A. D. 1372. 579 



turn for the value of it. [^Fa;dera, V. vi, p. 718.] By this very circuit- 

 ous carriage we might fuppofe, that the merchants of England carried 

 on a mod adive foreign trade, when they would undertake to fupply the 

 Pruilians with wine, which grew in a country between themfelves and 

 York. But this was only a rare inftance for a particular purpofe. 



May 24."" — The race of architeds, who ereded the magnificent ca- 

 thedrals and abbays in Scotland, the ruins of which are ccitemplated 

 even in the piefent day with reverence and admiration, feem to have 

 been extind at this time ; for we find, that fix men were licenced to go 

 from England to ered a tomb for David II, the deceafed king of Scot- 

 land ; and Scottilli agents were licenced to travel through England on 

 their way to the continent to procure a Hone (moft probably a flab of 

 marble) for it, which, we thus fee, could not be procured in all Great 

 Britain*. {Fasdera, V. v\, p. 721 ; V. vu,p. 10.] 



There were two confiderable naval engagements this year. In the 

 firfl the Englifli fought with the Flemings, without knowing whom they 

 were engaged with, as it is faid, and took twenty-five of their veflels, 

 loaded with fait f. The other battle was fought before Rochelle (23** 

 June) with the Caftilians, who by the fuperior bulk of their vefiels, and 

 alfo by the execution of fome cannon, now for the firfl; time (as far as 

 we know) ufed at fea, had fuch a fuperiority, that, after fighting almofl; 

 two days, the moft of the Englifli veflels were burnt, funk, or taken. 

 [Anoti. Hijl. Edw. Ill, p. 438, ed. Hearne. — Froi/fart, L. i, cc. 302-304, — 

 Murim . Contin .p. 127.] 



July 19"' — In a league ofFenfive and defenfive between King Edward 

 ^nd his fon-in-law, the duke of Bretagne, reciprocal freedom of inter- 

 courfe upon land and water, and free trade in all parts of both coun- 

 tries, were ftipulated. [Fcedera, V. y'\, pp. 738, 750.] 



It is worthy of notice, as illuftrative of the growth and progreflive 

 profperity ef the great commercial capital of the Britifh empire, that 

 at this time at leafl: twenty of the houfes in Burcher (Birchouer or 

 Birchin) lane, in the very heart of the city, came under the defcrip- 

 tion of cottages, and under that denomination were conveyed to S'. 

 Thomas's holpital in Southwark. [^Rot. pat. 46 Edtu. Ill, rn. 2.] It may 

 be aUb obferved, that about this time Ihops m London appear to have 

 been detached and i'eparate tenements, or at leaft feparate properties, un- 

 conneded with houfes J, as they are at this day in feveral cities and. towns. 



■ * The mountnitis of marble in Scotland were, upon the citiiens of Ghent, Bruges, and Ypres, 



it feenis, unknown to the king and his minifters. without regarding the king of France or even their 



Yet marble is mentioned among the productions of own earl, accommodated matters with the Englifli, 



Scotland by Fordun, [Z,. ii, c. 8] who furvived \Vhom they confidcrcd as their beft friends and al- 



King David but a few years. lies, connected with them by the mutual benefits 



f This fecms the fame battle, v/hich Meyer, of dayly commercial intercourfe. 

 t?ie annalift of Flanders, dates in 1371'. He fays, J Of many documents, which inight be adduced 



tht Flemidi fliips were loaded with wine from in fupport of this obfetvation, one grant by King 



•Rochelle ; and he adds that the Englifh fleet af- Edward III to William Latimer may be fufficient.' 



terwards blocked up the Straits of Dover, where- It conveyed to h!m 2 melfuages and 4 (hops in the 



A D 2 P^"^' 



