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In the next parliament (1572) Queenborough also
returned two members 89 for the first time.
The prosperity of the county received a considerable impetus in this
reign from the settlements of French and Walloon Protestants, who did
much to improve the weaving trade and in whose welfare the queen
manifested much interest. Their establishment at Sandwich, and the
subsequent removal, when they became too numerous there, of 100
households to Canterbury, in 1574, were the subject of many solicitous
letters from the Council to Lord Cobham, the lord lieutenant of the
county.90 Their presence at first roused the old English
jealousy of foreigners at Canterbury, where the mayor was admonished 91
‘to punish all such as shall go about to misuse the straingers,’ in 1575.
The vigour and energy of Elizabeth’s government were manifested in
Kent by the strict enforcement of the laws dealing with vagabondage,92
by attempts to deal with the piracy which had so long
distinguished the county,93 by the care given to the defences
of the coast,94 and by the systematic organization of the
militia. In the reign that saw the Armada, such matters have perhaps a
right to be considered of paramount interest in any part of the country.
In Kent, which was always considered the county most likely to be
attacked, they received even especial attention, and the records show
with what spirit and thoroughness the county entered upon the work of
preparing to meet a foreign foe.
In 1559 orders were issued for mustering the militia in the county,95
and these musters continued to be regularly held at intervals of about
three years. An indenture of 19 February 1559, between Lord Ambrose
Dudley, Master of the Ordnance, and Sir Thomas Finch, Knt.,96
shows
that there had been received of Lord Dudley a considerable quantity of
arms, etc., ‘to remain in the town of Canterbury for the furniture of
1,000 footmen and 200 horsemen.’ Ten years later the importance
attached to skill in shooting with the harquebus is shown by an estimate
forwarded from the commissioners of musters in Kent to the Council 97
of
the expense of establishing certain places for the practice of
harquebusiers in the county of Kent, and of rewards for those who shall
be skilful in shooting with the harquebus.
The strongest motive for zeal, the necessity for self-defence, was
never wanting at this time. As soon as Elizabeth brought to a
conclusion, in 1564, the war with France that she had inherited from her
predecessor,98 it became clear that she must prepare to
defend herself against the enmity of Spain. Before the end of this reign
we find Kentish soldiers not only active in defence of their county, but
also largely employed in the foreign expeditions which this
89 Ibid. In February 1585, Dr. William Parry, member for Queenborough,
was convicted of conspiring to murder the queen, and executed in March.
90 Acts P.C. viii, 134, 145, 306, 336,
345, etc. 91 Ibid. ix, 42.
92 Cf. Cal. S.P. Dom. 1547-80, p. 420.
93 Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. xiii, App. iv, 9 ; Hatfield MSS. ii,
12.
94 Superfluous bulwarks in Kent had been discharged under Edward VI.
Ibid. i, 95.
95 Hist. MSS. Com. Rep. V, App. 569.
96 Ibid. Rep. iii, App. 262. The indenture gives interesting information
as to the current prices for these details, all of which are set down.
97 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1547-80, p. 344. A strict supervision was
also kept over the Kentish ironworks. The names of furnaces, ironworks
and forges in Kent, and of those who occupied them were forwarded to the
Council, and the owners were required to enter into bonds not to found
or sell iron ordnance without licence. Ibid. 474-5.
98 Cal. S.P. Dom. 1547-80, pp. 240, 241. |