A. D. 1292, 4^;^ 



fome Englifli and French fiiilors for a well of frefh water, which was 

 followed by fanguinary and ruinous private hoflilities, if, being fo ex- 

 tenfive, they may be called private. The barons of the Cinque ports, 

 in order to revenge the lofles and flaughters of their countrymen, fitted 

 out fixty veflels, wherewith they attacked a French fleet of two hundred, 

 loaded with wine, and took them all, the whole of the people, to the 

 number of about 15,000, being killed or drowned, except a few who 

 got to the land in their boats. King Edward, as difapproving the adion, 

 refufed to accept any fliare of the plunder. The king of France, rouf- 

 ed by the cries of his people, fent a very urgent letter for compenfation ; 

 and Edward, very defirous of avoiding a war with France, fent the bifliop 

 of London wijth inftrudions to offer feveral propofals for fettling mat- 

 ters amicably. 



1 294 — But the kings on both fides having other caufes of difcontent, 

 the negotiation proved fruitlcfs, and both kings prepared for war. The 

 king of France prohibited all commercial intercourfe between his king- 

 dom and England: and King Edward feized the property of the French 

 merchants in his dominions, which was exprefsly contrary to the pro- 

 vifions of Magna charta, unlefs the king of France aded previouily in 



the fame manner. [Trivet, p. 274 — M.WeJl. p. 419. — Wikes, p. 126 



Fadera, V. \i, p. 659.] 



The favage and predatory fpirit of the age was continually breaking 

 out in enormities ; and the feamen of Bayonne, the Cinque ports, Blak- 

 ney, &c. as well as thofe of other countries, were frequently accufed of 

 ads of piracy and wanton cruelty. [Fo'dera, V. ii, pp. 607, 616, 617, 

 632, 667, &c.] It was faid, that fome merchants of Bayonne were pub- 

 licly plundered in the port of Lifbon ; and many hofiilities had pafled 

 between them, aided by their allies the feamen of England, and their 

 neighbours of Spain ; and in particular fifteen Spanifli veilels were taken 

 and carried into an Englilh port. But, by the intervention of the kings 

 of England and Spain (who do not appear to exprefs any difpleafure at 

 their fubjeds going to war without their authority *) it was agreed (in 

 fummer 1293) that all captures fhould be refi;ored on both fides. The 

 merchants of Spain and Portugal appear, however, to have been fi:ill un- 

 willing to venture themfelves or their property in Edward's dominions, 

 till, by the interceffion of his friend the earl of Flanders, he granted 

 them fafe-conduds (17'" February 1294), to lad only till the middle of 

 Odober, on condition that the kings of Spain and Portugal fhould ac"t 

 in the fame manner to his fubjeds. \F(xdera, V. n,pp' 609, 610, 627. 

 — M. Wejim.p. 424.] 



King Edward, preparing for his intended war againfl; France, divided 



* Mathew of Wetlminfter fays, [/>. 423] that in thofe days theie was neither king nor law for 

 failors, but every one called, whatever he could plunder or carry off, his own. 



