SECOND EDITION 1598 



they were tied unto in regard thereof; to wit, how 

 many ships, how many souldiers, mariners, Garsons, 

 and for how many dayes each of them, and all of them 

 were to furnish for the kings use ; and lastly, what 

 great exploits they performed under the conduct of 

 Hubert of Burrough, as likewise against the Welshmen, 

 upon 200. French ships, and under the commaund of 

 captaine Henry Pay. Then have you, pag. 117. the 

 franke and bountifull Charter granted by king Edward 

 the first, upon the foresayd Cinque portes : & next 

 thereunto a Roll of the mightie fleet of seven hundred 

 ships which K. Edward the third had with him unto 

 the siege of Caleis : out of which Roll (before I proceed 

 any further) let me give you a double observation. First, 

 that these ships, according to the number of the mariners 

 which were in all 141 51. persons, seeme to have bene 

 of great burthen ; and secondly, that Yarmouth an 

 haven towne in Northfolke (which I much wonder at) 

 set foorth almost twise as many ships and mariners, as 

 either the king did at his owne costs and charges, or 

 as any one citie or towne in England besides. Howbeit 

 Tho. Walsingham maketh plaine and evident mention 

 of a farre greater Fleete of the same king ; namely, of 

 1 100. shippes lying before Sandwich, being all of them 

 sufficiently well furnished. Moreover, the Reader may 

 behold, pag. 186, a notable testimonie of the mightie 

 ships of that valiant prince king Henry the 5. who 

 (when after his great victory at Agincourt the Frenchmen 

 to recover Harflew had hired certaine Spanish and 

 Italian ships and forces, & had united their owne 

 strength unto them) sent his brother John duke of 

 Bedford to encounter them, who bidding them battell, 

 got the victory, taking some of their ships, and sinking 

 others, and putting the residue to dishonorable flight. 

 Likewise comming the next yeere with stronger powers, 

 and being then also overcome, they were glad to conclude 

 a perpetuall league with K. Henry; & propter eorum 

 naves (saieth mine Author) that is, for the resistance 



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