378 A. D. 12 13. 



of {hips belonging to the ftate, and adapted for the purpofes of war only, 

 as at prefent. But King John iflued his orders for prefTing into his fer- 

 vice all the vefTels in England *, capable of carrying fix horfes, to attend 

 him at Portfmouth with fufficient tackling, men, and arms ; and his fleet 

 was found to be fuperior to that of his enemy. At the fame, time he 

 alfo fummoned his military vafTals, under the fevereft penalties, to af- 

 femble at Dover. However, having more confidence in his failors than 

 in his land forces, he determined on a naval engagement. But while 

 hoftile preparations were going forward on both fides, John ignoniini- 

 oufly made his peace with Innocent, who immediately ordered Philip 

 to defift from the invafion of England, now^ placed under his holy pro- 

 teftion. Thereupon he, not daring to difobey the pope, and at the 

 fame time unwilling to let his preparations be entirely thrown away, 

 dired;ed the florm of war againft the earl of Flanders, as an ally of the 

 Englifli king. John, as foon as he was informed of the diftrefs of his 

 friend, fent over five hundred fliips, with feven hundred knights, and a 

 great army, to his aflifl:ance. Thefe, arriving on the coafl of Flanders, 

 found the French fleet left entirely to the care of the feamen, the fol- 

 diers having gone afluore to plunder the country. The Englifh imme- 

 diately began the attack, took three hundred fliips, which they fent to 

 England, and burnt above a hundred more, which were aground f. 

 This decifive vidlory, by which the French navy was entirely defliroyed, 

 being the firfl: important battle fince the days of King Alfred, fought 

 by fliips and men entirely furniflied by England J, is deferving of par- 

 ticular notice, more efpeciafly as it alio fliows, that England poflefled 

 more fliips than the French king could find in all France, or hire in 

 other countries. [M. Paris, pp. 233, 234, 238.] 



Though there was not any national eftablilhment of warlike fliips, 

 that bore the moft diftant refemblance to the royal navy of mo- 

 dern times, it appears that there wereyow/f gallics belonging to the king. 

 In the year 1208, a thoufand oars were bought for the king's gallies ; 

 and this year the expenfe of keeping them at Southampton, amounted 

 to ;^2 : 6 : 8. At the fame time, 12 fliillings were expended for keep- 

 ing another veflel (under the indeterminate name of a fliip ' navis') be- 

 longing to the king. [Madox's Hijl. of the excheq. c. 10, § 12 ; f, 18. 

 § 3.] This, if I miftake not, is the firfl certain notice we have, after 

 the time of Alfred, of any vefl^els belonging to the king, or to the na- 



* According to M. Wellniinfter, thofc of Ire- \ A part of Kincr Richard's fleet was furniilicd 



land were alfo fiinimoncd. It may be doubted, if by llie pons of the wefterii coad of France, then 



there was time between the 3" and 24"' of March fubjeft to liim, but not now fubjeft to John. It 



for them to be coUeded, and to arrive at Portf- is, however, fnrprifing, that England, tlie com- 



niouth. mcrcc of whicii appears to liave been nioiUy paflivc, 



f Trivet, [/>. 157] and Paului ./Emyh'us the (liould have been able to mufter fo numerous a 



hidoiian of France, [/!>. 194] fay, that thefe fliips fleet. 

 v.'cre bi.irnt by the French to prevent them from 

 falling into the hands of the EngliHi. 



/ 



