ACTION WITH SCOTCH PIEATES. 279 



very material alterations in the structure of war-ships. The first port-holes are believed 

 to have been contrived by a ship-builder at Brest, named Descharges, and their introduction 

 took place in 1499. They were "circular holes, cut through the sides of the vessel, and 

 so small as scarcely to admit of the guns being traversed in the smallest degree, or fired 

 otherwise than straightforward/'' Hitherto there had been no distinctions between the vessels 

 used in commerce and in the king's service ; the former being constantly employed for the 

 latter ; but now we find the addition of another tier, and a general enlargement of the 

 war-vessels. Still, when any emergency required, merchant vessels, not merely English, 

 but Genoese, Venetian, and from the Hanse Towns, were constantly hired for warfare. So 

 during peace the king's ships were sometimes employed in trade, or freighted to merchants. 

 Henry was very desirous of increasing and maintaining commercial relations with other 

 countries. In the commission to one of his ambassadors, he says, " The earth being the 

 common mother of all mankind, what can be more pleasant or more humane than to 

 communicate a portion of all her productions to all her children by commerce?" Many 

 special commercial treaties were made by him, and one concluded with the Archduke 

 Philip after a dispute with him, which had put a stop to the trade with the Low Countries, 

 was called the great commercial treaty (intercursus may mis] . " It was framed with the 

 greatest care to render the intercourse between the two countries permanent, and profitable 

 to both." 



The first incident in the naval history of the next reign, that of Henry VIII., grew 

 out of an event which had occurred long before. A Portuguese squadron had, in the 

 year 1476, seized a Scottish ship, laden with a rich cargo, and commanded by John 

 Barton. Letters of marque were granted him, which he had not, apparently, used to any 

 great advantage, for they were renewed to his three sons thirty years afterwards. The 

 Bartons were not content with repaying themselves for their loss, but found the Portuguese 

 captures so profitable that they became confirmed pirates, "and when they felt their own 

 strength, they seem, with little scruple, to have considered ships of any nation as their 

 fair prize." Complaints were lodged before Henry, but were almost ignored, " till the 

 Earl of Surrey, then Treasurer and Marshal of England, declared at the council board, 

 that while he had an estate that could furnish out a ship, or a son that was capable of 

 commanding one, the narrow seas should not be so infested." Two ships, commanded by 

 his two sons, Sir Thomas and Sir Edward Howard, were made ready, with the king's 

 knowledge and consent. The two brothers put to sea, but were separated by stress of 

 weather; the same happened to the two pirate ships the Lion, under Sir Andrew 

 Barton's own command, and the Jenny Perwin, or Bark of Scotland. The strength of one 

 of them is thus described in an old ballad, by a merchant, one of Sir Andrew's victims, 

 who is supposed to relate his tale to Sir Thomas Howard: 



" He is brass within, and steel without, 



With beams on his top-castle strong; 

 And thirty pieces of ordnance 



He carries on each side along; 

 And he hath a pinnace dearly dight, 



St. Andrew's Cross it is his guide ; 



