SHIPPING OF THE CIXQUE PORTS ad. . 



1293. I 



selfe may easily discerne the difference : but whether the i 



one or the other, or (by reason of some latter dispensa- | 



tion) neither of these, have place at this day, I must i 



referre it to them that be privie, and of counsel! with the ; 



Ports : and so leaving this also undecided, holde on the ; 



way, wherein I am entred. : 



This duetie of attendance therefore (being devised for 

 the honourable transportation, and safe conduct of the j 



Kings owne person or his armie over the narrow Seas) j 



the Ports have not onely most diligently ever since that 

 time performed, but furthermore also valiantly behaved 

 themselves against the enemie from time to time, in 

 sundrie exploits by water, as occasion hath bene profered, 

 or the necessitie of the Realme required. 



And amongst other feats not unwoorthy perpetuall re- The good ser- 

 membrance, after such time as Lewes (the eldest sonne of ^'^^^ of the five 

 the French King) had entred the Realme to aide Stephan 

 Langton the Archbishop, and the Nobilitie, in the life of 

 King John, and had sent into France for new supply of 

 souldiers after his death, Hubert of Borough (then 1217. 

 captaine of Dover) following the opinion of Themistocles 

 in the exposition of the oracle of the woodden walles, 

 by the aide of the Port townes, armed fortie tall ships, 

 and meeting with eightie saile of French men upon 

 the high seas, gave them a most couragious encounter, 

 in which he tooke some, sunke others, and discomfited 

 the rest. 



King Henrie the third also, after that he came to riper 

 age, had great benefit by the service of the Cinque Ports : 

 And king Edward the first in his Chartre, maketh their 

 continual! faithful! service (and especially their good 

 endevour, then lately shewed against the Welshmen) the 1278. 

 principal! cause, and motive of that his liberal! grant. 



Furthermore, about the midst of the reigne of the same 

 king, an hundreth saile of the Navie of the Ports fought 

 at the Sea with a fleet of 200. French men, all which 1293. 

 (notwithstanding the great oddes of the number) they 

 tooke, and slew, and sunke so many of the Mariners, that 

 I 49 D 



