner | Tower of London | . | 6d | With Room |
| 1625 | Soldier | Lancashire | . | 4¼d | . |
| 1625 | Lieutenant | Devon or Cornwall | 2s | 0d | Billeted |
| 1642 | Gunner | Hurst Castle | . | 6d | August |
| 1642 | Captain | Hurst Castle | 1s | 8d | . |
| 1642 | Soldier | Sandown Castle | . | 6d | Group of 13 |
| 1642 | Master Gunner | Sandown Castle | . | 8d | . |
The practice of third penny sales which involved officers selling surplus material and retaining one third of the value was stopped in 1638.
In 1626 Sergeants traveling expenses are paid at the rate of two shillings and six pence per day. They were expected to travel sixteen miles each day. By February 1627 a Soldiers traveling the then expected journey of fifteen miles each day would receive eight pence Conduct Money.
The victualling allowance in 1626[7] for a soldier each day while being transported by ship was:
| Beer | 4 | Pints |
| Three Cakes of Biscuits | ¾ | Lbs. |
| Butter | 4 | oz. |
| Cheese | 6 | oz. |
The cost at Lymington in 1642 of quartering twenty Parliamentary soldiers for one day and one night was three pence for each man.
The Ordnance Office, management and staff.
| Master | Head in name only sometimes a Privy Councillor. August 23rd 1641 Mountjoy, Earl of Newport. |
| Lieutenant | The Chief Executive Officer paid 7s 7½d a day 1627-40. |
| Surveyor | . |
| Clerk | . |
| Storekeeper | . |
| Clerk of the Deliveries | . |
| Master Gunner | Keeper of Ceremonial weapons. See note. |
| Master Clerk | Nine. |
| Artificers | Twelve to sixteen some acted as Engineers. |
| Labourers | Twenty. |
| Gunner | One hundred scattered around England. |
Note: The Master Gunner of England on 12th February 1638 was James Wemys.
The labour cost incurred in 1625 manufacturing new cannons was sixteen shillings and eight pence (1¼ Marks) for each hundredweight. However the cost for manufacturing the old cannons previously had been at the rate of thirteen shillings and four pence (1 Mark) per hundredweight even when the new artillery is lighter and therefore cheaper to manufacture. The list below refers to three ranges of ordnance not to particular pieces of equipment.
| New | . | Old | . | |
| Cannon | 4,100 | Lbs | 7,000 | Lbs |
| Demi Cannon | 3,300 | Lbs | 5,300 | Lbs |
| Culverins | 2,200 | Lbs | 3,800 | Lbs |
In 1649 Saltpetre bought from the East India Company cost four pounds five shillings per hundredweight. The cost at the Tower of London to convert one barrel of saltpetre into Tower Proof powder that year was four pounds. For an order of five hundred barrels of Powder the invoiced cost in 1649 was three pounds sixteen shillings per barrel. Tower Proof powder was able to stand unused for two years given dry storage conditions. The cost of rectification chemically decayed powder in 1654 was fourteen shillings a barrel.
…
The national production of powder being 221 tons (495 barrels) for the year 1626.
The amount of gunpowder in store on December 1st 1641 at The Tower, Hull and Portsmouth is recorded as 217 lasts¹ 8 cwt 60 lbs (190 lasts 19 cwt 57 lbs in store on June 1st 1641 at The Tower and Portsmouth). With an additional 61 lasts being stored for use in Ireland. By a force of ten thousand men, together with an artillery train consisting of thirty pieces of Ordnance.
¹ Last of gunpowder 2,400 lbs (24 barrels), varying weight for different kinds of goods.
Table of light military equipment together with consumables showing procurement price range.
| 1629 | Musket | . | 15s | 6d | Price fixed by order. Lower price |
| 1629 | Bandalier | . | 2s | 6d | Price fixed by order, with 12 charges |
| 1629 | Pistol | £1 | . | . | Horseman’s Pistol complete with case |
| 1638 | Musket | . | 18s | 6d | Newcastle |
| 1638 | Musket Rest | . | . | 10d | Newcastle |
| 1638 | Musket Shot | . | 18s | . | Per hundredweight at Hull |
| 1639 | Musket | . | 16s | 6d | Ireland |
| 1639 | Musket | . | 18s | 6d | London, raised from 17s 6d after Cadiz ¹ |
| 1643 | Bandalier | . | 3s | . | . |
| 1644 | Musket | . | 18s | 6d | The King paid 21s in the West of England |
| 1644 | Musket Shot | . | 18s | . | Per hundredweight |
| 1629 | Pike | . | 4s | 6d | Price fixed by order |
| 1638 | Long Pike | . | 3s | 2d | Newcastle |
| 1638 | Sword | . | 7s | 6d | Newcastle |
| 1644 | Sword | . | 7s | 6d | . |
| 1649 | Sword | . | 5s | . | For each man shipped to Ireland |
| 1638 | English Match | £2 | 5s | . | Per hundredweight at Newcastle |
| 1638 | Dutch Match | £1 | 10s | . | Per hundredweight at Newcastle |
| 1643 | Match | £2 | . | . | Per hundredweight for delivery to Weymouth |
| 1644 | Match | £1 | 10s | . | Per hundredweight |
| 1638 | Powder | . | 1s | 6d | Per Lb at Hull |
| 1639 | Powder | . | 1s | 6d | Per Lb |
| 1644 | Powder | . | 1s | 6d | Per Lb |
| 1646 | Powder | . | 1s | 4d | Per Lb at Lymington |
¹ War with Spain, Cadiz expedition October 1625.
Like the army, maritime personnel’s income varied with the level of international political and military tension. This appears particular true at sea where the likelihood of conflict could signal a large if temporary increase in wage levels. The representative incomes listed below are based on monetary pay per day and excluding food, accommodation and clothing where applicable.
| 1625 | Mariner | . | 6d | King’s Ship | . |
| 1625 | Master | 3s | 4d | Trinity House | . |
| 1626 | Captain | 6s | 8d | Merchant Ship | Wage Increased |
| 1626 | Captain | 2s | 6d | Ship “Cameleon” | . |
| 1626 | Captain | 10s | 0d | King’s Ship | Wage Increased |
| 1626 | Seaman | . | 8d | Medium Rate | Wage Increased |
| 1642 | Mariner | . | 8d | Portsmouth | Windmill Fort |
In 1626 One Shilling was paid on the impressment of a Mariner, with the addition of one halfpenny a mile Conduct Money. By 1654 this Conduct Money has increased for those fifteen to fifty year old men impressed to one and one halfpenny per mile. However the wage was that given in former years.
Listed below is the victualling allowance during 1626 for one sailor on each day.
On each of four days of the week:
| Biscuits | 1 | Lb. | . |
| Wheat | ¾ | Peck (12 pts.) | To last all week. |
| Butter | 4 | oz. | . |
| Cheese | 8 | oz. | . |
| . | . | . | Or with Fish half the |
| . | . | . | quantity of Butter and |
| . | . | . | Cheese. |
On each of three days of the week:
| Beef | 2 | Lbs. | . |
| or | . | . | . |
| Pork or Bacon | 1 | Lb. | With a pint of Peas. |
The victualling allowance on board the ship “Providence” was cut in 1649 from 7d to 6d a day per man.
The Admiralty Commissioner over the winter of 1654 allowed three shillings and six pence to feed one seafarer for a week. An extra cost of one penny per day was allowed while at sea.
This allowance was:
| Biscuits | 7 | Lbs. |
| Beer | 28 | Pints. |
| Beef | 3 | Lbs. |
| Peas | 3 | Pints. |
| Butter | 1 | Lb. |
| Cheese | 2 | Lbs. |
Source:
The Portsmouth Papers No.7 Portsmouth City Council.
Acts of The Privy Council of England Jan. to Aug. 1627[6]. HMSO.
Lymington. E.King. Shuriock Winchester 1976.
The King’s Servants 1625-42. G.E.Aymer. Routledge and Kegan. London 1974.
The Civil War in Hampshire. G.N.Goodwin. Oxley. Alresford.
Calendar of the Clarendon Papers. Vol I 1523-1649. Bodliam Library
Clarendon Press. London.
Cheriton 1644, The Campaign and Battle. A.Adair. Roundwood Press. 1973.
State Papers Domestic Series Charles I 1625-49. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1625-6. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1628-9. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1638-39. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1641-43. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1642. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1649-50. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1654. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1655. HMPRO.
Calendar of State Papers Colonial 1574-1660. HMPRO.
An Accidence or The Path-way to Experience. J Smith. London 1626.
“The Brevity with ye Secrets of the Arte of Great Ordonannce necessary for
all Generalls for their present memory” J Sheriffe. 1590. MS.
An Historical Description of Iland Britaine. Holinhed’s Chronicles. 1587
Animadversions of Warre. R Ward. London 1639.
The Gunners Dialogue. R Norton. London 1643.
Southampton Record Society, Examinations & Depositions Vol. 3. HCRO.
Bastions & Barracks, The History of Cambridge House. F Peskett.
NSC Royal Navy 1994.
Her Majesty’s Dockyard at Portsmouth, A Chronology by R S Horne.
H M Dockyard Portsmouth 1964.
The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.