MARITIME HISTORY 



be considered the ancestor of the conservators of truces instituted locally by 

 Henry V, and of the later vice-admirals of the coast whom we find acting 

 from the middle of the sixteenth century. A part of the system of defence 

 under the care of the keeper was the line of fire beacons, corresponding to 

 the modern coastguard stations, usually placed on a hill near the shore and 

 guarded in war time by a watch from the neighbouring parishes.'" The 

 Poole men were responsible for the beacon on Worbarrow Down.'^ 



The Welsh wars of 1277 and 1282-3 were mainly fought by the feudal 

 armies. The Cinque Ports furnished most of the squadrons — not large 

 ones — required for the Welsh wars, but the later Scotch campaigns stirred 

 the coasts to greater activity. The advance of Poole is manifested by its 

 being the recipient, in 1291, with the chief ports, of a mandate to execute 

 a truce with France. '^ At the time when Edward was founding the new 

 Winchelsea he apparently designed creating a town in Dorset on a similar 

 plan, for a writ of 1286 recites that he was trying to settle a town and har- 

 bour ' at Gotowre in Studland parish,' at which the people were to enjoy 

 the same liberties as those of the burgesses of Lyme and Melcombe." This 

 seems to have been at Ower, on the south side of Poole Harbour, but as the 

 new port must have been projected with a view to maritime action, it is not 

 easy to see, however busy it may have been then,"" what advantages for the 

 king's fleets it was expected to present greater than those afforded by Poole. 



War with France followed a battle in the Channel in 1293 between the 

 Cinque Ports and their allies and the French and their allies. The preparations 

 in England included the construction of 1 1 galleys at the king's cost, at various 

 places ; one, of i 20 oars, was ordered at Lyme, which was to be assisted by 

 Weymouth.^* The town is here therefore classed among the great ports. ^^ The 

 Scotch war of 1295 was the cause of levies round the south coast in the shape 

 of a selection from among ships of 40 tons and upwards. °' There was an 

 attempt to keep the intended place of concentration secret, the persons 

 choosing the ships in Dorset and elsewhere being directed to ' bring them on 

 a certain day to a certain place as instructed by word of mouth.' A large 

 fleet was raised in 1297 ^° transport an army to Flanders ; Edward, in call- 

 ing upon the ports, including the three of Dorset, explained that the matter 

 was among ' the greatest and most arduous that he has had to deal with in 

 any times past.'^* In March, 1301, the ports all round the coast were re- 

 quired to send ships by midsummer for the Scotch campaign ; Poole, Lyme, 

 and Weymouth were assessed at one vessel each." Again, in November, 

 1302, the ports were warned for service to be ready by the following spring, 

 Weymouth and Lyme being rated at one ship each while Wareham and 

 Brownsea were joined with Poole for the third." This time security was 



'* Cf. Southey, Livts ef the Admirals, i, 360 (quoting Froissart), as to the. method of constructing tlie 

 beacons. See also Stubbs, Const. Hist. \\, 285 (2nd ed.), on mediaeval coast defence. 



" Sydenham, Hist, of Poole, 99, who refers to a corporation MS. giving the n.imes of those who were to 

 find the hobelers to keep the watch. " Pat. 19 Edvv. I, m. 17. " Ibid. 14 Edw. I, m. 24. 



" Hutchins {Hist, of Dorset, i, 463, 3rd ed.) notices that Purbeck stone was formerly exported from Ower, 

 and th.it in ancient times it was much frequented, as is shown by the deep tracks across the he.itli. 



" K. R. Memo. R. 69, No. 77. The account of the expenses incurred still exists (Exch. Accts. K. R. 

 bdle. 5, No. 21). 



" The seal of Lyme Regis, with a ship which presents some peculiarities, is of this reign. 



" Pat. 23 Edw. I, m. 7, m. 6. " Close, 25 Edw. I, m. \-] d. 



'"" Pat. 29 Edw. I, m. 20. '"^ Ibid. 30 Edw. I, m. 2. 



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