London (England) -- History -- 17th century; London (England) -- Social life and customs -- 17th century
That a small fort conteyning one bulwark and halfe and a battery in
the reare of the flanck be made at Gravell lane end. A horne worke
with two flanckers be placed at Whitechapell windmills. One redoubt
with two flanckers betwixt Whitechapel Church and Shoreditch. Two
redoubts with flanckers neere Shoreditch church with a battery. At
the windmill in Islington way, a battery and brestwork round about.
A small redoubt neere Islington pound. A battery and brestwork on
the hill neere Clarkenwell towards Hampstead way. Two batteries and
a brestworke at Southampton House. One redoubt with two flanckers
by St. Giles in the Fields, another small worke neere the turning.
A quadrant forte with fower halfe bulwarks crosse Tyborne highway
at the second turning that goeth towards Westminster. At Hide parke
corner a large forte with flanckers on all sides. At the corner of
the lord Gorings brick wall next the fields a redoubt and a battery
where the Court of Guard now is at the lower end of the lord
Gorings wall, the brestwork to be made forwarder. In Tuttle fields
a battery brestworke, and the ditches to be scowred. That at the
end of every street which is left open to enter into the suburbs
of this citty, defenceable brestworks be made or there already
erected, repayred with turnepikes muskett proof, and that all the
passages into the suburbs on the north side the river except five,
viz.: the way from St. James towards Charing Crosse, the upper end
of Saint Giles in Holborne, the further end of St. John Street
towards Islington, Shoreditch church, and Whitechapell be stopped
up. That the courtes of guard and the rayles or barrs at the utmost
partes of the freedome be made defensible, and turnpikes placed
there in lieu of the chaynes all muskett proof. And that all the
shedds and buildings that joyne to the outside of the wall be taken
downe. And that all the bulwarkes be fitted at the gates and walls
soe that the flanckes of the wall and streets before the gates
may be cleared and that the gates and bulwarkes be furnished with
ordnance.”
It will be seen that there is not one word about a new wall round
London. The so-called fortifications were simply small redoubts and
bastions at certain fixed points.
How the London trained bands went out to fight, how well they stood
their ground, in what actions they took their part, will be found in
the many histories of that war which still claims its fierce adherents
and still awakens the passions of a partisan, whoever relates it. The
constancy of the City was rewarded by the stoppage of trade and the
ruin of many merchants, while the soldiers in the trained bands were
shopkeepers and skilled craftsmen, to whom long continuance in the
field was ruin. In 1644 the disaffection of the men amounted almost to
mutiny.
On the temper and discipline of the City trained bands Sharpe thus
speaks:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account