MARITIME HISTORY 



cost of ^16,527, and gave the Norfolk and Suffolk men implicated the option of indemnifying him 

 or of standing a legal inquiry. They chose the latter course, which argues conscious innocence, and 

 that the crown standpoint was weak is shown by Edward's later action in offering a free pardon to 

 those accused if they sent their ships to serve in his fleets. 1 



The county helped to form the fleets with which Edward II tried to maintain his hold upon 

 Scotland during the earlier years of his reign. In 1308 Yarmouth and Suffolk were called upon for 

 ten ships;* in 1310 Ipswich was required to send two, and Dunwich, Orford, and Little 

 Yarmouth each one, at their own cost. This attempt to make the ports provide ships at their own 

 expense was necessitated by a depleted exchequer, but must have seemed to them in unpleasant 

 contrast to the methods of Edward I. It may be a sign of the exhaustion of the east coast that 

 Edward called for the services of the southern ports more often than for those of the eastern and 

 north-eastern counties. In 1313 thirty ships were levied in Norfolk and Suffolk ; 3 in 1314 Ipswich, 

 Orford, and Goseford were asked for one ship each, and Dunwich for two.* In the following year 

 a commission issued to inquire into allegations that bribes had been taken by those sent to select ships 

 on the east coast, through which the best ships and men had escaped impressment. 5 In 1316 an 

 attempt was made to persuade the Suffolk ports to set out ships voluntarily at their own cost, ' for 

 better keeping of the English sea,' but with what success we are not told. 6 In 1319 Ipswich, 

 Dunwich, Orford, and Little Yarmouth were asked to send ships for three or four months at their 

 own expense, and afterwards at that of the king, but the charge on the ports was not to be a 

 precedent ; some of the towns, including all those of Suffolk, were to have prize goods without 

 rendering any account, but prisoners were to belong to the king. 7 



A two years' truce with Scotland expired in 1322, and preparations for an attack on England were 

 being made in Flanders. Edward invaded Scotland himself and convoked a meeting of representa- 

 tives from the chief ports of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex at Norwich to discuss with the treasurer and 

 the bishop of Norwich the measures necessary to ward off the danger threatening from Flanders. 

 Ipswich, Dunwich, Goseford, Bawdsey, and Little Yarmouth, sent delegates who agreed to provide 

 ships at the cost of the ports for two months' service, two each being promised from Ipswich and 

 Little Yarmouth, one from Goseford and Bawdsey, and one each from Dunwich and Orford. 8 

 This happened in April, 1322, but by June it was considered necessary to strengthen the naval 

 force still further, and the contingents from the Suffolk ports were doubled, this time at the king's 

 charges, with an additional ship from Guston (? Gunton), Walton, Colneys, and Felixstowe.' In 

 1323 a truce for thirteen years was concluded with Scotland, but war with France followed 

 immediately, and although an actual levy, made at first in the Suffolk ports, was cancelled, an 

 embargo was placed on all vessels of forty tons and upwards in England and Ireland. The succeeding 

 three years must have been a time of vexation for shipowners for, although nothing was done, they 

 were constantly harassed by preparations which were not followed by action. In 1326 Isabella was 

 in France, her return expected, and her intentions known. Fleets were levied round the coasts, that 

 from the eastern ports of vessels of thirty tons and upwards, including those from Ipswich, Orwell, 

 Bawdsey, Orford, Goseford, and Dunwich, being ordered to concentrate in Orwell Haven by 

 21 September. 10 Twelve ships in addition, manned and furnished at the expense of those not 

 contributing to the preparation of the main fleet, were to be taken up at Ipswich and Harwich ; this 

 squadron was to be stationed at Orfordness for the protection of the coast in the absence of the 

 fleet. 11 Orfordness itself is an impossible station, but as it forms one of the shelters of Hollesley Bay 

 it is clear that this is the first recorded use of the roadstead as a strategical position for men-of-war. 

 As shown on the Patent and Close Rolls the measures taken by Edward, or his advisers, were 

 remarkably well considered in the dispositions of the squadrons and the proposed movements ; but 

 either the final orders were given too late or there was treachery among the higher commanders, for 

 when Isabella landed at the mouth of the Orwell on 26 September she met with no resistance. 



There was a short war with Scotland in 1327-8, for which forty ships were sent from the 

 whole of the east coast, but there was no levy on a large scale. A more serious war broke out in 

 1332, and as the Scots at this time, helped by their continental friends, seem to have been unusually 



1 Pat. 14 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. igJ. ; 15 Edw. Ill, pt. 2, m. 22 J. ; 1 6 Edw. Ill, pt. 2, m. 42 </. 

 m. 35 d. ; m. 34</. 



Rot. Scot. 2 Edw. II, m. 13. * Pat. 7 Edw. II, pt. I, m. 18. 



Rot. Scot. 8 Edw. II, m. 8. ' Pat. 8 Edw. II, pt. 2, m. 10 d. ; m. d. 



Close, 9 Edw. II, m. I 3 d. Application was made to the whole coast from Lynn to Falmouth. 



Rot. Scot. 12 Edw. II, m. 6, m. 3 ; Pat. 12 Edw. II, pt. 2, m. 17. 



Close, 15 Edw. II, m. \\d. ; m. 12 d. ; Pat. 15, Edw. II, pt. 2, m. 19. 



Close, 15 Edw. II, m. 5. Covehithe was now added to Bawdsey. The Bawdsey men appealed to the 

 ting against the action of their mayor and the admiral of the northern fleet who tried to make them equip 

 another ship for service with the south fleet. They had no difficulty in obtaining a prohibition (Close, 

 15 Edw. II, m. 4). 



10 Ibid. 20 Edw. II, m. 10 d. " Pat. 20 Edw. II, m. 18. 



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