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Armada!
1588

With the Spanish fleet sailing to invade Britain there was a general muster, or call to arms throughout the country. The leading gentry in each area were responsible for mustering those who might be fit for military service. The local representative of the Huntingdonshire gentry was a certain Sir Oliver Cromwell.

From Cromwell's Muster rolls the following men are listed from the village of Somersham:

John Seam P A
John Lambert P A
Edmund Cranwell P A
Edward Selby Q A
William Arrington Q A
Thomas Woodward P S
John Beelts P S
Thomas Thompson P S
James Wood Q S
William Ansell Q S

The initials stand for the weapons that each man brought with him; Q for qualiver - a type of rifle, P for Pike, A for Arquebus and S for Sword

Also included amongst Sir Oliver's light horse was a certain Thomas Auder, gentleman from Somersham armed with a lance.

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