In issue 2 Stuart Reid quoted MERCURIUS RUSTICUS in support of the theory that the London Trained Bands wore Red. MERCURIUS AULICUS for Thursday March 2nd, 1643 tells the following take."A grocer living on the backside of the exchange was assessed at £ 400 for his 20th part which when he did refuse to pay, the Red-cotes came (according to their wonted manner) and told him if he had no money he must deliver them so much in wares; which he refused to given them, the sheriff was sent for to breake up the doores (so carefull were they of the lawes as to require a legall Officer to attend their pleasure)"

The entry for Wednesday March 15th 1643 recordes the events of March 7th "that the two sheriffes of London being assisted by the Militia of the Citie, should go on tuesday last into Somerset House and sieze all Her Majesties Priests"- While this establishes that the Sheriff and the Red-coats and the Sheriff and the Trained Bands were working together within the space of one week, it does not prove that they were one and the same. The author was confident that his readers, in and out of London and Oxford, would know who the 'Red-cotes' were, so it must have been a popular name and they a well know body. If they were not the Trained Bands, can anyone tell me how they were, or indeed offer an alternative interpretation.

More Queries

Sir John Hurry
London Trained Bands: Red Coats?

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