Letter from Ireland

Sir John Harington, A Letter to his steward from Ireland, 1599.

I must not forget nor cease to tell Her Majesty's good, wise and gracious providings for us, her captains, and our soldiers, in summer heats and winter colds, in hunger and in thirst, for our backs and our bellies: that is to say every captain of an hundred footmen doth receive weekly, upon every Saturday, his full entertainment of twenty-eight shillings. In like case, every lieutenant fourteen shillings; an ensign, seven shillings; our sergeant, surgeon, drum and fife, five shillings pay, by way of imprest; and every common soldier, three shillings; delivered to all by the poll weekly. To the four last lower officers, two shillings weekly, and for every common soldier, twenty pence weekly, is to be answered to the full value thereof in good apparel of different kinds, part for winter, and part for summer, which is ordered of good quality and stuff for the prices; patterns whereof must be sent to the Lord Deputy to be compared and prepared as followeth:

Apparel for an officer in winter

A cassock of broad cloth, with baize, and trimmed with silk lace, 27 shillings and 7 pence.
A doublet of canvas with silk buttons, and lined with white linen, 14 shillings and 5 pence.
Two shirts and two bands, 9 shillings and 6 pence.
Three pair of kersey stockings, at 2 shillings and 4 pence per pair, 7 shillings.
Three pair of shoes of neat's leather at 2 shillings and 4 pence per pair, 7 shillings.
One pair of Venetians, of broad Kentish cloth, with silver lace, 15 shillings and 4 pence.

In summer

Two shirts and bands, 9 shillings 6 pence.
Two pair of shoes, 4 shillings 8 pence.
One pair of stockings, 2 shillings 8 pence.
A felt hat and band, 5 shillings 5 pence.

Apparel for a common soldier in winter

A cassock of Kentish broad cloth, lined with cotton, and trimmed with buttons and loops, 17 shillings 6 pence.
A doublet of canvas with white linen lining, 12 shillings 6 pence.
A hat cap coloured, 7 shillings.
Two shirts of Osnabridge Holland and bands, 8 shillings.
Three pair of neats leather shoes, 2 shillings 4 pence each, 7 shillings.
Three pair kersey stockings, 8 shillings.
One pair of Venetians of Kentish broad cloth with buttons, loops and lining of linen, 13 shillings 4 pence.

In summer

Two shirts of Osnabridge and 2 falling Holland bands, 7 shillings.
Two pair neat's leather shoes, 4 shillings 8 pence.
One pair of stockings, 2 shillings 8 pence.
A hat cap coloured, 3 shillings.

Thus, friend Thomas, Her Majesty, with wonted grace, hath graced our bodies, and may heaven's grace clothe her in everlasting robes of righteousness, and 'on earth peace' to her who always sheweth 'good will toward all men'.

References

Source: The Elizabethans. Cambridge University Press, 1957.
Osnabridge Holland - Linen manufactured in the Netherlands.
kersey - Coarse woollen cloth.