A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



well equipped for maritime operations the effects were felt along the whole of eastern England, both 

 in the preparations necessary and the losses caused by the enemies' ships. In 1334 there were 

 Scotch privateers cruising off the Suffolk coast. 1 Gradually the towns were becoming restive under 

 the hardships due to the embargoes and the frequent arrests of shipping with which Edward began 

 his personal government. But, like all strong sovereigns, he knew when to hide the iron hand in 

 velvet and, instead of insisting on the prerogative, condescended to persuasion, sending confidential 

 officials round the coast in December, 1336, to explain 'certain things near the king's heart.' 2 At 

 the same time another conference, similar to that of 1322, was assembled at Norwich ; 3 the usual 

 Suffolk ports were represented, with the addition of Kirklcy, which now begins to appear in the 

 writs. These mild proceedings do not seem to have been very successful. There was a general 

 arrest of shipping in January, 1337, but there was so much evasion along the east coast that a 

 commission was issued in August to imprison the defaulters and seize their ships and goods. 4 In 

 September a writ was addressed to the bailiffs of Little Yarmouth in particular, directing them to give 

 certain persons the option of going to sea or going to prison. 5 



A catalogue of the orders, which rapidly succeeded each other during this reign, for levies of 

 ships in the various ports would be barren of interest unless the connexion with general history was 

 shown. But the disinclination of the eastern counties, the most progressive in trade and therefore 

 the greatest losers by these adventures, is well marked. In 1342 William Trussel was commissioned 

 to inquire, in Suffolk and elsewhere, whether the arresters of ships had not taken bribes from towns 

 and individuals to free the vessels, and sometimes extorted large sums. 6 The balance of maritime 

 war was against England in 1338 and 1339, until the victory of Sluys restored our supremacy for 

 many years. For this expedition 200 vessels were collected in Orwell Haven, from which Edward 

 sailed on 22 June, 1340. The continuous strain was telling, however, on English shipping 

 resources, and in the same year the sheriffs of the maritime counties were ordered to prevent any 

 sales of ships to foreigners. 7 A truce with France had followed the battle of Sluys, but the continued 

 decrease of the maritime strength of the country, as well as the necessary preparations for the 

 renewal of war, induced Edward to require the chief ports to send delegates to Westminster for 

 consultation and to receive orders. 8 The principal ports each sent two representatives, and it is 

 rather curious to find Goseford among them, while Ipswich and Little Yarmouth only sent one each ; 

 Dunwich and Orford are not in the list. No doubt social and other influences were brought to 

 bear on these men, and the plan may have proved successful enough to encourage repetition ; at any 

 rate, similar councils were convened in 1342, 1344, and 1347. In 1342 only the southern ports 

 were summoned to send townsmen to Westminster, but in 1344 and 1347 Ipswich sent two, and 

 Dunwich, Orford, and Goseford one each. 



In 1342 complications arose in Brittany owing to the death of the duke without direct heirs, 

 leading to the despatch of a large fleet and army under Sir Walter de Mauny ; Edward himself 

 crossed later in the year. In one fleet alone there were 357 vessels, of which Ipswich sent fourteen, 

 Goseford fifteen, Dunwich four, and Orford one. 9 An undated list, probably relating to another 

 fleet prepared for this expedition, gives a total of 1 19 vessels, for which Ipswich provided two barges, 

 Little and West Yarmouth one, and Bawdsey, Orford, Kirkley, and Dunwich one each. 10 After 

 Edward's arrival many of the vessels deserted from Brest, leaving the king and his troops ' in very 

 great peril,' therefore writs were directed to the bailiffs of the ports to arrest the deserters and seize 

 their property. ' The masters of eleven ships of Ipswich, eleven of Bawdsey, two of Little 

 Yarmouth, three of Dunwich, and one of Orford, are named ; the vessels and goods were to be 

 forfeited and the masters fined. Two Little Yarmouth ships had not appeared at all. 11 At the 

 request of Robert de Ufford, earl of Suffolk, thirteen of the vessels arrested in virtue of the preceding 

 writs, and described as 'of his lordship,' were released. 12 It is very doubtful whether the severe 

 penalties of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries were often enforced to their full extent ; in 

 many cases they certainly were not, the shipping interest being too important to offend. But in this 

 instance Bawdsey at least paid its fines, and in 13 1 5 was freed from any liabilities that might arise 

 in consequence of the death of the receiver. 13 



For the campaign of Crecy and the siege of Calais a great fleet was collected. The original 

 record, said to be a Wardrobe Account, containing a list of the fleet at Calais has perished, and the 



1 Rot. Scot. 8 Edw. Ill, m. 5. 2 Close, 10 Edw. Ill, m. 4.,/. 



3 Rot. Scot. 10 Edw. Ill, m. 3 d. 



' Pat. 1 1 Edw. Ill, pt. 3, m. y J. 5 Close, 1 1 Edw. Ill, pt. 2, m. 32 d. 



* Pat. 16 Edw. Ill, pt. 3, m. \d. ' Rymer, Foedera, v, 210. 



6 Ibid, v, 231 ; Close, 15 Edw. Ill, pt. 1, m. 43<^. They received two shillings a day for their 

 expenses (ibid. 18 Edw. Ill, pt. 1, m. I 8 d.). ' Chanc. Misc. ^. " Ibid. -gg. 



11 Pat. 1 7 Edw. Ill, pt. I, m. 17 d. ; Close, 17 Edw. Ill, pt. I, m. 4 </. ; m. 3 d. 



" Pat. 17 Edw. Ill, pt. 2, m. 33. As examples of ship nomenclature the names of some of these may 

 interest the reader : La Sefray, La Scot, La Sareye, La Molete, La Burghmayde. 



13 Pat. 23 Edw. Ill, pt. 3, m. 1. 



206 



