ENACTMENTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NAVY. 



277 



of his actions were most unmitigated specimens of piracy, on nations little concerned with 

 the Houses of York and Lancaster, their quarrels or wars. 



But as this is not intended to be even a sketch of the history of England, let us pass 

 to the commencement of the reign of Henry VII., when the " great minishment and decay 

 of the navy, and the idleness of the mariners," were represented to his first Parliament, and 

 led to certain enactments in regard to the use of foreign bottoms. The wines of Southern 

 France were forbidden to be imported hither in any but English, Irish, or Welsh ships, 



SIR ANDREW WOOD S VICTORY. 



manned by English, Irish, or Welsh sailors. This Act was repeated in the fourth year of 

 Henry's re T 'gn, and m?.3e to include other articles, while it was then forbidden to freight 

 an alien ship from or to England with "any manner of merchandise/' if sufficient freight 

 were to be had in English vessels, on pain of forfeiture, one-half to the king, the other 

 to the seizers. " Henry/' says Lord Bacon, " being a king that loved wealth, and treasure, 

 he could not endurs to have trade sick, nor any obstruction to continue in the gate-vein 

 which disperseth that blood." How well he loved riches is proved by the fact that when 

 a speedy and not altogether creditable peace was established between England and France, 

 and the indemnity had been paid by the latter, the money went into the king's private 

 coffers ; those who had impoverished themselves in his service, or had contributed to the 

 general outfit by the forced " benevolence/' were Mt out -in- the cold. From Calais Henry 



