Some Medieval Cumbrian Soldiers

Southampton University is compiling a database of soldiers in English armies during the Middle Ages. 'The Soldier in Medieval England' originated from a project  about the emergence of professional soldiery between 1369 and 1453.

My searches used three names linked to the Militia, Yeomanry and 19th Century Volunteers.

Lowther

Saint George Lowther, 4th Earl of Lonsdale, was Honorary Colonel of the  Royal Cumberland Militia in the 1880s. A John de Lowther, an archer who served in the invasion of Scotland in 1400 under Sir Thomas Swinburne was surely either a tennant of the Lowthers or a member of the family. Swinburne came from a Northumberland family.

The English invasion of Scotland in August 1400 was the first military campaign undertaken by Henry IV of England and the last time an English King led an army into Scotland.

Geoffrey Lowther, Man-at-Arms, is included in the roll of those at Agincourt in 1415. He was a member of Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester's retinue.

Musgrave

The Royal Westmorland Militia had Sir Richard Courtney Musgrave as its Honorary Colonel at the end of the 19th Century. Whilst there are three references to Lowthers, there are twelve to Musgraves.

Thomas Musgrave, Knight, is recorded in 1356 in the retinue of Ralph de Neville, Keeper of Berwick. A Thomas Musgrave, junior, is listed five times with service on the Scottish Marches between 1369 and 1375. Troubled times. The final Musgrave entry is another Thomas in 1439 in the garrison of Verneuil, Normandy.

Salkeld

In 1900 the  Honorary Colonel  of 4BORDER was Louis Carruthers Salkeld.

The  Salkelds have eight references including a direct link to Carlisle. John de Salkeld was a member of the garrison at Carlisle Castle from 1383-1384. He was serving under Sir Robert Parving. Parving represented Cumberland in Parliament five times.John is also listed as going to France in 1417 under the command of Henry Percy, Duke of Northumberland.

The image of a medieval solder is taken from the Facebook Page of a wonderful Australian Group 'Companie d'Ordonnance - Archers' reenactors from Brisbane, Australia.

The Editor