June 29th [1640] Nota

Andrew Annand gaiff to the tuelff souldiers thair weiks vaiges [42s Scots] and he tuik allowance of sex of thame for sex new suord beltis

Names of their that wndertakis to be souldiers for the burghe of Elgin as follows:

Muscattis

James Chalmer, zor., Coddie, furnissit be himself in armour

Alexander Alves receavit James Keyis muscatt with bandolier conteining 10 measuris and ane purs, hes a suord of his auin

Beltis Androw Forbes receavit Jonit Grantis /m/ wt bandilier wt 12 measeris 1 purs and staff, hes a suord of his awin, receavit ane new belt

Beltis Jon. Robertsone receavit Alexr. Tarres /m/ wt full bandilier staff and receavit ane new belt wt ane suord cost fra Jasper Haye

Walter Gregour receavit James Douglas his /m/ wt full bandilier and purs wt ane suord fra John Chalmer at 8 merks

James Adie receavit the provest, Mr Jon. Haye his /m/ with full bandilier, hes ane suord of his awin

Belt Robert Gregour hes receavit ane /m/ qlk pertenit to John Myln wt ane bandilier contening xi measers ane purs and receavit ane suord fra Andro Annand, receavit ane new belt

Belt Thomas Dunbar receavit ane /m/ qlk pertenit to Thomas Murdoch wt ane suord perteyning to John Milne, receavit ane new belt wt ane staff and full bandilier fra the said Thomas Murdoch

Pickmen

Belt Thomas Imloch 1 pick and suord of his awin, receavit ane belt

Alexr Zoung 1 pick and suord of his awin

Belt James Murraye 1 pick tayn fra Andro Annand ane belt and receavit ane suord pertening to James Findlay

Nota. John Dow past with Monro insted of James Findlay and he receavit 1 pick

Records

Taken from the Records of Elgin published by the Spalding Club [Volume I p266-7] this note contains a number of interesting points. The reference to John Dow, a pikeman, having been "past with Monro" indicates that the twelve men were recruits for Major General Robert Monro's Regiment although at the date in question - 29th June 1640 - he and his men were in Aberdeen. Nevertheless he was at the time recruiting men for his regiment by drawing upon the local fencibles and as he set off of a "progress" through the north in July, gathering both recruits and plunder, it is possible that he had sent instructions ahead to burghs such as Elgin to levy out men for him.

As was also the case in England it is clear that in most cases hired substitutes were levied out, armed with the weapons required to be owned by the Fencibles. The musketeer, James Chalmer with his complete "armour" [set of equipment not corselet and helmet] and the first two pikemen look as though they were fencibles serving in person though.

A pikeman's equipment obviously comprised no more than a pike and a sword [with belt]. The absence of armour is confirmed by other descriptions of Scots soldiers, most notably Spalding's account of Capain Strachan's company in 1644, and at the last Partisan conference Thom Richardson of the Royal Armouries confirmed that there is no evidence of English infantry wearing armour either.

The most interesting point however is how bandoliers are described; the "measuris" are obviously the chargers or "boxes" [referred to in some Scots documents as "bandoliers"] and the "purs" the leather ball bag or purse. Three of the bandoliers however are described as having 10, 12 and 11 measures apiece respectively while the other five are referred to as "full" bandoliers. Clearly therefore it was expected at this time that each collar of bandoliers should have more than 12 measures, presumably the 15 required for Bastard Muskets [see my note in ECW N&Q no.23] or perhaps even the 16 required for muskets of caliver bore.

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